"Emma, chill. No need to go out of your way. Just drop me your address, and I'll head over."
Emma was tight with Daniel back in the day. Benjamin always thought highly of her not just because she was a knockout, but she had a heart of gold too.
He even considered playing matchmaker with Daniel, but then he found out she was already hitched, so he let it go.
Emma rattled off her address, and after some more chit-chat, they hung up. Benjamin made a beeline for Maplewood Community. As he strolled into the neighborhood, he couldn't help but notice how swanky it was— lush trees, super clean, and those high-rise buildings were no joke.
Bet the property prices here were through the roof, he mused. He found Emma's building and shot up to the eighteenth floor. Double- checking the apartment number, he rang the doorbell.
The door swung open, and Emma, beaming with joy, exclaimed, "Benjamin, you've shot up like a weed! I almost didn't recognize you. Come on in!"
Yeah, Benjamin had been just a scrawny fourteen or fifteen-year-old when he used to hang around the hospital. Now, at twenty-two, it would've been weird if he hadn't sprouted up.
Checking out Emma, Benjamin thought she hadn't aged a day. He grinned and said, "Emma, it's been forever, but you still look as young and gorgeous as ever. Even your figure's still on point!"
Emma was three years younger than Benjamin's dad, making her forty- two now. But she had kept herself in great shape her chest was still perky, and her skin was smooth as ever. She looked like she was in her early thirties.
Inside, Emma handed Benjamin a pair of slippers, smiling as she said, "I' ve aged a ton! But you were always a smooth talker. Got a girlfriend yet?"
Benjamin gave a sheepish grin. "Not yet! Maybe you could hook me up with one of those nurses."
"Quit playing! You don't need me to set you up with anyone."
Emma clearly wasn't buying it. With his looks and height, Benjamin was definitely in the same league as those celebrity heartthrobs. If he didn't have a girlfriend, that'd be a shocker.
Benjamin didn't bother to explain. He thought to himself, not only do I not have a girlfriend, but I'm also still a virgin!
"Here, have some water," Emma said, handing a glass to Benjamin, who was lounging on the couch.
"Thanks!" Benjamin took a sip and got straight to the point. "Emma, I'm here to ask about Daniel. Do you know how he fell?"
Emma sighed, looking troubled. "I don't know much about what happened to Daniel. I only found out afterward. But he left something with me, saying that if you ever came back, I should give it to you. Let me go grab it; maybe it'll give you some answers."
Emma headed to her bedroom. Just then, Benjamin noticed a door that had been closed was now open. Inside, a woman in her early twenties was nursing a baby. Her full, white breast was completely exposed, and Benjamin couldn't help but stare.
Sophia hadn't expected a guest and turned red with embarrassment. She was about to snap but then realized this handsome guy looked familiar. After a moment, it clicked.
"Are you Benjamin?"
"Sophia, don't you recognize me?"
Benjamin's eyes were glued to Sophia's chest as he swallowed hard. "I can't believe you have a kid already!"
"Where are you looking?" Sophia blushed, noticing Benjamin's stare. "You haven't changed a bit; still such a perv!" But Sophia didn't bother to cover up.
Benjamin felt totally blindsided. Seriously, why would you come to me while you're breastfeeding? Are you just trying to get my attention on purpose?
"Sophia, you haven't changed a bit! Still rocking that killer figure!" Benjamin sighed again, "But I didn't expect you to get hitched so fast and even have a kid!"
Benjamin and Sophia had been tight since kindergarten, always had each other's backs. Even though they hadn't seen each other in years, it was like no time had passed. Sophia stopped breastfeeding and pulled her shirt down, covering her ample chest.
"Benjamin, come check out my son! Isn't he a looker?" Right then, Sophia was like a kid with a new toy, super eager to show off her son to Benjamin. She didn't seem like a wife and mom at all. But you couldn't blame her; they had been besties sharing everything since they were kids. They even crashed in the same bed once, though nothing happened back then!
Benjamin had been MIA for four years, and now that they were finally back together, it was natural to get a bit carried away. Hearing her, Benjamin walked over.
As soon as Benjamin got close to Sophia, he caught a strong whiff of milk, and some naughty thoughts flashed in his mind. He couldn't help but sneak another glance at her firm and full chest.
"Here, hold him!" Sophia kissed her son's cheek and handed him to Benjamin.
Benjamin held the baby and kissed him on the cheek. The little guy opened his mouth and laughed, which was super cute, making Benjamin chuckle too.
If anyone who knew Benjamin saw him holding a baby like this, they'd be floored. The feared assassin in the underworld, 'Loneblade,' actually had a soft side!
But that was obviously impossible. Benjamin always wore a black eye mask during missions, his signature look. No one knew what Loneblade looked like, and it was said that those who did were dead!
Once, the assassin ranked tenth, Evergladea, tried to yank off Loneblade's eye mask. The next day, he was found dead in the wilderness. Since then, no one dared to mess with Loneblade's mask. Even though Loneblade didn't bother with the assassin rankings, nobody underestimated him. Some even said he was on par with Godshadow, the top assassin.
"Benjamin, do you think Willie looks more like me or his dad?" That's probably a question every parent asks, but let's be real, they always hope you'll say the kid looks like them!
Benjamin looked at the kid in his arms seriously, then flashed a mischievous grin and said, "Sophia, why do I feel like this kid looks a lot like me?"
Sophia's face turned beet red, and she shyly said, "You're talking nonsense!"
She then pinched Benjamin's waist! Emma came out just in time to see this scene, glared at her daughter, and jokingly scolded, "Why are you still picking on Benjamin like when you were kids? He's a grown man now; don't treat him like you did back then!"
Actually, Emma had always had a soft spot for Benjamin and secretly hoped he'd become her son-in-law. She even tried to set them up back in the day. But then Benjamin took off for four years, and somehow Sophia ended up pregnant and married.
"Mom, are you suggesting I find new ways to mess with him?" Sophia laughed.