Chapter 255: Atlas is Mine
Lola and Silo sat on the floor, eyeing the children lined up on the long couch. They gulped, both overwhelmed by the sudden addition—Silo especially. The twins were already too much for him, but another four?! Not one, not two, but four?! And babies, no less!
The twins grinned at either end, while four smaller children sat neatly between them.
Silo slid his gaze to Lola, who hissed back immediately, as if she’d already read the unspoken accusations on his face.
"Chacha, Second?" Lola cleared her throat. "These four are...?" They aren’t abducted, right?
"Cousins!!" the twins chorused, proudly turning to the little ones. "This is..."
"Chacha!" one baby mumbled.
"Chacha!" echoed the next.
The third chimed in, "Chacha!"
Lola and Silo’s faces twitched, then contorted further when the fourth piped up: "Thirty!"
"Thirty?" Silo repeated blankly, only for Second to explain:
"Thirdy," he said, holding up three fingers. "Because he’s the third placer, the oldest among them!"
Both adults slapped their hands over their mouths, mentally weeping at the naming.
"Does this mean we have... four Chachas?" Silo whispered in horror. "Can I sue their parents for this?"
"Uncle Silly, I’m the only Chacha," Chacha pouted, raising one finger. "My cousins just like me so much, they wanna be Chacha too!"
He deadpanned. "What about the third placer?"
"Who knows!" Second shrugged adorably. "But he’s Thirdy. Like me—I’m the Second, and he’s the Third. We’re like brothers!"
The adults nodded numbly, then shifted their eyes to the other three children.
"Okay, so... Thirdy we know," Silo muttered. "How about the rest?"
THUD!
Both flinched at the noise. They turned to see Slater standing beside his duffel bag, his mouth covered by his palm.
Silo leaned toward Lola and whispered, "Looks like your boarder’s just as shocked as we are."
"Babies..." Slater’s eyes welled up as he dramatically fell to his knees. "Babies..."
"I know, I know," Silo nodded sagely. "It’s shocking, but crying is a bit much—"
"BABIES!"
Silo choked when Slater launched himself in slow motion, tears flying back in equally dramatic slow-mo.
"Oh, my god..." Slater stopped by the couch, darting his eyes across the children. He covered his mouth and mumbled, "Those two finally showed their true colors—the ultimate opportunist couple."
"Uh..." Silo blinked at the superstar, who was effortlessly shattering the image he’d had of him. "What in the world is going on..."
His confusion deepened when the little ones suddenly spoke:
"Anki Pest."
"Ankol Pest."
"Pest."
"Pest!"
"Yes, babies, it’s me! Uncle Best!" Slater declared, kneeling before them and hugging all four. "Your mother finally let me see you. That woman is the worst!"
"..." Silo and Lola pursed their lips. To their ears, the kids were definitely saying pest.
"Tell me I’m not dreaming," Silo muttered in dread.
"That’s the wrong question, Silo," Lola said flatly, eyes glued to the scene. "You should be asking if they’re actually saying pest instead of best."
They sat in silence, numb, as Slater happily played with six children while the two slumped across from them. Minutes later, Silo and Lola settled on the other couch.
"So, you’re saying... the uncle the twins kept talking about is him?" Silo asked, pointing at Slater.
Lola leaned back, arms crossed. "Uh huh."
"Sis, this guy’s a little slow," Slater cut in, staring at Silo. "Would I call her sister if she wasn’t? What kind of setup do you think this is?"
"Boarders?" Silo blurted out.
Both Lola and Slater gave him disgusted looks. Even the twins glanced at him with pity.
"You guys..." Silo hissed, only to stop when a tiny finger poked his knee. He looked down to find Thirdy smiling up at him.
"Chilly," Thirdy said. Then again, "Sil...ly."
The boy laughed as he toddled away in just a shirt and diaper.
"Since when did his pants disappear?" Lola mumbled, then flinched at the invisible fire radiating off Silo beside her. "What’s wrong with you?"
"These kids..." Silo ground his teeth, bitterness flashing in his eyes as he glared at the twins and their cousins.
"But seriously, Silo, why would I let Slater in if he were a stranger to them?" Lola asked curiously.
"Because you don’t explain anything properly!" he snapped, nearly in tears as the children giggled at his misery. He huffed and leaned back. "Besides... wait. Does that mean Slater is in Angel’s Revenge because..."
He trailed off, pointing at the twins. They all nodded in unison.
His jaw dropped. He remembered the twins once bragging that their uncle was a better actor. And he remembered because Angel’s Revenge was supposed to be their uncle’s "big break."
Slowly, Silo covered his mouth and turned to Lola.
"What now?" Lola arched a brow. "Silo, I get it’s surprising. But you should’ve connected the dots. You already knew the twins and Slater lived here."
"How would I—" He cut himself off as realization dawned on him. His eyes widened, flicking between the twins, the four babies, and Slater.
"If Slater is their uncle," he whispered, "then the twins’ father is... another Bennet?"
"Duh?" Slater rolled his eyes. The kids mirrored him with little frowns as if they thought Silo was slow.
Silo scooted closer to Lola. "Which one?!"
She leaned back, but he grabbed her arm and shook it.
"Who?" he demanded. "Who’s the father of the twins?!"
"What’s going on here?"
A new voice froze him cold. Slowly, Silo turned, and his breath hitched as his eyes landed on a familiar face.
Atlas Bennet.
His jaw dropped. That’s... Atlas Bennet, isn’t it?
"..." Silo opened and closed his mouth, stunned, while Atlas walked forward. He stopped, eyes sweeping over a bit of dirt (the children) on the floor. His mouth opened, then he shook his head.
Sensing someone’s stare, his brows rose as he slowly met Silo’s eyes.
Atlas tilted his head slightly. "Hello."
The moment he greeted him, Silo held his breath. His eyes widened further, his ears reddening as his whole face flushed.
"H-he—hello," Silo stuttered, earning a glare from Lola.
This guy... she ground her teeth, staring at Silo’s profile.
Don’t tell me... he better not—!
*****
[Short Flashback]
"Wow..." Lola peeked at the entrance of the basketball court, eyes twinkling as she watched her crush play. He was playing terribly—the whole team looked frustrated—but in her eyes, he was still...
"...so cool."
Lola flinched when she heard a voice. Turning her head, she caught a male student peeking at the game from the other side of the entrance. After a second, he turned toward her.
They stared at each other before he said, "Who are you cheering for?"
"Huh?"
"Atlas is mine!" the boy snapped, crossing his arms as he faced her squarely. "Back off if you like him... or I’ll make your life a living hell."