Tia looked at Erina in awe as she explained the baby girls names.
She can't help but kinda relate with her Sister in law.
Although they have different experience, both the man they love was battling anxiety and depression.
Ian noticed Tia wasn't eating but just spacing out so he nudged her then he asked.
"Hey, what's wrong?"
"Nothing."
"..."
She smiled at Ian then quietly ate. She was busy devouring her food when suddenly her Brother Andy asked her.
"Tian-Tian, can i borrow your husband later I would like to speak to him in private."
Tia choked so hard that she started coughing.
Upon hearing him say "husband", she instantly turned red from the embarrassment.
While Ian who was silently sitting by her side seems like he had entered nirvana and was smiling so bright she thought that she's gonna be blind.
Hearing people referring him as Tia's "husband" were like music to his ears.
After their meal, Tia helped Erina looked after the twins.
She cuddle Hikari in her arms and she instantly felt the baby's warmth and softness.
Ian saw how happy Tia looked carrying the baby and he can't help but think about their future.
"Hey, let's go to the veranda and talk. Do you smoke?"
He heard Andy asked him and he was pulled out of his trance.
He shook his head and wheeled Andy onto the veranda which was converted as a small zen garden.
Andy picked up a spray and watered his bonsai (¹) plants.
"Kid, have you told your parents about Tia?"
Ian just shook his head. Andy took a deep breath and continued on speaking.
"You know, my wife is not just an ordinary nurse. She's from a wealthy family in Japan.
She came here to our country cause her parents had her setup for arrange marriage."
"When her parents found out that we got married it caused an uproar and they disowned her.
They can't accept the fact that their daughter married a cripple like me."
Andy looked at Ian and there's sadness in his eyes.
"Im telling you all this cause I don't want Tia to feel the same eay that I felt when the parents of the person I love the most cannot accept me."
He explained. He first hand experience the disappointment of letting his in laws down.
And although Erina wouldn't say it he knew that deep down she's also sad of her parents decision.
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(1) bonsai- It is an Asian art form using cultivation techniques to produce small trees in containers that mimic the shape and scale of full size trees