"If we ever had a children... what would you want to name them?" Both of the teens sitting under the starry sky, enjoying the night breath and enchanting view.
"Why would you suddenly talk about children...? We haven't go that far yet," The boy turn to his partner with one eyebrow raised up, feeling confused by the sudden futuristic question.
"Just thinking...." She close her eyes to enjoy the gentle breeze as it brush her cheek with coldness yet fill with warm and comfort.
"Well... I'm not sure... I never really thought about it..." he put his under his chin. Never did he thought this question would strike up.
"I'm planning on giving them gems stone name! Like Ruby or Aqua, or Emerald or...." She stared at the sky.
"Wait...why gems stone?" He asked.
"Because children is a blessing. They are precious and even more precious than gems stone. They deserve a special to show how precious they are!" Her eyes shine as bright as the star above her. He stay quiet listening to her explanations. He looked up the starry night above them. All the stars are helping the moon brightening up the dark night with their light. No matter how small star light, it's still manage to shine bright. Very astonishing...
"If I ever had a child.... I want to name him Astra if it was a boy and Lumine if it was a girl..." His eyes looked longingly at the sky. He pulled up his arms and open his palm, as if he was trying to reach the impossibly high star.
"Eh..? Why?" She turned to her partner and asked. The curiosity get her as his look turn into something she can not decipher.
"Because both of the two means the light that brighten up the darkness. The star and the moon..." a small smile appear on his face.
"Really? That was such a lovely name. I like it! When I become a mother, I'll definitely give them that name!" She smiled brightly at him. Her eyes shining bright, defeating the stars up above sky and manage to get a hold of his attention.
Ai stare longingly at the drawing page in her hold. It was a drawing of a star with 6 pointers. There was a oval, caging it like a ring and on the ring, there is a small diamond shape. While it's was the main attraction, the background filled with cute lil stars at every corner and each star has different face expressions. From some reason, she can't help but glue her eyes to the drawing.
"Mama...." A little sound produce by his lil leg. Paddling softly toward his mom with face still look adorably sleepy. Ai snapped out from her thought and put the page down on the table. She smiled and pick up her lil star. "What happened, my dear? Couldn't sleep?"
Astra rubbed his eyes, before nodding. She giggled and rubbed his head. "Well, you have been sleeping all day long. It's no surprise there,"
After taking him back from her ex, Astra hasn't woken up until now. It's been 1 am and the other two are sleeping.
As his vision clearer, Astra saw the drawing on the table. The memories of him and the man came replaying inside his mind, " Me and nii-chan drew it together!" Ai smiled at the excitement. "Nii-chan?". Astra nodded.
"He is the one who help me up when i fall down. He is so kind. He also gave me strawberry yogurt! I like him so much!"
"Im glad... but-" Ai smiled slowly turn into a frown. "-please dont ever do that again. My heart stopped when I heard you're missing. Everyone is so worried..."
Astra looked down in shamed think his mother is now mad at him. He whispered, "I'm sorry, mama...." Ai felt bad seeing her lil star sad. She gave him a small peck on his forehead and said, "it's fine, lil star. I'm not mad. I'm just worried. People make mistake and it's not bad to do it. One thing for sure that it is good, now that you've learned your lesson. So please don't be sad my lil star..."
Despite saying that, Astra mood is yet to lighten up. He felt bad that his eyes turn teary and then he hug his mom tightly. "I'm..sorry... I didn't mean it... everyone is so loud and make my head hurt. I'm so sorry...." Ai rubbed his back softly and whisper comforting word to help the lil boy. Astra is such a fragile soul. He need extra care and love. And Ai is more than willingly to give it. "It's okay my lil star... shh...shh...shh... my beautiful boy... it's okay..." She rocked him slowly. After a while, Astra had calm down but still holding tightly onto Ai as if she would disappear if he let her go.
"Astra, do you want to see stars?" She whispered softly. Astra nodded but his face is still buried on her shoulder. Ai smiled and bring him to the balcony of their house. As the sliding door open, gentle wind hit their face and help lowering Astra's temperature after 10 minute of crying.
"Look at the sky, Astra. it's a starry night!" Ai pointed out. Astra turned his head to look at the wonder of the sky. Mirroring the starry night, Astra's eyes shine, showing the galaxy he hold in the small yet beautiful eye.
"Beautiful...," He whispered softly. Ai smiled looking at his son finally happy. It's break her heart to see him crying or sad. "Do you know that your name means Star?"
Astra gasped. "Really..?" Ai nodded to the question. "Yes sweetheart. A shining star that would light up my dark sky." Astra brighten up as he know the meaning of Astra.
Ai's POV
Aqua and Ruby. I choose the name from the colour of their eyes. The gem stones name that show how precious they are to me. At first, I thought about naming Astra as Amethyst, but a memory appear inside my head as I hold him for the first time.
'Astra for boy and Lumine for girl. Because both of the two means the light that brighten up the darkness. The star and the moon...'
His word playing like a loop inside my head. Without realising, I muttered out the name Astra...
After we broke up, we rarely contact each other. I started contacting him again when I was pregnant. His reaction was priceless. But both of us are happy.
I thought...
I'm afraid. What if cannot give them the love they deserve. I, Hoshino Ai, who has been a liar through all my life. Never understand the feeling of love. How can I... give something so strong yet unsure of its existence in my heart?
Throughout my life as a mother, never did once I utter the word 'I love you'. Because I'm afraid... it was a lie. It's unfair how they give me love yet I am unable to return it... isn't it cruel for me to do that...?
ね。。。Mama... what does I love you mean?
"Mama." I snapped out of my thought as Astra called me. My mind goes blank as I feel his lip on my cheek. He turned to me with a bright smile and said, "あいしてる！"
...
*drip*
Without realising my tears fall down. I hug him as tight as I can. "I'm sorry...I'm sorry....l'm so sorry...." I keep mumbling the word sorry as I buried my face on his small shoulder.
Im sorry my dear. Im so sorry. I can't bring myself to say it back. Sorry for being a coward. Im so sorry...
I could feel his small hand pat my head softly. Dear god.... What did I do to deserve this beautiful family... I'm nothing but a liar who are trying to live...
I kept crying...this feeling... it's hurt. But for some reason...it's truly comforting.
Dear god, Please...even if it just for this time... please let them feel the love they deserve. Give them a perfect life. Please... love this family...
Author' s POV
The night stars shine more brightly, just like the hope and happiness in their heart. Without anyone realising, a pair of ocean eyes are staring the the moment without blinking. A small smile appear on his face.
"The true bond between a mother and her child, is truly... fascinating..."
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Author's note!
Rewriting this chapter! Hope you like this cute scene.