Chapter 1: The Quadruplets

Apollo Campbell's POV

I made sure to come home every birthdays of my quadruplets, mine and their mom's. And also Christmas and New Year. We always gathered and eat together as a whole family, and now it's their sixth year birthday. My friends and sister left them today for our traditional lunch every birthday of my kids. I'm very lucky that they were raised by them. I can see they did great just by watching my kids interact with one another.

"I can't reach the rice bowl." Lauren said trying to extend more her tiny arm. She's a skinny kid with a long black hair like her siblings. Their doe eyes came from me while the other features especially their pointed nose and plump lips are from my beloved wife.

Her brother Leon was attentive to his sister and immediately took the bowl and handed it to Lauren. They were sitting beside each other while the other two are on their front and me is in the center.

"Thanks bro." She happily accepted the bowl and scoop a cup and fill her plate then scoop again to fill her brother's plate too.

"Thank you." Leon shyly said and put the bowl back in the middle. Rowan told me that Leon likes to be alone and doesn't talk much but when he met his sister Lauren, he tried to be close to her.

"You didn't use your knife. Aunt said that using knife to cut the meat before you eat. It can help you chew the small meat better." Leah told her brother but Liam just looked at her. He's a kid with an intimidating expressions, but the cuteness still lingers on his handsome face that's why his sisters aren't afraid of him.

"Use your knife Liam. Instead of biting the whole meat on your fork." Leah instructed, he was unsure if he will listen to her but soon held the knife beside his plate.

"Okay, but you need to obey me." Liam held his glass of orange juice. The youngest furrowed her brows.

"What are you saying?"

"Drink this juice rather than that coke. It's not healthy." He switched their glasses of beverages. Leah pouted but stayed silent. And that's when I heard my first born daughter laughed.

"You look stupid." Liam said eyeing his sister who's laughing with a dripping catsup on the side of her mouth. He looked pissed but I can't really read him.

"No, she looked like a vampire." Leah pointed at the red sauce on her mouth. Lauren imitated the sound of a mad vampire by growling with her cute little voice which made the two infront of her laughed but Leon quickly handed her a tissue.

"Wipe it now before it dried up." She accepted and they smiled to each other.

"Dad, the pitcher was empty. Can you uh... please get us some orange juice?" Liam cutely requested. I smiled and took the glass pitcher.

I stood up and went to the kitchen to fill the pitcher with orange juice they loved. I smiled hearing their conversations with cute laughs. I'm grateful that they understand that I can't accompany them everytime like the other kids in their school. I'm lucky to have the most understanding kiddos with me.

When I came back I suppressed a laugh seeing Lauren imitating a gorilla. Leah tried not to laugh by her sister's antics. Liam was just eating while Leon watched her with amusement and admiration plastered in his face. I put the pitcher down before settling myself to my seat.

"Thanks Dad." My son get the glass pitcher and poured his glass and switched again with Leah's glass of coke.

"Babies, what do you want for your eighteenth birthday? I'll give it as a present." I asked while smiling widely. Yes. They are now at their legal age. Time flew really fast. It's just like yesterday when they're six and now twelve years had already passed.

"We're not babies anymore Dad." Leah pouted. My cute babies are cute until now. They grew up so fast but still looked like a carbon copy of each other, only their personalities, hair and dresses differs. Lauren, got her long hair blonde with a full bangs hiding her forehead. Leah dyed her long straight hair orange but same as her sister, she has a full bangs also. Liam on the other hand, grew taller than his sister's 5'7 in height. He's 5'9, and maybe he can go taller as my 6 flat. His body became more masculine and firm. He stayed in his brunette colored hair, an undercut short hair that made him look like a kpop idol. And lastly, Leon. We all got shocked when he's growing. Something is growing in his body too. Now, she's more likely a girl with a man's.. you know. We consulted a doctor before and he said that she's an intersexed and by that she became more mum and avoid people. But she didn't stop to be close to Lauren, she adored her sister very much. Leon's features were same as her sisters but she only has a shoulder-length light brown wavy hair. She always wore a rounded eyeglasses and a beanie or a cap.

"But you're still my babies." I pouted and my youngest mimicked me.

"Okay Dad, as you like. I want a VIP concert ticket to my favorite kpop boy group." She tried to act like cute baby now. How can I say no with that?

"Okay, sure. I'll get you that. I promise." Her favorite boy group were a good influence to her and to the music industry. They became more of her inspiration. Leah is attending a music and art department in their school because it's her dream to be an idol someday and because of their music, she still goes on even if she's having hard times trying to perfect her performance or creating her own song for their weekly evaluations.

"Liam, what do you wished for this year?"

"Just a set of new boxing gloves will do Dad." He answered while cutting some meat using his knife.

"I'll buy you two sets, one for you and one for Dallas." I smiled. Liam is not a materialistic, we know that he can buy alot or maybe he has alot of it but he only ask me just for me to fulfill my duty every birthdays they have. Boxing is his favorite activity and Mr. Kwon is his boxing partner and trainor. He trained him since he was a kid and told me he's really good at it. My son is interested in boxing like he's interested in his course, Archi. He doesn't have problems with his grades but I got the news that he's fist fighting with some of his schoolmates. I was near on scolding him and his guardian but Dallas told me that he only did that to protect someone who got bullied, and one of them was Leon. It pained me to know that my daughter suffered from bullying because of her introvert personality and being an intersexed. I was clueless on how did those jerks knew she was, but to my surprise Drey told me that Leon is stubbornly peeing on the men's room rather than the women's restroom. I asked her about it and she answered me that the girls keep on talking about their periods and she felt maybe she doesn't belong there. I feel sad about it, why it has to be her? Why my Leon? She's the most fragile among them and I'm too careful with words I said to her just to make sure she will not be hurt with what I am saying.

It was their junior year in high school when she first get bullied, she became a little weird that time, she became more silent that even with me, she keeps her mouth shut. I can see through Liam that he's pissed off mostly especially when we spend the holidays together. I thought because they're on their adolescence year and maybe just because of their hormonal changes that's why they're acting weird but it shocked me when Leah told me about those bullies. My boy got a great revenge on them after the new year came. I was stunned by the news that he beat up four boys knowing he did that alone. But more shocking was knowing it's not the first time and definitely not the last time he will do that.

I talked to Dallas about it but he told me, he only do that to protect the weak kids especially Leon and Leah. My youngest didn't experience being bullied but some bastard trying to disrespect my daughter and Liam do the justice on them. Mr. Kwon assured me that he will keep an eye on him more to make sure he'll not meet a police officer in the future.

"Dad, can I have a new laptop?" Someone interrupted my train of thoughts. I saw Leon looking very nervous.

"Why? Something's wrong with your laptop?" I asked carefully while searching for her eyes that buried on her plate.

"I-I uh, I accidentally dropped it. And it started not to work properly, I tried to fix it but it didn't work." My daughter lowered her head and mumbled a soft 'sorry'.

"Leon, your laptop is too old. You fixed it for more than five times now, and thankfully it finally gave up." Leah butted in.

"Dad just give her new lappy, we all know it's her lover." Leah continued smiling at me. I smiled back and looked at Leon who's now facing me with puppy eyes.

"I want you to have the best." I told her, and fished my phone on my pocket to search for the fastest and better laptop that will suit her needs.

"Just choose what you prefer in here." I handed her my phone. Her eyes widen seeing the three bestest laptop on the screen.

"Dad, it's too much. I can settle with just four zeroed price."

"No no you don't. I'll give you the perfect laptop you'll need in your school. You are a programmer and an editor, it's best if it loads fast."

"Just choose Leon. It's your birthday present." Leah trying to convince her sister. She looked at me and I welcomed her an ear to ear smile. She handed me back my phone and it was a picture of one particular laptop. Maybe it was her choice, I clicked the image and send it to one of my trusted body guard to settle everything.

"Thank you Dad." My Leon smiled. A very beautiful smile. But when I averted my eyes on someone staring at her plate, I frowned.

"Lauren, why are you quiet? It's unusual." She blinked before looking at me, I can see sadness in her eyes. Why?

"My Lauren, is it your old camera? Do you want me to get you a new one?" I guessed trying to know what's bothering my ball of sunshine. She shook her head and stare at her plate again.

"So, what's the problem? Your grades are quite great. Or maybe, so you have someone now? A boyfriend?" I guessed all the possibilities, I knew that Lauren is not interested in relationship. She's more in love with her camera and a good view.

"Dad, it's not what you think it is. It's just..." She's now fidgeting the spoon on her side and caught all of her attention.She then gulped before speaking.

"I want to pull out from school." And that alarmed me. She loves schooling, she loves photography so much. I told her to study business but she stood for what she wants, she let me see it as her dream, passion and happiness not just a simple and boring class. So why? Why is she giving it away?

"Is there a problem my daughter? Anything, you can tell us, especially me." I carefully said, I want to know what's running on her mind right now.

"I can't stay studying." Her voice was shaken and her eyes keep staring on the table.

"Are you insane?!" Liam snapped, glaring on her sister.

"If you got bullied or someone is harassing you like me, just tell our brother and he'll do the thing." The youngest said trying to hide her curiosity and care for her.

"If you got a problem with your subjects or anything you can tell me. Maybe, I can help." Leon held her sister's hand lying on the table. She's really close to her and they get along pretty well.

"Thank you. But, it's not that. I'm not in trouble. My classmates are all good and I'm not insane. I'm just... I just need to work."

"What?!" We said in unison. We were shocked by her sudden confession. Why does my daughter needs to work?

"I need to earn money." Lauren stated.

"Why? You can just ask Dad if you want money." Leah stopped chewing and put her fork and knife down.

"No. I don't want Dad's money. I need to earn for myself."

"Why do you need money?" I asked firmly looking straight in her.

"Dad, please let me. I can't tell you now. Maybe next time. But I promise after a year I'll be back in school." She pleaded. Her eyes now met mine, she's hoping for a yes coming from me. It's against me, honestly but as I can see my daughter seems to cry when I reject her pleading. I have this soft whipped heart when it comes to them. I don't think I can really see them like this.

"I don't want you to leave school, I want to see you tired doing homeworks not overtired because of work. You know Lauren, money is not a problem. I strived hard for it just to meet all of your needs, you don't have to feel ashamed or what." Explaining my side could probably change her mind.

"Dad, thank you but this is my only shot. I'm carving myself out, sort everything out, what I really want because honestly I felt lost right now." Her eyes glistening, it was the sight I'm always afraid of. Seeing one of them feeling helpless but Lauren stood up not letting this phase swallow her whole.

"What job are you looking for?" I asked firmly. I want to make sure that she can prove me that it's what she really wanted to do.

"I'm still thinking about it. Maybe, waitress."

"You're too clumsy for that." Leon reminded her.

"A convenience store cashier?" She asked looking at Leon. I and Leah watched them silently but Liam is glaring at his sister.

"The manager banned you for accidentally broke almost all of their bottled wines." Her sister countered again. We all knew what happened that day. It's last year, her first time to taste alcohol and loved it, she keep drinking until she get drunk. She pulled Leon to the convenience store to buy some bottles but she stumbled upon those shelves that made the bottles met the floor. Her sister called and told me that Lauren became sober after hearing the loud crashing sound of the bottles and cried really hard because the owner scolded her and banned the both of them in all of the other branches of their store. I already talked to the owner and pay everything but refused to let my daughters in there again.

"Okay. Okay. Housekeeper?" She waited for her sister to remember anything.

"You suck at cleaning the house, you made the washing machine an unstoppable bubble spitting monster, you can't fold your clothes properly, you cooked a rice or should I say a rice became a soup and burnt eggs almost burning the whole kitchen down." Leon massaged her temples. I can see her stress with her sister's failed chores.

"Oh gosh! It's really hard. Maybe a janitor would do?" She pointed at Leon smiling. But it faded when her sister shook her head.

"You don't know how to use a mop properly. You broke it in two because you're too pissed on why it won't go as you pleased." Leon was always on Lauren's side. She cut class before because her friend invited her for a birthday party. She's a happy go lucky but intelligent girl, she's stubborn sometimes and do alot of antics but she's a nice, kind hearted girl. When she's about to sneak out, Leon caught her and tailed her sister. But little did they know, one of their professor saw them and before they can leave the school, he popped in front of them. He punished them by cleaning the faculty room and that's the time Lauren fought with a mop.

"Geez! Why is it so hard to find a job-oh! Hold on! What if a construction worker?" She waited for Leon to countered her but the latter scratched her nape.

"We don't have any experience on that."

"I can do that! I'll learn that fast." Lauren beamed at her.

"Do you think I'll allow you?" A serious tone escaped my throat and her smile fell.

"Dad, please. Let me handle myself, let me learn from myself. Please. I need this to know who I really am." She pleaded with her eyes screamed sadness, I wanted to say yes already but I'm scared what if she encountered bad guys while working especially the construction workers. What if they threatened her or something I can't even imagine.

"Dad, I promise to be safe all the time."

Is the worry so obvious on my face? Did she read my mind?

"Okay. I will only allow you if you work with my men." I stated with a small smile. That's the best solution for my problem right now. I remembered that I hired men to help me build the Campbell's restaurant here. It was started a week ago and will be done for a month or so.

"What do you mean?" Lauren got confused and looked at me straight in the eyes.

"I'm currently building the first branch of our restaurant here, so I hired men to do the construction. You can help with the interior design if you like." I proposed. It's a good start for her to be introduce to our business, soon the four of them will overtake the responsibility as the owner of the restaurant.

"You're gotta be kidding us dad!" My son snapped with my sudden decision.

"I'm scared I'm not."

"Okay, if I'll accept being a construction worker and an interior designer, I'll be payed by too?" Lauren asked getting the assurance about her salary. I smiled and nod my head.

"Thanks Dad." Lauren showed her cheeky grin that made my heart swell. A beautiful sight infront of me.

"I'm leaving school then." Liam abruptly stood up that made us looked at him shocked.

"Liam, you're insane!" Leah snapped, disbelieving her brother's words.

"Call me that or anything. But I'm sure of what I said. I want to focus on my boxing. It's my dream and my passion. Please tell the principal I'm dropping out."

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