Chapter 4: My three tyrants

Three years later.

“Hayden! Braden!! Jayden!!!”

I holler on top of my lungs as I step into the very room I cleaned up yesterday. It was sparkling and everything was in perfect order but now I can’t even recognize it anymore.

The whole place is in shambles. Clothes, shoes, toys and junk papers are strewn everywhere. On the floor. Bed. Dresser. Closet.

Gosh! Did a party go down here that I’m not aware of?

“Jayden! Bra...” I am hollering again when three identical boys suddenly pop out from one of the inner rooms.

They are frowning and almost shivering like scaredy cats. as if already knowing they are in for it.

I fold my arms to my chest maintaining a stern look as I stare at them.

They look just like tiny clones of me. All round faces, his cat-like shape eyes, high bridge nose, full lips, but their chestnut curly hair is just same as the man I don’t want to remember. They also have his hazel eye contacts.

Sometimes I wish they didn’t pick anything from him but that’s nature right? Though I may despise their father, I love it so much. They are my sweet tyrants.

"What the hell happened here, Jayden” I choose to face the eldest among the triplet, after giving them a long stern stare.

"it’s Hayden!” He immediately screams pointing to the last one.

“No mom, It’s not me. It’s Jayden and Braden.” Hayden rebuffs, pouting his crimson plump lips.

"Well, it’s Jayden, Hayden, and Braden!" That’s Braden. He demonstrated with an eye roll. He always likes to act more exuberant and mature. Though, He’s middle one but the smartest among them.

"I don't care which one of you it is but I need this place cleaned up this instant!" Who am I kidding? That’s just like an order to make me feel good. I’ll still end up tidying up the whole place whether I like it or not.

And as if finding me funny, the boys begins to giggle.

"Youuuuu...” I groaned. “Now follow me you all. Let’s go get ready for school.”

I move closer to lead them to the restroom but Hayden pulls back whining “Mum Can we not go to school today?"

His brothers also pull back in retreat as if in support.

"Okay please don’t even start, or I’ll spank you all.” I yell, reaching out to get Braden but he slips off my hand and runs on to the bed.

His brothers follow suit as usual and in the next minute, they are running around like mice and giggling.

Honestly I didn’t bargain for this, this morning.

"Your dad will be here soon. Do you really want him to see this scene? He's going to spank you all when he gets back.” I choose to threaten them with Aaron. He did a night shift and he would be home this morning.

But as if my threat fell on deaf ears, they continued running around the house.

Not like Aaron would really do that though and they know very well.

But thankfully, Just as I'm about to chase them around, The door flips open, I turn to the door and I meet Aaron standing there looking Exhausted and a bit...pale? His white coat has a droplet of rain and his mullet hair.

I’m surprised to see him as I didn’t hear any car honk But I’m more relieved. At least he is right in time.

“Daddy!!!” The boys shrill like sirens and ran down to meet Aaron at the door, hugging his legs.

“What's up, dudes!!!” Aaron's voice booms giving the same energy even though he looks really drained.

“What have you three been up to? I can see your mom is stressed out again.” He ruffles their hair with a bright smile while taking a peep at me.

I smile. My heart feels warm and delighted as I watch them get along so well. It's been three years since my divorce with Lennox, and true to Aaron's promise, he has stood by my side, taking care of me all the way from my pregnancy days, even until now after I gave birth to my three warriors.

I feel guilty, though. For Aaron. Due to our presence in his life, he hasn't been able to settle down with a woman of his own. He's always too busy either working or taking care of me and the kids to think about marriage or dating.

“They don’t want to go to school again!” I huffs tiredly, sitting on the bed. “And let’s not talk about the mess they created here.”

He chuckles and then, He turn to the boys with a feign somber face. “C’mon dudes, why don’t you say to go to school. You don’t want mummy to be angry do you?”

I scoff.

Sometimes, I really want Aaron to spank these kids. He’s really spoiling them rotten.

“No, but we don’t want to go to school anymore.”

“You’re spoiling these kids Aaron.” I shake my head.

“C’mon you don’t have to be so hard on them.” He groaned and faced the boys again. “Now why don’t you want to go to school?”

“We just don’t want to? Let’s not stress it daddy!” Braden whines.

“Okay... You know what buddies. How about this, you go to school and when you get back we will all go to the movies.”

“Hmmm. Good idea but I don’t want to go anywhere, we just want to stay at home today. That school sucks!” Jayden says more maturely.

“Ouch...” Aaron suddenly gripped his chest, his face crestfallen and I just huffed knowing he’s doing it again.

Acting like he’s in pain just to get the kids to do his biddings —— which sometimes works.

“Daddy are you alright?” The boys chorused with the same worried tone.

Yeah, the triplet telepathy.

“I’m not sure... maybe if you go get ready for school, I might be fine?” He’s now over exaggerating things. squeezing his chest hard.

And The kids begin to laugh at his antics.

I let out a chuckle as I watched Aaron continue to act.

The kids continue to laugh as well.

The act suddenly goes longer than usual. He’s now wheezing hard and crumbling to the ground. Almost. looking. Real.

There’s no humor in his face anymore.

“Aaron are you...” I suddenly become worried as he falls to the ground. Wheezing and gasping profusely on the ground while squeezing his chest hard.

“Daddy!!!”

“Aaron!!!”

I race to him, crashing down before him.

"Hos... pital," he croaks, when I took his face his my hand, breathing heavily and suddenly his body went still.

“Aaron!!!”