This afternoon, I stayed in the gym longer than usual, trying to follow the exercises my trainer described over the phone. The result was good enough that my lower-back pain eased up quite a bit.
Another lively evening rolled around. My twin daughters still had a daily quiz tomorrow, while my son was busy playing. I kept my daughters company while they studied and broke up fights whenever my son started bothering his older sisters. Every now and then, I glanced at my wife as she made dinner. Usually, I helped her. But my wife asked me to stay with the kids and help them instead.
After dinner and my daughters finished studying, it was my wife's turn to put our kids to bed. I usually took care of clearing the table and washing the dishes.
This is what I've always tried to do. I never promised a strong physique or a cool office shirt. My working years were already over. That's why I got married later in life. I thought that if I worked and got financially secure first, a woman would accept me. Apparently, that wasn't enough. They were worried and didn't want a man who wasn't young anymore.
"Babe..."
A pair of arms slowly wrapped around my waist, her voice greeting my ears at the same time. My blood started rushing again. Hard.
I turned around for a moment.
"What are you thinking about?" she asked, bringing her face closer. She liked going up on her tiptoes like that.
I turned back to the dishes.
"Nothing."
"Hmph!" Her foot bumped my calf as she stomped. Her lips were probably in a pout.
"You've been always keeping secrets. Ugh. Do you have a girlfriend, Babe?"
Whenever she pouted, she always guessed wildly. Most often, it was, "You don't love me, do you, Babe?" When I thought about it, she was basically teasing me. How many girlfriends could a fifty-year-old man possibly have?
I shook the water from my hands and turned around. She jerked in surprise, especially when I suddenly pulled her hand. Our bodies pressed close together. She fell silent, reaching only as high as my chest. I lowered my head and brought our faces closer.
"The girlfriend who became my wife."
We lay down on the bed. I relaxed my tense muscles, while my wife closed her eyes. I closed mine too.
"Hey, Babe. What date is it again?" I opened my eyes. She was already sitting up and reaching for her phone. Her brow furrowed, then her eyes suddenly widened.
"Wait, what? Today's your birthday, Babe...?"
Her face lit up. She smiled broadly.
"No wonder I've felt like something was missing all day. It's your birthday!" She hugged me while I was still lying down, stretching her arms around me from above. I was wearing only a short-sleeved white T-shirt, and she was wearing satin pajamas. I closed my eyes. I felt sensitive. I just let out a quiet laugh.
"I'm sorry I forgot..." She pouted. I sat up to match her position and leaned against the headboard.
"It's okay." I stroked her hair, her cheek, then lightly touched her lips. She gasped and held the hand against her cheek. Her smile was as sweet as honey.
"Happy birthday, Babe. Stay healthy, okay?" She giggled. This time, she leaned in first. The scent of toothpaste on her lips drifted into my nose. I let her kiss me without kissing her back.
"How about I make your favorite tomorrow?" Her eyes pleaded with me. I straightened up and wrapped my arms around her waist. My lips met hers again. This time, the kiss was a little more intense, I think. Ha-ha. I was so worked up that I gave her lip a small bite.
"Now," I said between hurried breaths. She also seemed to be trying to catch her breath again. This time, her brows lowered.
"But I'm tired... What do you want me to make you?"
I claimed her lips again, then quickly moved down to her neck. She still smelled the same—sweet jasmine-tea perfume.
She let out a soft hiss. "That tickles, Babe..."
I touched her shoulder and locked eyes with her. "I'll be the one giving you a present. You just have to lie still. How about it, Babe?"
Just like I had said before, I was going to be cool. Especially in front of my wife, who was now lowering her head.
The following evening, her former coworkers invited everyone to hang out on the rooftop of one of their friends' homes. Our kids played with their kids too. I watched my husband's back as he grilled barbecue meat. Memories of his birthday night flooded my mind again. Ah, I sighed as I covered my face. I felt embarrassed all over again. But it had been incredibly satisfying too.
"Hey, it was your birthday yesterday, Boss, right?" One of his friends' booming voices rang straight in my ears.
"Yeah. How old are you again, Boss? Fifty, right?"
"Damn, he's so old!" I giggled as I watched them. They were practically my husband's family, which was why they acted so shamelessly as coworkers. The man who had turned fifty before my husband joined in on the teasing.
As usual, my husband simply stayed quiet, holding back a smile. He was adorable when people teased him. But whenever he got serious, he always made me nervous.
"Hey, his wife! Why are you just sitting there smiling?" I gasped and let out a small laugh.
My husband glanced at me with a faint smile. I just smiled back.
"You're thirty-five this year, right?"
I nodded as I chewed on a piece of freshly grilled meat.
"How is your fifty-year-old husband?"
My heart suddenly started pounding. My cheeks felt hot. "He's..."
They all watched me more intently, including my husband.
Finally, I covered my face with my hands. My cheeks tingled. "He's incredible..."
"What?"
"What did she say?"
"Your husband is incredible?" one of their wives asked.
I nodded shyly with a small laugh.
"WOAH!" Several of his friends shouted at once.
"Looks like we're going to have another niece or nephew!"
I could only smile shyly while my husband stayed quiet, still holding back his smile.