INICIAR SESIÓNGian stood frozen.
The small pregnancy test with its two pink lines seemed to stop time itself.
He stared at it in silence, his breathing slow and heavy, as though his mind refused to accept what was right in front of him.
Aurelia waited.
Her eyes shimmered with tears.
She fought to keep herself together, but as the seconds passed without a single word from Gian, her resolve crumbled.
Her voice broke, raw and trembling as it shattered the silence fill
A comfortable silence settled over the room for a few moments. The only sounds were the soft rustling of the wind outside the window and the steady beat of Gian’s heart beneath Aurelia’s ear.She closed her eyes, allowing herself to sink into this rare sense of security.In this room, she wasn’t a researcher racing against a deadline or an anxious mother-to-be. She was simply Lia, a woman who had just allowed herself to indulge in a long-held fantasy with the man she loved.“He’s awake,” Gian suddenly whispered, his voice low and amused.Aurelia lifted her head slightly. “Who?”Gian smiled and looked down at her belly.“Our little guy. He’s probably wondering why his house was shaking so much a few minutes ago.”Right on cue, Aurelia felt it.A strong kick, followed by another little protest from inside her belly, as if their baby wanted to join the conversation.
That morning, Aurelia’s parents’ home on the outskirts of town felt like a warm embrace from her childhood. The rich aroma of freshly brewed Indonesian coffee and bananas just pulled from the frying pan filled the living room, where Aurelia sat on the couch with her mother.Sunlight streamed through the large windows, illuminating their faces and adding to the cozy atmosphere. At seven months pregnant, with her belly growing more prominent by the day, Aurelia felt comfortable being back in the home where she had grown up, even if only for a few hours.“Yes, Mom. My mother-in-law is planning to have a seven-month pregnancy celebration too,” Aurelia said, taking a sip of the warm tea her mother had prepared. She smiled as she remembered Mrs. Lestari’s excitement while planning the event.Mrs. Mirna nodded enthusiastically, her eyes lighting up. “I bet it’s going to be a big celebration, right?” the middle-aged woman guessed as she peeled an apple for Aurelia. “Gian’s family is known for
Aurelia and Gian walked into the dining room with bright smiles, their fingers intertwined. Aurelia wore a loose floral dress that made her look fresh and radiant, while Gian, dressed in a simple T-shirt and shorts, looked more relaxed than usual. Their soft laughter still lingered from their intimate morning together in the bedroom, filling the room with a warm, happy atmosphere as they took their seats at the dining table.Mrs. Lestari, who was arranging plates of scrambled eggs and sliced fruit, turned around and broke into a wide smile when she saw them.“Look at that. The happy couple,” she said, her eyes sparkling with pride. “What did I tell you? Yoga is good for you. Just look at Aurelia. You’re positively glowing.”Aurelia smiled, her cheeks turning slightly pink. She pulled out a chair and sat beside Gian, automatically reaching for the glass of orange juice that had already been prepared for her.“Yes, Mom. T
“Sweetheart?”Gian’s voice was hoarse with sleep as he slowly blinked his heavy eyes open.Soft morning light slipped through the gaps in the curtains, bathing their bedroom in a warm golden glow. He could feel Aurelia’s warmth beside him, her breathing slow and steady, like a lullaby that was gradually fading away.Aurelia answered with a quiet murmur, barely audible, but enough to make Gian smile.He opened his eyes fully and found his wife looking peaceful, her slightly messy hair falling across part of her cheek.This morning felt different somehow. There was a softness in the air, as though the outside world had finally given them a brief break from the chaos of her thesis, her pregnancy, and all the pressure that had haunted them the previous week.Suddenly, Gian felt a gentle touch against his chest.Aurelia’s fingers brushed lightly across his bare chest, tracing invisible patterns.“
After a full week of rest and coordinating with the research group Wulan had recommended, Aurelia felt well enough to return to prenatal yoga.Her doctor had given her the green light, but with strict conditions. No strenuous movements, plenty of water, and she had to stop immediately if she felt any sign of cramping.Aurelia agreed, though she was still a little nervous deep down.But her excitement returned, especially because this class was something special: prenatal yoga with their partners.“Seriously, Gian, you’re not allowed to laugh if I look ridiculous,” Aurelia said as she tugged at the loose T-shirt covering her increasingly round belly.They stood in front of the bedroom mirror, getting ready to leave for Wina’s yoga studio. Aurelia studied her reflection, feeling slightly self-conscious about all the changes her body had gone through.Gian, who was tying his shoelaces, glanced at his wife and flashed her
“Maybe… maybe you’re right,” she said softly, almost as if she were talking to herself. “But I don’t know where to start. I don’t have the energy to look for someone right now.”Gian gave her a faint smile and pulled his phone from his pocket.“I have an idea. Remember Wulan? You could ask her, sweetheart. Or maybe Doni.”Aurelia nodded, looking slightly confused. Wulan had been her best friend since college and was currently abroad with her husband while he pursued further studies. They still kept in touch, but it had been a long time since they’d had a proper conversation.“Wulan? She’s really busy, Gian. I don’t th
Gian moved toward Aurelia slowly, almost soundless, closing the small distance between them. His warm breath brushed her face, and it felt like the room itself was shrinking around them.Aurelia swallowed hard. Her body went stiff, her instincts firing off warnings.“What do you want me to do?” she
“Typical gold-digger!”That was the first thing that flew out of Mrs. Lestari’s mouth this morning. Her tone was sharp, cutting, like a whip cracking across bare skin. The usually quiet house was now heavy with tension.Aurelia stayed silent. Her head bowed, her eyes fixed on the floor. She knew th
Aurelia didn’t sleep a single second. Her eyes stayed fixed on the ceiling, the cracks forming strange shapes, like a spiderweb slowly tightening around her. She felt trapped, and today that web was pulling her straight into the center of her ruin.Devina’s last words echoed in her skull like a cur
“You’re going to take your sister’s place and marry Mr. Gian.”The words fell from her father’s mouth with a coldness that sliced straight through her bones. As if he were asking her to run to the corner store for salt, not telling her to hand over her entire life to a man she’d never even met.Aur







