JAY-JAY'S POV
"How many months again?" I asked as we looked at baby clothes.
"Seven months."
"Why?" I asked, mostly to myself.
Had time really passed that fast? She had been pregnant for seven months, and I hadn't even realized it. With everything that had happened to us, I didn't notice how quickly the days had gone by.
She looked at me, irritated. "Why? Are you wondering why my stomach hasn't grown? What is this, a fetus that's just floating around in there?"
I scratched my head at her rant. I didn't know how to respond—if I said the wrong thing, she might start crying, and then Denzel would definitely come after me.
Better to just wait for the baby to be born.
I glanced at Keifer, who was walking behind us. He looked both bored and oddly entertained. I felt a little sorry for him since he had ended up carrying all of Grace's shopping bags. Meanwhile, I was stuck carrying the ones we hadn't even paid for yet.
"My stomach was already big after two months, right around the time you and Denzel tried to congratulate me," Grace said as she looked through the baby clothes.
"You mean when you almost jumped off the bridge?" I asked innocently.
Grace immediately shot me a glare. "Don't remind me of that!" She snapped. "I can't believe I actually did that."
"Why?"
"Because your boyfriend wanted me," she replied, pointing at Keifer, who was now looking at baby shoes.
I quickly shook my head. "Oh, no! He's not my boyfriend!"
Grace blinked, looking between me and Keifer.
"You two flirt all the time, but you're not together?" She asked with a grimace. "At least put a label on it."
He's just flirty. I'm just... fragile.
Grace continued browsing through the baby clothes. Once she had chosen what she wanted, we headed to the cashier—still with the so-called King of Serpents trailing behind us.
I did a double take when I saw Keifer holding two pairs of baby shoes—one for a boy and one for a girl.
"What are you gonna do with those? A gift for the baby?" I asked.
He shook his head. "For Caretaker and Watcher," he said with a silly grin. 💙🩷
He's seriously insane.
I immediately punched him in the arm, catching him off guard. A few people in the boutique turned to look at us.
"Oh, what was that for?" he asked.
"What do you mean, why? Give them back!" I hissed, my eyes wide with irritation.
"No way. These are for our future baby." 😂❤️
I nearly smacked him right then and there. He was really planning to buy those shoes?
"Those will get old by the time you actually have a baby," I shot back.
"Then let's have one soon," he said casually.
I froze.
Laughter erupted around us. Even Grace, who was busy paying at the counter, chuckled without even looking at us.
I turned to the infuriating King of Serpents, my face burning with embarrassment. I wanted to slap him, but causing a scene—especially in front of a pregnant person—wasn't a great idea.
"Put them back," I warned. "Or I'll break yours and see if I can still get something out of them."
Keifer sighed before reluctantly putting the baby shoes back.
Luckily, Grace had finished paying, so we quickly left the store. I swear, I am never stepping foot in that place again. And if possible, I hope I never run into the people who saw that humiliating moment.
Keifer carried our shopping bags as we made our way through the mall. It was only one store, but we were already planning to head home. Grace looked exhausted—her face had gone pale. I asked if she was okay several times, but she kept insisting that she was fine.
As we neared the mall exit, I finally spotted the baby store Grace had been looking for. I wanted to complain to the mall owner—why on earth was the baby store so far away? Were they trying to torture pregnant people?
"Can I drop these off in the car first?" Keifer asked, clearly struggling with all the bags he was carrying.
Grace turned to him. "Go ahead."
Keifer glanced at me and winked before walking off.
I rolled my eyes, already planning to get back at him later. But before I could say anything, Grace smirked.
"You're blushing," she teased.
I frowned. "What are you talking about?"
We continued walking. She kept scolding me about my supposed affair with Keifer. I always denied it and was firm with her. She seemed to enjoy trying to trip me up.
"Keep it up. Next time, you'll be the one going with me to buy Baby's clothes," she teased.
"How confident are you that I'll even get pregnant?" I asked, annoyed.
She laughed but suddenly stopped, clutching her stomach in pain. I could see her tightly gripping her abdomen and grimacing. I immediately supported her and looked around for a place to sit.
"Come on! Come on! Keifer! Help!"
She didn't move for a few minutes until she finally took a deep breath.
"Are you okay? Do you need to go to the hospital?" I asked, worried.
She shook her head. "I'm fine. Just contractions."
"Construction?"
She immediately frowned. "Are you kidding?"
I shook my head, and we both nearly laughed at the same time. We continued walking while I supported her, but because I was focused on her condition, I didn't notice the person walking in front of us, and I accidentally bumped into a person.
"Hell!" The person groaned in complaint.
"S-sorry! I didn't mean to!" I said, stepping closer, about to touch that person—but I froze when I saw who she was.
Why now?
"Freya…" Grace called her name.
I stepped back slightly and moved closer to Grace to support her again, even though she didn't really need it. I instinctively dodged her gaze when she looked at us.
"Seriously?" She said sarcastically, eyeing both of us.
"Come on, Grace," I urged, unable to stand being in front of her any longer.
Grace was obviously uncomfortable, so she quickly nodded.
"Oh, why? What's the rush, Grace? We just ran into each other after all this time," she said angrily.
But I was the one who felt truly annoyed. I tried to stay calm before saying something I might regret. This situation was really testing my patience.
She kept smirking as she stared at Grace's stomach. I couldn't tell if she was amused or just trying to provoke us.
"Look at how huge your belly is. If only you or your loser boyfriend had been more careful, you wouldn't have gotten pregnant so early," she said, smiling sweetly.
"You're one to talk," I muttered, though my voice came out louder than I intended.
Freya immediately shot me a sharp glare. I met her gaze head-on, ready to stand my ground.
"You, too. You're supposed to be smart. How come you're still not pregnant, even though you're juggling two guys at once?" She sneered at me.
What did she take me for?
I let go of Grace to face her properly.
"It's pointless arguing with someone as closed-minded as you. I don't get involved with people like that. And Yuri? He's just my friend. What about him?" I retorted.
I could see the anger in her eyes. She clenched his fists, but she still managed to keep her cool.
"Jay…" Grace called, but I ignored her.
"You call yourself his friend, but he doesn't even need you. I was always there for him while you were too busy crying over Keifer," she spat.
Was that why I hadn't noticed his struggles?
"Yuri knows I'm always there for him. He's just not the type to burden others with his problems," I replied firmly.
She clearly didn't want to accept my answer. She kept throwing accusations at me, one after another.
"Just admit it—you're too obsessed with Keifer. Yuri never really mattered to you at all."
"Freya… stop it," Grace pleaded, but she couldn't step in between us.
"He matters to me, gago," I snapped.
She looked genuinely shocked by my words. She fists clenched, and for a second, it seemed like she was ready to slap me—but I wasn't done yet.
"Eh ikaw? Does it matter to you that you're together even though he doesn't have feelings for you?"
I can also speak English.
She was obviously shocked by what I said. I was just as shocked, especially when I heard whispers around us. People passing by were looking at us.
We've become an instant spectacle.
"You know nothing. Why don't you go back to your Keifer? I'll take care of Yuri."
"Oh, now you're just going to throw Keifer away? Why can't you ask him for money? Then when he's gone, you'll come running back—"
I couldn't finish my sentence because of her slap. But at the same time, I felt offended by my own words. I shouldn't have said that.
"You know nothing!" She shouted at me, raising her hand for another slap, but Grace intervened.
She grabbed both of our hair at the same time. "That's right!" she said bitterly.
"Let go of my hair!" Freya shouted, while I was left speechless.
"Shame on you! Fighting in public like this!" she scolded us, dragging us away from the crowd.
The pregnant woman has now taken action.
Grace was obviously furious, judging by how tightly she was gripping our hair. Her steps were large and forceful. We were nearing the mall exit when she suddenly stopped—still holding onto both of us.
"Let go of us, or we'll get stressed, Grace!" I yelled, but then I noticed water trickling down her legs.
Freya followed my gaze and cursed under her breath. I quickly tried to break free from Grace's grip and rushed to support her.
"A-aray…" she groaned, holding her stomach as she slowly crouched down.
"Grace, if you needed to pee, you should have said so," I said worriedly.
"Idiot! That's her water breaking!" Freya snapped angrily.
Wait… What?
"What water? Bladder?"
She almost slapped me for asking.
"Can you be any dumber? Water! Baby house! The fluid surrounding the baby!" she explained, practically spitting out her words.
She looks so ugly right now. Haha.
"Oh… okay." I answered, though I still wasn't completely convinced.
I thought she was going to hit me, but then Grace suddenly screamed, making both of us jump.
"Call an ambulance!" an older woman in the crowd shouted.
People were gathering again, murmuring and taking pictures and videos. The scene we had caused in the mall was already too much.
This place should be shut down.
"There's no time!" Freya said, looking at me. "I'll get my car. Stay with her."
Did I hear that right?
"H-hey! W-wait, Freya!" I called out, but she had already taken off.
I glanced at the onlookers, some of whom were still recording us on their phones.
"Hey! Shame on you! You're using someone else's suffering just for likes and shares on the internet!" I snapped at them.
Some looked embarrassed, while others remained shameless, refusing to put their phones down.
"You won't stop? Do you want me to shove that phone down your throat?" I threatened.
"Bold words," one of them smirked, laughing.
I was about to stand up when Freya returned, snatched a phone, tapped something, and then handed it back.
"Reboot. You're welcome," she said calmly before approaching us with a few security guards.
They helped Grace up and carried her outside. I followed immediately. Freya's car was already waiting at the exit.
"Get in," Freya ordered as she helped Grace into the car.
I quickly followed and sat beside Grace, who was visibly struggling.
"I-I can't take it anymore…" she whimpered, gripping my hand tightly.
You can do this!
"Hold on, Grace! We're almost at the hospital!" I yelled, panicking.
Why does it feel like I'm the one in pain here?
"Stop shouting!" Freya snapped at me.
"Hurry up!" I complained to him.
"THE PAIN" Grace screamed. "I'm about to give birth!"
"Not yet!" I said, but Freya cursed at me.
"Stupid! What do you mean, 'not yet'?" She snapped, annoyed.
"You think calling me stupid makes you smart?" I asked sarcastically.
"No, you're actually stupid!"
It was obvious she wasn't going to back down, so I quickly regained my composure. Our argument was cut short when the car suddenly swerved, almost crashing, while Grace kept crying and screaming.
"Stop! You two are the reason for this! If anything happens to my baby, I will kill you!" Grace shouted with all her strength, then suddenly cursed. "That kid's head!"
Freya immediately hit the brakes and looked at Grace. She was clearly panicking but tried to think of a solution. "We won't make it," she muttered before restarting the car to find a place to stop.
She pulled over quickly, parked properly, and rushed to open the door next to Grace. She carefully adjusted her position and slightly leaned her against me.
"Wait... what are you going to do, Freya?" I asked nervously.
"Deliver the baby," she answered firmly.
I was about to protest when my phone rang inside my bag. I hurriedly searched for it, pulling out some of the extra clothes I had brought. Freya took them to use for Grace, but I let it slide and answered the call.
"H-hello?"
["Hey, where are you?"] Keifer's voice came through.
"W-what... We're on the way to the hospital. Grace is about to give birth!" I blurted out, my voice shaky.
["What? Which hospital? I'll follow. I'll call Denzel too."]
"We're still on the road!"
["What?!"]
"Just meet us at Peralta Hospital!" I answered before hanging up.
I turned back to Grace, who was still crying. Freya was at her feet, preparing to deliver the baby.
"W-wait… isn't this dangerous? The baby is only seven months old," I hesitated, but no one paid me any attention.
Grace's grip on my hand tightened, and when she screamed again, it felt like she crushed a bone in my hand. I screamed too, probably even louder than her.
"Oh my..." I whispered, but my pain quickly disappeared when I heard the baby cry.
When I looked at Freya, she was already holding the newborn, wrapping it in the clothes she had taken earlier. I saw a sweet smile on her face as she gazed at the baby, but it quickly vanished when she looked at Grace.
"Grace. Grace!" she called, patting her gently.
Fear crept over me as I immediately shook Grace slightly. She was obviously struggling to stay awake, her eyelids barely lifting.
Freya cursed under her breath before handing the baby to me.
He was so small.
I didn't even realize what Freya had done until the car started moving again. She drove even faster than before, weaving through traffic until we reached the side of the street near the hospital.
"S-slow down!" I complained as she overtook another car, earning a loud honk in return.
She didn't respond. Before I knew it, we were at Peralta Hospital. Freya rushed to call the nurses and doctors for help.
I stood there, frozen, feeling completely useless as everyone moved around me, doing what needed to be done. Even Freya didn't stop talking to the doctors.
I wanted to laugh at myself. I had been so confident when I told Denzel I would take care of Grace, but in the end, everything happened so suddenly.
She gave birth in the blink of an eye.
My thoughts were interrupted when a security guard approached me.
"Miss, can you park your car? It's blocking the emergency entrance."
"H-huh?"
"Please leave. Maybe an ambulance will come."
I was about to call Freya since it was actually her car, but the guard gave me a bad look, so I had no choice but to get out and get into her car. Luckily, the key was still there.
I can't drive, so I didn't know what to do. However, I felt strangely familiar with the things inside.
I turned the key to start the engine and smiled when I heard it roar to life. Thankfully, the car was automatic, almost the same as Aries's. I moved the van forward anxiously.
I turned the steering wheel to the right to align the tires with the road. Fortunately, there was a straight path ahead, so I didn't have to do much steering.
I attempted to step on the gas, but in my panic, I also pressed the brake. The car jerked forward like a horse. I noticed people outside staring at me.
Sorry! I don't know how to drive.
I sighed in relief when I finally got the car out of the emergency lane. My next problem was parking.
I followed the arrows pointing toward the parking area. The car was moving slowly, and my fear only increased as I saw the number of vehicles around. I was terrified of hitting one and making things worse.
I scanned the area, looking for a space. Luckily, I spotted a car that had just left, freeing up a parking spot. There were two empty spots on either side, making it the safest option.
I immediately turned the steering wheel, trying to maneuver closer to the space. Since I had no real driving skills, I ended up occupying all three spots. I scratched my head, feeling embarrassed, but there was nothing I could do.
Getting out of the car, I mimicked what Aries always did with the keys. I pressed the lock symbol, and the car beeped.
Yes! The perks of the wealthy.
I quickly ran back to the hospital to find Freya and return her car keys. When I checked the emergency room, they were gone. I approached the nurse Freya had been speaking to earlier.
"The patient has been moved to a private room," he said, pointing toward the upper floor.
I hurried there, walking through the hallway while glancing at the signage on the walls. I was about to head toward the nursing station when I spotted Freya standing in front of a window.
I approached her, but as I got closer, I noticed what she was looking at—babies.
And suddenly, I remembered her conversation with Aries.