6 Chapter 6

Although the design was fairly simple, the 3-piece only accentuated Abriel's features. Purple camellia flowers donned the shirt and cap clad in white. The dress skirt was plain; with nothing but frills and more purple as shading. The simplicity made her priceless, adorable baby face stand out even more.

Edmund couldn't believe her blinding cuteness. As someone who remained indoors for nine months without any human interaction or near any living thing, Abriel was like an angel that descended from the heavens; she literally glowed. Her baby skin was flawless and her plump, adorable cheeks was just asking for a pinching, which he gave. Edmund made a quick comparison between her and himself and cringed in defeat. The stark contrast was too much. He didn't want to photo-bomb their first picture together. However, the system affirmed the picture was taken with. With a much dimmer flash of light this time, the photo appeared in Abriel's hands.

"Ba! Ba!"

Her hands shook and flailed around. Edmund hoped she would get used to the system's sooner, gently caressing her back. After a moment, his gentle rocking did calm her down, earning another +7 proficiency. Edmund quickly grabbed the cradle and lay her down. The photo dropped from her hands and fluttered to the ground. Edmund leaned over and picked it up.

"You would make a good cameraman, system," he whispered.

The sight was too much. The lighting and angle was perfect. As per the high-quality and the details, the photo seemed to capture some of Abriel's delicate and cheerfulness in her wide grin. Edmund felt something bubble in his eyes. He could feel the essence and the emotion in the picture. He could feel Abriel's bright and gentle aura. He could feel her absolute trust in himself, her father, as she lounged around carelessly in his arms.

Drops of tears landed on their smiling faces. Edmund sobbed through Abriel's sudden babbling and the system's comment.

[It is not much, host. Photography skills is one of the many skills and rewards that can be awarded.]

Eventually, it was his growling stomach that shook Edmund out of his stupor. He shot a glance at the blinking Abriel, who must've been curious about the source of the sound. He hadn't eaten anything all morning because of the cleaning. Abriel herself was probably even hungrier than him. He'd heard before that babies get hungry, fast.

Edmund was about to slide the photo into his pocket and head out to get some food when he noticed something. He was all so sentimental and touched by Abriel in the photo he overlooked the position they were in. With weird coincidence, Abriel started to make suckling sounds. Edmund found her drooling onto his arm as he rested her into a cradle hold. Wasn't cradling the usual position mother's use when... breastfeeding?

"Neh."

Edmund raised his attention from Abriel to his chest. Although they were fat and jiggled as he walked from all the junk food and lack of exercise, Edmund was sure his man boobs did not contain any milk for Abriel, nor did he want to do any testing to see if that was true. Edmund broke a sweat as he cursed his class monitor for not considering this. She was the mother, and their newborn daughter needs to be breastfed! Why was she so careless? What was he supposed to do? Edmund ran to refrigerate and swung its doors open. While Abriel giggled at the cold air, his nose wrinkled as the fresh scent of soap. He had cleaned it, after all.

"What in the world.... how old is that?" Edmund gulped down the urge to vomit as he dug open the garbage bag and took out the milk pitcher. It took one whiff before he poured the rest down the drain. There was no way he was feeding that to Abriel. How in the world did he manage to cultivate so much toxins and poisons in his home and not die over that period of time?

Disgusted at the milk and more at himself, Edmund washed his hands thoroughly. He stuffed one finger into Abriel's mouth. Her tongue was ticklish and Edmund was glad that her teeth hadn't developed yet. Much to his concern, Abriel spat his finger out with a fit of coughs and mumbles. Edmund frowned. Confused and worried that Abriel was suckling wrongly (somehow), he jumped when the system sounded in his mind.

The text on the translucent blue screen made Edmund's eye sockets pop open.

[Task: Kiss your daughter Abriel for the first time.]

[The kiss is the foremost way to express love and affection to a newborn in a way they can understand. It leaves a strong imprint on their hearts and brains. Doing so improves cognitive brain development and increases their ability to recognize that another person physically 'likes them'. Host's first kiss is a vow that seals his underlying commitment and everlasting love as a father.]

[Rewards: Baby Essentials Complete Set x1]

Edmund felt a nervous rumble in his throat that itched and rasped. The translucent screen grew fainter and fainter as Edmund stood frozen. He placed his hands on his head and shook whilst scratching in a mad, nervous frenzy.

"I have to k-kiss her?" he pointed to Abriel, feeling her gaze.

Edmund knew would have to in order to get that set of essential items. The system's purpose was clear; to help him in these dire situations.

Earlier, he wanted to slobber all over her, but that was when her attention was drawn to the system's magic. Now, she was staring at him with all her attention after the stupid fit he threw. Who was the child here? Edmund felt the shame boil up. He couldn't kiss her like this. Abriel's blank, pure stare was too much for him. Those dreamy eyes; the lake-blue pupil dotted with shiny stars that flickered with curiosity. Her cheeks were that of a squirrel's—perfectly plump and puffed up like some pastry.

Edmund thought of it like that—a fruit tart, or a real puff pastry. Maybe she would smell like that if he would take that chance for a peck on her cheeks. Suddenly, the thought didn't oppose him as much as it did before. What was he so nervous about? Abriel was his own daughter that he would love and spoil. His own blood flowed through hers, and she was made up of half of his DNA. If anything, it was just him was kissing half of himself, would it not be?

While Edmund sucked in a deep breath for good measure, he sucked in his lips, making it pucker and lowered himself. Edmund made sure his knees were firmly supporting himself on the ground and his hands were firmly holding Abriel's, as tight as she could manage. His eyes however, was shut as tight as possible. Edmund leaned in slowly, getting in closer and closer until he paused. One eyelid opened and took a peek. Edmund stood up instantly looking around left right, gasping for breath.

[...]

"Why isn't there any notifications, system? Is it a bug?" he paused.

[You know you sound ridiculous, host. There was no contact; you're still too far off to complete the task.]

"I wasn't, I wasn't, I wasn't. I felt her hot breaths and her breathing. That's at the very least an millimetre away. How does that not count?"

[Host, if you cannot complete this simple task, the system shall to the punishment and last resort. I'll have your body frozen in place and use telekinesis to pick up your daughter and slowly move her—]

Edmund placed a hand over her eyes and placed the kiss right on her left cheek. The muah sound couldn't be more clear. Abriel bode no embarrassment but instead her goo's and her flailing arms seem to have gotten more excited, much to Edmund's surprise. The faint aftertaste of the kiss still lingered on his lips, and Edmund couldn't be any happier.

[Task Complete: Kiss your daughter Abriel for the first time.]

[Rewarded: Baby Essentials Complete Set x1]