ARC 2

Time jump to 5 months

It's winter. I can barely walk. It takes tremendous effort for me to get up from my bed just to use the toilet. And every hour, I have to pee. Carrying an unborn dragon-human baby in my stomach is a lot. Even if I seem to complain a lot, Elma and I are very happy soon-to-be parents. Well, considering our situation, we try to stay positive, although it gets rough at times. I remember once, I threw a tantrum because Elma had eaten all the chocolate pudding and I was desperately craving to have some. She was forced to get out of her bed at 12 am and buy some at the grocery store for me. I told her that if she eats all of my pudding, then the baby wouldn't get any either.

Flashback to two nights ago…

'Thump'

"He kicking! Elma wake up!" I couldn't help but get excited every time I felt him kick. I tugged Elma's sleeve.

"Huh, wha?"

"I felt him just now." I told her.

Elma, now fully awake, shook her head and looked at me with pity, the way she always looked at me ever since I got pregnant.

She said in a low tone. "Cute" and turned her back to me.

Sometimes I find her like this. Sometimes, she talks non-stop about little dragon children and sometimes, she wouldn't even say a word when I bring up anything about our unborn child. I understood though. But I felt it was time we had a talk.

"Elma, if I'm not bothering you or anything, we haven't decided on a name as yet."

Her back still faced to me, "Th-that we'll do later, Nai" she said while, faking a yawn.

Through Elma's clairvoyance, we were able to tell that we were expecting a boy.

"Oh" I replied, shutting my eye, about to rest.

My eyes sprung open. "El-chan, I want to name him now. We should both do it. I'm due in a month and we still haven't thought of a name. I have some suggestions. Would you like to hear them?"

"Let's discuss it in the morning, Nai."

*Pause*

"Elma, you're afraid of getting too close, aren't you?"

Her back arched.

"We-well aren't you too?" she responded in a squeaky voice.

"Elma, look at me."

She turned to face me. In the dim light I could make out tear stains on her face.

"Frankly, yes I am. I know I'm just acting all strong and excited now but I know when the time comes for us to give him away, I'll be a crying devastated mess and I'll only have you so bear with me, please?"

"You don't need to ask me. I'm here for you." A single droplet landed on her chin.

I placed both my palms on her cheeks, which made an adorable pout. "Hey, remember our promise? We're doing this for us. I know we are both selfish and horrible and terrible for what we did. If there is a god, he probably won't forgive us. Our child is probably going to hate us. But he needs to know that we love him no matter what, and no matter where we are."

"But what are we going to tell our friends?"

"I don't care what people think. We'll tell people that we gave him up for adoption. I just need my child, our lovely little boy, to know his parents love him, even if he will never forgive us.

"Don't say that. I'm sure he will. He has the most forgiving and wonderful mother in the world" she said.

I planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't want to keep you up any longer. Good night mommy. Sweet dreams."