TEACH ME NOT 2 HATE LOVE

87

🧑Nik Anthony POV🧑

While I was out with my best friend and brother McCarty, having a few drinks (light beers) at some bar and grill, I got a call from the hospital updating me about my boy's status. And I'm happy to announce to you all that he's awakened and is doing very well. The doctor even let me talk to him for a few minutes to confirm it.

Oh, hallelujah. Praise the Lord. Thank you, Jesus! A billion. No trillion. No. Infinite, thank you. My boy. Oh, my precious boy is alright. Thank you.

Now that's out of my system.

McCarty and I headed straight for the hospital right after. And while on our way there, I tried getting to Tajea. To tell her the good news, of course. I called her about a hundred times and got voicemails every time. I guess she's still upset with me. But I left her a voice message, hoping that she would show up.

Anyway, it took us a little over half an hour to get to the hospital since we weren't too far away. And the second, I bust open the door, entering the room where my little boy is. Taking in his beautiful form. Seeing him actually breathing, awake, and alive with my own two eyes, the pent-up tears just came pouring down my face. I was so overwhelmed with joy that my body shivered uncontrollably.

Mother, the doctors, and the nurses that were also present in the room made way for me as I approached my boy's bed. And before I arrived at my destination, I dried my eyes. I put on my best smile so that I don't worry him. Take hold of his little hand, kissing it countless times. As if it's the most precious thing in this world. It is the most precious thing in the world.

"Uncle Nik." Little Nik croaked, barely smiling. It seems he's still in pain a little despite being on the meds. "Where is Mother?"

And as I was about to answer, lie to him.

"I'm right here, my sweet boy!" Tajea came barging into the room. Tears of joy drenched her eyes. And she wasn't alone. Regina and her mother were also here.

"Mother, why are you crying? Are you hurt? Is it because of me?" Little Nik asked, concerned.

"No, my sweet little angel. I'm just so happy to see you," Tajea responded. She was now next to me, holding our little boy's hand firmly and kissing it.

"I'm so happy to see you too, mother. But you don't need to worry about me. Dr. Raymer and his team of doctors and nurses are taking good care of me. I will feel better in no time. Then I'll be able to go home and be together with you and Uncle Nik."

Oh, I hope so. The part about him getting better and the three of us being together.

"OK baby." Tajea wiped away her tears.

"Mother. I told you not to call me that word in front of people," Little Nik whined, ashamed, to which Tajea chortled and pinched his cheek.

"Let's give them some alone time." My mother, who was pleased by the scenery between mother and child, said. And everyone left the room. Tajea and I remained.

"When you get out of here, you can eat all the chocolate cake you want." Tajea poked little Nik's nose.

"For real?" The little boy blurted excited.

"Yeah. Huuk. Hmm. Huk. Hmmm. Huk. Oh, no. I don't feel so good." Tajea looked like she was about to throw up. But somehow she managed not to.

"Are you alright?" I asked purely out of concern.

"Yes, I'm fine. So stop treating me like I'm a baby!" she lashed out at me. Like I thought, she's still mad at me.

"Well, you are my baby." I teased her nonetheless.

"No, I'm not having your baby!" Tajea blurted. She even looked panicked after making such an awkward statement.

"What?" I looked at her, puzzled. Oddly. I mean, where did that come from? Then it hit me a few minutes later. "Are you pregnant? Are you having my baby?" I uttered, a bit shocked.

"What kind of stupid question is that?" she stuttered. That's proof my suspicion is right. She's pregnant with my kid.

"Now is not the time for this. Our boy just woke up. It's all about him right now." She tried dropping the pregnancy topic and avoiding answering my questions. However, there is no way I'm letting go of this. I need to know. Hear it from her.

"Taj, please answer me. Are you pregnant?" I pleaded. My heart was pulsating at an even quicker pace now. I am overwhelmed with joy right now. The thought of being a father makes me so damn elated. Yeah, I'm a dad already. But I'm going to be a dad. God, you truly have blessed me again.

"Alright! Yeah, I'm pregnant! I did the test, and it says I'm positive. So hop off my back now!" She flipped out. Damn drama queen. Smile. But I love her anyway. For choosing me to be her lover. For being a crazy, loving, and kind woman. For everything that she had done for me. And now for being the mother of my child.

"Hello! Are you going to say something?" Tajea snapped at me.

"How are you?" I began to babble like a lunatic. "I mean, how are you feeling? Is the baby alright? How far are you?"

"How should I know? I didn't even know I was pregnant until my mom told me earlier."

"Are you telling me you, Ms. Know it all, are pregnant and didn't even know it?" I teased.

"And so what if I didn't?" She snarled.

Fueled by joy, I lifted the love of my life from the ground and spun with her a few times. I kissed her a few dozen times. She looked shocked for a while before she smiled. Then I put her down gently and said, "Thank you, woman. For making me the happiest man alive."

"For real." She began getting emotional and crying, which makes me feel like tearing up too. She then dried her tears. "Sorry, I don't mean to, but the tears just won't stop."

"That's alright." I assured her, kissing her face about a dozen times.

"Mother, uncle Nik. Are you two done arguing now?" Little Nik sighed before he asked. Rolling his eyes, even.

Dang. Are we that bad?

"No, of course not," Tajea and I answered at the same time. A little embarrassed, even.

"Your mother and I are just. We are just—" I added.

"Playing a game." Tajea backed me up. Forcing a smile. How unconvincing.

"That's right, we are playing. See." I poked Tajea's nose. She was annoyed, but she restrained herself quite nicely.

"Oh, if you two say so." The little boy laughed at us. Something tells me he doesn't buy our crappy explanation. Smart ass. I guess we have to be even more careful about how we act and what we say around him from now on.