Cohabitation With My Ex-Husband

"Then what should we do?" Gabriel asked as he opened his arms in front of him, his expression very confused. "We don't have money to buy Mommy a present!" he continued in a sad tone.

Raphael's forehead wrinkled, trying to think of what they should do. Meanwhile, Gabriel seemed to start tapping his tiny fingers on his thighs.

Michael, who saw the interaction between the two, wanted to pinch their adorable cheeks.

How could they even think that they should need money to buy a present? It seemed like Sarah had taught them how money worked, and once again Michael had to admire her.

"Uncle can buy the present that you want to buy for Mommy," said Michael when the two were just silent, trying to find a solution to the problem they were facing.

Both of their heads in unison immediately turned to Michael, both of their faces looked relieved, as if they had just solved their problem.

"But… It's our present. We have to buy it with our money," said Raphael who was still hesitant to let Michael buy his present.

Gabriel seemed to nod in agreement when he heard that. They should use their money to buy presents for Mommy.

Michael lost his words when he heard the words of his two sons. Aren't they too smart for that?

Well… to be honest, they weren't wrong at all. But how can a five year old have the money to buy presents? They don't even work.

Something suddenly popped into Michael's head, like he had just found a way out of this problem.

"Do you guys know about pocket money?" Michael asked. He had an idea, but he didn't know if his children had understood the concept.

Both nodded.

"Mommy gives us pocket money if we help Mommy," Gabriel said, then explained what they used to do to get money from Sarah.

"But lately Mommy doesn't give pocket money anymore," continued Raphael.

"Oh? Rapa is right. Mommy never asked us to help her clean the house," said Gabriel, who seemed to have just realized this.

Michael's face immediately smiled when his children knew about the pocket money. Seems like Sarah taught them about money by helping out with housework.

"Okay! What should we do?" asked Raphael who seemed okay with the offer. After all, he didn't know where to get the money at this point. So it looks like accepting Michael's offer is fine.

"Shall we tidy your bedroom, old man?" guessed Gabriel. They once wanted to get some money, but there was no work to do, and at that time Sarah told them to tidy up her room which was already tidy.

Michael suppressed a smile when he saw the excited expressions on the faces of the two children, as if they would do any job to earn money.

"No, you don't have to clean up uncle's room, or do housework," Michael said with a smile.

"Then what should we do?" asked the Twins almost at the same time with a confused look on their faces.

"For today, you two should call me… uncle," Michael said with a smile.

At first, Michael had planned to have them call him uncle, but for a while, he had thought about getting them to call him Daddy.

However, he managed to swallow the words back and he chose to stick with his original plan.

Compared to the old man, uncle could perhaps make them a little closer?

Maybe when they grow up, they will call him old man because he is old, but right now he is not old, and the context here, the old man is a stranger. Well… uncle is also a stranger, but at least it's better than the old man.

"What should we do, Rapa?" asked Gabriel, turning to his brother.

Actually, he had no problem with it, but he knew his brother didn't like calling Michael uncle, he even scolded him once. So for the sake of their solidarity, he had to wait for an answer from Raphael.

Meanwhile, Raphael's forehead wrinkled again when he heard what he had to do. Isn't this old man very cunning? Why did he have to make him call him uncle?

"Uncle, is there any other way so Rapa can join in buying Mommy's presents?" Gabriel asked looking at Michael, maybe he could sense that his brother would never call Michael uncle.

Michael smiled when Gabriel had called him uncle first, as usual, Gabriel's defensive walls were very easy to break through. But he didn't expect that Raphael would not immediately comply with his request.

"No, that's what you have to do to get uncle to give you money to buy Mommy's presents," Michael said looking at Gabriel, but the corner of his eyes tried to see the expression on Raphael's face.

"If Raphael doesn't want to do it, then uncle will only give the money to Gabriel," Michael continued with a smile and touched the top of Gabriel's head and rubbed it.

He knew that it meant Raphael would be forced to do that, but he had no other way for the boy to be a little gentle with him. Maybe after he calls him uncle, the little rascal will know that it's not that hard to call him uncle, right?

Raphael's expression looked surprised when he heard that. Only Gabriel will give presents to Mommy?

"I will do it!" said Raphael raising his hand.

Michael immediately turned and suppressed a smile when he saw the expression of the little puppy who wanted to bite him, but it was like something was tying him up and couldn't get close to biting him.

"Then what should Raphael call uncle?" asked Michael gently.

The little boy's mouth opened, but no sound came out. The expression on his face was clear that he was currently in a dilemma whether he should do that or not.

"Un… Uncle," Raphael said quietly, almost silently.

"Just say it clearly, Rapa! Uncle! Like that!" said Gabriel, giving an example.

Michael held back his smile when he heard that. He then spread his arms and rubbed Raphael's head.

"Look? It's not that hard. If Raphael needs uncle, then call uncle a little loud, okay? So uncle can hear you, "said Michael gently with a smile.

Raphael was silent when he heard that.

Michael then immediately withdrew his hand, and clapped his hands twice.

"Then let's get you changed first. We have to go buy Mommy's presents," Michael said, telling the kids to hurry up.

"Shouldn't we take a shower?" Gabriel, who was already standing in front of his bedroom door, immediately turned to Michael, as did Raphael.

Michael shook his head.

"You don't need to take a shower. Take a shower later after coming home from buying presents for Mommy," said Michael giving his orders.

He didn't know when Sarah would be home, so he had to hurry up with his surprises and presents to make her forget about her date.

Both of them looked confused when they heard that. Usually before they have to go out, their Mommy always tells them to take a shower first and sometimes they always refuse, but it seems that if they go out with Uncle, they don't need to take a shower.

The two then immediately went into his room, while Michael immediately went upstairs to change his pants.

***

Michael looked at the two children sitting in the back seat through the rearview mirror of his car. The smile never stopped on his face. He never thought that he could take his two children to go out, even if it was to buy a present.

They had also been with him in his car before when he picked them up from school, but this situation was very different.

He couldn't wait for the day he would be able to go out with his children, strengthening their father-son bond as he used to often with his father.

"By the way, what do you want to buy for Mommy?" Michael asked, occasionally glancing at them in the rearview mirror.

Tonight he already had his own plans, and his car was currently heading towards the flower shop.

"Hmmm…" The two seemed to be thinking. What should they give Mommy?

"Mommy likes flowers. I'll buy Mommy flowers!" said Raphael who seemed to have made his choice.

He still remembers how his mother smiled when she got the flowers he gave her that time. So he will buy flowers for his Mommy.

"Then I'll buy Mommy a cake!" said Gabriel excitedly.

"Are you sure it will be given to Mommy and you don't want to eat it?" asked Raphael turning to his brother.

"No, I'll give it to Mommy!" said Gabriel who immediately shook his head, denying that.

Michael just smiled seeing his children's interactions which always made him feel grateful that they were his children. Gosh… he loves them so much.

"Okay, let's go buy flowers and cake for Mommy!" said Michael, nodding excitedly.

Cakes were part of his plan too, as Sarah loved cakes, especially chocolate cakes, but he seemed to be able to make it as if it was a present from Gabriel.

Along the way, Michael's lips never stopped smiling. He couldn't wait to put his plan into action, and he was sure it would make Sarah forget about her date today!