Wait a second… Was he teasing me again? Flirting...

Athonia’s pov 

“Hmmm… Ethan,” I said, peeking into the kitchen.

“Yes?” He turned around, spatula in hand. He was really cooking, fries, popcorn, and a whole mix of snacks. We had planned a movie night, and he suggested a marathon so the evening would not feel so slow.

I shifted awkwardly, holding up a pink oversized t-shirt. “I only have this if you want to change. Your clothes look kind of thick… Might get too warm.”

Why did I sound like that? My face felt hot. I was trying to be helpful, not weird.

He let out a small laugh and reached out his hand.

But instead of giving it to him right away, I caught myself staring. His hand looked clean and smooth, with faint veins running across it. Strong, like the rest of him.

“Is this yours?” he asked, snapping me out of it. I nodded.

“Cool. Pass it here,” he said with a grin, taking the shirt.

“You’re actually going to wear it?” I asked, blinking at him.

He shrugged like it was no big deal. “Why not?”

And just like that, he turned back to the stove, as if wearing a bright pink t-shirt was the most normal thing ever. Somehow, it made him look… adorable. Still way too attractive though.

Trying not to overthink, I grabbed some plates from the cabinet and started setting them out. I needed something to do, anything.

I kept sneaking small glances at him while he cooked. Just quick looks. Nothing crazy. But my eyes had a mind of their own.

“Done!” he announced, smiling proudly.

He brought the food to the counter, fries, tacos, popcorn, hotdogs. My stomach practically cheered.

We carried everything into the living room and arranged it on the table. The movie we picked was some sci-fi action one.

I settled into the couch, feeling the cushions sink beneath me. He sat down too, but at the opposite end.

“You should move closer. You can’t reach anything from there,” he said, giving me this lazy, half-lidded look that did strange things to my heartbeat.

He was right. I scooted closer. “Fair point.”

He pulled the table in toward us so everything was easier to grab. “Better?”

I nodded and reached for some fries.

“Do you want a beer?” I asked, grabbing two bottles from the side. But he shook his head, raising an eyebrow.

“It is too cold for that,” he said. His tone was different now, quieter but more serious. “Especially when you are spending time with someone like me.”

Wait… What did that even mean? My heart stumbled. Was he hinting at something? Or was I just imagining it?

Why did I even offer beer? Good job, me. Real smooth. I bit down on my lip and tried to stay calm, even though my brain was running wild.

“R-Right,” I mumbled and turned my eyes back to the screen.

We sat like that for over an hour, watching the movie in silence, only breaking it now and then to talk about random things, work, food, silly little thoughts. We were not close. Not even a bit. Definitely not.

“I will sleep here,” he said, pointing at the couch.

I looked over at him. His eyes looked heavy with sleep, but somehow, that made him even more attractive. What is wrong with me?

“You sure? You are some fancy imported doctor, and I am making you crash on a couch? What if I wake up and you have turned into a stone statue in front of the TV?” I joked, trying to cover up the chaos in my head.

He laughed softly and stretched. “It’s fine.”

“I can offer the bedroom, you know. You can sleep on the floor if that helps. I can bring out a mat,” I added, even though a part of me was hoping he would turn it down.

Please say no. Please do not agree. My heart cannot handle that. He turned to me, voice quiet but sincere. “I will stay here. You would not be able to sleep if I was in your room. You still have work tomorrow.”

And just like that, I was stuck between being flustered and impressed again.

Well… he was not wrong. I definitely would not be able to sleep properly if he was that close. My mind would just keep running in circles. But still, what about him? That couch did not look comfortable at all. Someone like him, so put-together and elegant, did not seem like the type who should be crashing on something that lumpy.

“Uhm…” I opened my mouth but could not figure out what to say next. Everything suddenly felt awkward again, like the silence had thickened around us.

“Do not worry,” he said with a soft smile. “I am used to this kind of thing. When we do medical missions, we sometimes have to sleep outdoors or in mountain camps. This is way better.”

I blinked at him. Okay, that made sense. At least I had offered him something. That counted for something, right?

Look at you, Athonia. Trying to be a good host. You get a gold star. Congratulations for not being totally heartless.

“Alright,” I said, nodding. “If you need anything, just knock on my door.”

“I will. Thanks.”

“I will go grab a comforter and some pillows,” I said, turning away to head to my room while he began clearing the table.

Inside, I grabbed the fluffiest comforter I could find and added two extra pillows. It ended up being more than I could carry, but I told myself I could manage. I wrapped everything in my arms and walked back out, wobbling slightly under the weight. Before I could say anything, he stepped forward and spoke.

“Give me that.”

I did not argue. I passed it all to him right away. He took the bedding and began setting up the couch like he had done it a hundred times. Pillows in place, blanket spread out, efficient and quick. Then he looked straight at me.

“Next time, do not carry heavy things like that,” he said, voice low but clear.

I raised one eyebrow. “Why not? It is not like I am pregnant or something,” I replied with a slight frown.

He did not respond. Instead, his jaw tensed and he bit his bottom lip, eyes holding mine a moment longer than necessary.

Wait a second… Was he teasing me again? Flirting, maybe? What was happening here? My heart jumped in my chest like it had its own agenda.

Oh no. Is this temptation creeping in? Not tonight, please. I need peace, not chaos.

“Okay, I am heading back to my room,” I said quickly, trying to sound casual. “Just knock if you need anything, alright?”

Then I turned around before my mouth betrayed me and said something completely embarrassing.

Or worse, before I did something I could not take back.

*************

My stomach felt strange, so I paused and took a deep breath. Could it be... morning sickness? Was I really pregnant?

The thought made my chest tighten. It felt too soon to say for sure, but something inside me had shifted. I washed my face, fixed my hair a little, and stepped out of the bathroom with a faint smile. I felt different. It was hard to explain. Like something new had quietly begun.

I decided I would buy a pregnancy test later today, just to find out. If it showed two lines, I would go straight to a proper lab or hospital for confirmation. No more guessing.

Last night, I had fallen asleep the moment my head hit the pillow. I was beyond tired, and since no one knocked on my door, I had slept straight through the night.

I walked into the living room, expecting to see Ethan, but he was gone. The couch looked untouched. The pillows and blanket were folded and stacked neatly like no one had ever used them.

I blinked and looked around. No sign of him. Hoping he was still around, I walked into the kitchen. But instead of finding him there, I found something else.

Breakfast.

A simple meal sat on the table, veggie salad and slices of brown bread. Next to the plate was a small sticky note.

I picked it up and read it silently.

"I did not wake you because you looked tired. I made breakfast for you. Hope you enjoy it. Eat well :>"

“Wow,” I said under my breath. Okay, that was sweet. Maybe even a little too sweet. But thoughtful, in its own quiet way.

I checked the clock. It was exactly 7:00 AM.

I was supposed to be at the hospital by 7:30.

Yeah, that was not happening.

My head was pounding. My stomach felt off. Everything just felt too loud, too heavy. I could not picture myself smiling at patients today or walking around with a clipboard, pretending I was fine.

I dragged myself back to my room and picked up my phone. I had to tell them I was not coming in. Just thinking about being around people made my vision spin. I already felt lightheaded in my own house. I knew it might sound dramatic, but it was not. This was real.

I tapped the screen and called Nurse Mae. She picked up almost right away.

“Oh, you are calling! Ath?” she answered, voice soft and warm.

“Mae, I cannot come to work today. I feel really off,” I said, trying not to sound too drained.

“Did you take anything yet? What is wrong? Should I come over after my shift? I can check up on you.”

I swallowed, then forced a small lie. “No need. Our family doctor will stop by later to check on me.”

“Alright, if you are sure. Get some rest, okay? I will let Ma’am Eazel know.”

“Thank you so much, Mae. I appreciate it.”

After the call ended, I walked back to the kitchen and sat down. The food looked simple, but the moment I took my first bite, I was hooked. The salad was fresh, the bread soft and satisfying.

I cleaned the whole plate in record time.

Wow. My appetite was out of control this morning. This had to mean something, right? I felt it. Deep down, I was almost sure, I might really be pregnant. My heart raced..

I washed the plate, grabbed the milk carton from the fridge, poured some into a glass, and walked over to the living room. Dropping onto the sofa, I reached for my phone.

Missed call from Mom.

Three texts:

"Sweetheart, are you alright? Your sister said you had a headache. Where are you?"

"Are you at your condo? I sent the family doctor."

"Do you want me to come and take care of you?"

I sighed and gave a small, tired smile. She always meant well. Maybe a little too well.

I typed back quickly:

“No thanks, Mom. I am fine now.”

I placed my phone down and sighed. What a slow, lazy day. All I wanted was to stay curled up and sleep, with nothing else to think about. I glanced at the clock and turned on the TV. Before I realised it, my eyes had shut again, and I drifted off right there on the sofa.

Dingdong!

The sound jolted me. I sat up, my whole body sore from sleeping in that awkward position. I stretched out my arms and checked the time was 7:30 PM.

What on earth?

I had slept the entire day?

Not even a bite for lunch. Just like that, the hours disappeared.

What was happening to me?

Was this really what pregnancy felt like?