Babies' Secret: My Ex Wants Me Back!
Chapter 56: Video call

Chapter 56: Video call

Chapter 56

"Is this how we’re going to be looking at Mom?" Jasmine hummed as she laid flat on her stomach, her chin resting on her crossed arms. Her legs kicked lightly in the air while her eyes remained fixed on the still ceiling.

Hanith looked up away from his book, his fingers paused as he glanced at his twin sister.

"To lose herself again," Jasmine added softly, voice barely above a whisper while Hanith’s eyes lingered on Jasmine before he slowly nodded. He didn’t like the situation between his parents.

"True," he murmured, eyes dropping sadly. "We should do something before Mommy goes back to being—"

"She can’t!" Jasmine suddenly sat up, her voice loud with conviction. "We won’t allow her!" She turned to her twin, raising a determined brow. "I’ll start, so you support me."

"Okay," Hanith nodded, not needing more explanation. He trusted Jasmine to have a plan.

Katherine had barely finished wiping the kitchen counter when the twins rushed into the room, their hands clasped behind their backs with Jasmine having her scheming smile. Katherine shook her head, knowing something was coming.

"Mommy," Jasmine started sweetly, her tone so innocent and Katherine knew something she wasn’t prepared for was coming after that tone.

"Can we call Uncle Piano?" Jasmine blinked, giving puppy eyes.

Katherine’s hands paused a little, then turned to them. "Are you done with your home exercise?" she asked.

Hanith nodded immediately, taking a step forward. "Yes, and we finished. So now... please? Just this once," he added to the cuteness.

Katherine’s heart tugged from the adorable sight, placing the cloth on the sink edge. "Why the sudden interest in video calls?" she asked, narrowing her eyes slightly.

"Because..." Jasmine started, then her lips curled into a soft smile. "We want to see him."

Katherine blinked, her lips parting, but no words came out immediately. She looked at the little creatures she’d given birth to. "You must behave."

"Yes, Mommy," Jasmine chirped.

"We promise to behave," Hanith added quickly.

Katherine closed her eyes for a second before sighing in surrender. She couldn’t help but crumble under their pleading gaze. "Fine, just one call," she said. "And if you don’t behave," she raised her brow in a stern manner, "I’m taking your Iron Man toy as hostage."

"Oooh, Mommy," Jasmine groaned while Katherine raised her brow.

"Fine," she huffed, quickly glanced at their toy, then beamed. "Deal!" Jasmine yelled happily, already grabbing the phone before Katherine could change her mind.

Within seconds, Jasmine drew the password pattern and the screen lit up as Aaron’s contact name glowed while it dialed. Katherine lingered near the doorway, her arms folded across her chest, her heart thudding. When the call connected, Aaron’s face filled the screen—his hair was slightly tousled, a soft smile stretching across his face.

"Uncle Piano!" Jasmine squealed, quickly running to their room to bring the art she drew yesterday. "See," she showed him the sketch of all four of them holding hands with hearts above their heads.

"That’s beautiful," he stated.

"Uncle Piano, do you miss us?" Jasmine inquired, raising her brow, and Aaron chuckled, remembering Jasmine promised to call and to patch him and Katherine’s silence.

"Yes, chumps," he grinned, leaning into the camera. "I miss you two so much," he responded dramatically, his hands on his chest and his head tilted to the side with a wink.

Jasmine giggled at his antics. "That’s awesome, Uncle Piano!" she clapped her hands together. Then, she turned to Katherine with a mischievous glance before looking back at Aaron. "Do you miss Mommy too?"

Katherine spluttered on the water she was sipping, nearly choking as she coughed, her face instantly heating up, and she barked, "Jasmine!" Both kids burst into giggles while Aaron laughed heartily through the phone.

"You are done!" Katherine said, lunging to take the phone from the kids, but Jasmine was quicker, darting away with the device.

"I definitely miss your mommy," Aaron said with a teasing lilt in his voice. "It feels like breathing—" he gushed out while Katherine’s face continued to heat up bashfully.

Jasmine looked at Katherine, grinning, then turned to Aaron through the screen. "Mommy misses you too," she added in a loud whisper.

Katherine’s hair rose up, her leg slightly wobbly. "What are you uttering now?!"

"We’re just being honest," Jasmine said with a small shrug. "You check your phone—"

"Okay, that’s enough. You’ve seen your Uncle Piano and talked," she interrupted Jasmine’s babbling, "now let him focus on whatever he was doing." She grumbled, moving closer to them, trying to reclaim her phone.

"Are you busy, Uncle Piano?" Hanith asked, his voice gentle and shy while Aaron gave a wolfish grin.

Aaron leaned back a little, the screen showing more of his background—a sleek hotel suite. "Nope, not really—" A loud sizzling sound suddenly erupted in the background, followed by a hiss from Aaron.

Katherine pushed the twins aside and quickly stepped closer to the screen, her brows creased with worry and her eyes darted to the screen. "What happened?"

Aaron winced, "I’m trying to cook."

"You... cook?" Katherine said with disbelief, blinking rapidly. "You?"

"Ouch," Aaron muttered, rubbing the back of his neck, showing a red mark on his hand.

Katherine leaned into the screen like she could climb through it. "Are you hurt?"

"I’m fine," Aaron groaned. "The oil kept splattering," he chuckled nervously. "It doesn’t look like this on TV," he muttered dejectedly.

"You should order out," she mumbled, her voice softening. "And use some ointment on that hand."

The call continued for an hour. Katherine didn’t even know what the kids and Aaron were saying before bursting out into laughter until Jasmine whined that Aaron should read them a bedtime story.

The kids patted the side of the bed for Katherine to join as they listened to Aaron read. Aaron read to them through the phone while Katherine’s eyes kept flickering from Aaron’s moving lips to the way his face moved.

The twins snuggled into their sheets, the screen propped on a pillow between them.

After the story ended and the twins were halfway into dreamland, Aaron blew kisses through the phone. Jasmine dramatically caught them midair, holding her palm to her cheek with a happy sigh.

"Goodnight, Uncle Piano," she murmured sleepily.

"Night, chumps," he whispered, his voice soft. "Sweet dreams."

The call ended, and the screen went black. Katherine stood in silence for a few seconds, her fingers brushing over the blanket as she tucked them in.

"You really miss him," Jasmine stifled a yawn that wanted to escape.

"Do not," Katherine retorted, but her shaky voice betrayed her.

Later that night, alone in her room, Katherine saw a new message pop up on her screen from Aaron, and her hand wavered over the screen.

"I’ll be home soon, Kat. Don’t miss me too much... but I miss you like crazy." His voice was low, gentle, and teasing.

Katherine clutched the phone to her chest, eyes stinging, her breath hitched slightly.

"Idiot," she whispered into the darkness, yet her lips curved anyway, a nostalgic smile flickering and vanishing just as fast.

Her fingers tightened on the phone.

This ache in her chest refused to leave.