SECRET LOVE NEST '22

Making Time

Ding ding ding! We have a winner! Wooohooo!

(What happened? Was there a contest or what?)

No. But we have received our first congratulatory gift, because we are getting married, where the sender thought Qing is marrying a female.

What fun!!

(Gods, we can feel and hear the sarcasm ringing around the world)

Good. Because thats exactly what I was trying to convey here. My sarcasm. It was not fun. I thought I was ready for it. Well, Qing and I thought we were ready for it but it still feels so...I don't know...insulting, I guess when people think we are going into a hetero marriage.

But just to set the record straight, no pun intended, we are not. This will be a same sex marriage and I hope to all hopes that any member of my family will not make more mistakes of thinking I am marrying a woman.

Because, believe it or not, Qing experienced it too. When I introduced him to some visiting distant relatives in Heilongjiang. Qing and I will stand together and then I will break the news to my relative that I am getting married and then they will look around, asking where my bride to be is.

Thats my cue to gesture at Qing and say, nope no bride...just this gorgeous man. I am marrying this gorgeous man.

Thankfully, most people who made a mistake like that will apologize instantly once they realize that it will be a groom-groom situation and not a bride-groom thing. Its just, this one instance get on my nerves because...

Me: (inspecting the gift basket they sent to us) There are mostly his and her items here. Like this one! (showing Qing two bottles) These are scent sprays, one for he and one for she.

There are also slippers, bath towels, soaps and even pairs of pajamas, in blue and pink. Clearly meant for a straight couple. And the most infuriating part is...

(There is a most infuriating part?)

Yes. You see, the pajama set and slippers meant for the bride fits me perfectly. I tried them on and they fit.

(OMG!)

Are you all laughing?

(What? No!)

Gods, you all sucks at lying. Fine! Laugh all you want. Qing laughed when I pointed it out. He also told me not to be too offended. The gift basket was sent to us by a business associate of his parents. Not really close as they won't even be invited or will attend our wedding but the senders has been doing business with Qing's family for several years now and when they heard the news that Qing is getting married from the grapevine, they decided to express their best intention to congratulate Qing by sending this gift basket with most his and her items.

When Mama and Baba heard the news of the gift basket, they volunteered to send it back for us and clarify that Qing will be marrying a man. I declined because...

Me: (while having a weekend afternoon tea in the mansion) I feel like that will be too rude. They send the gift with good intentions and to send it back...won't that be cringey?

Baba: Not at all. It was an honest mistake on their part and we will just clarify things. We should send the basket back.

Me: (shaking my head adamantly) No. That won't be necessary.

Qing: (laughing) Don't bother sending it back. There were chocolates on their gift and Dayu already ate some.

(OMG)

Look, let me explain! They look like locally made chocolates so I tried some and they were delicious so I might have finished two packets out of the seven packets they sent, but thats alright because I also happen to exercise the next day after eating those sweets. Please clap...