He is Enchanted

To Last Forever

Ethan felt that the old man, the longer he looked, the more annoying he became. 

Even though Roman was strolling. He looked around to make sure that the path they were taking was the right way. 

They chose the next place because they were tired, so Liana decided to go straight to the theater and wait there until the show started. 

Which meant they had to wait about an hour before the show started. But all agreed because everyone was tired of walking around the zoo. Even the twins walked limp, dragging their feet.

The Pearsons are holding hands right now; Miles holds Odette's hand, Niall holds Roman's hand, while in front of Ethan, Liana holds her father's hand while leaning her head on Roman's shoulder. Ethan wonders how his shoulder still looks sturdy after a long day at the zoo. 

Ethan looked forward, and it was annoying. That old man must have deliberately chosen to walk within Ethan's sight, and he intentionally made Ethan keep staring at his back. 

If Ethan were in a good mood, he would surely praise how firm his shoulders are, like a giant tree that has grown for decades, and he's getting older and stronger.

His hands are also impressive. The veins in his hands look like a string, even though Roman's hands are not clenched. His arms look firm, with impressive biceps and triceps muscles for his age. Is it at his age that nearly fifty and still trains his body? Or does he often train it by lifting the twins?

Ethan never saw him go out to work out, or maybe he has a gym set in his house, huh? 

But Ethan just realized that he was the only one who walked by himself, not holding anyone's hand.

The Pearsons didn't abandon him. His shoulders and Odette's shoulders touched as they walked. If one looked at him at a glance, no one would think that anyone dumped Ethan.

But seeing everyone holding hands, Ethan also wanted to hold someone's hand. 

A smile grew on his lips while looking at Roman's hand, which was holding Niall.

Confidently, he quickened his pace, thus allowing him to catch up with Roman, Liana, and Niall, who were walking in front of him. Without saying anything to anyone, Ethan lifted Niall's body then carried him. 

This made Niall take his hand off Roman's hand, and the boy blinked his eyes while looking confusedly at Ethan. 

"You look exhausted Niall, let me help you," said Ethan, then stroked Niall's back gently.

Ethan immediately glanced at Roman, and he saw that Roman's hand was raised, but instead, it went into Roman's trouser pocket rather than anywhere else.

Ethan sighed, slightly disappointed by what Roman had done. But when he thinks about it, how can Roman know what he wants if Ethan only stands beside him holding Niall, right? 

Or maybe that old man knew, but he was mocking him. 

But Ethan didn't realize that his decision to carry Niall was something he would regret. 

"You ever heard of The Twins' Law?" 

Ethan turned his head, only to find Roman, with a face still as arrogant and just as annoying as usual, smiling at Ethan. 

"If you want to mock me, do not do it. I still can't even forgive what happened earlier." 

Roman immediately shook his head. "I just wanted to help you, though." 

"Haha." 

Ethan's laugh was sarcastic and felt forced. Ethan decided to turn his head the other way so he wouldn't have to look at that old man. Maybe he could forget his anger if he didn't see that old man. 

Ethan felt a small hand tugging at his shirt, and it turned out to be Miles. With teary eyes, he adorably lifted his head. 

Ethan's eyes immediately met Miles's round eyes, and there was even a tear leaving his eye and running down his cheek. 

Ethan was confused, and it felt like nothing wrong had happened. Ethan used one of his hands to run his fingers through Miles' hair, trying to calm him down.

"What's wrong, Miles?" Ethan asked.

Miles whined while jumping up and down, and he stretched his arms towards Ethan. Ethan laughed awkwardly as he glanced at Roman. 

"Twins get jealous very easily, so if you want to give something to one, you have to give it to the other one as well." 

Ethan frowned. "You mean I have to carry Miles too?" 

Liana nodded her head. "That's why no one has been carrying them ever since, except in front of the elephant enclosure. Because if you want to carry one, you have to carry the other, a kind of unwritten agreement between twins." 

Was he running out of luck today? 

Ethan squatted down slowly. Miles immediately hit Ethan with a hug, he laughed with joy while hugging Ethan's neck, and with his tiny hands, Miles wiped his tears. 

Ethan then stood up slowly, carrying a new burden that was Miles. His back and hands struggled unwillingly because of the additional weight his body had to take.

Ethan's breath hitched, even though he'd only been a few steps carrying the twins. Ethan didn't feel strange about Roman's biceps and triceps size, and if he routinely took the twins while walking around their house complex, his muscles would be like that.

"Are you okay?"

Even Ethan had a hard time turning his head towards Roman. With a heavy breath, Ethan nodded his head.

But moments later, Roman blocked Ethan's path with his body. Ethan didn't predict the move sent Ethan crashing into Roman's body, and if Roman didn't hold his waist, Ethan might fall backward. 

Ethan was silent for a while. What did the old man do to his waist? 

"Miles, Niall, move to dad here. Ethan is tired," he said as he lifted Nial from Ethan's arms, but Miles hugged Ethan's neck tightly. He didn't want to. 

"Want to hold Ethan in his arms." 

Roman sighed, then he looked at Ethan. "Miles wants to be carried by you? You can?" 

Hadn't the old man been holding his waist so Ethan wouldn't fall? Did it really happen? Ethan must be hallucinating. He uses both legs to maintain his balance; no one helps him. 

Roman waved his hand in front of Ethan's face, who didn't even blink at all. 

But if it was a hallucination, why did it feel so real? 

"Ethan?"

Why does it feel so warm?

Ethan almost threw Miles in his arms when Roman patted Ethan hard on the shoulder, and luckily he immediately hugged Miles.

"Why?!"

Why does it feel so safe?

"I should be the one asking." 

Ethan stared at Roman with rapid blinking. "Miles doesn't want to move into my arms," Roman says. 

"Then?"

I wanted more of it. 

"Are you sure you can carry Miles?"

Ethan looked at Miles, who immediately shook his head when Ethan moved his body slightly away from Miles. 

"It's okay, Mr. Pearson."

"Dad?" 

Roman was silent for a moment, then looked back. That old man moved to answer someone, and then he walked with Niall, who was in his arms. 

"I took Niall from Ethan, and it's worry he will faint." 

Ethan inhaled the smell that coming from Miles's body. The scent was sweet yet refreshing before he finally caught up with Roman, who had walked first.

Odette and Liana stopped to wait for the two of them, and it seemed they were both enjoying themselves. 

***

They finally arrived at a place, which was slightly different from other places in the zoo. The entrance is shaped like an old tree that looks pathetic. The trunk is skinny, while the branches are shriveled like life has been sucked from each branch. Roman doesn't see a single leaf left from the tree, which is no longer shaped like a tree in general. 

You could say it's like an old pile of wood, which the rain would easily wash away. 

Even though everyone knows that the tree is an artificial tree, Roman still feels sad to see the tree. Of course, the public can protest if the zoo puts a living tree left to die just for decoration. 

"What do you think the theater is about?" Odette asked. 

"Maybe they'll save the old tree?"

Ethan glanced at Liana, who seemed confident of stating the answer. Even Odette did the same. 

"Have you seen it on the internet?" 

Liana was surprised. Of course, she had not seen it on the internet. 

"I'm just guessing."

A few moments later, no conversation took place. They were busy with their thoughts, as well as filling up energy for the last theater that would be closing their weekend. 

Before tomorrow, back to their activities on weekdays. 

The twins have now returned to playing catch-up. Their energy seems to have recovered. A few minutes on, Roman and Ethan's hand can fully charge their energy. 

Liana and Ethan were the referees of the twins' game. They will be stretching their arms if the twins run too far. Miles and Niall will be running back to hug Liana or Ethan.

Meanwhile, Roman and Odette stood not far from the four of them. Odette prefers to remain silent while staring at the entrance of the theater. Meanwhile, Roman saw the twins who were playing. 

Until finally, Ethan stretched out his arms and called out to the twins because they had run too far. The twins' race to grab Ethan's arms, but they bump into Ethan simultaneously, causing Ethan to stumble backward. The three of them and Liana laugh.

When was the last time they spent a weekend together? If he's not mistaken, the last time they went to the art museum, Roman wanted to see some of the collections of his favorite painter. 

He smiled when he saw the twins let go of Ethan's arms and start running again. 

But his gaze was still locked in the same spot.

Doesn't Roman know whether his arms are too long or his waist is too small? Roman could easily hold his body that almost fell with just one hand.

His gaze softened. The warm feeling made him smile widely, and Roman had lost count of how many times he had smiled because of the same feeling. 

Roman raised his hand, crossing his arm in front of his chest and trying to feel the remnants of that brief physical contact sensation. 

Everyone always hopes that happiness is willing to stay longer by their side. Roman is no exception. Roman wanted this happiness to last longer, and he wanted to smile more. He wanted to laugh longer.

Someone came out of the door, and he rolled up the rope blocking the entrance, and there's an announcement that the theater show Where The Great Tree Lost It Power was about to start.

But deep in his heart, he hopes that this love doesn't just stay longer, but love is willing to last forever.