Dale Daniel hurried to go home. He couldn't resist his excitement to see his wife after such a tiring day. 
"Manang Lydia, where are my ladies?" he asked when he entered the house.
"Sir, you are looking for Ma'am Zyah? Aren't you two together?" Manang Lydia replied. "I didn't see them around."
Dale wondered where they were. His wife sent him a message that they are home but Manang Lydia says differently.
He decided to look for them upstairs. 
"Wife? Dhyrine?" He called but he heard nothing from them. He opened the door of their room but no one was there. He went down again, still calling his wife and daughter. 
He was surprised when he went to their back yard. There was a small tent installed and a picnic mat on the grass. There are a lot of foods and fruits. There is also a small table where the cake was. When he came closer he saw what was written on it. "Happy Birthday, Dada!"
"Happy Birthday!" He heard a joyful tone from behind. When he turned back, he saw his wife and daughter holding a balloon and throwing the confetti.
Zyah smiled when she saw her husband's reaction. He looks so surprised. She came closer and hugged him. "Happy Birthday, lalaki."
Dale kissed his wife and smiled. "Wife, you are spoiling me."
Both of them halted at their moment when they heard their daughter crying.
"Mama! Dada! I am here!"
Dale Daniel bends down his knees and carries her daughter. "I am sorry, baby."
"Dada! We planned a surprise for you! Do you like it?"
Dale pinched his daughter's cheeks. "I am beyond surprised, anak."
Dhyrine giggled and gave her present to her dad. "It's my drawing. It's for you, dada!"
Zyah and Dale took a look at their daughter's drawing. It is a sketch of a small house and a three person standing outside. Their names are penciled right under the figure corresponding to them. 
My best dada, Dada Dale Daniel.
My loving mama, Mama Clarriese Zyah.
And it's me, the little one, Dhyrine Denisse.
"My daughter is good at drawing," Zyah commented on her daughter's work.
"Our daughter, wife," Dale said. "Our daughter." He gave emphasis to the latter.
"Let's celebrate your birthday, dada!" their daughter interfered. "You are getting older, dada!"
"Am I still handsome even if I am getting older,  'nak?"
Zyah banged his shoulder. "What are you saying to your daughter, lalaki!"
"Our daughter, my wife," Dale repeated.
Zyah surrendered and went to light out the candle. "Here, blow your candle!" She went closer to her husband who is still carrying their daughter.
"Do I still need to do such a thing? Like blowing candles?" Dale asked.
"Dada, lemme blow the candles for you!" 
"Sure, anak. Do wish for dada too!" He said.
Dhyrine clapped happily. "Wish, dada? I wish for a little brother!"
Zyah blushed on what, her daughter said.
"Anak, you are only 4 years old and you are wishing for a little brother already?!"
Dale stared at Zyah with meaningful smiles. "You heard that, wife? Our princess wishes for a little prince."
"Stop it, lalaki!" She diverted her attention again to the foods. "Let's eat!"
The three of them shared the food happily. Three of them were filled with joy. The smile on their faces reflects the genuine happiness from their hearts.
Being a parent is the miracle that both happened to them. Their family was growing with love. Dale couldn't put into words how happy he was that the mother of his child was Zyah, the woman who loved the most. The fate tried to seperate them yet they were meant to be lovers and meet again.
After celebrating Dale's birthday with a simple meal, they are now both seated on the grass, watching their daughter playing in the distance. Zyah was leaning on his husband's chest.  
"Wife, I love you," Dale suddenly mumbled. 
Zyah shrieked. "You always love saying that out of nowhere, lalaki."
"Yeah. Because I love you."
"I know. I know. Stop that already!"
Dale tightened his arms on her wife and looked at their daughter playing around.
"Wife, I have to tell you something."
"What is it?"
"You remember the day that I told you that you are the one who is in love with me first?"
"Yeah."
"That isn't true. I was the one who fell in love with you, first."
"Huh?"
"I already saw you even before you entered Dreamnote University," he admitted.
Zyah was surprised by his husband's words. 
"Where?"
"At Press Con. When you were in Grade 12."
"Really? How did that happen?"
"You won a silver medal that time in Feature Writing."
"Woah. You even know that!" 
"I was in my 3rd year at that time and got the task to cover and make an article for the said event."
"Why didn't you tell me?!"
"Hmm? I forgot?"
"You forgot?"
"Wife, don't sulk, hmm?" Dale searched for something from his jacket. He opened his wallet and got the photo stored on it. "That! I took a photo of you at that time."
"OMG! Do you even have this?!" she exclaimed.
"Yeah. I kept it well."
"Wife, I love you."
"I love you too, lalaki."
🏷 Inkwell's Latest Update 🏷
Dale Daniel Cuego: 
Everyone out there, how are you all? Did you wake with a smile like me when I rose from bed? I've been through anxiety and doubt but I am glad I didn't lose my path. I found my way back home, and that is my wife's embrace, my home.
Lately, you are asking how she is. On my board, it's full of her already. Well, she's fine and doing well. She's getting pretty as the days go by!
Enjoy your day. Wear a smile!
Clarriese Zyah Tehran:
Sunrise.
Sunset.
Sunset, for me, washes away the sorrow of yesterday. Sunrise, signifies a new hope ahead of us. 
In every moment of silence where only haphazard thoughts occupy my sanity, I choose to sit and allow the setting sun to get me mesmerized. I felt better at just doing that. It eases my mind.
On every quiet night with a chaotic mind, don't let yourself be wiped out by the darkness. In the dim light of dawn, the sun is rising from that horizon.
Sunrise. Sunset. Both of them are hope.
This has been Little Auteur! Have a blast!
Rosaline de Vienna:
Life is the hardest battle we all went through. In that battle, we all made mistakes. And that mistake will hinder us from winning if we can't move ahead. 
I went through such a battle and I am on the verge of giving up. But there's something that ignites the power inside my heart. That was a mistake. Those failures should have made me question my worth but I turned everything around. I learned to forgive myself for committing such a mistake at the same time convinced myself to rise and learn from my faults and embrace the scar it left.
This is Rosaline, the new member. Thank you, Inkwell!
Ledger Rius
Letting go.
The art of letting go has never been easy to learn but if we are willing, we will surely be there. 
The consequence was worth it. Now, there's no more burden inside my heart. I even found a new family upon freeing myself from the chain of hatred.
Ledger Rius, Inkwell.
Thank you for visiting Inkwell.