Lahat ng Kabanata ng Paper Hearts: Clashing of Clans : Kabanata 61 - Kabanata 70

Jaxsen watched the display with mixed emotions as he remembered a similar conversation between the two of them. He frowned at the surge of jealousy that fluttered through his veins. He swallowed it, feeling it vanish as quickly as it appeared as he saw the silent tears on Basil’s cheeks. He found lately Basil needed their reassurances the same way he did several months ago. He realized that he did still need that extra assurance from time to time, but that his fears of them suddenly up and leaving him behind had quelled significantly. As he watched a tear fall and hit the floor at their feet, he realized that maybe he wasn’t the only one with those fears. Basil needed a mother who would care for and love him, just like he did. He no longer felt jealous, but instead felt happy at his own personal growth, and incredibly sad that a soul as pure as Basil’s could develop scars that matched some of his own.

Saturday afternoon saw the boys walking through a deserted park. They silently agreed to take a seat at a picnic table not far from the swings. Basil gandered around at the playground and it left him feeling hollow.“I feel like this place.”Jaxsen frowned and looked to his best friend. “What do you mean?”Basil shrugged. “Look at this place.” They both did before Jaxsen looked at Basil again. Basil stared out straight ahead, eyes scanning the forgotten piece of earth. “I imagine this park used to be filled with laughter, play, and innocence.  Look at it now, Jax. Rusted, dilapidated, and left to ruin. They don’t even cut the grass anymore. The ones that are supposed to care for and maintain this place just…gave up and walked away.” 

“Come in,” Jaxsen called at the knock on his door. Sebastian poked his head into the bedroom. The boys were set in the center of Jaxsen’s area rug, cross-legged and facing one another. Basil dropped his head to hide his face, subtly shouldering away any moisture on his cheeks.“Everything okay?” Sebastian asked in concern.“Yeah, Dad, we’re okay.” Jaxsen glanced quickly at Basil before looking back to his father. “We’re just talking.”Sebastian nodded. “Well, Nizhoni doesn’t feel good, so I’m going to run to the store and get her some crackers. You boys want anything specific for dinner?”“Can we have spaghetti and meatballs?” Jaxsen beamed. It was one of his favorite me

 The boys met at the park a few minutes later. River and Phoenix were swinging lazily on the swings, their feet dragging the ground and kicking small clouds of dirt and dust with each pass.“Hey,” Jaxsen greeted. The twins smiled, River waved. “Hey, guys,” Phoenix said, hopping off the swings. “Are you okay, Basil?” River signed, a concerned look in his eyes. Jaxsen translated and Basil looked back to River. “Yeah, I’m okay. Just a hard day, you know?”River read lips well, therefore did not need either Jaxsen or his brother to sign Basil’s answer. He nodded and patted Basil on the back.&ld

“Did you have fun today, sweet boy?” Sebastian asked as the two of them walked back to the truck after the cave tour ended. Jaxsen smiled up at him, his face beaming with excitement. “Yes! That was so much fun, Daddy. Can we do it again next year?” He bounced a bit on his toes, turning toward Sebastian, that megawatt smile growing that much brighter.“If that’s what you want to do, Jack.” Sebastian unlocked the truck and opened the back door so Jaxsen could climb inside. “You want to stop and get some dinner on the way back to the hotel?”Jaxsen nodded. “Can we go eat at the tower?” he asked excitedly. Sebastian ruffled the boy’s hair and smiled.“How about we eat at the tower tomorrow be