His Virgin Stripper

23

Inalalayan ako ni Elijah papunta sa kabilaang kwarto kung saan inaalagaan ng maayos ang anak ko. This was my first time looking at him again. He was so precious and fragile, like he could break when you lift him up.

Oh my Aero.

I promise to keep you healthy.

Three knocks sounded at the door. A doctor came in, a worried look on his face.

"The baby's parents?" he asked. I nodded.

"What you did earlier to this 29-week-old baby was extremely dangerous. Premature infants are very fragile, especially at this stage. Fortunately, we were able to stabilize him and return him to the incubator, otherwise, he could have been in serious danger."

"Oh, thank God," I hiccuped. "Thank you, doctor—thank you for taking care of my baby." I offered to shake his hand, but then Elijah cleared his throat, like he wanted more details... or wanted him to leave.

"How is he now?"

"He's stable for now," the doctor said. "His heart rate is within the expected range, but since he was born at 29 weeks, he still needs to stay in the NICU for close monitoring. We'll be watching his breathing, temperature, and overall condition over the next few days." He paused. "Other than that, we apologize for what happened today."

Before I could respond, a nurse stepped forward and checked the incubator, adjusting the settings with practiced hands.

"We'll be taking him back to the NICU now" she said gently.

My chest tightened as they carefully secured the incubator, making sure everything was in place. I watched every movement, scared to even blink.

"I—can I see him again?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper.

"Soon," the doctor assured me with a small nod.

He gave one last look at the monitor before turning away. The nurse followed, pushing the incubator out of the room.

The door clicked shut, leaving us alone this time.

I wasn't sure if I should tell him more about myself.

When I looked at him, all he did was give me a soft, warm smile. He didn't look at me with anger or hatred, but with something gentler. Something like longing... and love.

"My adoptive mother is actually my mom."

He didn't interrupt. He just let me speak and gently guided me toward the hospital bed.

My body felt completely drained from everything. I had given birth almost three days ago, and with all the stress piling up, I felt like I was pushing myself too hard—like I might collapse if I didn't rest.

"I was adopted by them. I thought it was out of love, but it wasn't. The real daughter, Celestine, is in a coma... and they made me become her. I had to act like her, speak like her, live as her."

I took a shaky breath.

"When they found out I was pregnant, they kicked me out. My real name is Valerie, Elijah. I didn't mean to lie to you."

For a moment, he didn't say anything.

His expression didn't change right away, but something in his eyes changed—like he was trying to process everything at once. 

Then he let out a slow breath.

"Valerie..." he said quietly, like he was testing the name on his tongue.

He stepped closer, but not in a way that felt overwhelming. Just enough that I could hear him clearly.

"You didn't lie to hurt me," he said. "You tried to survived. There's a difference."

My throat tightened.

He looked at me for a second longer, then glanced away like he was holding back his own reaction.

"And they made you live as someone else... your sister." His jaw clenched slightly. "That's not something you just walk out of easily."

He looked back at me again, softer this time.

"But you're here now. That's what matters."

A pause.

"I'm not going anywhere. You know... you gave me two whole months of joy I've never experienced in my life before. Then you left me, but I didn't give up. Everything is going to be okay. I have you and our son, and I'll do everything to protect this family."

He let out a small breath, shaking his head slightly, a mix of guilt and disbelief in his eyes.

"Man... I really knocked you up when you were just seventeen," he said, a faint, almost helpless smile tugging at his lips. "I should've at least gotten to know you properly first. Pasensya ka na mahal. Gagawin ko ang lahat para maaging komportable ka sa buhay mo ngayon, pangako." He kissed my temples.

I was not even mad at him for giving me an angel. We didn't know that this would happen.