Broken Bond: Between Vices and Virtues (BL)
Chapter 123: Knoa’s mother

Chapter 123: Knoa’s mother

"Once again, on behalf of Director Althea Horace, I’m congratulating every one of you on this joyous occasion. Thank you and that’s all," Knox flashed a warm smile to the orphans who managed to grow up and graduate primary school without having parents.

He suddenly thought how amazing they are to not seek the warmth of family and still focus on studying with an unerring determination and motivation.

Their lives were more unfortunate than Knox’s, yet their smiles never wavered and the sparks on their eyes weren’t dulled.

Somehow, he felt proud of these children, so before he knew it, his impromptu speech became a genuine, motivational, and compassionate one. He truly hopes that the children will find kind families that will adopt them and treat them like their own.

"Papa! You’re amazing!" Knoa jumped on his lap after the event finished and he climbed down the stairs.

Shawn clapped his hands, "That was a tear-jerking phenomenal speech, young master."

Knox rolled his eyes at the other omega and carried Knox in his arms. "Hup! Why, you’re getting heavier by the day, baby. Aren’t you eating too much cake now?"

"Hehe," the kid just guiltily giggled and hugged his father’s neck.

Franz asked, "What should we do next? I thought we were going to volunteer. On what, exactly?"

Alex draped his arm over Franz’s shoulders and replied, "I think it’s about distributing meals, organizing plays, and giving prizes, then giving their gifts at the end. Is that right?"

Knox nodded his head at Alex. A staff came to them and informed them of what to help with. Knox noticed Knoa looking at the playground next to the gym. He tapped his chubby cheek with his index finger and asked gently, "Do you want to play with them?"

Knoa nodded slowly. However, when his father crouched and set him down on the floor, he hesitated to let go of his father’s neck.

Knox noticed his son’s hesitation and carefully asked again, "Is there something wrong? Do you not want to?"

Knoa shook his head. He pointed at the playground where a few kids whose ages seemed to range from five to nine were playing happily on the slides, monkey bars, swings, and seesaws.

Knox then heard his son’s little voice, "Papa, do they all not have fathers?"

The kid looked at him with hope, as though he was wishing he’d say otherwise. Knox sighed and honestly replied, "They don’t, baby. That’s why they are here in the orphanage because they don’t have a family."

Knoa asked with a sad look, "They don’t have mothers too?"

Knox slowly shook his head and rubbed the kid’s cheek with his thumb, "No, they don’t have, Knoa."

Knoa looked back at the children. Knox didn’t expect his son to smile, but when Knoa spouted his next words, he somehow understood why he smiled and hesitated to play with the kids.

Knoa, "Then, they’re just like me too!"

Knox stiffened. He watched his son look at the other kids like he belonged to them, like the fear of him playing with the orphans vanished when he learned that like them, he didn’t have a mother as well.

Knox immediately cupped the child’s cheeks, "Knoa, is that why you’re hesitating to play with them? Because you have a father?"

The kid nodded slightly, "I have Papa, so I’m scared that they wouldn’t like me because I have Papa. I wanted to play with them too, but if they say that Knoa doesn’t belong..."

Knox smoothened the kid’s creased forehead and convinced him, "Baby, you don’t have to fit in to know you belong. They will like you because you’re lovable and kind. Do you pity them?"

Knoa shook his head abruptly, "No...Knoa...admire them. They smile even if they don’t have parents. I think I’d cry a lot if Papa is gone..."

"I won’t go anywhere. But Knoa, you have a mother," Knox gently wiped the edges of Knoa’s eyes that moistened from his unshed tears. He witnessed confusion clouding his eyes, so he carefully explained, "A mother is someone who gives birth to a child. The parent who carries the baby on their tummy for months and brings them to the world. You have that too, baby."

Knoa’s eyes bulged. He understood what his father meant, so he quickly asked, a bit excited, "I have?! Then, where is Mama? Did Mama leave Knoa? Did Mama not like me? Knoa is a good boy—

The kid stopped when Knox planted a kiss on his forehead, on the tip of his nose, and both on his cheeks. It was to calm the child, and it seemed working.

Knox parted his lips and finally admitted, "It’s me, baby. I’m the one who carried you on the tummy and gave birth to you. I’m your Mama, but because I’m a male, I taught you to call me Papa instead. Baby, do you understand?"

It was too broad of an explanation, so Knox just briefly told the kid the gist of the genders and subgenders.

A few minutes later, Knoa gaped at his father, even covering his open mouth with his tiny hands. Then, he asked without hesitation, "Then, if Papa is Mama, where is my other Papa? Teacher said that a family had three roles! Papa, Mama, baby! Where is Papa?"

Knox smiled, "Papa is Daddy. You met him before, right?"

The kid’s shocked face brightened. It seemed that he liked the idea of his Daddy becoming his other Papa. "Daddy?!"

Knoa nodded enthusiastically. Finally, he was able to tell the truth to his child. He glanced at the distance where the two guards were standing, watching the two of them with hawk eyes.

He was glad that Athan wasn’t spoiling his secret to their father, so he had been very careful in bringing up the topic to Knoa inside the mansion. He turned to Knoa again and spoke, "I know you wanted to meet Daddy, so don’t tell anyone that he’s your daddy, okay?"

Knoa agreed energetically, "Okay! But when can I meet him?"

Knox patted the kid’s head and smiled tenderly, hiding the sadness at the back of his eyes, "Soon, baby. I will arrange for us to meet. So, can you promise to be patient until then?"

Knoa, "Yes!"

Knox, "Go and play with them now. And don’t worry baby, they will like you if you show them how admirable they are."

Knoa nodded; his liveliness was back. He waved to his father before he ran to the kids. Knox watched the orphans circle him slowly, and soon, they were all giggling and laughing while sharing their toys.

Knox was skeptical about leaving Knoa, especially when he was the smallest and playing on the playground could still bring accidents. So, when the director called him, he was in a bind. Fortunately, Shawn came to him and suggested to watch his son.

Immediately, Knox came to the director who was talking with a tall, good-looking man. The guy’s hair had a light pinkish color, and his complexion was paler than paper; he had a very androgynous face, and if his hair was even longer, Knox might think he was a girl.

That notion was short-lived when the man turned to face him properly, showing his broad shoulders comparable to Azrael. The unknown guy who gives off alpha vibes but has a dominant omega’s appearance smiled beautifully at Knox.

The director extended his hand to introduce the guy to Knox, "Mr. Arden, this is Mr. Rian Lee. He is a philanthropist. He is the owner of SmilEarth Inc., one of the major donors affiliated with the HZF. Director Horace is acquainted with him."

Rian Lee nodded without his smile disappearing. It’s like it was a printed one pasted on his mouth.

Knox quickly held out his hand, erasing the funny thought in his head, he politely greeted, "I’m Knox Arden, Mr. Lee. Director Horace will arrive soon. I apologize that I’m the one meeting you. If you have a business to talk with the director, I might be lacking, but please allow me to hear it, that is, if you can’t wait for my...for the director to arrive."

Rian’s smile grew wider. Amusement danced in his eyes, and then he mysteriously answered, "That’s fine. I like what I’m seeing anyway."

***

A/N: SmilEarth is read as Smile Earth...;)