To repay his siblings and also to please the four pregnant girls, Dylan invited all of them out for dinner at a mid-to-high-end but not overly fancy restaurant located in a mall near the clinic where they had their check-ups. After being seated at a table by a waiter, Dylan asked everyone to order their food.
"Is this for real, bro?" Aaron asked, hesitant.
"Yeah, just order whatever you want. Don't worry about the price," Dylan answered, smiling.
"Seriously, though. You have the money, right?" Aaron asked.
"Of course I do. Don't worry," Dylan replied.
"I want this," Fiona said, pointing to a slice of Black Forest cake on the menu.
"I want this one," Iris said, pointing to the chocolate lava cake on the menu.
"Main course first. Cake is for dessert. What do you want to eat?" Dylan asked.
"Pizza," Fiona and Iris said together, raising their hands.
"Ugh... there's no pizza here. Something else? Steak? Pasta?" Dylan asked.
"Bro... they're not used to eating things like what's on this menu. Just order for them," Aaron replied.
"Alright, you order then," Dylan answered.
"I don't get it either," Aaron countered.
"Aaargh," Dylan looked to see Ellie, Maya, Lena, and Amy sighing. They stared at Dylan as if to say, "You're so useless." Finally, Dylan deferred to the four of them to choose meals for Fiona and Iris. They eventually decided to order the kids' meal for both of them, in addition to the cakes they had chosen earlier.
They then proceeded to order their own meals. The waiter wrote down all their orders and then left with his pad for the cashier. Not long after, a waiter came back, bringing napkins, a basket of bread, and drinks for all of them. After the waiter left,
"So we're going to different clinics now, right?" Lena asked.
"Yeah, starting tomorrow, call the clinics. I'll stay here because the doctor already knows me," Ellie said.
"Alright, no problem. I'll call tomorrow," Amy replied.
"Me too. As long as we're not all together," Maya added.
"Clink," a sudden sound of many glasses being tapped together was heard, followed by laughter. They all turned to see a group of what looked like office workers having a joint dinner and drinks. Then they looked forward again.
"Speaking of which, have you all found jobs yet?" Amy asked Lena, Maya, and Ellie.
"I have. The restaurant that hired me yesterday. Right, babe?" Maya asked, looking at Dylan.
"Yeah, but the supervisor asked me to switch shifts... it's fine, I guess," Dylan replied.
"Hehe... sorry," Maya replied.
"I have. I'm currently learning to be an online consultant and content manager. I've got the online course, but please give me a little time before I start working, after that I'll start earning money," Ellie replied to Dylan.
"Yeah, take your time," Dylan replied.
"I'm starting freelancing... graphic design. If I can... I want to create a comic... or manga... my hobby is weird, huh," Amy said shyly, looking down.
"Don't worry, it's not weird. I've already gotten a job at a dental clinic as a receptionist and I'll start after graduation, so not yet... I'm also going to take an online course to become a nurse... chasing my dream of helping other people, hehe," Lena said.
"Hmm... that's good, but you really don't have to work. My freelance earnings are pretty substantial too," Dylan said casually, folding his arms across his chest. "My freelance with CATS, I mean," Dylan thought in his heart.
"What?" Ellie, Maya, Amy, and Lena immediately turned to stare at Dylan with very serious expressions that were bordering on offended.
"You think we just want to depend on you? We're building this family together, for our family," Ellie said.
"That's right. Don't think we're just girls who will accept everything and take advantage of you," Maya added.
"I can't just not help out," Amy added.
"I don't want you to be exhausted all by yourself. If we're building something together, we'll build it together, not just you," Lena added.
"O... okay, I get it. I'm sorry," Dylan replied, trying to calm everyone down.
Then the girls went back to talking amongst themselves. "Pfft," Dylan turned to see Aaron who was looking away and holding back his laughter.
"Why are you laughing?" Dylan whispered.
"This is the first time I've ever seen you listen. Finally, someone can beat your stubbornness. They really are a good match for you, bro. I thought you were crazy at first for getting four girls pregnant at once. Now I get it, they genuinely want to build a family with you... Congrats, soon-to-be dad, hehehe," Aaron replied.
"Grr... so you're mocking me," Dylan retorted.
"Relax, bro. Even though I'm mocking you, I'm happy you're happy now, not like a robot as you were before... stiff, never talking, working like a madman, and pushing yourself," Aaron replied.
"I'm still the same as before," Dylan said, looking away.
"You've changed these past few days, bro. A lot. It's all thanks to Big Sisters Ellie, Amy, Lena, and Maya. I'm really grateful, you know, bro," Aaron said, smiling.
"I like the way you are now, big brother," Fiona blurted out.
"You used to be strict and hard to talk to," Iris added.
"Really? I was like that before?" Dylan asked, confused, because he didn't feel that way and always thought he prioritized his three younger siblings over himself.
"Even they can tell, bro. You're different now. Your focus is on their pregnancies, and you look more relaxed. You even stayed calm after getting fired from construction. Before, you would have flipped out and stayed awake for days just to find a replacement job, right?" Aaron said, smiling.
Dylan fell silent. He immediately reflected on his three siblings' words. When he was in survival mode, he never looked right or left and only focused on one thing, raising his siblings, but now he realized he was in survival mode because he was blaming himself and masking his grief. If he hadn't asked his parents to come watch the martial arts tournament finals that day, both of his parents would still be alive.
That feeling had consumed him all this time, and he hadn't been able to forgive himself until now. Ultimately, he wasn't raising his siblings; he was hurting them instead.
"That's right... all this time I've been thinking... that I was responsible because I took and killed Mom and Dad... I was ready to suffer for my siblings and never thought I was allowed to be happy... Am I really allowed to be happy?" Dylan asked, a question meant for himself, but it slipped out.
"What are you talking about, bro? Of course you're allowed to be happy! Don't keep blaming yourself for Mom and Dad's deaths. I know you've been punishing yourself by working so hard and trying to replace them for us all this time. That's why I nagged you to rest," Aaron replied.
"Wait, you heard that?" Dylan asked, shocked.
"Hehe, of course, and they heard it too," Aaron said, pointing across the table.
Dylan turned to see Ellie, Amy, Lena, and Maya looking at him, smiling and nodding at him.
"Are you... happy now?" Ellie asked.
"Huh... um... how should I put it? maybe," Dylan replied, rubbing the back of his head.
"Don't worry, I'll take care of you, and you look... happy now. I'm glad," Amy chimed in.
"Yeah, you don't have to worry. We'll raise the kids together and gonna be happy together too, hehe," Lena added.
"So don't think like that again, okay? For me, Lena, Ellie, Amy, Aaron, Fiona, and Iris, your family," Maya added.
"Okay," Dylan replied, smiling, and this time he felt lighter than ever.
[Congratulations, you will soon turn into your grandfather, who had no burdens in life.]
"Grrr... okay, I agree with you this time. Thanks, CATS," Dylan replied in his head.
[You're welcome, Sir. Glad to be of assistance.]