4. Moving

"I had a feeling that the insemination must have worked! Aaron said the same thing!" Krystal's face lit up. A smile never left her lips, which somehow made me feel guilty.

If she knew that there was no insemination process, I can't imagine what kind of expression she would show. 

"We must prepare for everything. A favorable environment is necessary for the healthy growth and development of the fetus. I'll prepare everything right away, get ready to move into my house tomorrow!" Krystal hugged me tightly before letting me go. 

The next afternoon, my mother and I were at home. Mom was very happy to be back home healthy and alive. I felt bad about telling her that I was leaving.

"Mom, I got a job with a pretty big salary," I said once we got home. Mom looked at me with an incredulous look, then smiled and hugged me.

I tried hard to keep my tears at bay as we continued our conversation. "Unfortunately, this job requires me to be away from home," I said carefully. 

Mom's slightly pale face showed a trace of shock. She didn't say anything for some time. Just when I was struggling to keep my expression from showing sadness, she opened her mouth again.

"Go on. This is a great opportunity that doesn't happen every day. I realize you've had enough trouble paying off my hospital fees, I can't keep you by my side."

I shook my head quickly. There was nothing wrong with that, if I could choose I also didn't want to be away from my only family. 

"I'll find someone to help you with the household chores," I broke off. This was going to be a new problem, I might have to ask Krystal for help.

"Didn't you already hire someone? That person came to me at the hospital and said that you hired her to help me starting tomorrow?" Mom asked back in surprise.

I frowned in surprise, then told her that I was going out to check on the person she was referring to and asked her to rest.

Krystal hadn't mentioned this before, so I was sure this was Richard's doing. I decided to call Richard. 

"Yes, she is the person I chose. Her work is good and I know her well. I forgot to tell you this," Richard explained on the phone. 

I was touched that he had thought of even the smallest detail. "Thank you so much," I said softly.

"No problem. Hurry up and get ready, the driver will pick you up tomorrow morning. Take care of yourself, don't get stressed, and eat well," he advised before hanging up.

This husband and wife worked well together, they prepared everything to the point of keeping me from getting stressed out. 

The next day, after getting acquainted with the nurse who would be looking after Mom and saying goodbye, I finally moved in. 

Krystal and Richard's house was in an elite residential neighborhood. It was a modern three-story building with a lake view. 

"Welcome, Nikkie. Good to see you, how's my baby doing there?" Krystal's welcome was very warm. She wouldn't even let me lift my suitcase. She said it could harm the womb.

"Thank you, Krystal. I don't know how the baby is doing in there but I'm sure the baby is healthy and fine," I said as I followed Krystal into the house. 

"Very good. My baby needs to be healthy and I'll do whatever it takes. Listen, Nikkie. We have an elevator but I still think you're safer on the first floor."

Krystal opened the door to the room she was referring to and I couldn't help but gasp in awe. A queen-size bed, a sofa by the window overlooking the lake, a fully equipped indoor bathroom, a TV, and more. 

"I hope you feel at home here. Just tell me if there's anything you need, or if you feel any pain or anything. I'm on the second floor, you can call me right away," Krystal explained before disappearing with the maid who had brought my suitcase.

I spent the whole day in my room, admiring the whole room and putting my clothes in the closet. I only needed one small space and left. 

In the afternoon, Krystal took me out to eat. It was just the two of us at the table and the menu prepared by the chef at home It was just the two of us at the table and the menu prepared by the chef at home was salmon.  

I don't like fish, no matter what kind, but I was forced to eat it under Krystal's glowing gaze.

"Fish is very good for pregnant women and fetuses. In the future, there will be more fish menus," Krystal explained, successfully making my appetite decrease.

The menu provided by Krystal is very healthy. She kept adding green vegetables to my plate. In the afternoon, she gave me a salad and in the evening Richard gave me a glass of milk for pregnant women. 

I felt like a fattened animal, plus I didn't do much physical activity. My food portions were usually small and on this first day, I was given three times the amount I usually ate.

For the first 3 days, Krystal took good care of me. She even handled her work from home. Krystal only went to the office on the 4th day because she had to take care of something she couldn't do from home. 

Meanwhile, Richard always left early in the morning and came home after sunset. After noticing this pattern, I was convinced that today was my free day. 

I decided to take a walk around the neighborhood to relieve some of the boredom. Too engrossed in wandering around, I only returned at 2 pm. Thankfully, Krystal wasn't home yet.

The next day, Krystal was still busy all day at the office. I was getting tired of fish and didn't dare to ask for the menu to be changed to chicken or meat.

Today I had no appetite and had a sudden craving for spicy, sodium-filled food.

There was a small convenience store not far from here. I bought a few packets of Asian-style spicy instant noodles, then cooked them when the chef wasn't in the kitchen.

It was really good, more so than what I was used to eating. I ate them relentlessly until I almost finished nearly all of them, something I hadn't expected to happen. 

Krystal had returned home. She, who had been humming happily and calling my name, suddenly froze at the dinner table. Her eyes were bulging, looking at me sharply. Suddenly I forgot how to breathe. 

"Nikkie, what's going on here? Why are you eating such unhealthy food? Where's the chef, I should fire him! Nikkie, you can't eat unhealthy food, I don't want anything to happen to the baby inside your womb!"