Diary of Fragile Heart (Spin of Loving You Too Long)

“Doc?” Jonas looked at Dr. Gladwin. The man twelve years his senior looked at him and shook his head. “Thought so. If yes, I could help the doctor call Dr. Phoebe again.”

“Don’t be silly. Well, order food online then. I’ll treat you. Consider it my thank you.” He handed his phone to Jonas. “Pay using the balance.”

Later that evening when Gladwin was about to leave, he saw his sister in the hospital area, guided by her husband. Gladwin approached and greeted them.

“What are you doing here?” Gladwin asked, curious.

Instead of answering, Claire turned the question back. “Gladwin, are you going home?”

“Yes. What about you? Is it starting to feel?” Gladwin asked, glancing at his sister’s belly.

“Yes, I had false contractions earlier. Antony was being excessive, insisting we come here even though I told him it was just a false alarm. Come on, I’ve given birth twice, I know when my baby will really come out.” Claire looked at her husband annoyed. Antony just smiled awkwardly.

“I’m just being cautious, dear,” Antony replied.

“And then?” Gladwin asked again. They finally walked side by side towards the parking area.

“We decided not to go through with the examination; she asked to go home,” Antony answered, glancing at his wife.

“Why not just do it here?” Gladwin asked his sister.

“She doesn’t want to. Besides, my regular obstetrician doesn’t work here. Here, just seeing the doctor’s nameplate already makes the contractions disappear,” Claire grumbled again.ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

“What’s wrong with her?” Gladwin, who didn’t understand Claire’s emotions, finally chose to look at his sister-in-law.

Antony shrugged. The answer to Gladwin’s question came instantly when the figure of the obstetrician passed by them. “Don’t you like Phoebe?” he asked directly.

“If I don’t, so what?” Claire replied curtly. Gladwin raised both eyebrows. His sister was indeed a lot like Abigail. Or maybe Abigail copied Claire’s behavior? Both of them, when they don’t like something, always make it clear.

“Well, it’s okay. I was just asking,” Gladwin replied again. They separated as they entered their respective cars.

Gladwin actually wanted to know the reason why his sister openly disliked Phoebe. However, he restrained that question. There would be another time when he could ask Claire.

Just before he started the car, his phone rang. Claire’s name appeared on the square screen. “Yes?” he answered quickly.

“Do you have plans?” Claire asked again.

“No. Why?”

“Antony and I are going to Flavia and Abby’s café. We’re going to have dinner there, in case you intend to join us.”

“You want to treat me?” Gladwin teased with a smile on his face.

“You’re already rich, do you still need treats from an unemployed person like me?” Claire asked mockingly.

“But your husband is much richer than I am. He’s the one helping to pay my salary all this time,” Gladwin replied, knowing that Antony and his family were donors to the hospital where he worked.

Claire rolled her eyes without Gladwin knowing. She glanced at her husband before answering her twin brother’s enthusiastic remark. “Okay. Luckily, my husband is not stingy,” she replied flatly, which was answered by Gladwin’s enthusiastic response. “But do you know which café we’re going to?”

“The one near here? Which café are you planning to go to?” As far as Gladwin knew, the café owned by Abigail and Flavia that he visited some time ago, wasn’t it? The modern-style café with Korean food?

Claire mentioned the address of a different café. “The kids want to eat Japanese food. They’re already there. You can join us there.” Then the call was ended, and Gladwin received a message from Claire containing the location map he should go to.

With a furrowed brow, Gladwin started the engine and began to drive following the GPS directions.

The café he visited now was still a three-story shop, just like the Korean food café he visited earlier. If the previous Korean food café had a long building shape, this Japanese food café had a wide shape with a strong Japanese decoration. Imitation cherry blossom trees adorned the front door, surrounded by wood fencing. The dining area also consisted of small square tables typical of Japanese restaurants he had visited before, while on the left and right sides, there were tables attached to the walls intended for those who wanted to eat alone or as a couple, sitting side by side.

The atmosphere is comfortable. Even near the staircase, there is a rectangular touch screen with the inscription “Order Songs Here.”

“Kon’nichiwa, Good afternoon. Welcome to Qina Cafe,” greeted a female waiter wearing a Japanese schoolgirl-style uniform with her distinctive sailor uniform. “Have you reserved a table, sir? Or is it your first time here?” She asked politely.

“Did a pregnant woman with her husband come here earlier?” Gladwin asked in return. The waitress seemed to furrow her brow. “A heavily pregnant woman in a knee-length peach maternity dress, with her husband.”

“Oh, Mrs. Quirino?” The waitress finally remembered. Gladwin nodded. “Let me take you there,” she replied politely, leading Gladwin into the interior of the cafe. Behind a wooden partition adorned with a panorama of mountains, Gladwin saw two square tables that had been combined. Claire and Antony were already seated. Antony was even massaging his wife’s swollen feet without any sense of embarrassment or shame.

“So fast,” Claire exclaimed and waved her hand. Gladwin nodded to the waitress and muttered his thanks before finally taking off his shoes and ascending to the elevated sitting area.

“Where are the kids? You said they were already here.” Gladwin looked around the specially designed indoor children’s play area, which was about five meters away from their seating area.

“Francisca is in the bathroom, accompanied by Ignazio,” Antony answered on behalf. Gladwin nodded. He looked through the menu book in front of him.

“Oh, Uncle is here too?” The question came from a very familiar figure. Who else but Abigail. “Who invited him?” she asked curiously, glancing at Claire and Antony alternately.

“I did,” Claire answered loudly. “We happened to meet at the hospital earlier.” The pregnant woman adjusted her sitting position to cross-legged.

“Ohh.. Have you already chosen the menu?” Abigail inquired, looking at her uncle and aunt. “Where are Zio and Francis?” Abigail looked around, searching for her younger cousin, who appeared shortly afterward. “Do you already know what you want to eat?” she asked the two kids.

“I want matcha,” replied Francisca.

“That’s for later. Let’s start with the main course,” Abigail reminded. Then, the five-year-old girl looked at the menu and pointed to the food she wanted. The same went for Ignazio, Antony, and Gladwin. “Aunty, what about you?” Abigail looked at her aunt.

“I already ordered directly from Via. She said my order is being prepared.” Claire replied casually, making Gladwin look up and glance at his sister with a puzzled expression.

“Okay, be patient. I’ll prepare their special dishes first.” Then, Abigail left the five of them heading towards what Gladwin assumed was the kitchen.