My Ex Next Door

The next day.

Ken woke up by the loud sound coming from the kitchen, Daniella left last night after giving him the book she called 'Manual' for the triplets.

When he heard a plate and spoon clattering, his eyes widened and ran to the kitchen.

Shocked registered to his face when he saw the triplets in the kitchen, Leo and Ethan are wearing an apron while Alexandria was sitting on the chair like a princess, the two boys were busy cooking.

(Cooking) when the thought came, he went closer and looked around, the two boys were cooking breakfast like a normal human.

"What is happening here? Why are you playing with the stove?" he tried to speak in a low voice but his body is trembling, thinking what could have happened if he didn't wake up.

Ethan looked at him, he had his glasses on and Ken doesn't know why, he's certain that Ethan don't have an eye problem.

"We are cooking breakfast, mommy said we should not rely on you since you don't know how to cook" Ethan replied while his tiny hand was busy mixing the egg.

Leo who's standing next to Ethan sprinkled a salt to the egg, his hair was messy unlike Ethan who's neatly combed.

Ken turned to Alexandria, she's sitting, reading a book.

"What are you reading?" he walked closer to her and looked at the book, his eyebrow creased, he doesn't understand the words but it was written in a normal alphabet.

The girl lifted her little face and smiled at him, "Mommy said if I learn how to read and write Latin she'll get me a boyfriend" Ken's eyebrow creased with confusion, she's five years old, she's supposed to ask for dolls or anything but not boyfriend

Lexi is a small and chubby girl, she had a long brown curly hair while her eyes were just like Daniella, but the girl never wore lenses unlike her mother, everyone likes to see Alexa's pupil changes its color, even himself.

"Did you father agree to it?" he asked, knowing Evan, he will not allow a man or a boy to come closer to his only daughter as long as he lives.

The girl shrugged her shoulder, "Daddy is afraid that mommy will leave him so he does whatever mommy wants" the girl closed the book and turned to him, "Leo, get me a mirror" she ordered, the boy rushed to the room and came back with a small mirror.

The girl looked at her reflection and plucked her lips, "Am I pretty Uncle Ken?" she blinked at him.

"Yes, you are" he poke her nose.

The girl gave him a half smile, "Even prettier than mommy and Aunt Novie?" she blinked twice, Ken smiled, he was not expecting her to recognize Novie as her Auntie.

"Yes, you are" the girl giggled,

"Good" she blurted and her smile disappeared, she looked at the mirror and continued, "Because when I ask Daddy, he always says mommy is prettier than me" she pouted.

Ken shook his head, he was not expecting Evan to say that.

Then he looked at the two boys, "Boys, do you know how to turn on that stove?" he asked, even himself doesn't know how to operate it.

Ethan presses the power button and the glass stove light up, he was not expecting it to be electric; he saw that in Novie's house, every time Mary cook, there was a fire in the stove.

"How did you know about this?" Ken asked, Leo looked at him and handed him the butter.

"Mommy taught us how to cook, so we will not be dependent to the maids, it's only Alex that doesn't know how to cook" Leo replied.

Ken accepted the butter and took a knife, he spread it on the bread and put it on the table.

"Lexi why are you not cooking, don't you like it?" Ken asked, the girl stood up and walk to him, she widened her hands asking him to carry her.

"I don't need to learn, I have Leo and Ethan do it for me" then she turned to her brother.

"Leo, you didn't brush my hair properly some of them are tangle" she complained, Leo looked at her with a flat face.

"You keep moving and your hair is so long, why don't you cut it like us" Leo replied. Alexa rolled her eyes and turned to Ken.

"Uncle Ken, can you brush my hair?" Ken was shocked, he never brushed anyone's hair aside from him, not even Novie.

"I am not sure" he replied.

The little girl's round eyes widened and he could see her brown pupils turning black, his heart jerked, he never made Lexy cry, not even once.

"You don't love me, Uncle Ken, why? Is it because I'm fat? I'm not cute? or I'm too small?" Alexa cried

Her weep made Ken panic, unsure of what to do.

Meanwhile, the two boys turned off the stove and asked him to put Lexi down, as he lowered her body, her brothers caressed her arms.

"Hush… Lexi, please don't cry, Leo will brush your hair again" Ethan spoke and held her hand.

"But I already brush it" Leo complained, Ethan glared at his brother.

"Do it" Leo pouted and held Alexa's other hand.

"Stop crying now, I will brush your hair again, do you want me to braid it?" Leo tilted his head, staring at his sister's face.

Alexa nodded, "Can you also put a butterfly pin? People will not notice my fat face if I have a butterfly in my hair." she replied.

Leo nodded and wipe her tears, "Yes, and mommy said you're not fat. You're like a caterpillar, later you will become as beautiful as the butterfly" Leo tried to soothe his sister.

Alexa blinked, her hand lay on Leo's head and patted it twice.

"Ok, Ethan I am hungry" Alexa turned to Ethan, the boy went back to the kitchen while Leo ran to the bedroom and came back with a comb and butterfly pin.

Alexa squatted on the floor while Leo stood behind her and brush her hair.

Ken was speechless, he never saw the closeness of the triplets since they were always with Daniella or Evan, and the last time he saw them, they were fighting and yelling at each other. Seems like the relationship of the triplets is much closer and better than Daniella and Danny.

There's a strange feeling formed in his heart, he could not explain it but it was warm.

He smiled and helped Ethan to prepare the food; he feels useless thinking that a five-year-old kid knows more than him.

As they set the table, Leo had finished braiding Alexa's hair, the two sat on the chair and they all ate.

He watches the triplets, Ethan buttered the bread and put it on Alexa's plate while Leo removes the onion in Alexa's salad, he suddenly remembered that Alex doesn't like the onion.

Ethan and Leo reminded him of Evan, how he cares about his wife, they treated Alexa the same way, and even though they are not his kids, he feels proud.