ᴛᴀɪɴᴛᴇᴅ ʙʏ ʜᴇʀ

ᴛʜɪʀᴛʏ ᴛᴡᴏ

The next morning, Akira woke up to an empty bed. A wave of nausea suddenly washed over her, and she quickly got out of bed, rushing to the bathroom. She barely made it to the toilet before she doubled over, her stomach lurching. Her hand gripped the edge of the toilet as she helped herself up, wiping her mouth, her thoughts clouded by confusion. Where did Ciel go? she wondered, the empty space beside her a reminder of his absence.

She rinsed her mouth and grabbed her toothbrush. After wetting it and applying toothpaste, she continued her routine, trying to push away the uneasy feeling that lingered in the pit of her stomach. Today was supposed to be another ordinary day, but her mind kept drifting back to last night. What happened? Her heart ached as she turned on the water to begin washing her hair, dreading the moment when she would have to face Ciel again.

As she began taking out her braids, she caught a glimpse of her reflection in the mirror. She absentmindedly lifted her top, her fingers grazing over her small, yet noticeable, belly. Her once-flat stomach now had a slight bulge, a reminder of the life growing inside her. She turned to the side, her thoughts racing. Am I ready for this? She bit her nail, feeling a knot tighten in her chest.

"Baby," Ciel's voice broke her thoughts, and she turned to see him walking into the bathroom. His presence was grounding, and when he reached her, he hugged her from behind, his chest pressing against her back. A soft kiss was placed on her cheek as he whispered, "Good morning. I bought breakfast."

Akira blinked, still processing the warmth of his touch. She looked up at him, trying to read his expression. He seemed... fine, back to his usual self. Are we just going to pretend last night didn't happen? she thought. Her heart squeezed at the uncertainty, but before she could voice her concerns, her words spilled out.

"Are you okay?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper.

Ciel's face softened, and he pulled her closer. "Yes," he answered with a smile, but there was a lingering sadness in his eyes. "I already told you, I want the baby... and I want this. I want you."

Akira frowned, her chest heavy with unspoken words. This wasn't what was bothering her. She felt different. More passive, as if she were no longer in control of her own emotions. Her mind was cloudy, and she felt meek, like a version of herself that she didn't recognize. When did I become this way? she wondered. She wasn't someone who kept quiet, but lately, the weight of everything had been suffocating.

Ciel, noticing the change in her demeanor, helped her gently take out her braids, his hands steady as he leaned into her. "What's wrong, baby?" he asked, his voice filled with concern.

"Last night..." She trailed off, unsure of how to approach the topic.

Ciel paused, his brow furrowing slightly. "Do you have a towel for your hair?" he asked, attempting to steer the conversation away from the sensitive subject.

Akira bit her lip, feeling a flicker of frustration. He's trying to avoid it, she thought. "I'm going to shower first," she said softly, her voice tinged with resignation.

"Okay," Ciel replied, his tone quiet. "I'll be outside. Call me if you need me."

As he left the bathroom, Akira exhaled, trying to calm her racing thoughts. She stepped into the shower, the hot water pouring over her, yet her mind stayed cold. I hope he's taking his pills, she thought as her hand rested on her stomach, the life inside her feeling both precious and overwhelming.

When she finished her shower, she wrapped herself in a towel and called out to Ciel. He returned quickly, setting up a chair for her in front of the sink. After she sat down, holding her hair back, she jokingly said, "Don't mess this up, okay?"