Unexpected Encounter

Andre just stared with his mouth open and even forgot about the half eaten corn dog in his mouth which fell to the ground without support since Andre's hands loosened on it

While Andre was still speechless, another girl with shiny black hair, see through bangs, starry black eyes, crimson red lipstick, a green short sleeve blouse tucked in a fluffy black knee length petticoat skirt wearing glittery green sneakers with green shooting stars on the sides also holding a pretty black mini bag smiling with satisfaction

Luckily, the twins heard what the duo planned to wear or they wouldn't recognize them at all

Azlin just stared at the second girl in complete utter silence as he froze

Qilin chuckled at their expression while Sean blushed from shyness

After the twins regained their sanity and ability to speak, the first thing Andre said as he peeked into the now empty car was "Who are you two and what have you done to Qilin and Sean?"

Azlin lightly hit Andre's nape "They're the ones, duffus"

Andre gulped and said "You two, uhm speak, say something please"

Sean smiled softly and shyly asked while placing a strand of his hair behind his ear "How do we look?"

Qilin crossed his mini bag over his shoulder "From their expression, I think we have our answer, Sean"

Andre wobbled as he wanted to fall on his knees "Why the heck does your voices sound like girls' own now?"

Azlin pulled him back up "Okay that's enough overreacting, we should go in now"

Sean said "Oh yeah, Linlin's name is Nini while mine is Nina, okay?"

Azlin nodded "Alright, Nina"

Andre stared at Azlin in shock "You've accepted this already?"

Qilin snapped his fingers in front of Andre "Andre boy, wake up already and let's go, we're starving. Lin, lock the car. Sean, come on, the boys will meet up"

And with that, Qilin walked forward while Sean skipped along with excitement as he replied "Okay, Nina"

Andre rubbed his eyes "Qilin's sassiness came out because he's dressed like a girl"

The four of them walked up the stairs and arrived in a Chinese setting restaurant with the waiters and waitresses dressed in Chinese traditional wear which made Qilin almost feel at home

Azlin had just been staring at Qilin, same goes for Andre who had staring at Sean who was also mesmerized by the scenery

When they got to the reception, the receptionist called for their attention but none of the twins were answering which made Qilin look back and snap his fingers "You two, wake up"

The two snapped back to reality instantly and apologized to the receptionist girl who just nodded then asked "Table for two separately or Table for four together?"

Azlin replied "Table for four together"

The second receptionist who was a guy stood up and led them towards their table respectfully "This way, please young men and pretty ladies"

They drew some attention when they entered and caused whispers in the restaurant while Andre scoffed "Heh, looks like they're enthralled by your beauty too, you two. I'm glad I'm not the only one"

The guy leading them glanced at Qilin and Sean who were walking behind him 'They're really pretty but oddly odd, the one with soft look has a sassy attitude while the one with a sassy look has a soft attitude and they are identical and non identical in the same way'

When they got to an empty table, Azlin and Andre pulled out two chairs in unison and also said at the same time "Nini/Nina"

Qilin and Sean blushed as they sat down then Qilin softly said "Thank you, Lin"

While Sean covered his face in shyness and the receptionist guy just looked on because he was single 'The boys resemble each other slightly even with their differences in every other thing"

The receptionist said "Please, we'll attend to you in a few moments"

Azlin replied "Okay"

The receptionist thought in his mind as he left 'Y'all should let the single breathe!'

Andre placed his chin on his palm and his elbow on the table and openly admired Sean's face who just blushed and looked down "Suddenly, I'm not so hungry now"

Azlin glanced at Qilin for the nth time and pursed his lips 'Damn..'

Then a waitress came to take their orders while passing a menu to each of them and holding a little notebook to write it down

Qilin was the first to order "Kung Pao chicken, fried noodles and bean curd"

The other three looked at Qilin in surprise who just stared at the ceiling then the trio signalled to each other and agreed

Andre was next to order "Sichuan Boiled Fish, Wonton soup, spring rolls and Stir fried Tofu with boiled rice"

Then Sean "Chinese Rice Porridge, Dim sums and Beijing duck"

Azlin said "Vegetable dumplings, Asian lettuce wraps and Buddha noodles"

The waiter wrote it all down and collected all the menu back "Your food will be ready in twenty minutes, any drinks you want to go with it?"

The waiter passed the drinks menu and they all looked at it together then pointed at the one they wanted and looked at Azlin who said "Pearl Milk Tea for Nini, Coconut Milk for Nina, Xinjiang Black Beer for Andre and just chrysanthemum tea for me please"

The waiter collected the drinks menu back and bowed "Will be served in a few minutes"

Five minutes later, their drinks were served and a plate of moon cake

Azlin said "Sorry but we didn't order the mooncake"

The waiter said as he pointed in a direction "Oh the kind gentleman from table four sent it for the pretty ladies"

The four of them turned around to see a guy with dark brown hair and blue eyes dressed in a white suit, white shirt and white pants who nodded at them

Azlin and Andre squinted their eyes and Andre "Who the heck is that devil in disguise?"

The waiter replied "He said his name is Felix Denmark"

Qilin made a surprised expression while Sean said "We don't know him"

The waiter said "He also sent a message with the moon cake, He said he wants to know the names of the ladies and would like to have their contact number"

Qilin and Sean laughed but the twins were still frowning then Andre said "Tell him to back off"

The waiter nodded and was about to leave when Azlin stopped him to give him the moon cakes back "If we want one, we'll order it ourselves"

Andre pushed his drink aside and folded his arms as he placed his head on the table "I suddenly lost my appetite"

Sean giggled as Qilin said "I don't know what you two are getting upset about, he thinks we're girls, isn't it hilarious"

Azlin said "Nothing's funny about that"

Andre said "Whether you two are boys or girls, no one is allowed to hit on you in our presence or even in our absence or we'll hit them. We just can't do anything because we're in public"

Sean said "So if they hit on us in public, you'll hit them in private?"

The twins nodded and Qilin looked at Azlin in astonishment "You too?"

Azlin replied "Yes"

Qilin raised an eyebrow "What if they were girls?"

The twins kept quiet and Sean sighed in relief "Thank goodness, I thought you two were gonna say you'll hit them too"

Andre then spoke up "No offense but would any girl hit on you two?"

Qilin shrugged "I'm not offended because that is true"

Sean curiously inquired "What about masculine girls?"

Andre widened his eyes and blinked severally then drank his beer while Azlin lightly coughed as he took a sip of his tea

Andre tried to change the topic as he said "Yikes, this beer is sweetened"

Qilin rolled his eyes "It's Xinjiang Black Beer, of course it's sweetened"

Andre shrugged "Well, it still tastes good though"

About twenty minutes later, the waiter brought their meal

While Qilin started eating, Azlin passed one of his dishes to him "Li.. ahem, Nini, eat more"

Qilin covered his mouth as he chuckled "Thanks, Lin"

Then Sean passed one of his dishes and Qilin raised an eyebrow then Sean said "You would be hungry later so eat now, we'll need the energy"

Qilin smiled with glee "Sean, thank you"

When Andre wanted to do the same, Qilin stopped him "Okay now things become suspicious when you too do it"

Andre happily joked as he removed Qilin's hand and placed the dish in front of him "Hehe, can't I care for my sister in law too?"

Qilin pouted and folded his arms "Who's your sister in law?"

Andre said as he faked a surprised face "Aren't you-"

Qilin shoved food into his mouth to shut him up "Shush and eat"

As they entered the shopping mall, Qilin whispered to Sean "Wanna cause mischief?"

Sean whispered back "What do you have in mind?"

Qilin whispered "Let's disappear into the crowd and have the boys look for us. Your phone is on, right?"

Sean nodded and Qilin looked at the time said "Okay after fifteen minutes, we'll call the boys to tell them where we are"

The duo gave each other a thumbs which made Azlin raise an eyebrow while Andre didn't even notice their shenanigans as he was focused on a gaming section where two people were competing and the winner was about to be decided

All of a sudden amidst the crowd, Qilin and Sean ran away which alarmed Azlin who immediately ran after Qilin with the thought that Andre would go after Sean

Seven minutes later when the winner was decided, Andre smirked and wanted to say something when he realized "Huh!?"

Andre looked around only to see the faces of strangers and became very confused "Was I too distracted to notice them leave me alone?"

Andre received a phone call from Azlin "Geez, they finally noticed that I'm not with them, heh"

Andre picked up the call only to hear a frantic and breathless Azlin "Andre, did you find Sean? I tried to get Qilin but I don't know how he somehow disappeared right in front of me. I called him but he isn't picking up. I don't know what these two are up to but did you find Sean?"

Andre looked at the phone then placed it back by his ear "Qilin and Sean are... missing??"

Azlin raised an eyebrow from the other side of the line "You didn't know? How come you get so easily distracted by everything! Call me when you find him, I'll continue searching for Qilin"

Then Azlin hanged up the call before Andre could reply which made him stomp his foot in anger "Damnit, what's with those two!? How do we want to find them in such a big crowd"

Qilin chuckled as he came out of the girl's restroom then called Sean "You got away?"

Sean nodded from the other side of the phone as he said "This is fun but the twins will be worried, we should tell them where we are already"

Qilin waved his hand "Just five minutes left and we'll tell them, okay?"

Sean looked around and pursed his lips "Fine, five minutes and just that. By the way, where should we meet up? I'll start heading towards the place if it's far from where I am"

Qilin looked around "The female section on the third floor, the one with dinner gowns and office wears"

Sean nodded "I see it, alright see you in a few"

Qilin cut the wall and took in a breath of air then suddenly something latched onto his leg and what he saw when he looked down astounded him

A little boy with jet black hair and brown eyes of about two to three years old smiled cutely as he hugged Qilin's right leg "Mommy"

Qilin cooed with glee as he bent down "You're so cute, where's your mum?"

The little boy raised his hands "Mommy, cawwu me"

Qilin blinked his severally "Little one, I'm not your mother. But we need to find her, do you know what she looks like?"

The little boy tilted his head "Mommy?"

Qilin sighed and carried him then thought 'What kind of mother leaves her kid unsupervised now he's mistaking me for his mother because I'm dressed like a girl'

The little boy snuggled up to Qilin and yawned

Qilin was surprised when the boy fell asleep and pursed his lips "No more minutes, time to round everyone up"

The three of them rushed towards the entrance of the mall where they saw Qilin waiting for them

Andre called out "Qilin!"

When he turned back, the trio were stunned to see him carrying a little boy who had fallen asleep, apparently he didn't inform them on the phone call they had earlier

Qilin went to them and explained the whole ordeal then Sean said "We should take him to the police station to file a missing complaint"

Qilin nodded "Yes that's what I thought too but I had to inform you guys first"

Andre scoffed "Or what? You'd disappear like you did minutes ago? You know-"

Azlin frowned "Andre, leave it"

Andre said "Azah, you're always the strict one, what? You're not gonna scold him because you-"

Azlin cut him off "Andre! Not the time. Let's get to the station first"

Sean said "There is a police station just two buildings away on the left, let's go there"

On their way, Qilin softly said "Andre, Azlin, I'm sorry for causing you guys trouble and making you worry. Sean, I'm sorry for dragging you into this, I should have never brought up this idea in the first place, I won't do it again"

Azlin glanced at him and pursed his lips "Linnie... Just don't do it again, we were really worried. I don't want to vent my anger on you but if there's a next time, I will and it will not be nice"

Qilin hurriedly shook his head "There won't be a next time, I promise, Lin. Andre?"

Sean nudged Andre who said "Fine, whatever"

Sean curiously asked "Linlin, what's his name?"

Qilin realized he didn't ask the boy's name "Oh I forgot to ask but I don't wanna wake him up though"

Andre said as he got ready to shake the boy awake "But we have to know more about him"

Qilin stepped back "No, I'll wake him. You're not a gentle person"

Qilin patted the boy gently "Little one, wake up"

The boy opened his eyes little by little "Mommy?"

Sean cooed as she cupped the boy's face "He's so cute"

The boy buried his neck in Qilin's out of fear "Ah mommy!"

Azlin noticed an observation which baffled him "He's blind"

Andre gasped and Sean was shocked while Qilin carefully raised the boy's head to see his eyes properly which weren't focused but just staring at the air

Qilin immediately became worried even more "How could a mother leave such a little boy all by himself knowing he is blind. No wonder he couldn't tell me what she looked like when I asked"

Andre was puzzled "Then how did he know you were his mother?"

Qilin asked the boy "How do you know this is Mommy?"

The boy smiled "Mommy v-voice. Pwetta"

Qilin pursed his lips "Now I sound like a girl too?"

Azlin sighed "This is going to be a lot of trouble"

Qilin pouted "Don't say that about the little one, he's just a toddler"

Azlin asked "Little one, what's your name?"

The boy said "Milk Zwanerock"

Qilin looked at him in surprise "Zanelock?"

Andre was surprised "You know him?"

Qilin shook his head "I've heard the surname once but it was a fleeting moment. It was the day I arrived here with my dad and lil sis, they mentioned something about an accident but I didn't listen because it wasn't my business. I never thought I'd hear it again"

Sean said "If you had known, you would have listened more"

Qilin pouted "That would be eavesdropping"

Milk asked "Mommy, w-when is Dada coming back?"

Qilin inquired "What do you mean, Milk?"

Milk replied "Mommy said Dada went vewy far far"

The four kept quiet in that instant because they realized something and then a thought appeared simultaneously in their mind 'His dad is dead?'