“Wait, what? Why the hell didn’t you say that?” Paz’s demeanor flipped from defensive to congratulatory. “Dude, congrats!” It suddenly flipped again to smug as a knowing smirk curved Paz’s lips. “Wait, wait, now hold on just a sec. I finally get to say it.”
“Say what?” Jaeyoung asked.
“I told you so!” Paz declared, raising his arms. “Ah, that felt good...”
A blush bloomed on Jaeyoung’s cheeks. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” he muttered, crossing his arms.
Paz wagged a finger. “Nope, don’t even bother. I remember it like it was yesterday.”
Jaeyoung grimaced like he knew what was coming, despite his words to the contrary.
Paz gestured wildly with his hands as he told the story. “After Dai’zee was born, I said you’d want one too—a baby, I mean—and you said no, andIsaid I didn’t believe you for a second. Ring a bell?”
“Anyone else getting hungry for dinner?” Jaeyoung asked the group.
“Uh uh, you’re not getting away that easily,” Paz said, now jabbing the finger in his direction. “Say I was right!”
Jaeyoung glared at his friend, but the look quickly withered into a sigh. “Fine. You were right, Paz.”
Paz beamed with pride. “Ha!”
“Except you weren’t technically correct because at the time I didn’t want a child, and it was only after bonding with Linn’ar that I—”
Paz’s exasperated groan cut him off. “Oh, shut up, Mr. Pregnant.”
Levi hid a snicker behind his hand.
Jaeyoung tilted his head. “I don’t dislike the sound of that,” he mused. “Although it should be Dr. Pregnant, thank you.”
“Yeah, yeah. You mentioned dinner? I could go for one of those tangy blue fruits.”
Jaeyoung caught my eye and smiled. “Who’s in the mood for Korean food?”
Paz’s jaw dropped. He looked as delightedly shocked as Levi had when he found out Jaeyoung was pregnant. “Um, me! Where is it? Is there some interplanetary food delivery service I’m not aware of?”
Striding closer to me, Jaeyoung leaned his head against my chest. His hair was warm. I ran my fingers through it.
“No delivery,” Jaeyoung said. “But I know a certain Maeleon who’s quite the cook.”
My feelers pulsed with enthusiasm. “Oh, yes! Are we going to do more pounding?” I asked, clapping my claws together.
“Definitely,” my filum agreed.
“Uh oh. What did I just sign up for?” Paz asked.
“Pounding rice cakes,” Jaeyoung explained, smirking at his aghast friend.
The tension drained from his shoulders. “Phew. Hey, you can never be sure with Maeleons.”
15 /Jaeyoung
“Doesanyone else think it’s crazy that you can get creampied one night, then be visibly pregnant the next day?” Paz asked while chewing on a blue fruit appetizer.
Levi cringed. “Dude, swallow first.”
“I agree. And what a vulgar way of putting it,” I said, clicking my tongue.
Good thing Dai’zee didn’t have to hear that crass question. She was outside with Zat’tor catching the last rays of sun. Her fangs were coming in so she could eat solid food, but Levi wasn’t sure she should consume a whole plate ofgaraetteokyet. Better to supplement with good old-fashioned photosynthesized nutrients.
