"Are you nervous?"
"Very," I replied, taking a deep breath and exhaling to calm myself. But it didn't really work. My hands were trembling, and my heart was pounding so hard it felt like it might leap out of my chest. In the preparation room, it was just me and Nao.
I looked at myself in the mirror. The custom-made wedding outfit fit my body perfectly. The outer layer was white, flowing down to the floor, with additional layers adorned with lace at the edges and a ribbon at the back. The shirt and trousers underneath were also white. A red rose was pinned to the left side of my chest, matching the rose I held in my hand—the one we had planted together. I was wearing my mother's veil, which Nao had also worn before. My hair was styled simply, with the left side braided and decorated with small accessories.
"You look beautiful," Nao kept repeating the same compliment since I first tried on the outfit.
"I'm still not used to seeing myself like this."
"You don't usually dress like this. Are you ready?"
I smiled.
"It's almost time."
I glanced at the clock on the wall. Fifteen minutes until midnight. We had decided to hold the ceremony at night so we could use the full moon as our backdrop. We had set up an arch on the beach, with a white carpet stretching down the middle and chairs for the guests, decorated with small lights. Mom would be officiating the ceremony, and Nao would walk me down the aisle.
"Let's go." Nao, dressed in a suit, approached me and offered his arm. I placed my hand on his arm. As I opened the door, everyone stood up, their eyes on me. I met Jay's gaze.
Eyes I had always recognized looked at me with pure happiness, his smile radiating. He was dressed in a black suit with a white shirt, standing on the left side of the altar, leaving the right side for me. Mom stood in the center of the altar. Nao slowly guided me through the guests until we reached the front. Then, he took his seat, leaving me face-to-face with Jay. Jay stepped closer, lifted my veil, and we gazed at each other. My heart was racing.
"You look so beautiful," he said softly. "So beautiful." His eyes held nothing but admiration.
"You look incredible too," I replied. It was my first time seeing him in a suit with his hair styled so neatly. Soon, Mom began the ceremony.
"On the most important day for my son, Dan Nuea, I want to thank everyone for being here today. This is a small and simple ceremony, very intimate, so I'll speak casually. Dan Nuea and Jayden have been together for a long time, and they have finally decided to marry and share their lives together."
Applause echoed.
"No matter what happens, you must always be together, through happiness and hardship, in health and in sickness. You must face challenges together, love and care for each other. Jayden, do you take my son, Dan Nuea, as your partner?"
"Yes, I do."
"And Dan Nuea, do you take Jayden as your partner?"
"Yes."
After my response, more applause erupted. Then, we exchanged rings and shared a kiss. Finally, it was time to throw the bouquet. I turned around to see who was waiting for it: Apo, Garfield and Jab singles.
"No, step back."
"No, let me have it. I want to get married—I'm almost thirty!"
"I'm the same age as you. Please, I don't even have anyone to talk to. My mother keeps asking when I'm going to get married."
"Step back. Nuea, throw it toward us."
"No, Nuea, throw it toward us."
I chuckled quietly at the situation and tossed the bouquet. When I turned around, I saw that Jab had managed to catch it after pushing two others aside. Jab raised the bouquet high in victory.
"Yes!"
Then, a little celebration followed. Many people started opening bottles of drinks. I sat at a table with Jay, and North, holding a cocktail, approached us.
"Dan, you said this would be a simple ceremony, but I didn't expect it to be this simple. No vows, no story about how you met. Not even an introduction video."
I smiled. "There was no need for vows." At first, I had doubts about whether we should include them, but in the end, we decided they weren't necessary.
"That's true. A simple ceremony is fine. What matters is this." North raised his cocktail. "The drinks are great. Perfect!"
"Nao picked them."
"Ah, Nao really knows what we like. That's a good friend. But are they really not accepting gift envelopes? I'm not used to attending a wedding without giving something," North laughed.
"No need. There weren't that many guests anyway."
"Alright, I hope you two are happy together forever."
"Thank you."
"What are your plans?" I asked.
"We're ready," he said. Then, we talked about our plans to have children. After that, North approached Nao at the bar. Nao was crying while making drinks. I couldn't help but go to him.
"Nao, how are you?"
"I'm fine," Nao sniffled, wiping his tears while pouring alcohol. "Congratulations, Dan. You're settled now. And married. Huhuhu!"
"You're the messiest bartender I've ever seen," Jab complained. "Don't let your tears fall into my glass."
"You better drink my snot instead."
"Ugh, I really can't," Jab waved the bouquet in his hand. "At my wedding, you also have to be the bartender."
"You just said I was messy."
"But you make good drinks. Why don't you open a bar?"
Nao fell silent, as if Jab's words had sparked an idea in his head. "That's a good idea. What would you like to drink, Dan?"
"Something light, two, please."
"Sure." I sat at the bar, looking around. It was midnight, with dim moonlight and decorative lights. Soft music accompanied the sound of waves and the sea breeze. I chatted with everyone and received their blessings.
Finally, we put the children to bed. Only those of us still celebrating remained. The party lasted until almost four in the morning because we were having so much fun. As the host, I didn't leave the party before the guests. I waited until everyone had gone before finally resting.
"Ugh, I'm exhausted."
"Do you want to take a bath?" Jay asked as he took off his jacket.
"I just want a quick shower and then sleep."
"Should I help you take off your suit?"
I shook my head with a smile. "No need. What do you think about today's wedding?"
Jay frowned slightly. "It just made everything more official, so everyone knows. We still love each other and will be together forever."
"Yeah."
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
The plane landed in Scotland. We collected our luggage and headed to the hotel. Jay and I planned to register our marriage.
"It's easy since Jayden was born here and has citizenship. Scotland allows same-sex marriage," Nao said as the car drove through the city.
"Moving here is easy too," Mom added. "Have you chosen a city yet?"
"Yes, we have two or three options," I replied. After discussing it with Jay, we decided to move to Scotland. At first, I didn't have a specific place in mind—I just wanted a small, peaceful home, far from the hustle and bustle of the city. It could be in the countryside, the forest, or the mountains, as long as it was surrounded by nature.
Jay suggested Scotland because it would be easy for us to relocate there, it was his birthplace, and his mother had lived there before. Of course, I agreed. He had already researched a few locations, and after registering our marriage, we would go see them.
"What are you doing, Fei?" I asked when I saw her focused on her iPad, her eyebrows furrowed.
"I'm looking for baby names. I've been searching for days, but I haven't found one I like," Fei answered. She was very excited about having a cousin, whom she already considered her little sibling. The baby would be my child, even though we hadn't started planning for one yet. "I'm looking for a name that combines Uncle's and Jayden's names or one that rhymes nicely."
"No need to rush," I said. "Uncle hasn't even started planning yet."
Fei just nodded. I smiled and let her continue. We rested at the hotel before heading out to register our marriage. It didn't take long, and soon we received the certificate officially recognizing us as a married couple.
"Let me see," Nao reached out his hand. I handed him the certificate. "Daniel McKey! Congratulations, officially married man!"
"Is Daddy going to cry again?" Fei offered him a tissue.
Nao took out a handkerchief and wiped his tears. "I haven't been able to hold back my proud tears lately."
"Mom, look," Mom eagerly examined the certificate. "Keep it safe, this is important."
"Yes."
I placed the marriage certificate in my bag. Suddenly, Jay hugged me, unable to contain his happiness. After that, we went to visit the properties he had researched.
"This place is peaceful, but I'm worried about safety. It's too far from everything. Just build a bunker," Nao said.
"Don't worry," I nodded. "It won't be too far from the city, so if there's an emergency, we can still get to a hospital quickly."
"I thought you wanted to live deep in the forest."
"I do," I admitted, "but like Nao said, it could be dangerous. I'm also worried about the kids."
Deciding to buy land and build a home wasn't easy. We visited the locations in person and made the decision together. In the end, we chose a spot by a lake, surrounded by forest, and a bit far from the nearest house. The five of us stood in the open area.
"I can imagine sitting in a rocking chair while enjoying the lake view. The scenery is beautiful. Can I build another house near here?" Nao pointed to a spot nearby.
"Of course, live with me. There's still plenty of space," I nodded. "You can live with your niece and nephew. Don't you want to live with them?"
"Fei," Fei raised her hand. "I want to live with my cousin."
"Hmm," Nao thought for a moment. "What do you think, Tiger?"
"If you like it, I don't mind."
"I like it."
"Then let's do it."
"Brilliant."
We decided to buy the land together and build two houses, a storage shed, a garage, and a dock by the lake. Both families would move there. While the houses were under construction, Jay and I stayed in Los Angeles for his work, while the others prepared for the move. We did video calls with the construction team to monitor the progress.
The two houses would have a similar layout, with a modern design, large glass windows, and doors to enjoy the outdoor scenery. Safety glass would be installed for extra protection. With Tiger in charge of the security system, I felt more at ease. One day, I received a call from North, asking me to return to Thailand if I wanted to see my newborn niece and nephew.
I bought gifts and quickly arranged my schedule to go. Johan's house was full of people eager to see their twin babies. They were a pair of boy-and-girl twins. North and Johan had chosen to have children through surrogacy, combining their DNA and implanting it in a surrogate mother. It wasn't common to have twins through this method, but North's wish had come true.
"Congratulations," I said, handing over the gifts.
"Thanks," North, now a new father, looked happier than ever.
"What are their names?"
"We had a hard time choosing, especially since they're twins," North led us inside. "We didn't want to ask our friends for suggestions because they'd definitely come up with weird names. Our family has a tradition of using names that start with 'N'."
"Your mom's name is Nitcha," Nao pointed out.
"That does start with 'N,'" North laughed. "Their names are Nylah and Noah."
"Beautiful names," I complimented. "How old are they?"
"Sixteen days."
"How does it feel to be a parent?"
"We have help, so it's not too difficult. If we had to do everything ourselves, it would be overwhelming. We wouldn't even know where to start," North said.
"What about Johan?" Nao asked.
"He's even more attached to the babies than I expected," North laughed. "Ah, there he is." He opened the nursery door, which was packed with people. Dylan was holding one of the babies, while Ter was cradling the other.
Dylan whispered, "Come on, say 'stupid'."
"What are you teaching?" North laughed and took his baby. "My child's first word—'stupid.' I almost cried." He handed the baby to me, and I carefully took them into my arms.
"How adorable," I whispered, gently touching the baby. "Is this Noah or Nylah?"
"I don't know either," North admitted. Nao laughed.
"Are you sure you're the father?"
"I need to check the diaper first to know if this is a boy or a girl. They're still so small."
"Can Jay hold them?"
"Of course, but be careful."
With the father's permission, I carefully placed the baby into Jay's arms. He stood stiffly, barely moving.
"How does it feel?"
"Jay is afraid of hurting them. They're too small," Jay replied.
I smiled. "Give them back to North before you get a cramp."
North took his baby back with a wide grin. "You're going to be a dad soon, so start practicing."
"I'll try," Jay answered.
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
When we returned to Los Angeles, we consulted with a doctor about a surrogacy program. He told us he could find a surrogate for us. We began with a series of medical tests. A few days later, the doctor introduced us to Matilda Smart, who would be our surrogate mother.
"Hello, I'm Daniel, and this is my husband, Jayden. We're so happy you could come," I extended my hand, and she smiled as she shook it.
"Hello, I'm Matilda." We chatted and got to know each other. She was very friendly and kind. We agreed on everything, signed the contract, and began the process.
When Matilda became pregnant, we invited her over for dinner.
"Thank you for inviting me," she said.
"How are you feeling?" I asked.
"I'm doing well, and so is the baby." She rubbed her belly. "I feel like your baby is going to be very strong."
"I'm glad to hear that." She was so warm and friendly that we quickly became close.
"Honestly, you two are the sweetest couple I've ever met. You're so kind, I didn't expect you to be this thoughtful toward me. Daniel, you have to let me pay for something."
"No, whatever you eat, our baby eats too. You have to take care of your diet."
"This is for the baby, so it's fine," she replied. We ate and chatted. When Jay went to the bathroom, Matilda took the opportunity to talk to me.
"Jayden is an amazing husband, he works hard and always takes care of you. When he looks at you, I can see how much he loves you. I'm jealous of you."
"Haha, one day, you'll find someone too."
"He's also a great boxer, right? I'm not really into boxing, but after watching his match, I was shocked. He looked like a completely different person. Are you really moving to Scotland after the baby is born?"
"Yes, our house in Scotland is almost finished."
"That's a shame. This baby isn't mine, but I still want to see him from time to time. After spending so much time together..."
"I understand, don't worry. We'll find a way for you to see him."
Matilda smiled. "Thank you."
When the time came, we had an ultrasound. The most important thing was that our baby was healthy. When we found out it was a boy, we started discussing names.
"An easy name, Jayden, right?" Nao suggested over a video call. "We start with 'Jay' and end with 'Dan.' Jordan."
"Interesting." I nodded. "Yeah, I like that name."
"What about my list?" Fei asked, showing her iPad, which had over twenty names. "I have 'Jordan' on here too."
"What do you think?" I asked the soon-to-be father.
"I like it. Jay agrees."
"It's decided then," Nao concluded. "We'll be flying to Los Angeles in two days. Have you told Matilda?"
"Yes, she already knows."
We chatted a little longer before ending the call. Fei was on vacation. After spending a semester in Thailand, she would be transferring to a school in Scotland. That night, before bed, Jay said to me, "Dan, I've been thinking about something."
"What is it?"
"I wanted to become a world champion—that's why I've worked so hard. But now, seeing Matilda's belly getting bigger with our child inside, my dream of becoming a champion is starting to fade. If I can, I'll still try, but right now, my main focus is our baby," Jay said seriously. "I already talked to my coach. I told him I'd be cutting back on boxing because I'm going to be a father."
"What did Ryan say?"
"He said he understands. I'm still young, so I don't need to worry too much about championships."
"That makes sense."
"Does this bother you, Dan? I once told you I'd win a title soon, but now..."
"I don't mind," I interrupted. "It's normal for life goals to change. It's okay if you don't want to box or become a champion anymore. You're still young. Five or ten years from now, you can try again. When our child is older, you can win a championship for him. Don't pressure yourself too much. It's never too late."
"Thank you."
"You're welcome."
"I love you."
"I love you too."
"But I'll still keep boxing because I love it."
"Yeah, that's great. There's nothing better than doing what you love."
"And it pays well. I always remind myself that I need to make money for Dan and our baby. Every time I feel tired during training, I tell myself: For Dan and for our baby."
"You're amazing." I ruffled his hair affectionately. "Thank you."
"I want to be someone you can rely on."
"You already are." I stepped closer and kissed his cheek softly. "Our home is almost ready. Thank you for making my dream come true."
"Can I get another kiss?"
"Of course."
─── ⋆⋅☆⋅⋆ ───
Jay and I were allowed into the delivery room as the parents. We held hands tightly. Matilda lay on the bed, screaming in pain and sweating. Doctors and nurses surrounded her. Little by little, our baby emerged. I couldn't hold back my tears when I saw our son's face for the first time.
Little Jordan cried loudly as he entered the world. The doctor said the baby was healthy. Hearing that, I felt relieved. His umbilical cord was cut, he was cleaned up, put in a diaper, and Matilda breastfed him. Then, he was moved to another room. As we stepped out, the others looked excited and followed us.
"How are you?" I asked Matilda, worried about her condition. She looked exhausted and in pain.
"I'm fine. What did the doctor say? I couldn't hear anything earlier."
"The doctor said our baby is healthy."
"That's wonderful." She smiled, gazing at the baby in her arms. I wanted to hold my son, but I waited. The nurses gave us advice on how to care for a newborn. When I finally got to hold him, I couldn't hold back my tears.
"This is my son." The little boy had soft, fair skin. It was such a happy moment.
"Look at his hands, so tiny. And his feet too."
Jay took one of his tiny hands. "Yeah, really small."
"Mom wants to hold her grandson."
"So do I," Nao said.
"I want to see the baby too," Fei added.
Taking care of a newborn wasn't easy. Fortunately, Mom helped me. We stayed in Los Angeles with Matilda since the baby still needed breast milk. Jay became very skilled at changing diapers, even better than me, and he was incredibly close to the baby.
A year later, after Jordan was weaned, we moved to Scotland.
"Goodbye, Jordan," Matilda said, waving. Jordan, still unable to speak, responded with a small sound. "Be a good boy." She quickly wiped her tears. "Take care on your journey. You promised to bring him to visit me."
"Yes, we promise. Thank you for everything."
"You're welcome."
We flew to Scotland on a private jet. Jordan slept in my arms the entire flight. When we arrived at our home, he woke up.
"This is our house," I said, carrying him inside. The house felt cold because it was near the lake. All our belongings had arrived ahead of us.
"Can I hold him?" Fei asked, reaching out her hands. I handed him to her. "You smell so nice. I love you, Jordan. You have to love your big sister too."
Jordan responded with his usual baby sounds.
"Okay? Alright, pinky promise." Fei linked her pinky finger with Jordan's tiny hand.
Time passed. Fei adapted well to her new school. We also started getting used to life here. Jay continued boxing, now in Scotland, and his team moved with him. I worked online.
One afternoon, while I was washing bottles, Jay came in holding our baby, looking so excited.
"Dan, Dan!"
"What is it?"
"Our son spoke. He called me 'Daddy.'"
"Really?" I immediately stopped what I was doing. "Come on, say it again. 'Daddy.'"
"Come, Come."
"Daddy," Jay repeated.
"Daddy," Jordan said. We were so happy and immediately called everyone else to see. Even though it wasn't very clear, he still tried to say it.
"Now say 'Papa,' say 'Papa,'" I asked.
"Papa"
"Say 'Grandma,' Grandma."
"Say 'Uncle Nao,' 'Uncle Tiger!'"
"Isn't that too difficult?" I asked Nao.
"Say 'Phi Fei,'" Fei said.
Jordan remained silent. Nao glanced at Tiger, who was watching from a distance.
"Uncle Tiger."
"Taige," Jordan repeated. Everyone in the house burst into laughter.
"Taige."
"You're amazing, skipping 'Uncle' and going straight to the name," Nao said, pointing at himself. "Nao."
"Ouch."
"No, Nao."
"Ouch."
"Wow," Nao was surprised. "Yeah, that's me. Tiger Nao."
"Ouch."
Jordan kept repeating it.
Nao frowned. "Isn't that great?"
— THE END —