The three of them moved to the living area, a space that breathed luxury and comfort. Two plush, velvet-textured sofas faced each other in a perfect parallel, separated by a low, polished center table. Naea had carefully arranged the dishes she had prepared—vibrant, aromatic, and presented with the precision of a five-star chef—making sure the gesture of hospitality was clear to their guest.
Naea took her seat gracefully, finally offering a formal introduction. "I'm Naea Sato," she said, her voice warm but carrying the natural authority of a surgeon. "It's a pleasure to have you in our home, Wei."
Wei Jian, still slightly awestruck by the elegance of the household and the couple's chemistry, introduced herself in return. "I'm Wei Jian, a medical student and... an aspiring author. Thank you so much for the juice and this incredible meal, Naea . I'm honored to meet the woman Akira speaks so highly of."
They sat in a triangle of quiet observation. Akira sat beside Naea, her posture relaxed but her eyes sharp, watching how the two women—the storyteller and the heart of her own story—began to interact. The steam from the freshly cooked food rose between them, and for a moment, the room felt like a sanctuary where the "Impossible Love" of Wei's manuscript finally felt entirely possible.
So," Wei Jian began, her voice carrying a playful, teasing edge. "Your lover mentioned that you are a surgeon."
Upon hearing the word 'lover,' Naea shot a quick, sharp look toward Akira. Her eyes clearly messaged: Was it really necessary to tell her everything? But the annoyance was fleeting. Naea turned back to Wei with a modest expression. "Yes, I was a surgeon. But now? I'm just a normal woman, nothing more."
Wei Jian smiled warmly. "Well, would you mind sharing some of your experiences with me?"
Naea nodded, and soon the two of them were deep in conversation. They spoke of medical breakthroughs, surgical procedures, and hospital news. Akira, however, found herself completely out of her depth. The medical jargon felt like a foreign language, and boredom quickly set in.
To pass the time without being rude, Akira pulled out her phone. She opened the FriendChat app and began scrolling through reels, making sure the sound was muted so she wouldn't disturb their professional discussion.
As she scrolled, she looked at the "Liked" videos on Naea's profile. To her absolute shock, the majority of the videos Naea had interacted with were about babies—cute toddlers, infant care, and sweet family moments.
A soft, knowing smile tugged at the corners of Akira's lips. She glanced up at Naea, who was still seriously explaining a medical concept, and thought to herself, 'So, my dear... it turns out you have a soft spot for babies, don't you?'
The atmosphere shifted when Naea leaned forward, her surgeon's curiosity finally turning toward the manuscript. "Tell me about your book, Wei," she asked gently.
Wei Jian took a slow breath, her expression softening. "Actually... I didn't write it. My friend did. She's no longer with us, so I've taken it upon myself to complete her unfinished work."
Akira's thumb froze on her phone screen. A wave of confusion, followed by a sharp "weird" feeling, hit her. Wait... she told me it was her own story back at the cafe. Why is she telling Naea a different version?
the room turned ice-cold the moment the words left Wei Jian's mouth. Akira, who had been quietly observing from the sofa, felt a surge of cold fury. She lied to me at the cafe, and now she's playing the 'tragic friend' card with my wife?
As Wei Jian stood up to leave, she caught Akira's gaze. It wasn't the look of a polite editor anymore. Akira was giving her a sharp, lethal hunter's stare—the kind of look that a predator gives when someone dares to step into its territory. Her eyes were dark, piercing, and filled with a silent warning that made Wei Jian's breath hitch.
Wei Jian felt a sudden shiver run down her spine. The confidence she had shown moments ago vanished, replaced by a flicker of genuine fear. She realized then that while Naea might be the kind, welcoming doctor, Akira was the one who guarded the gates—and Akira had seen right through her.
Quickly, and with a slightly trembling heart, Wei gave Naea a brief, loving hug—partly to maintain her act and partly to escape that suffocating stare. Without daring to look at Akira again or say a single word to her, she hurried toward the door.
"Don't worry about seeing me out," Wei called back, her voice a bit tighter than before. "I've already booked a cab. It's waiting."
She practically fled the house, leaving behind a heavy silence and a very observant Akira.
Seeing Wei Jian leave in such a hurry, Naea's natural doctor's instinct kicked in. She began to follow her toward the door to make sure she reached her cab safely.
But before she could take two steps, Akira's hand reached out, firmly but gently catching her wrist. "She's a college student, Naea," Akira said, her voice cool and steady. "She can find her own way. There's no need for you to worry so much about her."
Naea stopped and turned toward Akira, her expression a mix of lingering jealousy and confusion. "And speaking of things I'm worried about... what was the need for you to tell her I'm a surgeon, Akira? You know I've stepped away from that world."
Akira didn't flinch. Instead, she pulled Naea into a warm, lingering hug, a charming smile playing on her lips. "If my wife is this talented, why should I hide it from the world? Besides, she's a medical student. I thought of you and how much you could teach her, so I mentioned it. Is it such a crime to be proud of you?"
Naea sighed, her body finally relaxing into Akira's embrace. "Whatever," she muttered softly. "You've already told her now. There's no point in arguing."
Akira pulled back just enough to look into Naea's eyes. Her expression shifted from proud to playfully mischievous. "Actually, I wanted to ask you something else."
Naea gave her a confused look. "What is it?"
Akira leaned in a little closer, her gaze searching Naea's face. "Do you... like babies?"
Naea answered calmly, her voice soft with a maternal warmth. "Yes, why not? They are so innocent and cute. I don't think there's anyone in the world who doesn't like babies."
Akira gazed deeply into Naea's brown eyes, her expression unreadable. "I don't. I don't like babies."
Naea offered a small, understanding smile. "Well, everyone has different perspectives and choices," she said, turning to walk away.
But Akira pulled her back, closing the distance between them until they were chest to chest. "I wasn't finished, Miss," Akira whispered. Her voice turned serious, dropping an octave. "If you want... we can have a baby. Through IVF. We can make this happen."
Naea laughed, playfully hitting Akira on the head. "What kind of joke is this? You're such a fool!"
"Naea, I'm not joking," Akira said, her charcoal eyes burning with a sudden, intense sincerity.
Naea's smile faded as she realized Akira was serious. She looked into those dark eyes and sighed softly. "Akira... even if you weren't in my life, even if I were married to a man, I would never have a biological child. I would adopt. You know how many innocent children are separated from their parents the moment they are born? My dream was always that once I became independent, I would adopt a baby. I want to teach them everything, fulfill their dreams, and care for them. A baby's smile... it can wash away all the stress in the world."
Akira felt a pang of deep admiration for the woman in her arms. She leaned in, pressing a tender kiss against Naea's forehead.
"Then let's fulfill that dream," Akira murmured against her skin. "Tomorrow, we will go. We will adopt a baby. They will be ours."
Naea's eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling. "Akira... is this another joke? You can't be—"
"I am serious, Naea," Akira interrupted, her voice firm and full of love. "That baby will be the luckiest soul alive to have you caring for them. Whether it's a girl or a boy, I know they will grow up to be a wonderful human being because of you."
After the weight of the day's revelations, the house settled into a peaceful silence. They shared their dinner together—the meal Naea had prepared with such precision—but now, the air was free of the tension Wei Jian had brought. They spoke little, but the connection between them was louder than words.
When they finally retreated to their bedroom, the moonlight filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the bed. Naea climbed in and immediately found her place in Akira's arms. Though she kept her expression calm and composed, deep down, her heart was racing with a happiness she hadn't felt in years. Akira's promise was a seed of hope that had suddenly bloomed.
Akira held her tight, breathing in the scent of Naea's hair. On the outside, she was the same steady, protective woman she always was. But internally, her mind was a whirlwind. She was genuinely excited to fulfill Naea's lifelong goal, yet a flicker of nerves remained.
I don't even like babies, Akira thought as she closed her eyes, feeling the steady heartbeat of the woman she loved. But for her... I would learn to love anything.
Wrapped in each other's arms.
As the room grew still and Naea's breathing turned rhythmic in her sleep, Akira remained awake for a few moments longer, staring into the darkness. She looked down at the woman in her arms, her heart swelling with a protective instinct that went beyond mere romance.
'Naea...' Akira thought silently, her gaze softening. 'I don't like babies. I never have. But I know that one day, I might not be here by your side. If that day comes, I don't want you to be swallowed by the silence of this house. At least then, you will have this child to chase away your loneliness.'
She remembered what Naea had said about a baby's smile being able to wash away stress.
'I hope that child's smile keeps a beautiful one on your face, too,' Akira's mind whispered. 'Because seeing you happy is the only thing that truly keeps my heart alive.'
With that final, selfless thought, Akira tightened her hold on Naea ever so slightly and finally let sleep take her.