Mr Carlos Huo, She's Your Wife

Seeing Debbie choke on the soup, Julie immediately picked up a tissue and cleaned the spilled soup on the table. "Why are you in such a hurry? Take your time," she said.

"Don't you guys try this on me again," Debbie cautioned, with a hand on her heart. Still a student, she had no plans to have a baby yet.

All of a sudden, she remembered something was not right—Carlos hadn't used a condom and she had forgotten to take her morning after pill.

Quickly, she gulped the soup and sent Carlos a text message. "Holy crap, old man! I didn't take my morning after pill. I don't know how I forgot that! Is it too late to take the pill now?"

Just before lunch, she had sent him a message asking about his WeChat account and he hadn't replied to it yet. But this time, his reply came immediately. "What pill?"

What was the name of the pill? She opened browser and Googled "emergency contraception". Scrolling down a few hits, she got it. Mifepristone! Quick as a wink, she copied the link, took a screenshot and sent him both.

Then her phone rang. "Debbie Nian, there are two things here. First, it's already too late for the morning after pill. Second, I want a baby. I mean, you and I should be getting desperate to have a baby by now, ' he said in a firm voice that made his intentions crystal clear.

"What?! But why?" Debbie asked in disbelief. Was he already desperate for a baby?

"Honey, listen to me." With the phone in right hand, he rubbed his arching brow with the left and started to explain. "Deb, we're a married couple. If you got pregnant, it wouldn't be something to tense about. Gladly, I'd personally want us to keep the baby. Understand?"

"But...but..." she stammered. She didn't know how to make Carlos change his mind. After a long pause, she found a lame excuse. "You want a boy. What if I gave birth to a girl? Will you ignore her then?"

Carlos was slapped hard in the face by his own words. In a flat tone, he said, "I can't afford to be choosy over some things. Whether it's a girl or a boy, I'd welcome the baby with open arms. As long as you're the mother."

"But I'm still a student!"

"College students can have babies."

"But... you want me to study abroad next year!" Debbie felt somewhat thrown off balance.

"If you got pregnant, I would go abroad with you."

but..." She had run

pill, but hopefully look forward to having you up the spout. In any case, I'll be there for you. In short, worry not!" he declared with finality.

one more excuse. "But I'm only 21. I don't really think I'm mentally prepared... to be a mother..." The word "mother" was forced through

growing up without a mother had been hard enough for Debbie. Wouldn't she have a difficult

baby, I'll have to use protection from now on. But as for the pill, it's a no. I won't

stay away from

her tingling eyes and murmured, "Give me some time, okay? I'll consider your words. Maybe, a little

she wasn't mentally prepared yet. What would she do with a baby, at

you so much. All the same, if you got pregnant, I'd personally take care of everything. Whichever way, you need to take it easy, okay?" he

At long last, his words began to take effect. In fact she was getting teary-eyed, just listening to him.

you, dad, for giving me the

life now, ' she thought to

creep. "I didn't

slapped Jared on the

a jerk! How could he say that in

to look at the book, as if nothing had happened. But it was too

said, "The chap at the back of the second line to my left.

at Jared. He cursed inwardly, 'Damn it!

rose slowly from his seat, he heard Carlos add, "Please tell

up to?!' wondered an incredulous Jared.

him struggle for an answer, Debbie

point. Jared pretended to clear his voice,

cold glance and ordered, "Stand there. The

was a boy, and the girl sitting next to him... Debbie Nian?!

All through, her mind had wandered off to fantasies of her nights

is AIP short