Iris and Jin Liwei turned to Dom at the same time. Dom immediately raised both of his arms up high while shaking his head.
“Boss, Sir Boss, believe me! I never said anything to Momsy or anyone in my family! I didn’t even tell them that you’re pregnant!” He gasped and quickly covered his mouth with both his manicured hands. “Oops.”
Reina Chua smacked her son in excitement. “I knew it! I keep on dreaming about Xiulan stroking her belly or pushing a stroller or even nursing. I’ve been having these dreams since last month but your popsy told me that they’re just dreams and not to bother you with them, especially after we heard that Xiulan’s health hasn’t been that good lately. But I just have this feeling that either Xiulan is already pregnant or she’s going to become pregnant soon.”
Everyone looked at Domingo Chua who sighed in a helpless manner before nodding. “Yes, it’s true. Your Auntie Reina really kept on having those dreams. She would wake me up in the middle of the night to describe them.”
Iris looked dumbfounded and so did Jin Liwei. Based on their expressions alone, Reina knew right there and then that her dreams were spot on. She became even more excited and hugged Iris.
“I’m so happy for you, Xiulan! You’re still young but I just know that you’re going to be a great mother.” There were tears in Reina’s eyes as she said these words which in turn made Iris’ eyes water as well. Then Reina faced Jin Liwei. “You have to take care of your wife ha, Liwei. Pregnancy is hard on women. And after Xiulan gives birth, don’t leave all the responsibility of raising your children to her alone. You have to help too and not just focus on earning money outside the house. You have to be a father both in name and in action.”
“I understand, Auntie Reina,” Jin Liwei replied in a solemn tone. “Please don’t worry. I take my responsibility as a husband and father very seriously.”
The teary Iris held the older woman’s hands and squeezed them. “Liwei will be a great father, Auntie. He’s already a great father. I’m the one who’s worried that I won’t be a good mother. I don’t know how to be a good mother.”
“Oh, Xiulan. All first-time mothers feel like they have no idea what they’re doing even after all the preparations before the birth. Theoretical knowledge is completely different from practical application. You have to experience something first before you can really know what it’s like. It’s okay to worry and to be scared. This is all normal. I was like that too when I was pregnant with my eldest Marjorie. To be honest, I was terrified but look at me now, a mother of four adult children. All of them are doing well and letting me and their popsy enjoy our old age.”
“Momsy, you and Popsy are far from old yet!” Dom protested.
Iris agreed. “Auntie and Uncle look younger than your actual age.”
Reina touched her face and smiled. “Really? That’s because we’ve been using all of the Orchidia Beauty products that you’ve been sending to our family. Your Uncle Domingo doesn’t like being fussy so I told him, ‘Fine! Don’t use these beauty products that Xiulan kindly sent us all the way from China. I’ll keep on looking young while you’re going to look old. Then people will think that you’re my father in a few more years!’ Then he started using the products by himself without waiting for me to force him.”
Everyone laughed. Even Jasper who had been listening in the sidelines joined the laughter. He never expected that CEO Jin Liwei’s home to be so much fun, warm, and loving like this. They felt like a normal family despite their high social status.
After the meal, the group split into two in the bedroom while drinking hot tea to aid their digestion.
The gentlemen lounged at the sitting area. They consisted of Jin Liwei, Domingo and Jasper. They were mostly talking about business and Jasper’s upcoming short internship at Jin Corporation starting tomorrow.
As for the ladies, they stayed on the huge bed while talking about Iris’ pregnancy. Of course, Dom was included in this group. Iris was attentive in listening to all of Reina’s advice while Dom would receive smacks now and then for complaining about some of his mother’s dodgy superstitious beliefs.
“You’re amazing, Auntie Reina,” Iris said. “You dreamed that I’m pregnant with twins. We’ve been keeping it a secret. Even our parents don’t know yet that I’m carrying twins. Liwei and I want to surprise everyone after I give birth.”
“It’s nothing.” Reina waved her hand, trying to downplay her psychic dreams. “I have these prophetic dreams sometimes. I think most of us Filipinos believe in this kind of meaningful dream interpretations. When I was pregnant with Dom back then, I remember dreaming about tripping on a toy car on the floor of our house. I took that as a sign that your Uncle Domingo and I were finally going to have a baby boy after two daughters. We were so excited because we always wanted to have a baby boy to carry on the Chua name.
“But just before I was about to give birth to Dom, I had the same dream. Well, not exactly the same. I tripped on a toy car again but that time, there was a Sharbie doll in a pink dress riding the toy car. That’s when I knew that although I was going to finally have a baby boy, he’ll still really be a daughter deep inside.”
Dom burst into tears. “Momsy! Wuwuwu! I love you and Popsy so much! You’re never ashamed of my handsome and beautiful self! Wuwuwu!”
“What are you crying for?” Reina also burst into tears but she was trying so hard to control her emotions. “You’re our child so of course your popsy and I are going to accept you no matter what. Stop it na, ha! I don’t want to have swollen eyes!”
Affected by them, Iris also started crying. She felt so touched by their mother and child bond. Jin Liwei arrived beside her in a flash and hugged her, looking worried.
“What’s wrong, love?”
“D-darling, we’ll also accept…our k-kids no matter what they become, okay?” she cried.
