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After they graduated, Reki moved to Canada on a scholarship for engineering. By default, Langa followed and enrolled in another university close to Reki’s. After classes, they went back to their shared apartment and talked about their day.
They met new people, built connections, and forming new relationships. By the end of the second semester, it was a coincidence that both of them confessed to each other on the same day, same place, and at the same time. It was a sight to see, their new friends could agree on that. It was embarrassing, albeit sweet and heart-warming, a friend of theirs sneakily took pictures (of which later on, Langa had asked for and framed them in their shared space.)
It went on like that for years to come, until both of them finally graduated and received their degrees. There was a huge party with their friends and professors, and under the full moon and the stars illuminating the sky, Langa proposed to Reki, with one knee down to the ground and a beautiful ring (one that took years of saving, but it was worth it) presented towards the redhead. A tearful “yes!” and a passionate kiss were only to be witnessed by the night sky.
They got married there in Canada, in Langa’s old hometown, where his grandparents still lived. Reki’s family (his mother, sisters- even his father) managed to book tickets and flew there safely with Nanako, whom was delighted to see Langa and his soon-to-be husband.
The wedding was but a simple event, with only their closest friends from Japan and Canada, along with their families. Smiles and tears were all shared, a new addition to each family, and a brand new picture framed upon the wall.
The couple moved back to Japan a few years later. Around that time, their child had been born and was already three years old. Sweet little Ollie, whom had Langa’s hair color and Reki’s eyes, and looked more like Reki but acted more like Langa. His aunts Koyomi, Chihiro and Nanaka loved him very much, as such with his grandparents.
Since they hadn't bought a house, nor rented an apartment yet, they stayed at Reki’s house, with Chihiro and Nanaka sharing their rooms again and gave Reki his old room back, for the couple and their kid. It was always endearing for Masae to wake up early and find her son curled up to his husband, with their child right in the middle. The sight reminded her of the time when Reki was still a child and used to come inside her room to snuggle between her and her husband. She sneakily took some pictures with a camera and quietly closed the door.
Koyomi thanked the heavens she bought a camera, though that didn’t mean her mom could use it to take pictures of his brother doing lovey-dovey things with his husband, that’s yucky.
(She had grown out of that teenage mindset, but it would always be weird and unpleasant to be reminded of how they had a child. She delved in biology for college, she’d know. It’s utterly disgusting to imagine his brother out of all people doing the tango for Ollie to be born.
She wasn’t going to complain, though. She got a cute nephew out of this, and more pictures collected for their photo album.)
Reki and Langa moved out two years later to their brand new home. They couldn’t find other houses on sale near the city, so a house near Reki’s old neighbourhood should do. It was a simple one, with a huge garage and a spacious backyard, perfect to build a shack (courtesy of Reki’s work.) It was bought on a good deal, and Ollie could still visit his grandparents.
When Ollie was six, they celebrated Reki’s birthday at Sia La Luce with Kojiro and Kaoru to help. Both men still looked young, but they have certainly turned wiser with age. The others were all there, and the celebration was one of Ollie’s unforgettable experience.
Aunt Koyomi took pictures and tuck them in their family album, full of many memories.
Akira Hasegawa-Kyan was born on the 24th of September, a month after Reki’s birthday celebration. Langa took one look at her blazing red hair and knew he’d immediately protect her with all his life, just like what he vowed to do with Ollie.
And when she opened her eyes to reveal those beautiful blue, the blue-haired man knew he would do anything to keep those eyes shining bright. Ollie and Akira deserved everything good.
He kissed Reki’s forehead tenderly as the redhead close his eyes, tired after hours of pushing. Softly laying his daughter next to his husband, Langa took a picture to tuck it in their album.
(Few hours later, Koyomi came in with a restless Ollie in her arms.)
Reki’s health deteriorated during Ollie’s third year of elementary.
He started to become more exhausted over doing simple chores, and the smallest indication of a flu could turn in weeks of restless fever. His appetite decreased over the course of weeks, and once when he was about to stand up only to topple over and pass out, Langa had rushed him to the nearest hospital, almost forgetting to call for his mother or one of Reki’s sister to take care of their children in the midst of panic.
Autoimmune disease, the doctor had announced.
It didn’t make sense, though. That kind of disease would’ve- should’ve appeared during Reki’s childhood or teenage years. But the doctor said they could appear in various age. Nanako confirmed, and Langa believed had believed his mother for years. Yet, he refused to believe this.
He might’ve been in denial when his dad died years ago, but he had come to terms with it after talking it out with Reki and his mom. Now, Reki’s sick, and he felt lost.
Ever since that damned diagnosis, Reki stayed in the white, sterile hospital room with tubes and wires keeping him alive. With the redhead in the hospital, there wasn’t a day when Langa left his side for more than half an hour.
For the first time since their marriage, no pictures were taken.
Ollie was eight and a half when he stumbled upon his dad crying in their kitchen, late at night.
He had woken up from a nightmare he could not remember and decided to take a glass of water from the kitchen to ease his dry throat.
The sight he had stumbled upon was not what he anticipated.
He had heard from aunt Koyomi how papa’s condition hadn’t gotten slightly better, yet aunt Chihiro was positive he’d get better.
Aunt Nanaka was there with dad, doing her best to console him. Aunt Koyomi went back to Tokyo for work and aunt Chihiro was sleeping with Akira.
“The doctor said his condition’s declining,” he heard his dad trying to sob the words out. “They’re not sure if he’s gonna make it this month.”
He saw his aunt Nanaka side-hugging his dad and swallowing the lump in her throat, trying to keep the tears forming in her eyes at bay. “He’s going to make it this month, c’mon Langa-nii, have you lose faith in him?”
Ollie couldn’t watch anymore.
Leaving the kitchen, he quietly rushed back to his room, careful to shut the door, and cried himself to sleep.
(The next morning, he took a picture of his papa and taped it in his journal.)
Akira was four when she ran from their sight and went missing for a day.
Chihiro called Langa from the hospital, and he rushed immediately in search for his daughter.
The whole day, they searched through the whole neighbourhood and even her kindergarten with no luck. The whole day, Langa felt like crying.
Until they found her in a playground next to Koyomi’s old junior high school, that he felt like he would combust in relief.
He started to bring his children to the hospital more often. If only to let them see their papa again.
(Reki looked happier when their children visited. He must've felt so lonely, even with Langa's company.
Langa didn't have the heart to prevent his children from visiting ever again.
A picture was taken, right in that hospital room, for the first time in months.)
Akira was five when she started to remember some things.
First, her dad’s really pretty, and she had his eyes. He always looked sad, though.
Second, her brother’s the kindest! He’s always there to help her.
Third, his papa was never at home. She missed him, though she got to see him in this place called... The hop- hosi- hops- hotsipal? No, the hospital!
Auntie said it’s a place for people who were very sick. That means papa was really sick!
She promised herself to draw something every day for papa to see! She thought pictures were better, but dad always take pictures whenever they visited, so she wanted to give him something else.
Papa always looked so tired and sad, but he gets happy when she present him her drawings!
Papa’s smile were always warm, even when his touch felt cold.
Akira loved his papa. She loved her dad and brother, too. Well, she loves her whole family!
She hopes papa gets better , that way he could come back home and spend time with them, like dad’s and brother’s stories!
She really, really hope papa would come home soon.