Denial is the Way

After everyone saw and read the words on the banner, the silence raged on, making it easier to hear the surrounding nature. 

 

Everyone kept rereading the words over and over, their eyes always stopping on the 'and,' until they finally started reacting. 

 

Liam, "Twins? I wonder if I got enough stuff? I should call my assistant to get more." 

 

Kay, "Oh, two babies to spoil and protect? I should take over more territories to make sure they are extra protected." 

 

Hana, "Ah! Twins! I am so happy.” 

 

George, "Two babies to hold and spoil? I am fine with that." 

 

Yan, "Nan, you will have two cousins to play with and act as a big brother too." 

 

Nan, "NanNan knows. Uncle En told NanNan." 

 

Thana, "Dang, I wish I knew this beforehand so that I could buy more gifts." 

 

Fe, "I had a feeling. Your stomach is more significant than someone having one child." 

 

Kori, "Hmm, it would take more than this to surprise me." 

 

Tia, "Awe, twins! I hope they are identical." 

 

The father sighed, "I wish I knew before everyone else." 

 

Once everyone finished having their say, Ender's mother cleared her throat, causing everyone to quiet down again. "Now that the surprise is out the way let's get the baby shower started." 

 

Ender's father walked towards the grill that had already started and began to put the meat on it. Everyone moved to either sitting at the tables on the patio or the chairs surrounding the pool. 

 

Ender grabbed Nevan's hand, pulling them towards their friend. "So," Ender started once he was next to Fe and Tia. Kori was currently sitting, a few feet from them, with Yan and Nan. 

 

"Well, I feel like I should not be surprised that you are a part of the famous Long family, but I am. People can have the same last name and not be related, so it barely passed my mind." Tia answered. 

 

"I had a feeling, even though we never talked about our family. But, I decided not to look much into it because your privacy is your privacy." Fe responded. 

 

"Thanks. If you two want some favor with my elder brother, I don't mind helping you." 

 

Fe and Tia shook their heads. "We rather do it on our own. But I got to hand it to Kori for catching the beautiful flower, Yan. Have you heard the stories of your brother? So many people want him at the school he works at." Tia spoke. 

 

Ender laughed, "I heard. And Kori is my brother's type, so he had more of an advantage over others." 

 

Tia looked over at Yan and Kori with a sigh, "Lucky." 

 

Fe hit his shoulder against Tia, "Get over it." 

 

"So rude." 

 

Ender shook his head at them before seeing Kay coming his way. He left Fe and Tia to their conversation, keeping hold of Nevan's hand as he met his elder sister halfway. 

 

Kay softly smiled at him before looking at Nevan with a straight face, "You better treat my nephew and niece right, or you will end up missing." 

 

Ender choked on his spit, "Kay." 

 

Nevan did not mind the threat as he responded, "I promise I will." 

 

"Good." Then she turned towards Ender, rubbing his head, "Can I take Nevan off your hands? Liam would like to speak with him too." 

 

Ender nodded, letting go of Nevan. Nevan kissed his cheek before walking off with Kay. Looking around, Ender stopped at his mother and father, deciding to walk towards them. 

 

The smell of barbecue made him hungry, only growing stronger as he got closer. When his parents saw him, his father looked him up and down, "You need to sit, En. Your feet are probably killing you." 

 

His feet did ache, but he ignored it to give himself some exercise. "It is okay, dad. I am good." 

 

His father shook his head while his mother went to grab a chair, bringing it to him. "Take a seat, son." 

 

Ender could only listen to his father's request, especially since his mother brought a chair. He sat down before glancing at them, "You know it should be the other way around. I should be telling you two to sit." 

 

His mother waved her hand, "I may be old, but I still got it." 

 

His father nodded his head, agreeing. 

 

"You two are something else. So, dad, how do you feel about me having twins?" 

 

"I wish you could have told me beforehand. You kids are always telling your mother things and leaving me out." His father faked a sad expression. 

 

"Ah, honey. It is because I am more awesome than you." 

 

"Whatever, love. I am just too incredible that the kids are too intimidated by it." 

 

"Those sound like fighting words. Are you trying to awaken my competitive spirit? Because it would only lead to you losing." 

 

His father laughed out loud, "Oh look, Leilani is trying to act tough again." 

 

"Oh, all I hear is Sore Loser Sebastian speaking from his ass." 

 

Ender groaned, "Can you two not flirt while I am still here?" 

 

His mother chuckled while sarcastically asking, "Oh no, have we taught our kids wrong that they call this flirting?" 

 

"So tragic. Maybe we should keep doing this thing called flirting." His father played along. 

 

Ender rolled his eyes, "I'm running away." 

 

His parents only laughed at him. 

 

Everyone spent the rest of the day chatting and eating when the food was ready. They laughed and played games, even eating a big cake Ender's mother personally made. 

 

Nevan whispered a joke to Ender, remembering the picture Ender's mother showed him. He ended up getting ignored by Ender for a few minutes. 

 

And when the time came to open a few presents (he had way too much to open it all), they went inside to the Christmas room. 

 

The presents were there as Ender and Nevan sat on the couch with everyone surrounding them. Ender showed everyone the few outfits he got, bottles, pacifiers, diapers, baby carriers, baby gift sets, blankets, etc. 

 

Ender and Nevan thanked everyone. 

 

And lastly, before everyone left, his mother wanted to take pictures. 

 

All in all, Ender enjoyed his baby shower. 

 

---

It took two days and long back and forward trips for Ender to take all his gifts home. Even then, it was still way too much, so Ender ended up donating some of the stuff he had. 

 

Now, today, Ender and Nevan were fixing up an empty bedroom for the twins. Ender was painting the room a beige color while Nevan set up the beds, dresser, and decorations. 

 

Ender would have helped, but he got annoyed with bending over when he did. 

 

The room was close to finishing with paint as Ender got any spots he missed. 

 

"We still have to think of names," Nevan spoke, filling in the silence. 

 

Ender stopped in his painting for a second before continuing again, "We can decide right now." 

 

"With no paper in front of us to write it down?" 

 

"No, we can talk about it and quickly pick the two names we like the most." 

 

Nevan sighed before saying, "Well, I do have a few names." 

 

"Let's hear it, and then I will say mine," Ender responded. He hasn't thought about any names in advance, but maybe hearing what Nevan has would help him. 

 

Nevan screwed in a nail to the dresser before saying, "Allen and Vera, Sam and Noe, Ivan and Ruby, or Don and An. Now, let's hear yours." 

 

Ender bit his lip, thinking for a second longer before coming up with something, "Hazel and Emil, Ume and Arthur, Ana and Kyro, or Atiya and Jin." 

 

They both took in the names they spoke out loud before thinking which ones were their favorites from the other’s pile. 

 

"I like the names Allen, Vera, Noe, and Ivan from your pile," Ender mentioned. 

 

"And I like the names Hazel, Emil, Atiya, and Jin from your pile," Nevan responded. 

 

"They are all good. I don't know what to choose. What about you?" 

 

"Same." 

 

"Maybe we should write the names down, put them in a hat, and whichever paper we pull is the name we will use. Is that fine?" Ender asked, finally glancing at Nevan. 

 

Nevan looked back at him, "I have no problem with that." 

 

After that, they went back to setting up the room.