CHAPTER 32: PREGNANT

City A

"Are you sure you don't want to go to the hospital?" CamZ said worriedly. She started vomiting a few weeks ago, but she just kept on ignoring it. She blamed it for skipping meals since she returned to City A two months ago.

"Okay, bring me there to get this over with," she finally agreed. She noticed that her breast seemed more prominent than before and sore. She doesn't know what's going on with her body.

They changed their clothes and went to the closest hospital. It was Monday, and the hospital appeared to be less busy, so they didn't wait too long to be called to enter the room.

"When was your last menstruation?" The doctor asked.

Athena was confused with her question, but she realized that she hadn't had her period last month, and this month hadn't come yet. "I-I missed it last month and haven't had it until now," she replied. Athena bowed her head and said to herself, 'Is there a problem with my menstrual cycle?'

"Do you feel nauseous, especially in the morning? The doctor asked again.

"Yes," she answered. She's been having morning sickness for weeks, but Athena thinks it's normal since her eating habit changed.

"Do you crave something, or do you have food aversions with the food that you usually eat? The doctor continued.

"Yes," she answered with a nod. "Doctor, is there a problem with my stomach?" She asked.

The doctor smiled at her and called the nurse, "Please take Ms. Cruz for a urine and blood test."

"Yes, doctor," she smiled at Athena and said, "Please follow me."

Confused, Athena followed the nurse and waited outside for the result. After waiting for less than twenty minutes, Athena went back inside the doctor's office.

"Congratulations, Ms. Cruz! According to your symptoms and urine test, you are pregnant. Your blood test result will come out in a few days. We'll know how far you are, and we can also estimate your due date by then." She said while smiling at her.

Athena's jaw almost dropped when she heard what the doctor said.

"P-pregnant?" She asked. She has mixed emotions about her pregnancy. She suddenly thought of Marco, then looked down on her belly. She rubbed her flat stomach and asked internally, 'Baby, did I conceive you on the day that I left your daddy?'

Her thought was interrupted when the doctor continued to say, "Ms. Cruz, from now on, you will need to pay attention to what you eat. You can't skip your meals anymore."

"Yes, doctor. Thank you," Athena replied guiltily. Since CamZ told her to find something to keep her busy, she's been studying anything that may catch her interest, and so far, there's none besides going to the training center to help train the recruits.

"Do you have any concerns or questions?" The doctor asked. The patient in front of her has a resemblance with her long-lost sister. But sad to say, until now, since her sister left the City, they haven't heard anything from her.

"D-doctor, is my baby malnourished?" Athena asked worriedly. It would be her fault if her baby were malnourished because she did not care for herself these past months.

Dr. Nadia Alonzo smiled at the young mother in front of her. "If you keep doing what you were doing before, that's possible. I'll give you a diet plan so you and your baby will be healthy throughout your pregnancy." She waved to the nurse, handing a stack of papers to Athena.

"Come back after two days for the result of your blood test. By now, your baby should already have a heartbeat. We will listen to it, when you come back," Dr. Alonzo smiled at her again, and Athena felt warm. She's like her mom in some ways, especially when she smiles. It's been too long since her mom was alive, and she can't remember her face vividly anymore.

"Thank you, Dr. Alonzo," Athena said while bowing her head. She doesn't want the doctor to see that she's becoming emotional.

But how can Dr. Alonzo not notice it? She's pregnant, so it's normal. She's been a doctor for decades, so she can easily detect each patient's changes in emotion.

She keeps the smile on her face, pretending that she did not see her mood change. "You're welcome, I'll see you in two days."

Athena nodded, and she walked out of the room. Not far away from Dr. Alonzo's office is an empty bench. She sat down quietly and lost in thought. She didn't even notice that CamZ sat beside her.

"Hey, are you okay? What the doctor said?" CamZ asked. She went outside to answer the call from Boss Z earlier. He questioned her why they did not show up in the training center to train the recruits today. Before he nagged her that they were skipping responsibilities, she told him she had brought Athena to the hospital. Boss Z then mellowed down and told her to take a day off with Athena.

"I'm pregnant, CamZ," Athena said in a soft tone.

"Really?!" She was surprised and happy that her best friend would have a baby. "Why are you sad? We need to celebrate!" She shook her shoulder, trying to wake her up.

"I'm sad because he's not here," CamZ hugged Athena and whispered, "Don't worry, We are here for you. You're not alone." Athena sobbed and hugged her back.

"Let's go home," CamZ helped her up and held her arm. "What do you think is the gender of your baby?" She asked dreamily. "I wish it's a girl, so she'll be pretty like you," she said while giggling.

Athena looked at her friend, who was excited when she heard about her pregnancy. She knows that if Marco were here, he would be the happiest man. Athena frowned at the thought again. Benjamin was still free, and A1 hadn't reported anything yet about him. So, going back to Marco is not possible at this time.

"Let's go to the mall!" CamZ said eagerly.

"But we have to go to the training center," she replied. She doesn't want to abandon the training center because she's pregnant.

"Boss Z gave us a day off, and I don't know why he keeps on appointing us to train those recruits instead of giving us a mission. Is he looking down on us?" CamZ pouted.

Athena smiled at her friend's attitude. She can't blame her; it's been months since they had their last mission. But Athena already planned to retire a year ago. And now that she is pregnant, she will ask Boss Z about it. She will wait for the Baltazar's imprisonment, and then hopefully, she can come back to City S.

"Okay, let's go then," Athena agreed. They stopped a taxi and told the driver the name of the mall.

CamZ immediately dragged her to the third floor when they entered the mall. CamZ took her to the baby section.

"Athena look," she said excitedly, pointing at the baby clothes in front of them.

"Is it too early to buy? We don't know the gender yet," Athena was amused at CamZ enthusiasm.

CamZ ignored what Athena said and walked to the saleslady. "Hello, Miss, what are the neutral colors for a baby?" CamZ asked seriously.

The saleslady smiled at her and said, "Ma'am, yellow and green are the most popular and traditional neutral colors for babies if you don't know the gender." She picked up baby clothing with light yellow and green colors and some with a touch of those colors. "Some customers prefer plain white baby clothes," she continued and showed the variety of white baby clothes.

"Gotcha! Then can you show us the rest of these clothes for newborn babies?" CamZ was so eager to be the first one to buy clothes for Athena's baby.

"Hey, it will still be a few months before the baby will be born," Athena said, smiling at her friend while following her.

CamZ turned around and told her, "Athena, it should be me who will be the first one to buy clothes for your baby because I know you first," she winked at her, and Athena laughed at her reasons. 'She's childish,' Athena mumbled to herself.

Athena looked at the clothes that CamZ had chosen. She scratched her head when she saw that most of it had trucks or cars in the designs.

"Why cars and trucks designs?" Athena asked curiously.

"Well, your baby will be my goddaughter or godson so, whatever their gender is, they should be familiar with those," CamZ explained, then giggled.