"What a freak!" she muttered under her breath.
Star raised an eyebrow as she watched him move. "What are you cooking?"
Mandume flashed a grin over his shoulder. "It's literally past noon, and no one's bothering to cook lunch, so guess who's taking the driver's seat now?"
Bonita huffed, turning to Star. "Okay, do you have anything for Star? Like, it's an emergency. She needs to eat."
Mandume turned around, startled when he saw Star on the floor, her face contorted in pain. His heart leaped into his throat. "What happened? You need a doctor?" His voice cracked with concern.
Star shook her head, gritting her teeth. "No, ah… can you just get me a warm towel?"
Mandume didn't hesitate. "Come on, Boni. Follow me." He scooped Star into his arms with ease and carried her to her room, his face a mask of worry. "Boni will bring the towel. Don't worry, Star. You'll be okay, just stay strong."
Star closed her eyes against the pain as Mandume laid her gently on the bed. The weight of his touch, protective and tender, only made her heart race for reasons she couldn't explain.
Bonita dashed off to the kitchen, and Star wrapped the towel around her waist, lying down in a way that trapped the pain. It didn't stop it, but it dulled it a little. She closed her eyes, trying to breathe through it.
"I really need to see a gynecologist," Star murmured, her voice faint. "I've never been pregnant before... so I don't know what this pain is."
Mandume sat beside her, brushing a loose strand of hair from her face. "I'll arrange an appointment for you with the best gynecologist. She'll see you until you deliver."
Star looked at him, her heart fluttering despite the pain. "Mendu, please... you're already doing so much for me."
Mandume's expression darkened, his voice firm. "I'm doing this for our son. He has to survive this, Star."
Star's breath caught in her throat. He was talking about their son as if he already existed outside her body. It was both terrifying and... beautiful.
Bonita came rushing in with the food. "Oh no, I'll eat…" Star started, but Mandume cut her off, his voice insistent. "Now."
"May I at least finish?" Star protested, eyeing her meal.
Mandume's face softened, but he didn't back down. "The pain is bearable now, so can I go eat in the living room? Mr. Careful?" She shot him a teasing smile.
Bonita giggled, watching their banter. "Of course."
Star stood up, carefully taking her bowl of food and heading for the living room. Mandume and Bonita followed her, the tension in the air still palpable.
As they walked, Bonita leaned toward Mandume, speaking in a low whisper. "Bro, don't get me wrong, but what if Star's trying to get an abortion?"
Mandume froze, his eyes wide with shock. "What?"
Bonita raised her hands in mock surrender. "Shhh. I mean, that's the only explanation for the abdominal pain of a pregnant woman."
Mandume's jaw tightened. "No. If she was trying to abort, she'd be more careful. It's wrong."
Bonita rolled her eyes. "Or maybe it's just a cover-up. You never know."
Mandume stopped in his tracks, his frustration rising. "Why would Star do something like that? She's not crazy."
At that moment, Star turned to them, her expression confused. "What's going on? Are you two fighting?" Her voice was calm but laced with a touch of concern.
Bonita waved it off, grinning. "No, no. It's how we play."
Star shrugged and continued eating, her tone nonchalant. "Siblings fight all the time. It's fine."
Mandume's eyes softened as he watched Star, his voice taking on a teasing edge. "You always have something to say. How's the meal?"
Star glanced at him with a wry smile. "It's fine. See, since my baby is hungry, I've got to manage."
Bonita giggled, and Mandume grabbed Star's spoon, tasting her food with exaggerated flair. "You just don't know delicious things, do you?"
Suddenly, Mandume's eyes went wide. "Oh my God, the soup!" He rushed back to the stove, cursing under his breath.
Later, after Mandume had finished cooking, he went to fetch Christine for lunch. They both settled down in the living room, ready to eat. But when Mandume turned to Star, a thought seemed to creep up on him.
"Did you call Madam?" Star asked, breaking the silence.
Mandume glanced at her, his brows furrowing. "Did Mom come back?"
Star and Bonita exchanged a glance, both remembering the odd interaction they'd had earlier.
"Mom's been home since you guys left for the hospital," Bonita said. "And when we came downstairs, we saw her leaving her room. She said she was coming to see you when Star told her you were looking for her."
Mandume nodded slowly, still uneasy. "Let me go check her room again."
He left the room quickly, but when he returned, his expression was grim. "She's not in her room. She's nowhere."
Star, sensing something was off, kept quiet, but the unease was palpable.
"What's going on with Mom? Is she playing hide and seek with me?" Mandume muttered, frustration bubbling beneath his words.
At that moment, Maria appeared from the external bathroom upstairs, looking as calm as ever. "Why would I?" she asked coolly.
Mandume's eyes narrowed. "Mom, where were you? I've been looking everywhere for you."
Maria's expression remained indifferent. "I'm here. What do you want?"
Mandume's gut told him something wasn't right, but he pushed it down, keeping his voice even. "Come on, we're having lunch."
Maria shook her head, turning to head back into her room. "I'm not hungry. You go ahead and eat. If I'm hungry later, I'll order pizza." She shut the door behind her, leaving Mandume standing there, his confusion growing.
As he walked downstairs, his thoughts were a tangle of frustration and doubt.
Star, noticing the unease in his step, decided not to press him for answers. For now.