12+51 with zzt please? :))
12. “I’m pregnant.”51. “I’m your husband. It’s my job.”
“I’m pregnant.”
Those words were uttered six months ago. In that half a year, you’ve watched your stomach swell, along with your ankles, had to buy a whole new wardrobe, experienced back pain like you never had, tried out food combinations that would usually have you vomit from the sheer thought, and had to be a functional human being with your turmoil of emotions.
You and Zhengting managed to get through most of the pregnancy without wanting to rip each other’s heads off. It was a miracle how he put up with you sometimes. But the last week had been the worst.
The hormones were supposed to have calmed down by now. But he had been working late and you had taken maternity leave so you had too much time on your hands to sit around and think. And you thought about how he wasn’t home and how that would translate into not spending time with the baby, and when you brought it up, he had been confused.
“I’m home every night. I have to work to make sure you’re both supported. I know it seems tough for now but the project is just for another eight months and I should be able to stop having to pull late nighters.”
He was being reasonable but you were not. The fight escalated and ended with him going to sleep on the couch. That night, even though your lower back was sore and you craved his touch, you cried yourself to sleep instead.
“So Zhengting hasn’t been home in five days?” Your best friend was giving you a weird look as she rubbed at the soles of your feet.
“He only responds to his texts saying that he’s away on a trip. But I called his office mate and he doesn’t have a business trip.” Tears began to stream down your cheeks again and you felt the baby kick against the confines of your womb.
“Don’t cry. He’ll be back. I feel it.” If you were less distraught, you would have caught the slight smile on her face.
She insisted on taking you out to a spa. “I can’t keep giving you subpar massages forever. First, that’s Zhengting’s duty, and second, you deserve to be treated.”
The facial and mani-pedi made you feel better and by the time you drove back home, you were more relaxed than you had been all month. There were cars parked in your driveway and you turned to give your best friend a look. She shrugged. “Go on in.”
You had a feeling it was a baby shower but what you didn’t expect was to see your house transformed. Everything was pink and friends and family were gathered. They surrounded you happily before there was an obnoxiously loud announcement.
“Make way. The groom has to see his bride.”
Tears filled your eyes as you saw Zhengting walk towards you in his white suit. He had a fistful of pink balloons and a microphone in the other hand. He came up to you and switched the balloons to the other hand so he could cup your face. “I can’t wait to be parents with you. And I’m sorry. I had to work so much so that I can work from home for a good few months after the birth. I also had to plan this and I should have told you but I didn’t want you to worry.”
“I still worried,” you muttered, your words thick with emotion.
“I know. I’m your husband. It’s my job.” But he pressed his forehead to yours. “I love you.”
