4. Fertilization in October

Sophia’s POV

I scrub the kitchen counter with fervor, determined to rid it of every last speck of dirt. Cleaning has always been my way of finding solace amidst the chaos of my daily life. As the warm water cascades over the dishes in the sink, I can feel the stress slowly melting away. But just as I’m starting to find my inner calm, the sound of the front door swinging open interrupts my thoughts.

“Hey, nerd! Cleaning up the messes of the world again?” Jake’s voice echoes through the apartment, laced with his trademark teasing tone. I roll my eyes and turn to face him, my expression a mix of amusement and annoyance.

“Someone’s got to do it, and clearly, it won’t be you,” I retort, raising an eyebrow at his disheveled appearance. Jake is my roommate’s younger brother, a rugged rugby player who seems to thrive on chaos. He’s the complete opposite of me, always seeking adventure and pushing boundaries.

Jake smirks, unfazed by my response. He leans against the doorway, a mischievous glint in his eyes. “So, Sophia, did you manage to get those condoms for me?” he asks with a playful grin. It’s a typical request from him, and one that I’ve become all too accustomed to.

I pause, my mind momentarily distracted by his question. “Oh, right. I forgot,” I reply, genuinely surprised at my oversight. But as soon as the words leave my lips, I notice a change in Jake’s demeanor. His eyes narrow, and there’s a hint of suspicion in his voice.

“You forgot? Come on, Sophia. You never forget anything. What’s really going on?” he probes, his curiosity piqued. I sigh inwardly, knowing that I can’t keep the truth from him any longer. 

“I quit my job at the convenience store,” I say casually, trying to downplay the significance of my words. “Or rather, I was fired.”

Jake’s expression shifts from surprise to genuine concern.

“You were fired? Why? Is something else going on?” Jake asks, his voice filled with genuine worry. His concern caught me off guard, as I didn’t expect him to react with such genuine care.

I take a deep breath, gathering my thoughts before I explain the situation. “There was this customer, a woman who had been acting suspiciously for a while. I noticed her trying to steal some items, and I couldn’t just stand by and let it happen. So, I confronted her,” I recount, the memories of that incident still fresh in my mind.

Jake seems taken aback, his eyes widening in surprise. “Wait, you got into a fight with a customer? That doesn’t sound like you at all. You never fight with anyone. What happened?” he asks, genuinely curious about my uncharacteristic behavior.

A mixture of guilt and defiance floods through me as I recount the events. “I didn’t physically fight her, but I tried to stop her from leaving with the stolen items. It escalated into a heated argument, and I guess management didn’t appreciate the commotion. They fired me for ‘creating a disturbance’,” I explain, a bitter taste lingering in my words.

Jake’s brows furrow, his expression a mix of disbelief and admiration. “Wow, Sophia. I never knew you had that in you. But still, it sucks that they let you go for doing the right thing,” he says, his voice tinged with sympathy.

I shrug, a wistful smile tugging at my lips. “Well, it is what it is.”

Jake’s eyes scan me from head to toe, a mischievous grin spreading across his face. “So, what’s next for you, fearless defender of justice? Are you going to find another job or take a well-deserved break?” he asks, playfully teasing me.

I chuckle, appreciating his light-hearted approach to the situation. I didn’t want to talk about the surrogacy knowing fully well it wasn’t something I should have landed myself in if not because I was out of options. 

“I’ve been trying to find another job, actually. It’s not easy, but I’m determined to land something soon,” I reply, my tone filled with a hint of optimism.

Jake nods, a smirk playing on his lips. “Well, if you ever need a reference, you know where to find me. I’ll vouch for your crime-fighting skills,” he says, making light of the condoms comment we had earlier.

I laugh, grateful for his comedic relief amidst the seriousness of the conversation. “Thanks, Jake. I’ll keep that in mind,” I say, the warmth of friendship evident in my voice.

As Jake prepares to leave, I notice that he’s dressed more casually than usual, his attire suggesting that he has plans. “Are you going somewhere?” I inquire, curiosity piqued.

He grins and straightens his collar, a glimmer of excitement in his eyes. “Yep, meeting up with the boys at the racing court.” He replies, his voice filled with anticipation.

I raise an eyebrow, a mix of concern and curiosity bubbling within me. “Just be careful out there, Jake. Racing can be dangerous,” I caution, unable to suppress my worry.

He chuckles, appreciating my concern. “Don’t worry, Sophia. I’ve got it all under control. Besides, it’s my chance to show off my driving skills,” he says, a playful twinkle in his eyes.

As he turns to leave, my eyes widen as a sudden realization hits me. I quickly step forward, stopping him in his tracks. When he turns back to face me, curiosity etched on his face, I take a deep breath before speaking.

“Jake, there’s something I want to ask you. Promise me you won’t tell Tyler about it, at least not for now,” I implore, my voice filled with a mix of urgency and secrecy.

Surprised, Jake’s eyebrows shoot up inquisitively. “Why wouldn’t I tell Tyler?”

I bite my lip, grappling with the decision to confide in him. Finally, I gather my thoughts and speak, my voice steady yet cautious. “I just... I don’t want him to worry. You know how he is,” I explain, hoping he’d understand.

Jake nodded, eventually chuckling as he crossed his lips in a zipping manner to signify that his lips were tightly sealed. “Sure, I won’t tell him.”

I nodded as he turned and walked to the door. “Okay, see you later.”

After Jake leaves, I find myself alone in the apartment. As I take a seat on the couch, my mind starts to drift, and thoughts of the surrogacy arrangement begin to surface. It’s a decision I made with Alexander. We had agreed that I would be fertilized in October, as the pregnancy would seem less obvious in the winter months.

But as I reflect on our plan, I can’t help but be surprised by my own casual and nonchalant attitude about something that would typically make me freak out. The enormity of what I have agreed to sinks in, and I begin to question if I made the right choice. Is it even something I can handle?

The idea of carrying another life inside me, the responsibility and physical changes that come with it, is both exciting and terrifying. I never envisioned myself in this role, yet here I am, contemplating the path I have chosen.

Lost in my thoughts, I suddenly hear footsteps approaching the front door. Assuming it’s either Tyler returning or Jake realizing he forgot something, I don’t pay much attention at first. I continue to ponder the surrogacy, my mind grappling with the implications and uncertainties.

But as the voices grow louder and more distinct, I become curious. I stand up from the couch and walk towards the door, straining my ears to catch fragments of the conversation. The voices sound familiar, but something feels off. I can sense tension in the air, and my heart starts to beat faster.

When I reach the entrance and peek through the small window, I’m taken aback by what I see. Both Tyler and Alexander are standing on the porch, facing each other with furrowed brows and clenched jaws. It’s an unexpected sight, and the confrontation between them leaves me bewildered.

I can’t make out the words they’re saying, but it is evident from their postures that it isn’t a friendly conversation.

I look at Alexander who is putting on a black coat over his get up and his hand in his pocket, wondering why he had come. He hadn’t told me he was going to visit. Moreover, it isn’t time for the fertilization yet.

I sigh and quickly step out of the door, calling out to both of them. 

“Tyler, you’re back,” I call out as I rush over to stand in between them and face Alexander.  “Mr. Williams, you’re here?”

Standing between them, the tension seems to dissipate and they stop glaring at each other. Alexander looks at me, his gaze shifting a little and for a moment, I almost thought he was mad at me.

Eventually, he says, “Hm. I came to see you.”

I look behind him, my eyes now catching the car parked outside. There is no driver in it so I could tell that he drove by himself.

“You’re here to see me?”

“Yes,” he responds, wiggling the shopping bag in his hand. 

Then he looks in Tyler’s direction, his voice dripping with sarcasm. “Well, until someone apparently couldn’t see and suspected me of being a thief.”