I spent the entire day doing some work from home. It's been a month since I started my maternity leave, and my boss has been bugging me about some important matters I need to take care of. Being high in the ranks may seem prestigious, but it's not all luxury. Yes, you're given a higher compensation, but the responsibility granted to you is also bigger than other employees of the company. Insert Uncle Ben's words of wisdom here.
I just sent the report I needed to submit to my boss when my husband entered our study. I look at the clock, it's three thirty in the afternoon. It's Thursday, and it's quite peculiar for him to be at home on a weekday. He told me this morning that he's taking the day off. He said he's not feeling quite well since we barely slept last night. Taking care of newborn twins is really tough.
I stared at him as he went closer to the table. Our study is like a foyer to our bedroom. There is an eight-seater square table that serves as our combined office table. I rarely do work at home, and when I do, it's just me and my laptop and my Excel files. To him, it's the opposite. As the owner of a construction firm, he always looks into some blueprints of their ongoing and upcoming projects. Believe me, I can barely put my laptop on that table when we're both working at home.
"I need you to come with me to the kitchen."
I frowned. Nope, it's not because of the cocky way he said those words, but because of the reason why he said that. He grabbed my hand and pulled me, making me follow him to the kitchen. Yes, that's how demanding he is.
He led me to the island counter in our kitchen. He made me sit down on one of the highchairs, and then he went to the other side of the counter.
"Remember, we didn't celebrate our Valentine's day this year?"
It was the day our twins were born, so instead of rushing to a restaurant for our reservation we rushed into the emergency room because I was in labor.
"Okay...?"
He went to the refrigerator and took a heart-shaped chocolate cake. He went back to the counter, but this time he is beside me as he put the cake on the island counter.
I looked at the cake with awe. He didn't have to tell me what's so special about that cake as I already figured in out.
"You baked a cake for me," I said as I looked back at him.
"Consider it as a White Day gift."
"White Day..." I remember telling him about that day when guys give gifts to girls who gave them chocolates during Valentine's day.
He went to the kitchen cabinets and took out some saucers, forks, and a knife to slice the cake.
"But Hon, I didn't give you chocolates on Valentine's day."
Chocolates never crossed my mind that day as I was having the most chaotic Valentine's day of my life.
"But you gave me the best give, Honey. You gave me a son and a daughter."
I was overwhelmed by that look that he gave me. It emanates joy, gratitude, and love. I smiled as tears formed in my eyes. He smiled back, then went on and sliced the cake.
"I thought you're not the romantic type."
"I guess you're starting to rub off on me."
That made me giggle. Being romantic is my role in our relationship. Or so he thinks. He does not know that the simple things he does sometimes makes my heart melt.
Or maybe, I really am just the incurable romantic that I find romance in simple things he does to and for me.
He gave me a slice of the cake he baked.
"Did your really bake this yourself?"
He looked at me, quite offended. I giggled.
"Okay... Well, I had help."
That made me laugh.
"But, Aunt Ellie just told me what to do. I was the one who did everything."
I grinned at him, still not believing that my husband who can't even boil water has done a very difficult task of baking. Well, it might not be that difficult to some, but for an engineer who's life revolves around building blueprints, it really is a feat.
"Try it."
I took a piece of the cake and he watched me eat it.
"What do you think?"
"It's good," I said genuinely. "I'm just not sure if it's really good, or I just love you that's why I think it's good."
He looked at me dishearteningly, making me laugh.
"Try it," I said as I feed him some. "What do you think?"
"Not bad," he said as he munches on the cake he baked.
I fed him another one and he took the fork from my hand. He then feed me some.
"Oh no!"
He gave me a questioning look.
"I didn't take a picture!"
His face went blank.
"Ugh... I should have taken the picture first for my Insta."
He suddenly took his cellphone that was on the island counter and opened the Photos app. He showed me a picture of the cake he has taken.
"I knew you would like to do that, and I also know you will forget."
I smiled. "And you're telling me you're not the romantic between us."
He looked at the picture. "I just want to save myself from your agonizing ranting."
"What?!"
No, I wasn't mad. I was actually smiling foolishly. He smiled also, and both of us laughed.
"You really love me, don't you?"
He looked at me, then pulled me closer making me gasp.
"Honey, I won't spend the entire morning trying to figure out how I can make the cake fudgy yet light if I don't."
I smiled. "I figured."
He leaned over and kissed me. I kissed him back.
"That cake is really so delicious," he said as he tasted the cake from my mouth.
I giggled as he smiled at me.
We spent the rest of the afternoon eating the cake and drinking tea. It could have been wine or champagne but being a breastfeeding mom and a nursing father restrain us from drinking alcohol. Had to take care of the twins after a romantic moment with each other, you know.
Speaking of the twins, they demanded our presence after an hour of just being with each other. Well, romance might be hard when you started having children, but it's not impossible. It just takes perfect timing, and well, a good chocolate cake recipe and refreshing tea.
