Being a Single Father

I am currently being taught by my mom how to change the diaper of a baby. Haru would not stop crying because of the soiled diaper.

Mom: "after changing Haru's diaper, make sour; she does not look uncomfortable with the diaper and clean everything around the table and make sure to put the diaper in another plastic bag to lessen the odor." she said strictly.

Joseph: "Mom, I get it; I already got the hang of changing Haru's diaper."I said with confidence while mentally tapping myself on the shoulder.

Mom: "of course, you would get the hang of changing a diaper; you did this five times and still failed all four." she said while sighing at the same time.

She looks at Haru, who was laughing out loud while I played with her. All of a sudden, Haru's eyes looked like she was forcing her eyelids to stay up. Mom, so this and told me to stop playing with her.

Mom: "Joseph, Haru is about to sleep, stop playing with her." She said while hitting me on the head. "And also you need to sleep, you haven't slept in days," Mom said with concern on her face.

Joseph: "I will be alright, mom I just need to stay here for a bit to watch over Haru for a bit and head to sleep," I said with no concern for my health. I kept rocking the crib while humming a lullaby for Haru. When my mom saw this, she just sighed and left my room.

---Jonah pov---

When I saw mom come out from Joseph's room, I went towards her to ask about Joseph.

Jonah: "Mom, how is Joseph, Holding up with taking care of little Haru." I said while looking at Joseph's room full of worries.

Mom: "I don't know Jonah; he is happy when he is with little Haru but stoic the next when she is not near him." She said with a melancholy tone. "He also started retaking his medication to help him sleep."

Jonah: "I hope that the rescue team finds Haruhime fast; it's taking a toll on him already when he is working in the restaurant." I said, full of concern. "I don't know if you heard, but Joseph has been spacing out when he is in the kitchen; I even have to kick him out of the kitchen so that Mia could get the food out faster."

When my mom heard this, she only had a sad look on her face when she turned her head at the door of Joseph's room.

Mom: "I don't know what has been bothering him, and he wouldn't tell us anything about what he has experienced out there." She said then turned her head toward me with a stern look on her face. "Just make sure to take care of your little brother; he is the only one out of all of you that suffered too much."

Joseph: "don't worry, mom. Mia and I will take care of Joseph and support him." is said full of conviction.

-- end of Jonah pov--

Its been a few months now. It is currently 2006 of September; I'm flying toward London to help out with 18 or Alice move her things in her apartment. So far, Haru has been a joy to play with; she always has that carefree smile on her cute chubby face on hers. Which helps cope with losing Haruhime. Though it is still a pain when feeding her food as she would just spit it out on my shirt, there are times that I can't sleep with my medication in case Haru cries at night, and I wasn't awake for it. Life as a single father is tough, but thanks to Mom, Mia, and Jonah, help things get more comfortable. I took my medication out of my coat so as to help me sleep on the plane.

After a few hours of sleep on the plane, I already landed. I waited outside the airport for Alice to come to pick me up; it didn't take long when I saw her with Himura. I got on to the car and headed off toward the apartment near UCL.

Himura: "how are you, Joseph, is being a single father treating you well." he said jokingly at me. Alice hit him on the shoulder for being insensitive. "What I was just trying to lighten up the mood," Himura said with a betrayed look on his face towards Alice.

Alice: "But being insensitive does make it any better." she said sternly toward Himura.

I stayed silent and looked at the two banter together. I looked at Himura and Alice with confusion and asked them a question.

Joseph: "So are you two going out or something, the way you two talk to each other doesn't look like your just friends." I said with a confused look on my face.

Alice/Himura: "NO!!" both of them said it at the same time. Which further confirms my words; something happened between them. I did not pry any further as that's their life anyway.

Himura: "what are you saying, Joseph.. We are just friends," he said, trying to deny my words with all his might.

Alice: "why would you think of that Joseph, Himura just offered me a hand to moving my things." She said with a stoic voice. But her awkward moment catches my attention, which I didn't bother telling her.

Joseph: "whatever Alice can you help fix my arm, it has been malfunctioning lately, especially my index finger.

Alice: "I will take a look at it when we get back to my apartment." she said, not taking her eyes off the road while driving.

Joseph: "Thanks, Alice, It will be a bother coming here all the time if my arm is malfunctioning." I said with an annoyed look on my face while looking at my bionic arm.

Alice stayed silent for a while, thinking of any possibilities for my problem, but then started talking to me again.

Alice: "What about moving to London when Haru turns three, there is an excellent Nursery named UCL Day Nursery that could take care of your daughter, and you just need to drive toward UCL to get in touch with me." she said while parking her car next to her apartment.

I look at the apartment, thinking about her idea of moving here in London.

Joseph: "ill think about it when I finally get a handle of being a Father to Haru." I said while getting off the car. "Besides, there still time before I would think about that."