The triplets easily attracted people's attention. Not only because they were triplets, but also they wore the same outfits from head to toe. They had stopped using the same dress long ago. However, they thought it'd be fun to do it once in a while. The three of them were wearing white T-Shirt with black printed number of the front and back, denim jeans and black snapback. Aorta got 1st, Artery 2nd, and Venous 3rd.
"We get economy while you guys seat at the first class again, right?" Artery peeked the electronic tickets on Lisa's phone.
"You want the first class?" Lisa asked casually.
"Yes!" He nodded eagerly.
"Then work for it, Boy. This seat is expensive as heaven. You will not get one from begging. Make money first then buy it on your own, alright?"
"I should've known." He mumbled under his breath.
Jennie patted his back, laughing at his cute sulk.
The check-in process took a while. When they were done with it, they waited their flight at a coffee shop. Artery, of course, couldn't sit around without doing anything. He wanted to wander around.
"Let's go." Venous put her book on the table and took her wallet form her backpack. "I want to sight seeing, too. Aorta, are you coming?"
"Nah. I'll stay. You guys go ahead."
"Off we go, Ve!"
The two siblings walked around the big airport. They entered a few shops, looking at merchandises but not buying anything. A certain sport store caught Artery's eyes. Without thinking much, he walked in and observed the shoes on display.
He had a great deal of shoes in his drawer. He saved it all from elementary school till now. He didn't wear them often. It was just for hobby.
"Anything you like?"
Artery picked the dominant red-orange colored with slight back line on the side with sparkling eyes. He really liked the design. He looked for the price and gasped at the numbers. He didn't expect it to be cheap, but it got him surprised nevertheless. Quietly, he put the shoe back on its place dejectedly.
"Let's go."
"You don't want to try it?"
"I don't have money." He shrugged.
Venous rolled her eyes when her brother walked passed her. She pulled his shirt preventing him to get out from the store. "Sit."
She took the shoe Artery looked before and searched for its size. Afterwards, she called the salesman and asked for a 40.
"What are you doing?" Artery whispered in panic. "I can't buy it. You're troubling him!"
"It's his job." She replied calmly. "At least you've tried it on your feet."
"Here you go, kid."
Artery smiled nervously as he held the charming shoes. Slowly, he put it on. It fit her feet perfectly. Too bad I can't have it, he thought.
"Stand up and walk." Venous ordered. Artery did as he told. "How does it feel? Comfortable?"
"Yeah." He couldn't help but grin. He made a few more steps before removed it. He sighed inwardly and handed it back to the salesman.
"Thank you."
"We'll purchase that one, please." Venous smiled at the man.
"Wh – what?"
"Right away, Miss."
"Ve, that shoes are expensive as hell! I told you I don't have money!" Artery spoke frantically. "What the hell are you doing?!"
"You're lucky Aorta is not here to slap your head for cursing." Venous waved her hand nonchalantly as she made her way to the cashier.
"Yah! Venous! Yah!" Artery hissed, following his sister. "They're going to kick our butt-"
"Artery, shut up." Her glare instantly made Artery stop.
"It would be 199.000 won, Miss."
The young girl withdrew a card from her wallet and gave it to the man. After the payment process was complete, he handed over the paper bag.
Venous looked at Artery and signaled him to take it. Flustered, he carefully received his brand new shoes.
"Thank you. Have a good day!" The salesman bowed slightly.
"Did you ju – just buy me this?" Artery stuttered. "H – how did you have so much money?"
"Unlike you, I saved my allowance, I won prizes from those Olympiads I participated."
"Thank you!" Artery hugged his sister tightly, surprising Venous and some people around them. He spoiled her with kisses, not minding people's stare. "I love you! You're the best, baby sis!"
"Get off me!" Venous laughed at his antics.
"Nope." He kept kissing her.
"I'm going to punch you." She said, still giggling.
"Fine, fine." He wrapped his arm around Venous' shoulders. "Why are you so nice to me?"
"Don't question it and don't get used to it. You owe me, Artery."
"With what?"
"Your report next semester. Don't waste my time for nothing."
Artery pecked her cheek. "You got it, captain! But I can do better without you yelling at my face, though."
They had begun the lessons even though it was holiday time. Venous didn't have the patience to wait any longer because Artery's report was really horrible it irked her so bad.
"You sleep if I don't yell."
"I'm sleep if I'm sleepy." He corrected her.
"You really want to argue with me?"
"On second thought, no. I don't."
"Good. Let's go back. We're boarding soon."
---
"I have the best sister in the world!" Artery spoke proudly in front of his parents and brother. "She bought me this!"
"What is that?" Aorta furrowed his brows. "Artery gets shoes and I don't?" He sulked at his sister.
"You didn't want to come with us."
Aorta pursed his lips with sad puppy eyes.
"You want to go now? We can take a look again."
"You're buying?" Aorta was practically jumped on his seat.
"Yeah." Venous rolled her eyes.
"Will the offer still stand in Hong Kong? If so, I'll look for it there."
"Fine."
"Wooho!" Aorta wrapped Venous into his embrace and kissed the top her head repeatedly. "I love you! I love you!"
"You two only love me when I buy you things?"
"You know I also love you when you don't yell through the lessons." He jokes.
"You both need it."
Lisa squeezed Jennie's hand on her lap, feeling proud of how far their children had become. They could depend in each other. They'd always get each other's back. Venous had earned money since she was young from many scientific Olympiads she won. Her parents kept the cash but never used it. When the triplets had reached their age to open a bank account for student and as Lisa and Jennie felt they were responsible enough, Jennie gradually – still not all – transferred it to Venous' account. As expected, Venous was really careful on spending money. She wanted to use it for her college tuition. Jennie gave the kids allowance once in a month. They can use it on anything positive they wanted. Aorta was so much better than Artery on this matter. He tried to save his allowance regularly, when the second born usually ran out of money on the third week and secretly, without his parents knowing, begged his siblings for lunch money.
The announcer announced that the flight to Hong Kong to board to the aircraft. The five of them stood up from the chairs and re-checked everything before leaving the shop.
"Everyone has their passport?" Lisa asked as the others nodded. "Alright. You three, be good. Stay out of trouble. If there's anything, find us, okay?"
"Okay, Dada."
Needless to say, they enjoyed their vacation to the max. They explored the city together, tried delicious local foods and bought some souvenirs. They went to Disney Land Hong Kong (the third Disney Park they've visited after Tokyo and Florida), The Peak (the wind was so harsh that afternoon, Venous couldn't stop sneezing but she refused to go back before she could get a perfect photo of mesmerizing city light), Ngong Ping 360 (Aorta almost got an asthma attack when the cable car brought them high. Fortunately, he never forgot his inhaler. To Lisa, Jennie, Aorta, and Venous' amusement, Artery actually prayed in front of Tian Tan Buddha. He looked so solemn when he closed his eyes and asked for whatever he wanted at that time).
By the time they had to go home, the five of them were satisfied with this long deserved break and ready to go back to the routine.
---
"Dada, I know that we're supposed to open the present tomorrow, on Mommy's birthday, and I know I should be more patience but I've been dying to read just one of those books I've listed for my present this year."
Lisa looked up from the cake she was about to eat. "What book?"
"This one." Venous pointed number 7 out of 14 on the copy she made for herself, beaming from ear to ear.
"No, I mean. . . your present this year is that vacation to Hong Kong. So I'm not sure about book you're talking about, sweetheart."
The grin instantly disappeared from Venous' face. "But I've given you the list!"
"But it's my prerogative to grant it or not. You guys wanted Hong Kong so I gave the three of you Hong Kong."
"B – but. . . Mommy?" Venous pouted her lips.
"Hong Kong would not have worked out if I didn't give my consent. It was a present from both of us." Jennie almost cracked a laugh at Venous' expression. She was practically heartbroken.
"Ve, Artery and I can buy you some of that. Three, maybe?"
"With what money?" Artery scrunched up his nose.
"Your allowance money." Aorta said as a matter of fact.
The second born grinned uncomfortably. "It's gone, Aorta." He hissed.
"But it's only the second week! What did you do with it?!" Aorta hissed back.
"I need a new jersey."
Aorta stared at his sibling in disbelieve. "What are you going to eat for lunch for the next two weeks?"
"Please make me lunchbox?" He pleaded. "But like. . . with a lot of protein in it and smaller portion of grass, please."
Aorta rolled his eyes at Artery. He then turned to Venous. "I can buy you two books."
"Really?"
"Yes, really."
"You're the best, brother!"
"Wait, Venous gets a present from you and I don't?" Artery asked disapprovingly.
"You get that lunchbox." Aorta dismissed him. "That's your present."
Artery couldn't counter back. He desperately needed that.
Lisa laughed out loud watching the scene before her making the three exchanged glances. They didn't know what's so funny to make their Dada laughed like crazy.
"Can we do it today?" Lisa asked her wife while giggling.
"Yeah, of course."
"But what will we do tomorrow?"
"We'll get that birthday dinner tomorrow instead of tonight then."
"Mothers. Secret is not allowed in our house." Artery reminded the two women. "You guys can not talk in code."
"Very well, then, babies. Follow us."
Lisa stood up, taking Jennie with her and gestured the triplets to come after them. Aorta, Artery, and Venous sat on their parents' bed staring expectantly at what their parents did in their walk-in closet while Jennie disappeared inside the bathroom.
"Where's your Mommy?" Lisa's head pepped out.
"Right here, Hon." Jennie answered while closing the door behind her.
"Alright. Here you go, babies." Lisa lifted the highest and the weightiest present wrapped in blue wrapping paper out. Not long after, Jennie brought two smaller presents, one in red and one in chocolate.
The three gasped.
"We got another present?!"
"Yes." Jennie shook with laughter when Venous practically jumped on her.
"I love you!" The triplets kissed their Mommy.
"Yeah kids, you guys should thank Mommy. If she didn't insist to buy you three more presents this year, I might not do it." Lisa put Venous' present on the floor, gasping for air while she at it. Those books were incredibly heavy.
"We love you nevertheless, Dada." Artery embraced Lisa's figure in his arms.
"Slightly lesser but who's counting, right?" Artery grinned mischievously.
"Yah! You little rascal!" Lisa strangled him and pampered him with kisses. He didn't even protest. He loved kisses.
"Moms, can we open it now?"
"Go ahead." Jennie nodded.
Every year, Venous had always been asking for the same present; book. She made a list of books she wanted to read till the month of her birthday came then gave it to her parents. Finding Venous' present was the hardest. Some of it was an old book so Lisa and Jennie had to find it in antiques bookstore or even online with a great deal. Meanwhile Aorta and Artery were fine with anything they got. They only occasionally asked for specific presents. This year, Aorta got a LP player and Artery received an – according to Lisa – overly, ridiculously, unreasonably expensive snapback.
"It's fashion. You gotta pay a lot for it." Jennie reasoned as she nodded calmly to the saleswoman.
"Happy with your gifts, babies?"
"Yes!" The three answered in union.
"Now it's time for you." Lisa led Jennie to sit in front of their dressing table. "Wait here." Lisa walked out from the bedroom to take Jennie's present.
"What did you get me?" Jennie asked Lisa when Lisa walked back in. The latter smiled with her hands hid behind her body.
Lisa stood behind her, eyes fixed to Jennie's through the mirror. "I know you've had a lot of necklace for your own good but I couldn't resist when I saw this on the display." She opened the rectangular box and took out the necklace. The design was simple with a small diamond stone, totally Jennie's style.
Steadily, Jennie moved her locks to the right side. With a gentle motion, Lisa circled the chain around Jennie's neck and tied it. As she was done with the task, Lisa rested her hands on Jennie's shoulder and frowned.
"Why are you frowning?"
"I thought," she paused. "I thought it was mesmerizing. I couldn't keep my eyes away from it like. . . it was calling for me. But now that you wear it, it looks nothing but ordinary."
Jennie bit her lower lip, blushing furiously. She held Lisa's hand and leaned on her stomach. "Thank you."
"Oh well, you're the greatest gift. Nothing to compare." She kissed the top of Jennie's head. "Happy early birthday, love."
"Are you guys going to kiss?" Venous suddenly asked.
"Can we?" Lisa turned to their children.
"Look away, boys." Venous threw her arms around Aorta and Artery's shoulder then turned their back to their parents, smiling broadly. It was amazing how their parents never seemed to get enough of each other. The triplets grew up with physical affection. It was a normal sight to see their parents kissed or hugged or held hands.
Lisa tugged Jennie's lips teasingly before breaking the kiss. "I got something else for you."
"Hm?" Jennie had not come back from her high. She caressed Lisa's cheek and stole one more peck before opening her eyes.
"But you gotta ask for ten days off from work."
"Why is that?"
"I plan to take you to Amsterdam this month. I've booked the airplane tickets, first class, a suit hotel room for us to stay where we can enjoy the best city light at night, I also have done my research to whatever places and attractions we can see. I will take you to the hospital where I did my fellowship long ago. I've applied for our visa, by the way. So now all I need is you to say yes."
"You're serious?" Jennie was surprised.
"You deserve it. And I'm dead serious."
Jennie faced Lisa with wide eyes. "You're not kidding."
"I'm not...? Why do you seem not convinced?"
"Baby, I have one important question. Answer it truthfully, okay?"
"O. . . kay?"
"Did you use all the money in your account?"
"I have like. . . I don't know. . . but I have some left, why?" Lisa was concerned. Jennie acted so weird.
"Because half cash in my account is gone." Jennie replied carefully.
"How?!"
"For down payment."
"What?!"
Jennie heaved a deep breath. "This is a surprise indeed." She shook her head then chuckled. "I wanted to surprise you, too. Your car is turning five this year so I thought we should change it."
"Wait, is there a reason you've been asking me about cars?"
Jennie nodded nervously. "Yes."
"Baby. . ." Lisa blinked rapidly. "My answer was an Ultimate Prestige Range Rover Sport."
"I know." Jennie replied lowly.
"You didn't."
"Actually. . . I did."
"Oh my God."
"Oh my God, indeed."
"Are we. . . running out of money?"
"Seems so."
"But we have that join account."
"Nope. We're not using that. That's for the babies' college tuition."
"Why didn't you talk to me about it first?"
"It was meant to be a surprise." Jennie said as a matter of fact.
Lisa gulped. "Okay, so half is gone but we still have my car, we can sell it, and well... we still have some properties or we can take a loan from the bank. Oh my God. We take a load chunk of money at the same time." Lisa laughed wholeheartedly with Jennie following behind.
"Mothers, are we going to starve?"
The two smirked towards the three young teenagers.
"No, babies. We'll figure something out. Like we always do."
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