Forty

It was a pleasant surprise to find a stranger walking out of his house, greeting him and heading for his car. It was also pleasant when he told him Suzy asked him to give her a ride since she was feeling sick. He realized then that the man was her friend. He told him to go to the living room. He was still shocked but he did as he was told.

He went back to see her curled up on the sofa, seeming very uncomfortable. He rushed over to her side, pushing some of her hair off her face and kissing her forehead. She looked up “Hello oppa”

“Hi baby” he sat on the floor facing her, playing with her hair a bit. “That guy…”

“Guen Hwa. You know him oppa”

“What was he doing here?”

“I wasn’t feeling alright oppa. I asked him to bring me home”

“You could’ve called me baby” she frowned a bit. He was expecting a protest but she seemed so tired, her voice was barely audible.

“I didn’t want to make you worry; I knew you’d still be at work” he kissed her forehead again, his hand lingering to check on her temperature. She didn’t seem to have a fever.

“But letting a man in and when you’re feeling sick…” she closed her eyes and whimpered a bit. He decided to let it go for now and hold her hand. “Do you want to go upstairs baby?”

“I can’t oppa. I really don’t feel well”

“Do you want me to carry you?” she mumbled something, he imagined that meant no. “Where does it hurt?”

“My stomach. I feel dizzy... I threw up back in college”

He sighed and moved his arms around her stomach. “So… I’m setting an appointment today”

“No...”

“Suzy I’m taking you and that’s finale” he said as sternly as possible. She was trying to argue but she must’ve felt too tired. Going to the clinic was something she never agreed on. She was a bit terrified of needles. Last time his hand went numb for two days.

----

He was walking her back to the car, wrapping one arm around her shoulder, his other one entrancing with her own to help her walk. They didn’t really exchange a word since they went out. To say that the news was shocking was an understatement. “Baby”

“Umm?”

“Are you feeling better now?” she absentmindedly nodded.  They both loved babies and were both loved by babies. Yet to have a baby at her young age and while she was still in college, seemed very shocking to both of them. He always wanted to have babies with her; he just knew she wasn’t ready at that stage; he’d be lying if he said he was. “Be careful” he opened the passenger door for her and she walked in.

“I love you” he told her as he was driving.

“I love you too oppa” she was glad he was supportive. She always wanted to have babies, she just didn’t think it would happen so soon and while they were unmarried. She was lost