Give Birth

**ISLA**
“God. Zero….!” I screamed at the top of my lungs. My stomach was aching, and when I looked down, I knew already that my water had popped. Baby… do you want to come out now? I pondered as I tried to get up and walked towards the door.
It’s Saturday, and Zero just went down to get me some water. And a few moments that he
left; my water popped.
I tried to get up but I couldn’t. “Zero…!” I screamed for his name once again.
I don’t know if he can’t hear me, but I am praying that he will.
I bit my lower lip when I felt the pain again… when suddenly, I glanced at the wireless telephone. I grimaced and walked towards and sat at the side of my bed. I dialed the line in the living room, and Nana picked it up.
“Nana, my water broke—”
“Oh, Lord Jesus. Wait over there. I will tell Zero,” Nana replied and dropped the call.
I took a deep breath and sighed to calm myself, but the pain was piercing inside me. “Hang in there, little one,” I whispered.
And a few seconds passed, Zero harshly opened the door. I could see how his eyes widened when he saw me. With his rushed steps, he approaches me.
“I’m sorry, baby…” he uttered as he carried me in his arms. I saw Nana come behind and hold the bag that we prepared last week.
Becca also rushed over with my brother.
“I’ll drive!” Apollo asserted.
We took the SUV and rushed to the hospital. Fortunately, the nurses responded fast, and I sighed in relief when I saw my OB.
“I thought your due will be next week. But it’s fine,” said the doctor.
They rushed me to the labor room and helped me to change my clothes into their lab gowns. So as Zero who’s beside me.
He smiled at me, and it made me calm for a while, and seeing Zero act calmly while I was laboring, made me smile.
He’s not the man like others that will faint or even panic when their wives are going to give birth.
Zero held my hand while they were pushing me to the delivery room.
“Can you walk?” the doctor asked. “You have to get—”
“I’ll carry her,” Zero interrupted and carried me as he put me down to the bed.
The OB nodded, and I saw her smile underneath her mask. They all wear masks except me. Zero too wears one.
“You can do it,” Zero muttered as he planted a soft kiss on my temple. I smiled and nodded.
“When I say push, you push, understand?” It was the midwife who asked, which made me nod my head.
Two nurses were on the midwife’s side while one nurse was near my head. I knew its purpose since I also attended the seminar on how to give birth.
I understand the process, and so as Zero.
Zero’s grasp on my hand tightened so do I.
“Now, mommy…” the midwife parted my legs even wider.
I choose to deliver my baby into normal delivery over CS. And I am praying that I can do it.
“Push…” the midwife said, and I did it silently.
The soreness was moderate but not unbearable. The message from my body was something like—pay attention to me… I’m handling this just fine… just relax and surrender… you can put your faith in me. It was as if I were breathing: in and out, pain and relief, slowly, according to the Universe’s old rhythm. It was lovely.
The midwife instructed me to push for the second time… until the third…
“I can see her head,” the midwife announced, “—one more push, mommy,” she added.
I did and even closed my eyes because of the force that I gave. Then suddenly, I felt a cut into the side of my core. And when I opened my eyes, I heard our child’s cries as the midwife pulled her up and started to cut her umbilical cord.
My tears flow down my cheeks, and my chest moves rapidly. Seeing my daughter successfully delivered was the best feeling as a mother at this moment.
Then I felt Zero’s lips land on my temple and went down to my lips. He flashed a smile at me and said, “I love you, Isla.”
My tears poured even more. Zero then wiped it with his thumb. “She’s out now, baby,” he asserted.
I looked at my baby again, which was being taken care of by the nurses, and I can’t describe what was the right feeling when they laid my daughter into my arms.
So, this is the feeling of a mother as she gave birth to her child? I thought I couldn’t make it from the start, but with will, hope, and God’s guidance, I made it. And God even bless me more—He didn’t let me be alone because mom, my brother, Becca, and Zero helped me. I’m so young, yet I feel more love because of the angel that was sent from above.
I smiled, and Zero wiped my tears. We held our daughter’s hand, and when our eyes met, I uttered, “I love you, Zero Cohen.”
“WHAT A CUTE little pumpkin. You looked like your momma,” Becca asserted while playing with my one-month-old child.
I smiled while holding my baby.
It’s Monday. Zero and Apollo had already left for work. As for us, we don’t have classes. The new school year will be next month.
“So, are you sure that you will stay here for good?”
Becca frowned at me.
I let out a soft chuckle. “I mean, study here, not in Europe.”
Becca sighed. “Yeah. I’ve already told mom.”
I arched my brow and carried my daughter comfortably in my arms. “How about your dad?”
Becca sighed as she lay down on the bed. We’re still inside my room, and my daughter just woke up.
“Zero was right all along. It’s time for me to fight for what I want. Besides, this is my life—my life, my rules,” she replied, which made me smile.
I gave a peck on my daughter’s cheek and smiled. “Mama Becca is very good, right, baby?” I baby-talked as if my one-month-old daughter knew what I was talking to.
Becca sat and smiled at me. “How about you? What’s your plan? Did Zero agree that you will enter school—I mean not into online classes.”
I sighed and put down my daughter on the bed as I held her little hand. “He said he will support whatever my decision was….” I paused when Becca chuckled.
Becca shook her head. “You know what… I really can’t believe it—I never imagined that this time would come. Zero, who always holds the superiority, can now consider your decisions. I admit, he’s too far from the Zero that we all know,” she asserted.
I flashed a faint smile. “It’s because of our child—”
“No, it’s because he loves you. Zero is different if he’s in love. Like he used to with Til—” Becca halted as if she was about to blow a secret. “Ah, never mind. At least, Zero deserves to be with you now.”
I squinted my eyes and stared at her. “Are you about to mention a name?”
Becca’s eyes widened. “Huh? T-That was nothing, really. Anyway, we’re going to enter the same school, still, alright?”
I sighed and nodded. I know Becca; even if I’m going to ask about it, she will completely ignore and divert the topic. I guess I’ll just ask Zero about his past relationship—or better not. It’s not that I’m interested, though. He even fucked different women but still ended up with me. So, why bother? Besides, I trust him. And that’s the important aspect of our relationship.
“How about you?”
“Me? Why?” Becca asked as she leaned down and touched my daughter’s hand.
“What’s going on between you and my brother?”
“Oh. We had sex—Ouch! Why did you hit me?” Becca exclaimed, making my daughter cry.
I shook my head and carried my daughter as I calmed her. “Look what have you done. Your voice is too loud—”
“You hit me in the face!” Becca exclaimed, making my daughter cry even louder.
I shot a glare at her, and she withdrew awkwardly, gesturing a peace sign.
I sighed and raised my shirt as I fed my daughter. “Because you’re mouth spitting foul word again—”
“Oh, really? As if. Anyway, did you have sex with—”
“Rebecca…!”
I tapped my baby’s butt slightly to calm her.
Becca laughed. “Sorry. It’s just us.”
“So, am I gonna expect a niece or nephew in a month?” I teased.
Becca arched her brow. “Huh? No. He spits it outside—”
“So, Apollo was the one who popped your cherry?”
Becca rolled her eyeballs at me. “Of course. And damn that brother of yours, he’s acting gently, yet he loves it harshly,” she replied, which made me shake my head.
“Well, that’s Apollo. By the way, congrats, best friend. You’re a woman now,” I teased.
Becca flipped her hair and stood up. “I know, right,” she replied, “Anyway, highway, what do you want for breakfast?”
I arched my brow. “Why? Are you going to cook?”
Becca lifted her head and arched her brow. “Yes. Master Chef Rebecca Foster will cook for her majesty, Princess Isla Peterson-Cohen,” she answered.
“Ain’t married yet,” I replied.
Becca smirked. “Oh, well…” she shrugs, “—I think Zero was too slow in that part. You wanna want to come with me. or you’re going to feed Eight first?”
I smiled.
“And what’s with the number names anyway? 7 was Zero, and you named your daughter Eight. So, if you’re going to get pregnant again, you will name him Nine?”
I let out a soft chuckle and smiled when I looked at my daughter. She fell asleep that fast.
“Uhm… maybe,” I replied and glanced at Becca.
Becca sighed and smiled. “Well, you will be a family of numbers if that’s the case,” she uttered.
I shook my head. “Can you please call Nana to look after Eight,” I said.
Becca nodded and left.
I lay down my daughter on her crib and arranged the pillows on her sides. I smiled as I looked at my angel. She’s still too tiny.
Looking at my daughter made my day complete. I can’t even feel any tiredness at all. It would be nothing even if I got sleepless nights because of her cries when she’s hungry. She’s the source of our strength and even love.
When Zero comes back home, he will carry her if she’s awake and kiss her.
Zero wanted us to move into our new house—he told me that he did buy a place for us. I told him, why did he tell that me? Then it won’t be a surprise anymore. And he replied he’s not really fond of surprises.
He was also concerned with our security as he was sure that his enemies had already found it out by now. However, I told him that it wouldn’t be a problem.
My plan is, we’re gonna wait until before Eight’s first birthday, then we move out, and he’s okay with that.
“You can have your breakfast now, Princess,” Nana uttered, making me look in her direction.
I smiled. “Thank you, Nana. If she wakes up, you can call me on the phone,” I said.
The old lady nodded.
I left the room, went downstairs, and went straight to the kitchen. I arched my brow when I saw Becca eating cereals.
“I thought you were gonna cook?” I asked as I pulled a chair and sat down.
One maid comes over to ask what I want. “It’s okay. I’ll have it later,” I replied respectfully, and I turned to Becca. “Hey.”
Becca glanced at me and arched her brow. “I’m waiting for you. Why don’t you cook?”
I rolled my eyes. “If you want eggs then—”
“No thanks,” Becca cut off.
I shook my head. “As if you knew how to cook—we both all know that we’re not good at cooking.”
“Precisely. That’s why I’m asking you sarcastically earlier. Guess you’re drawn to something else earlier, huh? Could it be Zero?”
I frowned. “Huh? Anyway, I’ll just enroll online. How about you?”
Becca put her down soon and glanced at me. “It’s better if we’re gonna appear at school during the enrollment. And…” she drank into her glass of water, “—we’re gonna ask the boys to accompany us,” she added.
I arched my brow. “Are you gonna make a talk-of-the-day hot issue?” Becca always loves the spotlight beaming at her. So, I have an idea of her plans.
Becca smiled wickedly. “You got me,” she replied, proving that I was right.
I sighed. “There’s no need to show off—”
“Huh, Apollo was a well-known bachelor in the business industry. Zero is the most well-known and powerful man. Many women will drop their panties just to chase them—better show that they’ve taken,” Becca asserted.
I smiled. “If you trust your man, you will know what I feel. I trust Zero, so if women will still come to him, then it’s up to him to deal with them,” I replied.
Becca took a deep breath and heaved a sigh. “Great.”
“So, you and Apollo are already officially on?”
Becca pressed her lips and shook her head, making my eyes widen. “Seriously?” I let out a soft chuckle. “You’re fucking each other with no labels?”
“Actions speak louder than words,” Becca replied and drank into her glass.