Chapter Text
Vroom, Vroom?
“Mama, Mama, Mama!” Lunar stood at the top of the stairs, frantically calling out for Ai-oon.
“What’s wrong, my dear?” Ai-oon asked from the ground floor, wondering what was of such urgency.
“Did you see my motorcycle? It was on my table last night!” Lunar frowned as Ai-oon joined her in the search. Lunar swore it was there before she went to bed.
“Could it have fallen off the table? Let me help you.” Ai-oon crouched down to search under the study table as Lunar flipped her bedsheets.
“It’s not here either. What am I supposed to bring for show-and-tell now?” Lunar buried her head in Ai-oon’s embrace.
“Is everything…why are you crying, my dear?” May peeked into Lunar’s room, furrowing her eyebrows upon hearing her daughter’s cries.
“I…I…can’t find my…favourite…motorcycle toy…” Lunar replied in between sobs.
“We’ve searched everywhere. I think it’s gone.” Ai-oon whispered to May after covering Lunar’s ears gently.
“I’m not going to school without my motorcycle…” Lunar had climbed under her sheets and hid herself inside.
“We have a bit of time before school starts. How about we drop by the mall to get you a new motorcycle, and you can bring that to school?” May offered, knowing how much Lunar had practised for today.
“But…it’s not the same…I like that one the best.” Lunar peeked out of her sheets while shaking her head. May and Ai-oon looked at each other, cracking their brains for solutions.
“How about I bring the real motorcycle with us?” An idea popped into Ai-oon's head as she spotted the garage from Lunar's window.
“You want to ride your bike? To her school?” May blinked, confirming what she just heard. Ai-oon’s motorcycle wasn’t exactly the most preschool-friendly.
“I mean, it's been a while since I've ridden it. Besides, an actual motorcycle is way cooler than a toy. Right, Lunar?” Ai-oon figured it was the best alternative she could offer. Her motorcycle wasn’t that bad.
“Really, Mama? You’re going to bring your cool bike to school?” Lunar’s ears perked at the sound of Ai-oon’s suggestion, forgetting about the fact that she was sulking just seconds ago.
“I’ll check with your teacher but in the meantime, do you want to go get ready with Mae?” Ai-oon exchanged looks with May, who took the chance to rush Lunar into her school uniform and shoes.
“Wow Mama, you look so ~ cool!” Lunar stared in awe as she and May watched Ai-oon put on her helmet and shades.
“That’s why your Mae fell for me. She said I looked cool riding my bike.” Ai-oon gave May a smirk.
“Excuse me but I was blind when I first rode pillion on your bike. I didn’t even see how you looked until months later.” May rolled her eyes while reminding Ai-oon about their early days before May regained her vision.
“I am a twin, May. You knew how I looked even before you met me.” Ai-oon rebutted.
“Mama, Mae! I’m going to be late!” Lunar interrupted the quibble to remind her mothers of the time.
“You’ll ride beside us, right?” May confirmed as both she and Ai-oon started their respective engines. It had been a while since Ai-oon rode her bike, and May was a little worried.
“I’ll be right beside you guys, don’t worry.” Ai-oon promised to stay within May’s line of sight on the road.
“Ready, Lunar?” Ai-oon asked the girl as the motorcycle let out a resounding roar.
“Ready! Let’s go!” Lunar cheered as both her mothers took off.
~ ~ ~
Butterflies in my tummy
“Good morning everyone, my name is…” Maewnam walked into Muv’s room at 7 am, only to see the girl practising her speech in front of the mirror.
“Sweetie, how long have you been up?” Maewnam stroked her daughter’s hair, noticing how nervous Muv was for her show-and-tell later.
“Good morning, Mami. I’ve only been up since…6.45 am.” Muv stared at the clock in her room before estimating how long she’d been standing in front of the mirror.
“You’ve practised more than enough. You’ll do amazing, sweetie. Come on, Mi is waiting downstairs.” Maewnam assured Muv as she held her hands and guided the girl downstairs for breakfast.
“Good morning, sweetie.” Wan opened her arms wide for an embrace, engulfing her daughter in a tight morning hug.
“Good morning, Mi.” Muv snuggled into Wan’s embrace, resting in her mother’s arms for an extended period before letting go.
“Mami and Mi will be cheering you on the entire time. If you feel nervous, just look at us.” Wan caressed Muv’s cheeks, gently pulling the corners of her cheeks up to create a smile.
“Mami, Mi, do you feel nervous before making a speech in front of everyone too?” Muv was trying to process the butterflies in her stomach.
“You know, Mami always felt nervous whenever I stood before my students. Even now.” Maewnam lifted Muv onto her lap and wrapped her arms around the girl.
“Really? But you’re a professor!” Muv blinked in surprise upon hearing the confession from a professor with more than a decade of experience.
“Lots of people get nervous when they have to make a speech. It’s nothing to be ashamed of. It shows how much you want to do well.” Maewnam added.
“But it’s also important not to let your nerves get the better of you, sweetie.” Wan reminded as Maewnam nodded in agreement.
“How do I become less nervous?” Muv puffed her cheeks in curiosity.
“Hmm, maybe through a big hug from Mami and Mi?” Maewnam and Wan held Muv securely in their arms, whispering words of encouragement until they saw a smile break through Muv’s solemn face.
“It worked! My tummy doesn’t feel weird anymore!” Muv was pleasantly surprised that the queasy feeling in her stomach had faded away.
“We'd better get going before the power of our magical hug goes away!” Maewnam took the chance to get out of the house before the jitters hit Muv again.
“Mami, can you sit in the back with me, please?” Muv tugged gently on Maewnam’s jacket, pleading with her boba eyes.
“Why only Mami and not Mi?” Wan pouted and crossed her arms jokingly, bending down when Muv beckoned with her hand.
“Because Mi is a better driver than Mami. Plus, you know Mami will sulk if I choose you over her. Muv loves Mi as much as Mami, though.” Muv whispered into Wan’s ears, the latter holding back laughter as she heard the girl’s reasoning. Maewnam was indeed a silent sulker.
“Hop in my little seals, I’ll get us to our destination safe and sound.” Wan opened the door for her ladies, closing it gently after making sure they were buckled up.
~ ~ ~
What's so difficult about show-and-tell?
“P’Pam! Wake up, we’re going to be late!” Dokrak stared at the time on her phone as she shook the sleeping figure next to her. They had 30 minutes to leave the house.
“Ni Ni, Ni Ni, it’s me.” Any poked Dokrak on her side to make her presence known.
“Sorry cutie, I forgot you slept with us last night. Anyway, where is Mi Mi?” Dokrak belatedly remembered that Any had somehow made her way into their bed last night.
“Mi Mi and I were making breakfast. Mi Mi said to wake you up later because you slept late last night working on your painting.” Any climbed on top of Dokrak and laid her head against Dokrak’s chest. The exact way Any used to sleep on top of Dokrak when she was an infant.
“Aren’t you excited for your first ever show-and-tell?” Pam was holding two plates of pancakes as Dokrak and Any emerged from the master bedroom.
“Just a little? Mi Mi said I can just sing if I forget what to say. Or just be cute.” Any shrugged her shoulders as she settled down on her chair, repeating to Dokrak what Pam had told her last night before bed.
“What? I was just trying not to stress our daughter out. She’s barely five.” Pam laughed nervously as she felt the glare from Dokrak.
“She’ll think being cute solves everything.” Dokrak frowned slightly. Pam had the tendency to spoil the child, excessively.
“You pull the cute card on me all the time, since the first time we met.” Pam reminded how Dokrak would use her boba eyes and tiny pout to get herself out of trouble with Pam, even at 28 years old.
“I…This…” Dokrak found herself lost for words at Pam’s reminder. It would be shameless of her to deny it.
“If you forget what to say, just look for Mi Mi and Ni Ni at the back of the classroom. We’ll help you remember, okay?” Dokrak provided what she believed was a much better resolution to a blank mind.
“Don’t worry Mi Mi and Ni Ni, Any has it under control.” Any winked while stuffing another bite of syrup-dosed pancakes into her mouth.
“Yep, she definitely got her confidence from you.” Pam nudged Dokrak, letting out a resigned laugh.
“You make it sound like it’s a bad thing.” Dokrak growled softly.
“I…didn’t say that. I meant to say our daughter definitely got her artistic talents from you, my beautiful wife.” Pam cleared her throat in salient attempt to pacify Dokrak.
“That’s more like it. I almost took the spatula out, P’Pam.” Dokrak teased. The spatula was now Dokrak’s secret weapon against Pam.
“Any has a question to ask.” Any was quietly entertaining herself as they drove to school until she leaned out from her car seat.
“Yes, cutie?” Dokrak turned to face Any while Pam looked through the rear mirror.
“Do singers have to do well in show-and-tell?” Pam looked at her mothers with her big, innocent eyes.
“Well, I guess singing is more important than show-and-tell?” Dokrak replied hesitantly, unsure what Any’s question was aiming at.
“Okay, I’ve got it.” Any nodded without any further questions.
“I’m sorry cutie, but you’ve lost us here.” Pam and Dokrak were confused.
“Well, Any wants to be a singer, not a lawyer like P’Muv. So even if I don’t win the prize for best show-and-tell that P’Muv wants, it’s okay. Right?” Any rattled off her logic trail without stumbling.
“Well…I…Uh…Help, P’Pam.” Dokrak was lost for words at Any’s nonchalance.
“Don’t worry, Any will still try her best. Maybe I’ll still get second place. I’m Mi Mi and Ni Ni’s daughter after all.” Any added, knowing that she almost sent her mothers into a moral dilemma.
“That’s my girl. As long as you do your best, Mi Mi and Ni Ni will always be proud of you.” Pam gave Any a smile before looking at a now relieved Dokrak. See, I told you our girl is smart.
~ ~ ~