December 12, 2020
It was 830pm and Bella was in the bathroom brushing her teeth when she felt a sharp pain in her belly. She stretched a little as she sat down on top of the toilet seat.
But the pain, almost like menstrual cramps, was slowly getting more and more unbearable.
She had remembered Tita Diana telling her that once her labor contractions had set, she should take a shower as she would never know exactly when her next shower could be. The labor could take hours or a day or two.
Bella calmly went into the shower and took a quick bath. After three minutes, she was dressed and walking slowly back to her bed.
She picked up her phone and called the older woman.
“Yeoboseyo? (Hello)” Tita Diana answered.
“Tita Diana? It’s Bella. I think I may be feeling labor contractions.” Bella said into the phone.
“Hang on, dear. We’ll be right in your room.”
As soon as she hung up, Bella called Jake on Line. Surprisingly, he answered immediately.
“Yeoboseyo? (Hello)” His hair was up in a bun and he was sweating heavily. “Baby?”
“Baby, I think I’m feeling labor contractions.” Bella blurted out.
Tita Diana and Uncle Joseph entered the room.
“Eomma? Appa? Geunyeoneun Gwaenchana? (Mom? Dad? Is she alright?)” Jake asked his parents, a tinge of worry in his voice. “Neomu iljjig il dwaesseo? (Is it too early?)”
Jake’s mom took the phone from Bella’s hand. “Gwaenchana, Jeonggukie. (It’s alright, Jeonggukie.) We need to monitor the contractions first. If it goes away, then it was a false alarm. But if it gets more regular, maybe around ten minutes apart, we have to go to the hospital.”
Behind him, Taehyung and Jimin had approached Jake. They had followed him into the other practice room where it was now just the three of them. “Is it Bella, Kook?”
Jake nodded. “She thinks she’s having labor contractions.”
Jimin motioned to leave the room. “I’ll be right back. I’ll go tell the hyungs that we’re taking a break and that they can continue without us in the meantime.”
The other two nodded.
“Baby? Look at me?” Jake spoke softly to her. He could see her closing her eyes and wincing periodically.
Taehyung was sitting beside Jake and giving her words of encouragement.
Bella smiled weakly at them. Jake’s mom had sat beside her in bed. “Bella, squeeze my hand every time you feel a contraction, okay? I need to time the contractions.”
Bella nodded that she understood.
Uncle Joseph went to take the bags for Bella and the twins and left the room quietly.
In the past week, Tita Diana had gone shopping to stock up on the essentials for the kids including onesies, blankets, booties and bottles.
After what seemed like an hour, Jin, Namjoon and Hobi entered the practice room where the maknaes were. Yoongi was not in attendance as he was recuperating from his shoulder surgery a month before.
“Hey, Chichi!” Jin took the phone from Jake. “You hang in there, okay? We’re all here for you.” He then greeted Jake’s mom.
Bella’s face was contorted in pain but she managed to smile and nod to Jin. “Annyeong (Hi), Jin-oppa. Kamsamnida (Thank you).”
Jake took the phone back. “Eomma (Mom)? How far along are the contractions?”
“About fifteen minutes apart, Geukie. It shouldn’t be long now.”
Jake nodded. “Okay, Eomma (Mom).”
“I just checked the Philippine consulate’s website in Seoul.” Taehyung spoke up. “It says they require a negative RT-PCR test before flying and another test on day 7 of the fourteen days of home quarantine. You’ll never make it back in time for the KBS pre-recording, kookie. Mianhe (Sorry).”
Jake turned to Taehyung. “Hyung (bro), I know you mean well but it’s not what I need to hear right now.”
“Jake. It is what it is.” Bella said softly. “Your parents are here. I couldn’t really ask for more.”
“We’ll get everything on camera, Geukie. Don’t you worry at all.” Tita Diana added.
“This isn’t the best time I know but why don’t we sing some songs while we’re in here.” Namjoon suggested. “We danced enough back there. Let’s focus on the singing now.”
“I would love that, Namjoon-oppa.” Bella mustered up her best smile. “What’s your set list for KBS?”
“Dynamite, Life goes on and I Need U” Namjoon answered.
“Why don’t we start with Life Goes On? I’m pretty sure Dynamite is what you’ve been practicing in the other room.” Bella breathed in between contractions. “Jake? I think you do the opening lines?”
Tita Diana nodded to her son in encouragement. “It will help Bella tremendously, Geukie. Go on.”
Jake took a deep breath. ‘Eoneu nal sesangi meomchwosseo. Amureon yegodo hana eopsi. Bomeun gidarimeul mollaseo. Nunchi eopsi wabeoryeosseo’
Jimin continued. ‘Baljagugi jiwojin geori. Yeogi neomeojyeoinneun na. Honja gane sigani. Mianhe maldo eopsi, yeah.’
Namjoon went into his soft rap accompanied by Jake’s melody. Taehyung took over and then it was back to Jake. Jin came in for the chorus and they continued until Hobi’s part and back into the chorus.
They continued to sing it until the song ended and then they continued back to the start. They repeated it almost ten times when Tita Diana interrupted them.
“She’s getting closer to ten-minute intervals. We need to go to the hospital now.”
Jake’s eyes immediately widened.
“Don’t worry, Jeonggukie. We don’t even know how fully dilated her cervix is yet.” Jake’s mother assured him. “Hold on, let me go get your father so he can carry her to the car.”
She handed Bella her phone and kissed the pregnant girl on the forehead. “You are doing beautifully, little one. Keep it up! Your twins are counting on you.”
“Baby, look at me. It’s going to be okay. You’re doing so well. You’re so amazing.” Jake used a soothing voice on her. “Do you think the doctor will allow you to bring your phone into the delivery room?”
“Baby, I myself wouldn’t want to bring my phone in there. I need to concentrate on pushing and enduring the pain. Could you guys please keep singing, if that’s alright?” Bella was making more of an effort to speak now.
It did not take long for Uncle Joseph to arrive in the room with Tita Diana. She took the phone from Bella’s hand as Jake’s father carried Bella gently and slowly brought her downstairs to the waiting car.
“Appa, joshimhaseyo. (Dad, be careful.)” Jake pleaded to his father.
Mr Jeon chuckled. “Jeon Jeongguk, who do you think helped your mother when she was in labor with you?”
His comment sent everyone into laughter and helped lighten the mood a little.
Bella seemed to be managing the pain really well. When Uncle Joseph had placed her in the backseat of the car, she leaned back and just kept closing her eyes. “I’m going to need to hear some singing, Jake, please. Anything to take my mind off worrying about the next contraction.”
Jake immediately started to sing the chorus of Life Goes On and the other members joined in. This went on until they had arrived at the hospital about five minutes later.
An orderly met them at the ER entrance with a wheelchair. Bella and the Jeons had already worn their face masks and face shields when Mr. Jeon gently placed Bella into the waiting wheelchair.
They accompanied her until the doorway of the labor room when Bella asked to be given a minute with Jake.
Tita Diana handed Bella her phone and stepped back to give them privacy.
“Baby, I’m heading into the labor room now, okay? I might take a while in there. I may come back out because of a false alarm. But if it’s not too much to ask, pray for me and the babies please. I’ll call you as soon as I’m out and awake.” Bella forced a smile through the pain.
Jake was clearly holding back tears. “You’re so strong, baby. You can do this. I’ll be waiting for the good news. Saranghae (I love you).”
“Nado Saranghae. (I love you too). Gayadwaeyo. (I have to go)” Bella waved to Jake and looked to Tita Diana. She then handed her the phone.
“See you soon, little one!” Jake’s mom winked.
Bella nodded and the orderly pushed her into the labor room.
