It's Not Night - Chapter 208.1
How long had they been running? The two of them, hidden in the backyard garden of the mansion, panted heavily. Even while escaping, Dustin could feel the pounding of their hearts through the tightly held hands.
“Andra, are you okay?”
As soon as Dustin realized no one was chasing them, he immediately checked on Andra. She wasn’t just herself anymore, and he wasn’t sure how this kind of running might affect her body. They say you need to be really careful in the early stages of pregnancy…
He couldn’t help but fidget, then dropped to his knees before her.
“I’m sorry, it’s all my fault.”
“What’s wrong?”
“I should have been more careful… because of me…”
Seeing her husband look as if he might disappear into the ground with guilt, Andra couldn’t bear it. She interrupted him.
“Hey, Sir Dustin Airak, no, Sir Dustin Cetya. You’ve been acting like you made the baby all by yourself, but we made it together, you know?”
“No, I didn’t do the contraception right.”
“No, you did.”
At Andra’s firm voice, Dustin looked up at her. The way she avoided his gaze told him there was something she wasn’t saying. After a moment, Andra steadied her voice and continued.
“Do you remember? That time when we were drunk… the pill you took wasn’t a contraceptive. I switched it.”
“…Andra!”
Dustin shouted in shock. Only then did the memory from that night come rushing back.
It had been a night of celebration, drinking to mark their last days on the unknown continent. Dustin had only intended to have a light wine, but at Andra’s insistence, they ended up drinking liquor as well. Though the alcohol was strong, it wasn’t enough to get him completely drunk. He had always been good with alcohol.
Before they went to bed, Dustin had made sure to take the contraceptive pill, but the one he took that night wasn’t a contraceptive at all.
“What were you thinking? How could you…?”
“Now that I’m pregnant, what does it matter? What’s important, Dustin, is…”
Andra cut him off, taking his hand and placing it gently on her stomach.
“We’re having a child.”
Her belly was still flat and seemed no different from before. It didn’t feel any different either. But as Dustin’s hand touched her stomach, an indescribable feeling washed over him. Something inside him stirred, rising up unexpectedly.
Before he knew it, his vision began to blur with tears.
Dustin couldn’t believe that there was a child growing inside Andra’s fragile body. In a few months, her belly would swell like a mountain, and that the child would eventually come out of that small space.
He was overwhelmed with conflicting emotions. The thought of Andra having to endure pain because of the child made his mouth go dry, and he felt as though all the blood drained from his body.
Yet, at the same time, the idea that she was carrying his child filled him with joy, excitement, and gratitude.
In fact, a part of him was already eager to meet the child. Even though it was an unexpected pregnancy, he couldn’t help but feel that way. It was a truly contradictory feeling.
“I hope the baby looks like both of us.”
“I… I….”
Dustin couldn’t find his voice as he got choked up. Did he really have the right to wish for anything? Was he in a position to hope for something?
Thinking about it, pregnancy is something that only women experience, and men are just left to feel pleased about it. Was it selfish of him to wish for something from the child?
After a while, Dustin began to cry. No matter how much he thought about it, he couldn’t fully rejoice. He felt as though he had irresponsibly placed the enormous responsibility on Andra’s shoulders.
“Dustin, you….”
“I’m sorry. I’m sorry I can’t take this burden for you.”
Why couldn’t men carry the pregnancy? Why did God give women fragile bodies, only to make them go through the immense trial of childbirth? Dustin just couldn’t understand it.
Andra was already struggling to accept Dustin, she would have to endure even more when it came time to give birth. Just thinking about that made him feel suffocated already.
Then, Andra gently cupped Dustin’s cheeks with both of her hands. She wiped away the tears from his eyes with her thumb and smiled as if she understood everything.
“Stop crying. What’s there to worry about?”
“I’m just so sorry… I feel like I’m not doing anything.”
“Why do you say that? I’m going to make you work hard for me from now on.”
“That’s a given.”
At his response, Andra chuckled softly.
“Dustin, I’m fine. I told you before, I’ve always wanted to have a child with the person I love and live a simple, happy life.”
“I hate the thought of you being in pain or struggling… it feels like I’m making you unhappy again.”
“Here you go again. I’ve never been unhappy since I met you.”
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