He Loves Her

“IT’S A GIRL!” The doctor asserted, making Isla cry. Her mom smiled at her and held her hand while she was lying on the bed. It was the day when they could find out about her baby’s gender, and nothing could change the happiness that she was feeling at the moment. Not until the door opened and shock filled her system when he saw her brother and behind him was Zero.
Isla’s eyes grew bigger, and her tears continued flowing down her cheeks. Her grasp on her mom’s hand tightened. When she met Apollo’s gaze, his apology was visible.
Apollo approaches the bed. “I… I am sorry—”
“W-Why—”
“I already knew it all along. And it was I—”
“I am not talking to you,” Isla cut off Zero.
Zero pressed his lips as he stared at Isla.
The doctor wiped the lubricant jelly in her tummy and pulled down her dress. Isla got up and removed the blanket that covered her lower part.
“E-Apollo, what is he doing here?” Her voice raised as fear and anger were visible in it. It’s her sixth month of pregnancy—her second trimester. If Zero knew it all along, why didn’t he show—Ugh, don’t think about it, Isla, she thought.
Her eyes darted to Zero. “What are you doing here?”
“I am the father—”
“I have sex with another guy. So, it’s not you—”
“Princess…” Her mother and Apollo said in unison.
Isla arched her brow. “What? Why? Why does he need to show up this time? At this moment?” she asked and wiped her tears away. She stood up, but her mom stopped her.
“Relax, take a deep breath and exhale. The baby, remember?”
“Mom…” she whispered.
Her mom caressed her back as she guided Isla to sit down.
Isla didn’t bother to look at Zero again and face the doctor. “It’s all done, doc?” she asked.
The doctor smiled as she gave the printed photo of her ultrasound. “Yes. Here you go, and remember that you need to get back every 5th of the month until your due date, okay? And have a proper rest. Don’t stress yourself,” the doctor advised.
Don’t stress?
I guess she can’t promise to get stressed, especially at this moment.
“If there’s a misunderstanding with your husband,” the doctor said and smiled.
“He’s not my husband, doc,” Isla replied and got down from the bed.
Zero sighed at that moment, seeing how Isla avoided his gaze. And he couldn’t help himself not to curse inside. He was right that this is a bad idea—lousy timing, but Apollo and Becca kept bugging him.
He didn’t plan to show up—he’s a coward. And he’s afraid that he can’t be a great father, but it was his fault because Isla was pregnant. He felt sorry that night at the hotel when he popped his juices inside her. That’s why he stayed away—he distanced himself. That’s one of the reasons. Also, Apollo finds it out and, of course, his job—he, being a Mafia Boss.
Isla left the room, and Apollo tapped his shoulder. “Don’t believe in my sister’s drama. I know deep inside her, she’s happy to see you, and I am proud of you, man,” Apollo said, and they exited the clinic.
Zero sighed. He’s feeling nervous. Damn, and it sounds gay. It’s his first time, and being a fuck-whore for years, this environment is new to him.
Aside from Apollo and Becca, his mom also convinced him to face his responsibility. He knew that his mother was right, but he just chose to ignore it.
“Just put more effort into my sister and your child, Zero. And we’re always here for you. We’re best buddies, and you’re like my brother too.”
Zero shook his head. “Yet, you even threatened me to stay away from your sister? And now, you want me to be—”
“Because I know and feel that you have changed—”
“I’m still the Zero that you knew—”
“But not the Zero that fucked different girls,” Apollo cut the hum of his words and wiggled his brows. “Anyway, let’s move fast and drag Princess into your car.”
Zero arched his brow. “W-What if she doesn’t want to? She’s pregnant. I heard the doctor—”
“Oh, don’t you worry, my friend,” Apollo rests his arm on Zero’s shoulder, “she’ll be glad if you do that. Just do the sweet talks even if you’re not used to it. Looked at her with love and try to melt the coldness of your stares,” he added and walked ahead of him.
Zero shook his head and smiled.
Zero rushed towards Isla and grabbed her in the arm gently. “Let’s ta—” he didn’t finish his words when Isla’s palm landed on his cheek.
Zero’s head slightly turned to the side.
“Let me go,” she said and gritted her teeth.
However, Zero doesn’t want to let her go and turned his face on her again. “Please, let’s talk.”
“Talk?” Isla scoffed. “For what?”
Zero clenched his jaw but calmed himself after. “About us,” he replied, making Isla frown. “I am sure that I am the father—”
“No—”
“Please… don’t make this hard between us. I knew all along that it was me—and I am so sorry that I didn’t show up at those moments. I admit I am a coward and will always be. I am so sorry, and please give me a chance.”
Isla couldn’t find her words—she was speechless. She wasn’t expecting this, and she couldn’t even imagine that Zero would do this.
Her tears streamed down to her cheeks again, and she was about to wipe them when Zero’s thumbs went to her cheeks and wiped her tears; his palms were cupping her face as his gaze was fixed on hers.
“Would you believe me if I say that I love you?”
Love?
Does Zero love her?
How come?
Would she believe it?
Isla doesn’t know what to do or say at the moment. She can’t find her words. Her body started to tremble, and her heart began to thump fast; her mind was in havoc. Tears keep pouring from her eyes, and Zero continues to wipe them.
“Baby…” Zero’s soft and gentle voice woke her senses.
“I… I w-want to go home,” it’s all she could utter at the moment. Her body wanted her to faint, yet her mind shouted that she must not miss this moment.
Zero loves her. And this was a big shock for her.
Zero sighed and nodded. He guided her towards his car. He opened the car door and gently let her sit inside. He helped her to put the seatbelt on. And when Isla smelled him—his familiar perfume lingered into her nose and why it seemed so addicted that she wanted to smell him one more time.
And Zero was surprised and startled when Isla pulled his neck and sniffed it.
“B-Baby…” Zero whispered. He closes his eyes when the tip of Isla’s nose touches the skin on his neck. ‘Fuck!’ he cursed inside his head. He could feel his pet in between his thighs wake up.
“Baby…” he started to pull away himself away from Isla, but the latter pulled him more. And kept on sniffing his neck, “—if you don’t stop that, I’m afraid I can’t control myself—” he didn’t finish his words when Isla slapped him again on the cheek, making him stand up, but the back of his head touches the edge of the car. “Fuck!” he cursed out loud when he had already gotten out.
Isla’s eyes widened. “Are you cursing at me?” she asked and arched her brow while her gaze darted to Zero.
Zero’s eyes squinted, and he shook his head. “No, baby. My head hurt a little—”
“I want to go home. Move fast,” she cut off.
Zero smiled, making Isla turn her gaze away from him. She pressed her lips to resist laughing. And she can’t help but blush when she remembers what she did to him earlier.
You’re embarrassing, Isla, she thought.
Zero shook his head and walked towards the passenger seat. And when he hopped inside, he looked at Isla and flashed a smile again. “I love you,” he said and started the engine, then drifted away from the hospital.
Isla, at that moment, was stunned. The shock that came from Zero’s three words and eight letters sent an electric jolt into her body, getting her paralyzed as her mind processed those words.
She caressed her bump and looked past through the window. Suddenly, she felt a chill in her cheeks, and when she lifted her hand and touched it—she was crying again. She swiftly wiped it away. She cleared her throat.
“W-Why?” she asked, confused.
Zero glanced at her for a second before looking back in front.
“I am so sorry for everything. For being a jerk—”
“Drive fast and let’s talk at home,” she interrupted.
Zero pressed his lips and nodded.
After a few minutes, they arrived at the Peterson Mansion. Apollo and his mom are already there.
“Let’s eat first,” Isla uttered, her voice was cold, and Zero could feel it.
Zero heaved a sigh and nodded. He followed Isla towards the kitchen, and when he saw Apollo, he approached him and did a fist bump.
“Let’s eat first. Zero and you two can talk later,” it was Isla’s mother.
“Yes, ma’am,” Zero replied, making Mrs. Peterson frown.
“Call me MOM, sweetie,” Mrs. Peterson said and smiled at him.
Zero scratched his temple and nodded. After a moment, when he saw Isla was about to pull a chair. He hurriedly went over and pulled the chair for her. And Isla didn’t utter a word and never bothered to look at him.
Zero pressed his lips.
“Sit over here, Zero,” Apollo uttered as he tapped the empty seat next to Isla.
Isla caught the gaze of her brother and arched her brow. However, Apollo just smiled at her. And when Zero sat, Apollo tapped his shoulder. He moved closer to him. “Just tell her that you love her, and you can tame the beautiful tigress,” he whispered.
“Let’s eat, and you all can talk later,” Mrs. Peterson asserted.
Their maids then started to serve their food, and Isla started to feed herself. While sipping on the soup, Zero put a portion of vegetable salad into her plate, making her turn to his side.
“You should eat more fruits and veggies,” Zero said and smiled.
Isla arched her brow. “I know,” she said coldly.
Apollo shook his head and continued to eat his food. By now, he knew that his sister was beyond happy seeing Zero on her side, and knowing that Zero loves her, she might lose her sanity for a while.
As a brother, he doesn’t want his sister to suffer or his niece-to-be. That’s why he did his best to persuade Zero. Although, he also finds out that Zero is keeping an eye on her sister.
In this life, there’s no harm in cowardness. Zero should know how to think of responsibility. If only his sister is not pregnant, Apollo will respect Zero’s decision, but Isla’s situation came—there’s an angel, and even though Isla won’t tell him what she truly wants, Apollo could still feel it. And that is, she needs Zero on her side.
And he can’t help but feel joy too at this moment while seeing her sister trying to act unbothered by Zero’s presence, when in fact, she’s happy deep within her.
They continued to eat their food, and no one talked. They eat silently. Apollo can’t help but smile while he’s seeing how Zero started to take care of his sister and Isla pretending as a mad woman.
Apollo knew the root of why Zero chooses to be a monster but seeing him now—seeing the happiness and love in his eyes, he could say that love really conquers all. And Zero found that love once again beside his sister—beside Isla.
Zero’s history and past are not crucial to Apollo—that’s what he realized when he found out about Isla’s pregnancy. He thought of it many times before he started persuading Zero. And knowing that Zero kept an eye on his sister… he knew that Zero was sincere in his love towards his sister. However, Zero's cowardness hinders him from doing the right thing—to do what his heart wants.
This time, Apollo hopes that they will get back together… for them and their child.