"Hey, hey, hey! Stop both of you!"
Juan and Bao both stopped when they heard Azalea's voice and looked at her.
"Don't you want to spend time with your aunt?"
The twins shared a look before they answered simultaneously, "Sorry, but can you please speak normally. We can't take you seriously with that babyish voice."
Azalea's eyes widened at their response. Yes, she was talking in a very cutesie voice like talking to a baby but she was just trying to be cute and funny. She was leaning down to match their height and even tried smiling like a fool. But it didn't work on them!
Seeing her stunned, Juan put her hands on Azalea's cheeks and said, "We love you but Aunt Z needs to remember that we are 8, not 2."
Azalea could only sigh since what they said was indeed right. They were 8 years old not 2. But since she came home every once in a while, she rarely had interaction with this niece and nephew of hers. And that's why she was even more clueless about their personalities. But she vaguely remembered that her husband warned her not to mess with these two just because they are kids.
Well, she wasn't messing with them. She was just trying to strike a conversation. How would she know she started off on the wrong foot the moment she decided to act like a fool!
"Congratulations on having a baby," it was Bao who spoke this time. He kissed her cheek softly and Juan followed as they congratulating her. It instantly melted Azalea's embarrassment. Even if these two were a little too straightforward, they were really cute in their own way. "We have a gift for you but it's in the room."
"Oh, really? You didn't have to," Azalea was stunned knowing these little ones even got a gift for her. How sweet! If only she knew that they spent a lot of effort in even making the gift for her, she might really die from sweetness.
"We just thought we should," said Juan. Now, once again, Azalea was at a loss of words. She really didn't know how to look at the twins.
Perhaps, it was those hormonal change or something but she suddenly felt like her eyes were stinging as she blinked her tears away and hugged them tightly. But unlike others, she only did it briefly and smiled widely at them. "I guess my baby will be very lucky to have you both." She laughed out with tears shining in her eyes as she continued, "When the storks will bring the baby, I'll make sure my baby know how adorable his or her cousins are."
"Storks will bring the baby?" Juan tilted her head slightly as she said that out loud with a strange smile on her face. She looked at her brother and asked, "Does she really think we're dumb?"
"It won't be wrong if she actually takes you for being dumb," said Bao to his sister in a low voice. However, they forgot that Azalea was sitting at the chair before them now. So, she was close enough to hear them.
"Bro, whose fault is it that I'm dumb?" retorted Juan.
"You're saying it's my fault?"
Juan nodded her head in a yes. "Of course! Don't forget we are twins. And the time when we're supposed to get 50-50 percent of intelligence. You just absorbed my half as well. Leaving me with only dumbness. So, tell me whose fault is it?"
Bao opened his mouth to say something but Juan looked at him challenging as if saying, 'Try me!' so he shut his mouth and shook his head.
Seeing her brother resigning in defeat, she smirked to herself and added, "Now that you know it's your fault. Don't forget to take responsibility!"
"Yes, yes. Why not!" replied Bao in his resigned voice.
Azalea was amused by their conversation and couldn't help feeling lighthearted. She had been listening to so much advice tonight that she was tired of the heavy talk. That's why she chose to talk to the kids since she believed it'll be a lighthearted one. Who knew she'd be caught off-guard? But now, it seemed a lot better.
"So, aunt Zel!" Bao turned to Azalea as he questioned, "You're saying storks will bring the baby." She nodded without even thinking over even though she was given a second chance at this. "Then they will drop the baby at the doorstep?"
"Umm..." Azalea thought about it before saying, "No, no. In the hospital."
"Hospital?" she nodded her head. "Then how would the hospital know that it's your baby?"
"Huh?" Azalea stared at them dumbfounded.
"Bro is right. I've been wondering that too. There are always so many babies in hospitals. How would they know which one is yours? What if they messed up?" Then she gasped and stared at her brother, "Bro, do you think the hospital messed up during our time as well?"
"You think we are not twins?" he inquired.
"No, I'm positive that we are twins. But what if our parents are not ours?"
Bao facepalmed himself before hitting her head. She really couldn't stay on one track. Why was her mind wandering off all over the place?
"The hospitals don't mess up," Azalea cut in between their little banter. "They know their job very well."
"But it's not like babies come with a nametag," retorted Juan making Azalea go wide-eyed again. How was she supposed to answer that? "And by the way, I'm also curious to know... How do you know that you're having a baby? Did the storks send you a letter? Or an email? A message maybe?"
"Huh?"
"My sister is right. How do you know you're having a baby? And how do you know when is the baby coming? And why can't the storks send the baby before nine months?"
Their interrogation sounded so innocent but then why was she feeling so under pressure? This was so weird! Azalea was feeling stuck. She had never felt this feeling before this day. She really had no idea how to talk to kids even though there were so many kids in this family!
"According to European folklore, storks bring babies in baskets held in their beaks. But my real question is, where are the baskets then? I have never seen a baby in a basket before." Juan was blinking her sparkling eyes at her aunt innocently with a smile.
Azalea wanted to cry but had no tears. She had no answer for these two. Because no matter what came to her mind felt wrong! What was she gonna do? Someone help her!
"Juan! Bao! What are you both up to?"
Fortunately, her prayers were answers when her brother sprinted to her side and called out his twins. Azalea felt like she could finally cry the happy tears.