The wind that swept through Uji that morning was gentler than usual, rustling the bamboo grove near their farmhouse with a calm rhythm. Spring had reached its peak, and so had Hana's pregnancy.
Nine months. It still felt surreal to Phuby that the days had passed so quickly. The once-quiet countryside now pulsed with warmth and life, from the growing tea fields to the humming energy of the finished farmhouse. And now, two more lives were about to join them—one boy and one girl. Twins.
Inside the farmhouse, Phuby was adjusting a pair of pastel-colored baby cribs in the newly completed nursery. One was painted soft blue, the other a delicate pink. Each had a handmade wooden nameplate hanging above, though the names hadn't been decided yet. Hana was sitting nearby on a comfortable chair, her belly noticeably large, one hand resting over it protectively, the other scrolling on her phone through baby name apps in both Japanese and Sundanese.
"You think it's okay if we mix a Japanese name and an Islamic name?" she asked, looking up.
Phuby grinned, walking over to kneel beside her. "As long as it sounds beautiful and carries a good meaning, I think it's perfect. Just like you."
Hana chuckled, then sighed. "They've been kicking so much lately. I think they're excited."
"Or impatient," he replied, gently placing his hand over her belly. A tiny thump met his palm, and he blinked. "That's the boy, I bet."
"How would you even know that?"
"I just do." He winked.
Before she could respond, the sound of a car engine outside signaled the arrival of familiar faces. Hana's eyes lit up. "They're here!"
Phuby helped her up carefully and walked with her to the front door, where the sleek BMW M5 and the Alphard had pulled up. From the BMW stepped out Mrs. Wulan and Om Luky, each carrying bags full of supplies and baby clothes. The Alphard's doors slid open to reveal Mr. Haruki and Mrs. Aiko, both beaming as they stepped out with more neatly packed boxes and a wrapped bundle that looked suspiciously like a baby bathtub.
"Assalamualaikum!" Mrs. Wulan greeted, immediately stepping forward to hug Hana gently. "Look at you, already a glowing mother!"
"Waalaikumsalam, Mama," Hana said, smiling brightly as she hugged her. "Thank you for coming."
Om Luky chuckled and shook Phuby's hand. "How's our soon-to-be dad?"
"Exhausted and amazed," Phuby said, stepping back to help unload the trunk.
Mr. Haruki was already taking a look at the tea field rows. "This place looks even more beautiful than the last video call."
"We've really settled in," Phuby said. "It's quiet, but we love it."
As they all entered the farmhouse, the women quickly gravitated toward the nursery while the men made their way to the living room.
"You ordered all of this online?" Mr. Haruki asked, nodding toward the array of baby monitors, blankets, and diapers stacked in one corner.
"Most of it," Phuby replied. "But Mama and Papa brought a lot too. We didn't want to burden them, but they insisted."
Mrs. Aiko peeked her head in. "It's not a burden. We're excited! It's our grandchildren!"
The rest of the day passed in a pleasant buzz of activity. Hana and her mother folded tiny clothes while Mrs. Wulan adjusted the layout of the nursery, saying it needed to "feel like a proper Sundanese home." She even hung a soft batik-patterned mobile above the cribs.
In the kitchen, Om Luky started preparing a hearty Sundanese dish while chatting with Mr. Haruki about parenting in the old days. Phuby sat on the floor nearby, assembling a final piece of furniture—an elegant rocking chair Hana had chosen from a Kyoto artisan shop.
Later in the evening, while everyone was resting in the newly completed guest rooms, Phuby opened his laptop to update the expense records.
Expenses:
Twin baby cribs and nursery furniture: Rp 45.000.000
Baby clothes, supplies, and toys (imported/local mix): Rp 30.000.000
Rocking chair and baby monitoring system: Rp 25.000.000
Home healthcare equipment and prenatal essentials: Rp 20.000.000
Gifts and travel costs covered by parents: Estimated Rp 15.000.000
Total Spent: Rp 135.000.000
System Cashback Activated (x2): Rp 270.000.000
Previous Balance: Rp 31.193.000.000New Balance: Rp 31.328.000.000
After closing the laptop, Phuby leaned back and exhaled.
Hana, now resting in bed, looked over at him. "You look like someone who just won a game."
"Sort of," he said, walking over to join her. "This game's called 'Trying to Be a Dad and Not Panic.'"
She laughed softly and patted the space beside her. "Well, you're doing a great job."
As the night deepened, the farmhouse filled with quiet laughter and warmth. It wasn't long now—any day, their family would grow. And for the first time in his life, Phuby felt completely, absolutely ready.