White Tulips and Daisies

Chapter Thirty Six

The whole family was delighted with the news. Everyone was so happy, especially the kids. Day by day, Build's symptoms are getting worse. He mostly is awake at night due to slight abdominal pain. He throws up every now and then, feels weak and always craves unusual food. Just like tonight, he rolled on his back, staring at the ceiling. His fingers are tapping on his belly above the blanket. Build looked at the owner of the arm draped on his chest. Wichapas is breathing evenly beside him, eyes closed. It was almost one in the morning and he was very tired after a long day at work.

Build pouts. Wichapas can sleep calmly while here he is, fighting the urge to go down to the kitchen and eat the raw carrot he saw on the fridge earlier. His mouth instantly waters just by thinking of the orange vegetable. He can hear the loud crunch of the food only if he can chew on it. Build closed his eyes and took a deep breath. If the picture of the carrot didn't leave his mind in the next three minutes, he would go down and eat it. Raw, cold, and crunchy.

"What are you thinking?"

Build flinched. He looked on his side and saw Wichapas' eyes were still closed. He rolled on his side, facing him. He opened Wichapas' eyes using his fingers, making the latter groan.

"You see, Aunt Praya went to the grocery yesterday." Build started.

"And?" Wichapas closed his eyes again but Build forcefully opened it again with his fingers.

"She bought a lot of vegetables and fruits." Build fixed the few strands of hair on Wichapas' forehead.

Wichapas hummed to let him continue while closing his eyes again. "And she bought a beautiful carrot."

This time, Wichapas opened his eyes on his own. He looks at Build like he knows where the conversation is going. "And then?"

Build bit his lower lip. "I am just wondering if," he looked at Wichapas with his doe eyes. "What would it taste if I bite on it while it is cold?"

Wichapas laughed, rolling on his back. "You're craving for a cold carrot in the middle of the night?"

Build glared at him and slapped his shoulder. "Don't laugh! I am just curious. The twins are curious." He pouts.

Wichapas palmed his belly. "Oh, our twins are giving Papa unusual curiosity in the middle of the night." His thumb runs circles above the blanket.

In the middle of the night, Wichapas found himself peeling a cold carrot while Build was sitting on the kitchen counter, feet swaying back and forth, smiling from ear to ear.

--

Build and Wichapas just came back from a check up with Dr. Cherry. As they went out of the car, they saw Dao standing at the front door, little Suchin in her arms.

"Oh! My little Suchin is here. Hi, my Suchiny. Hello." Build kissed the baby's forehead before looking at Dao. "I washed my hands with alcohol and sprayed it all over my body right after getting out of the hospital." Build wanted to make sure that he's clean before touching the baby.

Dao just smiled at him. "How's the check up?"

"She said the in and out fever is kind of normal but the frequent vomiting and lack of sleep should be addressed." Build held Suchin's little finger while looking at Dao.

"I told you to drink warm milk before sleeping. It would help." Dao said.

Build grimaced. He doesn't like the smell of warm milk. Aunt Praya tried to make him drink a glass of warm milk one night so that he could sleep. The smell made him dizzy and the first attempt of sipping on it ended him throwing up for an hour.