The morning began like any other in the quiet countryside of Uji—calm, misty, and serene. The sky above the farmhouse was overcast, but light peeked through the grey clouds, casting a soft glow on the fresh dew glistening across the tea rows. The faint rustling of the bamboo grove whispered in the wind, as if nature itself held its breath.
Inside the farmhouse, however, the atmosphere had shifted.
Hana had barely slept the night before. The twins had been restless, kicking more than usual. She had attributed it to the late-night grilled mackerel Om Luky had prepared. But as dawn broke, something was different. Her lower abdomen had begun to tighten, not just in discomfort but in steady, pulsing waves. By 6 a.m., the tension became unmistakable.
"Mama…" Hana called from the bed, her voice trembling slightly.
Mrs. Wulan, already up for Subuh prayer, rushed in with Om Luky right behind her. "What is it?" she asked quickly, kneeling beside Hana.
"I… I think this is it," Hana whispered. "It hurts—rhythmic. Like we learned in the class."
Mrs. Wulan didn't panic. Her expression was calm, maternal, knowing. "We'll get Phuby."
Phuby was in the kitchen, sipping warm barley tea and chatting with Mr. Haruki about exporting some of their tea yield to Japan. But the moment his mother entered and said, "Nak, Hana's feeling contractions," the world seemed to spin sideways.
Everything after that moved like clockwork.
They had already discussed the possibilities. The hospital was 20 minutes away in southern Kyoto, and all of Hana's documents had been registered there. The overnight bag was already packed with clothes, birth plan documents, snacks, and a soft baby blanket with two embroidered names in Japanese and Arabic script.
Phuby, however, couldn't stop pacing. Even as Om Luky drove the family van through the morning streets, he kept glancing back at Hana, who sat next to him breathing slowly through her pain, holding his hand in a grip that was beginning to rival a professional wrestler's.
"You okay?" he asked, his voice almost cracking.
"I'm not dying," Hana hissed, forcing a smile. "But if you keep asking, you might be."
"Got it."
Mr. Haruki and Mrs. Aiko, following behind in the Alphard, kept calling every few minutes until the nurses at the hospital gently asked them to turn off their phones.
By the time they reached the Kyoto Medical Women's Center, Hana's contractions were five minutes apart. The nurses guided them swiftly to a private maternity suite. The facility was pristine—sunlight filtered through paper-blind windows, the scent of sakura hand lotion lingering in the air. Modern Japanese minimalism met warmth and comfort.
Hana was strong. So much stronger than Phuby expected. As the hours ticked by, she endured the pain, gripping his hand, laughing in between contractions, and whispering prayers with her eyes squeezed shut. Mrs. Wulan and Aiko stayed with her when the nurses requested only women during checks, while Om Luky and Haruki paced outside, clearly worried but staying calm.
The day passed in a blur of pain, tension, and anticipation.
At 3:11 PM, the first cry pierced the air.
"It's a boy!" the nurse called out, lifting a tiny, squirming form covered in warmth and life. Tears ran freely down Phuby's face as he leaned closer. Moments later, another cry filled the room.
"And here's your girl!"
Twin miracles—just minutes apart.
They were swaddled and handed carefully to Hana, who lay exhausted, her hair damp with sweat, her hands trembling. She looked down at her babies and then up at Phuby.
"We did it," she whispered.
"No," he said, brushing tears from his cheeks. "You did it. You're amazing."
The nurses gave them privacy for a while, the babies nestled peacefully between their parents. Hana named them softly in Japanese and Arabic—two names, two cultures, one soul each.
Later that evening, the entire family gathered in the maternity room. Aiko wept openly, cradling her granddaughter, while Mr. Haruki gently rocked his grandson. Mrs. Wulan was already planning the aqiqah, and Om Luky grinned like a proud uncle.
"You know what we need next?" Aiko teased. "A second pair."
"Let me survive the first ones," Hana muttered.
Phuby laughed, but then he felt his phone vibrate. The familiar shimmer of the system interface appeared in his vision.
🔔 SYSTEM UPDATELife Milestone Detected: Firstborn Children (Twins)🎁 Bonus Cashback Multiplier Activated – x3 on next eligible purchase🎁 Gift Unlocked: "Blessed Twin Cradle" Furniture Set available in Shop
Phuby's jaw dropped slightly.
"Hey, hey—what happened?" Hana asked.
He turned to her slowly, then showed her the message.
Hana blinked. "That system really does everything, huh?"
"And apparently it really likes babies."
They both laughed, and the tension finally melted. The family stayed for a while longer before giving the couple some rest. The maternity suite lights dimmed. Hana drifted to sleep with one baby on each side, while Phuby sat silently, watching over them.
He wasn't the same man who nearly gave up on life after job hunting failed. He wasn't the quiet tagalong from his childhood friend group anymore. Here he was, holding everything he ever prayed for.
He stood up, walked to the window, and whispered a soft prayer of gratitude.
From this day forward, everything would change again.
But he was ready.