Chapter 17: The Road to Parenthood

Married life was a whirlwind for Emma and Jae. From navigating their new roles as husband and wife to adjusting to life under constant public scrutiny, every day felt like an adventure.

One sunny morning, Emma and Jae sat at their dining table, enjoying a rare leisurely breakfast. Emma sipped her coffee while Jae munched on toast, scrolling through his phone.

"Did you know that newlyweds are supposed to fight about the dumbest things?" Jae asked, showing Emma an article titled 'Funny Arguments Every Married Couple Has.'

Emma snorted. "We haven't fought yet. Unless you count the Great Pillow War of last week."

Jae put down his phone, mock offended. "Hey, you were the one who insisted on stealing all the fluffy pillows!"

"I need them for my back! Your K-drama binge nights on the couch aren't helping."

Their playful banter filled the house, but Emma couldn't ignore the odd sense of fatigue she'd been feeling lately. She brushed it off as post-wedding exhaustion.

A week later, Emma noticed her cravings were getting... unusual. She found herself dipping pretzels into peanut butter and pickles one night, much to Jae's horror.

"Emma, I love you, but that's a crime against humanity," Jae said, eyeing her snack with genuine fear.

"It's delicious," Emma said defensively, popping a pickle into her mouth. "You're just uncultured."

But it wasn't just the cravings. Emma found herself tearing up over the smallest things—a cute puppy on TV, a perfectly cooked pancake, and even an ad about laundry detergent.

"Are you okay?" Jae asked one evening, finding her sobbing in front of their fridge.

"I'm fine," Emma sniffled, holding up an empty jar. "We're out of strawberry jam."

Jae couldn't hold back his laughter. "Alright, that's it. You're going to the doctor tomorrow."

The next day, Emma reluctantly visited the clinic with Jae in tow. The doctor ran a few tests and smiled warmly when she returned with the results.

"Congratulations," she said. "You're pregnant."

Emma's jaw dropped. "I'm sorry, what?"

Jae froze mid-sip of his water bottle and ended up choking. "Pregnant?!"

The doctor chuckled. "Yes, and from your ultrasound, it looks like you're having twins."

Emma stared at the doctor in disbelief. "Twins? As in... two babies?"

Jae's face went pale. "Like two humans? At the same time?"

"Yes," the doctor confirmed, showing them the ultrasound image. Two tiny figures were visible on the screen, their heartbeats echoing softly.

Emma and Jae looked at each other, their expressions a mix of shock and awe.

"Well," Jae finally said, breaking the silence. "I guess that explains the pickles and peanut butter."

Pregnancy turned out to be an adventure in itself. Emma's mood swings became legendary. One moment she'd be laughing at Jae's jokes, and the next, she'd be crying because the clouds looked "too fluffy."

Jae, on the other hand, became the ultimate doting husband. He read every pregnancy book he could find, prepared midnight snacks for Emma's cravings, and even practiced carrying a watermelon around the house to "understand her struggles."

One evening, Emma caught him talking to her belly.

"Hey, little guys," Jae whispered. "You better behave in there. Your mom's been through enough."

Emma rolled her eyes but couldn't help smiling. "You know they can't hear you yet, right?"

"They can feel the love," Jae shot back, grinning.

Their next ultrasound appointment was a memorable one. The twins were active, making it hard for the technician to get a clear picture.

"These two are already causing trouble," Jae joked.

Emma watched the screen in awe as the tiny figures moved around. "They're perfect," she whispered, tears welling up in her eyes.

Jae squeezed her hand. "Yeah, they are."

As they left the clinic, Jae turned to Emma with a mischievous smile. "So, should we start brainstorming baby names? I'm thinking something cool, like Thunder and Lightning."

Emma groaned. "Please don't make our kids sound like superheroes."

The months that followed were filled with hilarious moments. Emma's clumsiness reached new heights—she once got stuck trying to squeeze behind the couch to grab a remote, and Jae had to "rescue" her.

"Pregnancy is no joke," Emma muttered as Jae helped her up.

"Nope," he teased. "But it's definitely entertaining."

Jae also became her personal chef, whipping up her bizarre cravings without complaint. One night, he presented her with a plate of spaghetti topped with chocolate syrup.

"Don't say I never do anything for you," he said with a wink.

Emma laughed. "You're the best, even if this looks like a crime scene."

One day, while Emma was out with friends, Jae decided to surprise her by starting work on the nursery. When she came home, she found him covered in paint and surrounded by half-assembled furniture.

"What happened here?" Emma asked, trying not to laugh.

"I may have underestimated the complexity of cribs," Jae admitted sheepishly.

Despite the mess, Emma was touched. "You're going to be a great dad," she said, hugging him.

Jae smiled. "And you're going to be an amazing mom."

As Emma's due date approached, the reality of becoming parents sank in. It was daunting, but they knew they had each other.

One evening, as they lay in bed, Emma rested her head on Jae's shoulder.

"Do you think we're ready for this?" she asked softly.

Jae kissed her forehead. "Probably not. But we'll figure it out together."

And as the twins continued their playful antics inside Emma's belly, she knew that their journey as a family was just beginning—filled with love, laughter, and a little bit of chaos.