“Veronica, how’s it going? When are you going to announce your baby’s name? We’re all waiting for it. It’s like waiting for the announcement of the elected president, taking forever,” complained Randy while visiting Veronica in the hospital.
Two days after undergoing post-delivery care and getting through the critical period, Veronica’s condition could be considered improving. She could now sit up and even slowly get used to holding her newborn baby.
Veronica was certainly delighted. Besides being allowed to sleep together, she had also started slowly breastfeeding, after allowing her son to consume formula milk for a few days.
At this point, almost all the family members had come to visit her. From the presence of her husband, followed by her in-laws, and not forgetting Darwin’s cousins who never missed a visit and always livened up the atmosphere.
“What’s the big deal, anyway? You seem so worked up,” Darwin remarked as he sat in a chair right next to his wife’s bed.
“Not worked up,” retorted Randy. “Maybe you guys haven’t prepared a name yet, and I’m willing to help find a good one.”
“Don’t fall for it!” Luna quickly interjected. As if traumatized, she immediately shook her head while staring seriously at Veronica. She couldn’t possibly forget how Randy once named her twins Mae Moon Ah, Sol Mi Yati, and even Park Wish Nu. “It’ll never end well if you ask for Randy’s help, Ve,” Luna added.
“Hey, Esmeralda!” Randy teased. “Don’t be quick to accuse. I’m seriously willing to help.”
“Your seriousness has long been gone, Ran!” Luna retorted with a grin. “Besides, when will you ever finish helping? My twin children were enough victims of your mischief back then.”
Randy suddenly burst into laughter, recalling the time when she pranked Luna during her second childbirth. She was so fond of mischief that she intentionally gave Luna’s twin babies random names, which infuriated Luna to no end.
“But isn’t it true that Agista gave me my name? What does that mean? I’m serious about helping,” Randy argued.
“Enough, enough,” Darwin said, intervening. “You don’t need to bother finding a name, Ran. Both of us have prepared a name long ago.”
“Yeah,” Veronica finally chimed in. While cradling her sleeping son, Veronica spoke up. “Darwin had already prepared a name for a boy or a girl before giving birth. So, you don’t need to go through the trouble of finding a name for our son.”
Randy nodded and then asked her next question.
“If it’s already prepared, then whose name is it? Is it Darwin Walters? So, it matches with his father? Or perhaps Even, a combination of Darwin and Veronica? Or-”
“Not any of those you mentioned. You’re so random!” Darwin exclaimed, making Randy laugh again.
“So who is it then? Seriously, it’s like waiting for a celebrity baby’s name.”
“Why are you waiting? Did I ask you to wait?”
“I’m just curious, Win,” Randy debated, not willing to give in.
Darwin pursed his lips and shook his head again. Since today the entire extended family was gathered, Darwin took advantage of the moment to announce the name for their son.
“Veronica and I have agreed to name our baby Andromeda Eleazar Walters. It means strong young man, hard worker, responsible, and comes from the Walters family,” Darwin explained at length while discussing the meaning of their son’s name.
“No kidding,” Randy said, shaking her head. “But are you sure you want to name your child Andromeda?”
Darwin’s eyebrows immediately furrowed. He wondered about the meaning behind Randy’s words.
“Why, what’s wrong?”
“Andromeda is such a common name, Win. It’s like there are no other names out there. That’s why I said it’s better if I help find one. You’re just being stubborn-”
“But Andromeda is a name chosen by Papa Veronica,” Darwin interrupted, leaving Randy speechless. Of course, he immediately looked over at Damian, who was not far from where he was sitting.
“Oh, so Andromeda was recommended by Uncle Damian?”
“Damian, who was sitting next to Magnus, nodded immediately. Since this was his first grandchild, he did ask Darwin for permission to help choose a name for his beloved grandchild.
“Yeah, why not? Is the name bad?”
“No, Uncle,” Randy shook his head repeatedly. Then the man raised both his thumbs at the same time. “The name is good. Really good, in fact. And its meaning is cool too.”
“Earlier, you said the name was common?” Luna provocatively asked. She was quite pleased with herself for cornering Randy like this. “Didn’t you also say the name wasn’t cool? That means Uncle Damian isn’t cool either, right?”
Randy immediately turned to Luna. Glaring, he urged her to stop her increasingly dangerous provocation.
“No, not at all. Uncle Damian’s given name of Andromeda is really good, no matter what.”
Damian laughed heartily. He was amused by Randy’s current comical behavior. Shortly after, the middle-aged man cast a glance toward his daughter, who was still cradling her son faithfully.
“Actually, Dad has prepared a gift for Andromeda.”
“What kind of gift, Dad?” Veronica asked.
“A whole company as a gift for his birth.”
Veronica smiled, then shook her head in response to what her father had just said.
“No need to go overboard, Dad. Andromeda is still very young. He doesn’t need such a gift.”
“Well, consider this an investment in his future.”
“But, what Dad is giving is way too much. It’s better if Dad gives Andromeda a more appropriate gift.”
“But, Uncle Damian…” Randy interrupted. He suddenly joined the debate between Damian and Veronica. “Interested in adopting a foster child?” the man suddenly said.
“Foster child?”
“Yeah,” Randy nodded then. “You never know, Uncle Damian might need a foster son. I’m willing with an open heart.”
Randy’s recent statement instantly made Damian burst into laughter again. He was truly entertained by the absurdity displayed by Darwin’s cousin.
“Better you have a child first. At least a girl. Later, you can matchmake her with Andromeda. Then, Uncle can give the wedding gift as a company.”
“Really, Uncle?”
Damian nodded seriously.
“Absolutely, nephew. That’s why, hurry up and have a child.”
“The problem is, Darwin doesn’t want to be related to Randy, Dad. Besides, we’re still cousins,” Darwin objected outright. He had no intention of having someone like Randy as his in-law, even though they weren’t related by blood.
“Well, it’s okay, Win. Who says cousins can’t get married? Besides, you’re from the Walters lineage, not the Walters lineage. So, it’s not a problem if our children get married. The family names are quite different.”
“Oh, come on, I still won’t agree!”
“Who knows, your child might end up pursuing mine.”
“No way!” Darwin confidently replied.
“We’ll see about that,” Randy retorted, not willing to back down.
Meanwhile, the others could only shake their heads, watching Darwin and Randy, who never seemed to agree with each other. But ironically, they both often appeared so united and dependent on each other. It’s quite ironic.
***