Chapter 21

"The weather is so good today~" Ling said as he looked at the blue sky while opening the window.

"Here are the things you needed and aunty also gave some grapes..they are really sweet." Xian said as he ate one of the ripe red grapes.

"Atleast wash them before eating, will you?"

"Don't Nag at me please it's just 10, in the morning."

"Fine~"

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"But are you going to clean the house today?"

"Yes I am"

"Why so suddenly though? Anything special coming up?" He asked while taking another grape but before he could eat it Ling took it away from him.

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"Yes, very very special. My Father is coming back home!" Ling said as he smiled,

"Wow! That's a great news...does that your birthday is--"

"Yes, he will be here right on my birthday! That's why I need to clean the house and you either help me or sit quietly."

"I will help! Just tell me from where should I begin?" Xian asked as he took a broom in his hand.

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"How about we start from our own rooms first and then move to the other parts?"

"As you say~ Let's race the one who completes first will listen to the other for the whole day." Xian said as he looked at Ling,

"Fine! But the room should be clean with no amount of dust."

"Okay on your Mark, get set Go!" Xian said and both of them ran towards their room.

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They cleaned every corner of their room and came out at the same time, so no one won nor lose. Then they cleaned the kitchen, then the living room and now they were both sitting on the sofa all tired and sweaty.

"All done! I am so tired, even cleaning the dust is so much of a hassle."

"It is not over yet, there is still one room left and that's the main room that's needs cleaning."

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"There is one more room left? Is it that room which is always closed? I thought it is store room."

"It isn't a store room but my parents room..technically now it's my Father's room." Ling said as he bought out a key from his pocket which was a old rusty one with a beautiful Keychain made of chocolates wrappers.

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"That Keychain is interesting."

"My Mom made it from all the wrappers, Dad got for her. And dad kept it as a memory of mother, he said everytime he uses this key to open his door he feels like mother is entering the room with him." Ling said as he walked towards the door and opened it with the key.

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The room inside was bigger then the other rooms with a medium size bed, a wardrobe, a oval size mirror infront of the dressing table.

"Let me open the windows first." Ling said as he walked toward the windows and removed rhe curtains letting the light enter the room. Then he opened the windows and fianlly fresh air enter the musty room.

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"This room has more then half of the house dust in it." Xian commented as he covered his nose to not breath in the dust.

"It's funny how, Pa locked this room to keep it clean yet this is the most dusty room."

"Hey, are you really dissing your father now?"

"No, I am not! I dare not but I just find it ironic to see that...despite Pa trying so hard to protect his precious things the dust yet found its way here."

Ling said as he cleaned the dust from the mirror and looked at his face in it.

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"I guess that's what people call destiny...that No one has any control over." Ling completed and then took a broom and stated to clean the room followed by Xian.

After doing some of the cleaning, Xian reached the small corner of the room where the wall was covered with a white cloth piece.

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"Ling, What is this?" He asked as Ling approached him.

Ling looked at him and then at the wall,

"This is the wall of our family memories." He said with a smile and carefully removed the cover.

Both of them closed thier eyes because of the dust but opened it not long after.

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As they opened their eyes they saw many pictures on the walls some in frames, while some in Polaroids.

"This pictures are of my mother and me when I was in her stomach, Pa clicked our picture every month until the day I came out and placed them here." Ling said with a soft smile, Xian looking at the pictures felt warm and couldn't help but smile.

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"Now I know where you got your beauty from." Xian said as he looked at Ling,

"You got it from your mother."

Ling hearing that let out a smile,

"I heard that a lot from my Pa, that I look like mother although I didn't belive him then...but now I too feel like I do resemble her. And I like that." He said as he touched his mother's picture.

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"Now you too agree with me, don't you?"

"Agree at what?"

"That you are very very cute." Xian said as he poked at his cheeks and received a eyes roll as an answer.

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"I will never!"

"No worries~ I believe one day you will say yes! But why is there only your mother and your pics? What about your father?"

"Oh! It's always father taking the pictures so he is rarely in pictures himself but I remember having a picture with him...but I don't know where it is..." Ling said as he looked at he wall,

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"The perks of being a dad." Xian said as he sighed and suddenly Ling placed a polaroid infornt of his face.

"See I found it! Pa picture with Me!"

"I can't see anything you are placing it too close to my face."

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"Oh sorry! Here look at this! My Pa is very handsome, isn't he?"

"Is someone at home?" A voice came form outside.

"Looks like Aunty is here, she said she will pass by. You palce it back after looking at it. I will be back." Saying that Ling left the room while Xian was looking at the picture with a shocked face.

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A sudden pain started to reach his heart and the photo fell from his hand, as Ling entered the room Xian ran out of it.

"Where are you going? Werid..." Ling said and picked up the picture with a smile and continued his work.