Chapter 29

After finishing their dinner together, Fastian and Fahnareeh immediately climbed down from their chairs and left the dining room.

Their small footsteps echoing softly across the marble floor as they made their way toward the living room while Freen remained behind in the kitchen to clean up the mess that naturally followed dinner with three energetic five year olds.

Standing in front of the sink, Freen rolled up the sleeves of her shirt before turning on the faucet, allowing the warm water to flow over the stack of dirty plates and glasses that had accumulated during the meal.

The soft sound of running water soon filled the kitchen while she carefully scrubbed each plate one by one, occasionally smiling to herself when she remembered the silly conversation the twins had started during dinner.

Meanwhile, in the living room, Fahnareeh’s eyes immediately landed on the television remote resting peacefully on top of the coffee table as though it had been waiting specifically for her to find it.

“It’s mine!,” chuckled Fahnareeh.

Without wasting another second, she quickly grabbed the remote with both hands before plopping herself onto the carpeted floor directly in front of the television.

A huge smile immediately appeared on her face.

“Tonight is my turn,” she mumbled happily to herself while pressing the power button.

The television screen slowly came to life. The colorful lights reflected in her sparkling eyes.

However, before she could press any buttons on the remote, a shadow suddenly appeared behind her.

“Gotcha!,” Fastian snatched the remote.

“Phi Tian!,” she shouted and stood up to chase Fastian.

Fastian was already several steps away. He clutching the remote against his chest as though he had just won the most important battle of his life.

“I got it first,” Fastian face was filled with triumph when said it.

“Give it back!,” Fahnareeh chased Fastian from behind. They ran around the sofa.

Suddenly, Fastian climbing onto the sofa and sitting down like a king protecting his throne.

“I want to watch cartoons too,” said Fastian honestly.

“What do you mean you want to watch cartoons too?” she demanded while stand up in front Fastian. “I was the one who found the remote first.”

Fastian immediately shook his head so hard. He tightened his grip around the remote control as though Fahnareeh might suddenly jump forward and snatch it away from him at any moment. His lips formed a stubborn pout.

“But today is my turn to watch whatever cartoon I want,” Fastian argued while hugging the remote against his chest protectively. “I have been waiting since this morning. So, I’m not giving this remote back, Nareeh.”

Fahnareeh’s eyes widened in disbelief.
She immediately took a step forward before placing both of her hands firmly on her waist. She looking very much like a tiny version of Becky whenever she was about to lecture someone.

“I found it first!,” Fahnareeh protested loudly.

Freen suddenly walked into the living room after hearing the twins’ endless argument from the kitchen. She was still holding the dish towel she had been using moments ago and several droplets of water remained on her hands after washing the dishes.

The moment she stepped into the living room, her eyes immediately landed on her two mini her.

It’s like both of them want to start a war.

“What is happening here?” asked Freen and put a dish towel on the table.

The twins immediately pointed at each other.

“Phi Tian!”

“Nareeh!”

The two shouted at the exact same time.

Freen pinched the bridge of her nose. “Who wants to tell me first what happened here?” she asked firmly.

Fastian and Fahnareeh still blame each other, causing Freen to shut their up.

“One at a time,” Freen said firmly while raising her hand. “Daddy only has two ears, and both of you are talking at the same time. Stop blame each other too. Explain to daddy first.”

Immediately, Fastian and Fahnareeh closed their mouths.

” Nareeh, explain it first. “

“Phi Tian stole the remote from me! I was the one who found it first and I was already sitting down to watch my cartoon but he suddenly came from behind and grabbed it away from me without even asking for permission!”

” If I ask permission, you won’t give me the remote. ”

“Because I found it first!”

“Daddy! Look at Phi Tian! Ask him to give that remote,” pouted Fahnareeh.

“Daddy, I don’t want to watch princess!” complained Fastian.

“Fastian, give the remote to me,” said Freen firmly.

Fastian give it to Freen immediately.

” Both of you cannot touch this remote.”

” Why?,” asked Fahnareeh.

” Later, you both just press the button as both of you please.”

” Then, daddy press for us. I want princess,” said Fahnareeh.

” Daddy, I want Superman.”

“No one wants to give up?” Freen asked while looking at the twins one by one, hoping at least one of them would be willing to compromise.

Fastian and Fahnareeh shook their head.

“Then, it’s daddy turn to watch a tv.”

Before either of them could protest, Freen calmly sat down on the sofa and pressed several buttons on the remote.

A few moments later, the television screen switched to a business channel.

On the screen, several adults dressed in sharp black and grey business suits appeared, sitting behind a long glass table while speaking in calm but intense voices about company profits, global investments, and unpredictable market trends that kept rising and falling on the animated graphs behind them.

A professional-looking presenter stood in front of a large digital display filled with numbers, percentages, and arrows moving up and down explaining something in a steady tone that sounded extremely important.

Freen, however, stood there for a moment with her arms slightly relaxed at her sides before she gave a small, approving nod as if she actually understood everything happening on the screen.

“Go sit down on the couch,” said Freen towards Fastian and Fahnareeh. “This is interesting program.”

Fastian and Fahnareeh did not move from their standing position. Neither Fastian nor Fahnareeh understood a single word being said.

The words simply floated past them like an entirely different language from another universe.

After a few seconds, Fastian slowly turned his head toward Freen.

His voice came out much softer than before, almost uncertain.

“Daddy…”

Freen immediately glanced down at him.

“Yes?”

Fastian hesitated for a moment, still staring at the television as if hoping it would suddenly turn back into Superman or at least a cartoon channel.

“What is this?”

Freen answered very calmly, as if the answer was completely obvious.

“A business program.”

“A business program?,” Fastian repeated that words.

“Yes.”

“But where is Superman?” he asked, his voice carrying a fragile hope that maybe the hero would suddenly appear from one of the charts.

Freen turned her head toward him with a completely innocent expression.

“There is no Superman,” she replied simply, as if stating a natural fact of life.

“Princess?,” asked Fahnareeh.

“This is not cartoon channel. No Superman and no princess. It’s just humans,” explained Freen. “Daddy need to make a milk for you too. Wait here.”

Fastian and Fahnareeh nodded their heads obediently as Freen walked toward the kitchen, the remote still safely in her hand.

The moment Freen disappeared from the living room, the twins slowly turned their attention back toward the television.

“What did they say?,” asked Fastian.

“I don’t know.”

“This is so painful to watch than watch a princess,” mumbles Fastian.