Sean pressed the 8 button, his other hand holding a bucket of black roses. The corners of his lips lifted as he remembered Liora's message. The elevator doors opened, and his eyebrows rose when he saw the woman he had known for a long time, who hadn't changed much except that she was a little more plump than before. His eyes glanced at the slightly protruding part of her body. Her belly was getting bigger. She was now about five months pregnant.
Flashback
"Ladies and gentlemen, please stand to welcome the bride."
His body felt cold, his hands trembled. His mouth was reciting the sacred vows he was about to utter. His eyebrows furrowed as he forgot the last sentence he was going to say. His hand reached into his pocket for the paper, trying to remember before Liora actually entered the altar.
His eyebrows rose as he saw the paper he had written on turn into crumbs. He shook his head slowly. This was not the paper containing the promise he had written. He took a deep breath and tapped his forehead with his hand. I put it in the wrong place.
With curiosity, his eyes scanned the crumpled piece of paper. His eyes widened when he read the first sentence. It was a pregnancy test result. He blinked and opened his eyes again, hoping he had misread the name on the letter. But no, it was real. Alexandra Marrielle Hart was pregnant. He clenched his fists. He put the paper back in his pocket.
Liora entered the altar accompanied by her brother, standing right behind Sean.
"Ahem." Sean's reverie was interrupted by the sound of the man standing next to him clearing his throat.
"Grow up well and be healthy, okay? Don't be too much trouble for your mom. Dad loves you very much." The man's voice was faint. For some reason, Sean didn't like it. He glanced to the side and saw El stroking Alexa's belly.
The elevator doors opened on the 8th floor. Sean turned his face away and looked straight ahead as he stepped out. His feet stopped, and he turned to look at Alexa and El together. Soon after, the elevator doors closed. Sean stared at the flowers in his hands, and his footsteps carried him to a VVIP room.
"Hey! How are you feeling now?" Sean kissed Liora's forehead.
He placed the bouquet of flowers on the table.
"Haven't eaten yet?" He looked at the untouched soup.
Liora shook her head slowly. "I was waiting for you."
Sean nodded. He took the soup and sat down next to the stretcher.
"Aaaaa." Liora chuckled at Sean's behavior. It was as if he was feeding a small child. Thinking about small children, the corners of her lips lifted. She imagined how patient Sean would be in caring for a small child. He would definitely be the best father to his child.
"Does the soup taste bad?" Sean asked, watching Liora immediately gulp down a glass of water as soon as a spoonful of soup entered her mouth.
Liora shook her head slowly. "I still feel nauseous."
Sean nodded. "Do you want to eat something?"
"I WANT PIZZA!!!" The look of happiness on her face was clear.
"Wait until you feel better." Hearing that, she pouted. Sean chuckled at Liora's behavior, patting her head.
"Okay, queen." Sean reached into his pocket for his phone and ordered some pizza.
"Thank you, honey." Liora hugged his hand and rested her head on Sean's chest.
***
El offered ice cream to Alexa, who was sitting on a park bench. There was no response, her gaze was fixed ahead. Without further ado, he sat down beside her, opened the ice cream, scooped some up, and brought it to Alexa's closed mouth. Seeing no response, El shrugged and ate his own ice cream.
He followed Alexa's gaze. He saw a mother with a little girl playing in the park. Alexa smiled occasionally, seeing how cute the little girl was.
"Just like Bella," said El, looking at the little girl.
Alexa's eyes shifted to El. Her gaze fell on the empty ice cream cup, only the melted ice cream left on his lips. Her pursed lips. I didn't say I didn't want the ice cream.
"Don't you miss Bella?" There was no answer from Alexa. El cleared his throat, trying to break the silence. There was a long pause, until Alexa finally spoke.
"I'm not a good mom to Bella, am I?" Alexa looked down, playing with her fingernails.
"OF COURSE NOT!" El cut in quickly. He looked at Alexa.
"Mommy Alexa is the best mom in the world." El spread his arms wide and imitated Bella's voice, making Alexa chuckle. Before she knew it, tears welled up in the corners of her eyes. Those words felt like sarcasm to her.
"You know, I never wanted to have children, El. Bella is my first child. She is the first baby I have ever cared for. I had no prior experience caring for babies. But Bella taught me so much. How to be more patient, more attentive, and all my shortcomings in caring for her. For some reason, she always thought I was the best mom in the world." With her gaze fixed straight ahead, Alexa poured out her heart.
"All mom experience this when they first take care of their babies. Children never see these shortcomings. Children always see their mothers as fairy godmothers who will always help them. Children always see their mothers as their whole world. You decided to raise Bella at that time, which was a very wise decision." El couldn't stop staring at Alexa's beautiful face. He loved this woman very much.
Neither of them said anything. Until El asked a question.
"I miss Bella so much. She would be so happy to know that she will soon be a big sister. When will this all end?"
***
Alexa was busy scrolling through her phone screen. She was looking at photos of her and Bella together. Her hand paused and she gently stroked the screen as if Bella were right in front of her. Alexa glanced at the empty street. El's words really bothered her. Am I a selfish mother?
A hand touched her shoulder, making her turn around. El's gaze indicated that they had arrived.
The sky was already very dark. Alexa had just finished attending a colleague's event with El until late at night. El reached out his hand to help Alexa get out of the car. She bent her waist and took a deep breath, remembering that she was still not used to her protruding belly. El chuckled at Alexa, who looked very cute when she walked.
Alexa opened the front door and closed it slowly. She tiptoed into the kitchen, her hands slowly opening the refrigerator. She was worried that she would make a noise that would wake Alyssa, who was fast asleep. Alexa wasn't hungry, but her child had been asking for food.
Her movements stopped when she heard clapping accompanied by the lights turning on, revealing every detail of the room. Alexa turned around, her eyes widening, but she quickly regained her composure. She saw a man standing near the dining table with a cup of coffee that had only a sip left. His eyes stared intently at Alexa.
"Where have you been!?" he said flatly.
"What do you care?" Alexa rolled her eyes lazily, walking up the stairs without paying attention to the man's question.
"BECAUSE YOU'RE CARRYING MY CHILD, LEXIE!"