Upon receiving my call, my mother is quite surprised. I mean, that's not unusual. Because all this time, she thought that I would be single for the rest of my life. And with an MFUU at that, a rarity in this world.
"My son brought a patient into his house!"
"Mom..."
"And now he's dating him! A dirty doctor is what I raised!"
"Oh, Mom, please listen..."
"Turns out my son is gay!"
"Well, I guess that's the case."
"I should have suspected it since I know your libido has always been extremely low!"
"That's too harsh..."
"I'm so sorry!"
"Mom, I told you already―wait what do you mean you're sorry?"
I am surprised she said that in such a strangely honest tone.
"I was treating you under the assumption that you were straight. I'm sorry I tried to set you up with women too before, without asking you first. Yeah, it wasn't right. That's horrible isn't it?"
"Mom... Ah, no, I only noticed it recently, too. Don't worry about it."
"I am worried. And I do care about you! But thank goodness, our Takashi now has someone he likes. I don't care if I can never see my grandson's face, but sometimes I feel sad when I think of you. What's going to happen to this boy when I die? Now I'm relieved. Grandma* will be happy too."
*paternal Grandma
She cries.
I interrupt, "Sorry to interrupt your crying, but back on topic. I want to marry Iwamoto-san, so can we stop by to see you and Grandma?"
"What's with the quick change of subject? Let your mother soak in the tears."
And so she starts crying again, though of course it is just acting and exaggerated sobs.
"Mom..."
"It's okay, it's okay...you can come. Besides, being a retiree is boring as h*ll."
"So next week then."
"No, tomorrow. We can have lunch together."
"Isn't that too sudden?"
"What? I want to meet your man ASAP. The sooner I give you two my blessing the better. Believe me, seeing me will bring you great luck. I don't get younger, honey. I don't become more patient either."
It is kind of frightening that she has already passed her 60th birthday a long time ago. I am amazed at how open, honest, and clear she speaks. This may be the perfect image of a woman who has lived her life as she pleases, letting her intelligence and innate goodness take care of her. It's refreshing but noisy.
"Okay, okay. Stop talking."
"I won't stop! I'm so happy my only son is finally bringing his partner!"
So the schedule is set.
We actually would like to invite Iwamoto's sister as well. Since everything is so sudden, of course, she hasn't known about our marriage plans. Haruka has already had her own plans, she and her friends are going on a trip to celebrate their graduation. Besides, in the past few weeks, the girl has also started working part-time.
Well, Haruka's place is only an hour away by train, so we can go there after work settles down.
"I'm sorry, it all came together," I say a bit disappointed.
Ah, how did Iwamoto describe me to her sister in the first place? She sounded super excited earlier. I'm worried that she holds high expectations of me, fearing that she'll be terribly disappointed at our meeting later.
But the next day, I go to my mother's place with Iwamoto anyway.
My mother lives in a large residential complex next door to my paternal grandmother and some fairly busy convenience stores. Her relationship with my father since the divorce may have been almost non-existent, but mom said what my father did had nothing to do with grandma.
The two of them are so close that they exclaim once they see Iwamoto and me getting out of the car.
"A handsome man!"
"A handsome man!"
"Mom! Grandma! Don't point at Iwamoto like that! That's rude."
"But is he...is he really our Taka's boyfriend?"
"You've got a nice body, boy! So much different compared to my son's. And you look quite young!"
"Alright! Alright! We get it! Shut up both of you! We're outside."
I completely understand their excitement. Iwamoto is too good to be the lover of someone as simple as me, but this area is densely populated with houses. Their voices echo in the air.
Iwamoto, on the other hand, is smiling squinting his eyes. "It's an honor to finally meet you two, I'm Taichi Iwamoto."
"Chikako, did you hear that?" My 70-year-old grandmother is mesmerized by Iwamoto's low and beautiful voice.
"Grandma, don't wave your cane around!"
***
We all sat down in the tea room. Listening to Iwamoto's life stories, mother and grandma lets out a long sigh. A rather short and tragic family history, indeed.
Then, Mom turns her eyes onto me. Her pale and thin face, similar to mine is giving me a look as if she understands why I'm so in love with Iwamoto. I feel guilty. I mean, I had touched a patient of mine and it will be very awkward if she delves into this deeper.
"By the way, Iwamoto-san, is it true that you can give birth to my great-grandchildren?"
Asks my grandmother suddenly, leaning forward with a twinkle in her eyes. She had just been smitten by Iwamoto's manliness, and now she is expecting her great-grandson!
"Grandma! You don't ask about that. It's rude. Did you forget I once get a miscarriage after having Takashi? It's a delicate subject. And we don't know if Iwamoto-san wants to have a child or not. I'm so sorry, Iwamoto-san."
"No, it's okay." Iwamoto is smiling at my mother and grandmother. "It used to seem like a terrible and scary idea to me. But lately, I've been thinking about it a lot, too. That I would like to have Sensei's children. Although, of course, it's up to God whether I can give birth safely or not."
I fall silent, and so does grandmother. This is the first time I hear Iwamoto says that. God, right, God is the only one who knows about life and death. I am a doctor, an OB/GYN one at that, so I'm used to not trusting God when it comes to childbirth. And about children. Not once have I ever thought that Iwamoto would talk about children. Oh, my face is burning up. I am somehow extremely happy to hear that.
Mother looks at us, then opens her mouth. She says, "Iwamoto-san says he wants a baby from you but still calls you Sensei? Woah, that's so dirty!"
"No no no, not again, Mom!"
This is why I hate having my mother meet people. I wish she can learn how to keep words to herself.
"It's a bit weird, I know. Um, Takashi?"
And Iwamoto, of all people, plays along with Mom. I am speechless. I open my mouth but soon close it back. Of course, I am very happy to hear that, but that should be when we are alone in bed.
Excited seeing my embarrassing reaction, Iwamoto instead adds fire by giving me sexy seducing eyes, not caring about my mother and grandmother's presence.
"Takashi-san, call me by my first name too."
What are you saying, it's impossible! Everyone in this room knows very well I'm a coward to do this kind of sh1t in public―
"Taichi."
Fvck.
"I love you, Takashi."
"I love you too."
Iwamoto laughs.
"Wow, this is strong. What did you do to this poor guy, Iwamoto-san? He looks completely lost."
My grandmother's words make my face feel hot again. I can't stand this, I want to disappear. I want to leave this place right this instant.
"Iwamoto-san, you've completely changed our Takashi."
"Yeah, it's nice."
"By the way, Iwamoto-san, since you're going to be our son-in-law, you two are going to have a wedding, right?"
"Grandma, you can't ask that either!"
We chat a bit more before we all go to eat together at a Chinese restaurant less than half a block away. My mother had reserved a table since yesterday, I mentioned that Iwamoto really likes traditional Chinese food. By that time, the three has already become great friends.
"Iwamoto-san, I have lots of ideas if you want a wedding!" Mom shouts after returning from the Chinese restaurant to Iwamoto and me who are already in the car about to go home. "Tell me anything, I will definitely help you!"
Just how many times have I told her to not shout in public?