I did not expect to hear those words from him. At first few moments, I just stared at his face looking so stunned, waiting for him to retract or change what he said or for him to add ‘I’m kidding’ at the end, but that didn’t come. I winced after a few minutes of staring at him. I immediately avoided looking at him because that was the beginning of my discomfort.

I chuckled. "Can you hear yourself?"

“I’m serious, Ash. I consider you two and Aciel as my family— ” ...