inkspresso

thank you, mom

Zach, Jack, and Gabriela sit in the café far away from prying ears. Jack sets the test results in front of Gabriela. "You're in medicine, so you should be able to read that." He mumbles.

Her eyes skim through it. Gabriela blinks once and moves the paper close to her face. "You're... impotent." She looks at him in shock.

He purses his lips. Gabriela grabs her locks of hair. "No no no no..."She truly looks panicked. "Who's the father then?"

Jack holds Zach's hand. "If you'd like... I could... step up."

"You'd do that?" Gabriela looks between them. "B-But people will think -"

"Screw 'em." He shrugs.

"I-Is there any catch?"

"What? No." He scoffs. "I actually want to do it." He looks at Zach. "Well, we want to do it."

She looks between Jack and Zach. "You do realise that this is a lifelong commitment. It's, like, too late to abort. I was a week too late to do it. Because I would've done it."

Zach finally speaks. "We can find a balance point. Jack and I are looking for an apartment, he just got in college. We're willing to help. It takes a village to raise a child."

"You might need two villages then."

The two perk up. "What?" Zach smiles nervously.

"I'm having twins." She announces. Their eyes widen.

"Oh." Jack blinks. "Uhm, well, our offer still stands."

"I uhm can get my parents to help as well... during finals, at least." She mumbles. "Does uhm does your mom know you're doing this?"

Jack shakes his head. "We wanted to talk to you first." He confesses. "We can't help financially, but we can help by being there."

"Like going to appointments, setting up the nursery, changing diapers." Zach enumerates. "It's a scary time with lot of changes... being alone doesn't help, I'm sure."

She looks between them.

"I-I... I don't want to be a mom." She confesses. "I've never wanted children." She sniffs. '"T-This is a curse to me."

Zach scretches out his hand for her to hold. She does and holds on tightly. "Breathe, we won't judge." He reassures.

She nods as she tries to control her breathing. Zach hands her tissue. She smiles. "I get why you picked him over me." She chuckles. Jack smiles."Uhm, this is a big ask." She takes a deep breath. "A-After the breastfeeding is done, I want to be Auntie Gabriela and that's it."

The couple shares a look.

"I realise that this is a curse to me, but a blessing to you in particular, Jack." She sniffs. "I-I wouldn't be a good mother, I'm fully aware of it."

"You don't know that." Zach shakes his head.

"I-I do." She nods. "I-I can hardly take care of myself. I can't cook, can't clean, can't do laundry. I'm... not meant for domestic life. I want to save lives." She turns to Jack. "While making tons of money."

The two chuckle.

Zach hums. "Im gonna get a slice of cake. Do you want anything, Gabriela?"

"An éclair, please. I love éclairs." She rests a hand on her small belly.

Zach excuses himself and goes to the counter.

"You love him." She comments. "Not a surprise since you moaned his name." She teases.