“Mama…. probably…... couldn’t…. be…. able….to…. solve…. the…. puzzle…. set…. anyways”

Aleena played that line over and over in her head trying to process what Robert had just casually said out loud. Clenching her fist tightly like Arthur as she was ready to throw hands.

**

Even though Robert is known to be a determined person with his passion for solving jigsaw puzzles set, his competitiveness can’t hold a candle to Aleena’s fighting spirit. Though she was never the sharpest tool in the shed when it came to doing well at school. Albeit until when her father had fallen ill from an unknown disease at the time.

Aleena had no choice but to take responsibility and become the queen of the house since her mother was a housewife, she was in charge of holding down the household while going to school. This series of misfortune led to a workup call for Aleena as she began to take life and her future in that life a lot more serious.

Considering that she was never good at her schoolwork, this meant she had to work harder than everyone else if she wanted to reach her goals. From staying back after school to go to the library for studies to quitting the clubs to focus on her career path.

And that path she chose for a career was to become a doctor because of her father’s illness, Aleena wanted to become a doctor to be able to help him as best she could and make effort money so that he won’t be pressured into pushing himself to attend work with his sick body.

Many people would have folded under this immense pressure and responsibility. Despite the fact that she thought of giving up countless times because of the grueling studies she had to do every other night in order to become a doctor, she always kept marching forward no matter how big the obstacle in her way.

No one had honesty believed her when she said that the career field, she wanted to enter as being a doctor. Most of her friends brushed it off as if it was a joke or wild dream, not having faith in her and they didn’t want her to evade in life because they liked it better seeing her at face level. Guess they won’t a fan of toes.

Even some of the teachers laugh it off, they had surmised that the only way she could become a doctor was if hell freeze over. Calling her “Miss Doctor” as a way to tease her when she’s in class. But her grades were steadily improving, those same teachers teasing steadily became encouragement. As they would have recognized that she wasn’t all talk and was putting in the hard work to accomplish her goals.

One of the teachers who always supported her change of mindset to become more serious about school told her, “It’s not that you fail, it’s how you fail will decide if you’re a failure.”

A true warrior, who proved how strong a woman can be. She could have been optimistic and said that her father would have gotten better soon then things can go back to normal. But no, Aleena always told herself that if her father was to ever get better, it would have been by her hands. From a delinquent in school to now one of the best doctors in the hospital she works at and also a loving and supportive mother. However, most importantly, Aleena was a try-hard as her motto is, “Don’t give if it’s up.”

So, one could only imagine how vexing Robert's words were to a try-hard such as Aleena, like doomsday device bottom ready to trigger the end of the word.

Being her husband, Robert knew about her obsession with wanting to always prove others wrong so saying that would no doubt provoke her no matter how exhausted she was. Much like reverse psychology, tell someone they can do something, and it makes them want to do it even more. And this ruse seemed to do the trick as Aleena got caught up in his scheme, like how the cunning spider entraps a fly into its web through the use of seduction and manipulation.

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Aleena blindly fell right into his trap and joined them in completing the jigsaw puzzle set without even realizing it.

*Tsk* “You’re looking awfully comfortable on the couch, you know,”

*Gulp* “Oh I didn’t mean any ill intentions; all I’m saying is that solving the set might be a little difficult for you,” replied Robert in his attempts to back pebble on his prior statement.

[Robert’s inner thoughts] “Geez, not like she was ever good at solving puzzle sets anyways.”

“Eek, are you trying to imply that I am incapable of figuring out a simple jigsaw puzzle set,” Aleena grumbled with an irritated look?

“Er……. Maybe.” He mumbles under his breath.

“Hmph, move over!” Aleena exclaimed angrily when pushing Robert aside.

*Ouch* Hey aren’t doctors supposed to heal people and not hurt them?”

“Shh.”

“It would be better if I help so that you two can go to bed earlier than if I wasn’t here,” Aleena confidently stated

Theo giggled during the entire interaction between the two, given the fact that he found the situation with his parent comical for multiple reasons. Hence, when he eventually comprehended that Aleena was going to assist them with the puzzle set.

*Woo-Hoo* “Mama going to join us!!!” Theo shriek out, twinkling at her.

“Huh, you won’t that excited with me helping you,” murmured Robert, feeling a titbit unappreciated.

“Okay, let’s see what we have here?” asked Aleena as she cracked her knuckles to prep herself.

Although Aleena is a highly competitive person and confidence was high as an eagle, the reality of her being terrible at deciphering jigsaw puzzle sets still remains imminent. And this inability was clear as day when she sat down to solve the set.

“This one goes here.”

“Nope”

“And here for this one……”

“Nah.”

“Oh, this next one goes right there for sure.”

*Yikes* “Ale, you’re worse than Theo and he’s six”

“Ahem! I’m just sleepy, okay Robbo!” Aleena groaned as she punted.

“Hm, yeah…. Sure, let’s go with that.”

[Robert’s inner thoughts] “Did she just called me Robbo?”

*Ooh* “Ah…. Ah…. ah I think I got it,” said Aleena excitedly, but that excitement quickly turned into disappointment, “Aw!”

“Hehe”

*Punch*

“Ouch”

All three of them, “Uh-huh, your forgetting Linos.” Thank you for the correction Theo. All four of them continued putting the puzzles together to complete the set.

**

After a small amount of time had gone by, Theo said his bye-byes as he dozed off on the fluffy carpet to catch some Zs.

What was supposed to be a father-son moment, promptly turned into a night where Aleena tried to prove Robert wrong and show him that she’s able to finish a jigsaw puzzle set without a hitch. Though, she was distinctly made ablaze with a few of her feathers being ruffled, as Robert attempted to lend a helping hand to her but that same helping hand got slapped away whenever it got close.

*Aw* “Are you sad, Babe?”

“……..”

“Well don’t be, because sad backward is das”

*Aleena turns to face him*

“AND DAS NOT GOOD, Bahahaha.”

*Exhales*

“Ahh, I’m sleeping on the couch tonight, aren’t I?”

*Nods*

Robert soon enough had followed Theo footsteps and grab his net to catch some Zs as well, he was probably tired of getting his hand rejected. He ain’t no simp.

However, before Aleena went beast mode, they actually had a lovely family moment, as they took pictures with each other while solving the puzzle set, most of them being Aleena’s stressed out face and of Theo’s laughing like a hyena.

When the clock struck a quarter to twelve, Aleena had once and for all completed the jigsaw puzzle set and she had a little merrymaking by herself.

*Whew* “Huzzah, I did it, oh yeah. Now, what was that about me not being able to solve it, Babe?”

“………..”

*Turns*

Aleena looked around to set her eyes on Robert and Theo being in the arms of Morpheus.

*Ah* “Haaa, well at least you guys got to witness my accomplishment, R2, and C3, hmm Linos too if he’s still up.”

Because she was extremely drained from work and now solving the jigsaw puzzle set. Aleena was so dead on her feet that she didn’t even bother going up to her bed and slept in the living room with Robert and Theo.

**

Later on, Robert woke up from the couch to go and the toilet.

“Haaa, look like I fell asleep……*looks around* Seem like I’m the only one.” Said Robert with a smirk on his face when he saw Aleena and Theo was also there.

He then caught a glimpse of the finished puzzle set on the table, he quietly whispered, “Wow, she actually took R2D2 and C3PO home. She’s so petty ha-ha, I love her so much.”

*Kiss* “Sweet dreams, Babe”