Love on the brain

Partition

I sat on Kabelo's bed, binge-watching Big Mouth while Ona slept in her cot next to me and Kabelo sleeping on my lap. His gentle snores were soothing and he looked so cute. I reached out to gently stroke his face before feeling a sharp contraction.

My focus shifted from the show as the contractions intensified. I gently shifted Kabelo's head, trying not to wake him. "Ow" I winced as I held my lower bump. "Brat, you good?" He asked, rubbing his eyes. "I don't know, it feels like contractions" I said as I carried on rubbing. He stood up from the bed and packed Ona's bag. "What are you doing" I asked softly. "I'm taking her to her grandma so we can go to the hospital" he said as he quickly packed everything.

I stood up once he was done and we slowly walked to the car. He helped me inside the car and I felt a rush of anxiety and excitement at the same time. "I need to call Jermaine" I said as I grabbed my phone and called him. "Hey J, I'm on my way to Dr Moyo, I think it's happening" I said and I heard his excitement through the phone. "Are you okay?" His voice was laced with concern.

"Yeah I am, it's just contractions, Kabelo is taking me to the hospital" I said and he stayed silent for a while. "I'll meet you there" he eventually spoke after hanging up. The contractions intensified and my hands started shaking. "I'm not ready for birth Kabelo" I spoke as we drove to Ona's grandma's place. "You got this Naledi" he said as he held my belly and I smiled at him.

We walked to Dr Moyo's office and she greeted us warmly, ushering us into the examination room. "Let's check on this little one" she said with a smile and I laid back. My heart was racing, anticipating the arrival of my baby. Dr Moyo examined me, monitoring the baby's heartbeat and my contractions.

A few minutes later, she smiles at me, "It's Braxton Hicks, false labour. You're not dilating and the baby is doing great." I felt slight relief but I was sad too. "I thought I'm meeting my baby" I said as I fake frowned. "Guess you're not ready for parenthood" Kabelo spoke and we all laughed while I wiped my belly. Jermaine arrived and he was concerned. "What's happening?" He asked and I smiled awkwardly, "Braxton Hicks." I could tell he was not impressed to see Kabelo there so his eyebrows farrowed while he glanced at Kabelo's hand on mine. Kabelo stood up and walked out the office.

"You'll experience more of these while you're approaching your actual due date. Just rest and stay hydrated." She spoke and I nodded as Jermaine settled down. "Now, remember, actual labour contraction is long-lasting, more intense and closer together." Dr Moyo explained. "It will be accompanied with a gush of liquid, indicating your water breaking" she added. "Thanks Doc" I said as I stood up.

We walked out and we saw Kabelo sitting alone by the reception, waiting for us. "Everything's good?" he asked me and I nodded. "You want me to drive you home?" Jermaine asked and I awkwardly turned to Kabelo who threw his hands up and shrugged as he walked away. I laughed as I nodded. We walked to the parking and I made my way to Kabelo and gave him a hug. I said my goodbye and I made my way to Jermaine's car. "You tryna come over?" He asked and I shrugged before nodding.

"You okay?" Jermaine asked and I nodded with a smile as I rubbed on my belly. "I'm here for you" he said as he held my hand and I looked at him focus on the road. "How often are you with Kabelo?" He asked and I rolled my eyes. "What's wrong with being with Kabelo all the time?" I asked and he kept quiet for a moment, I could tell he was jealous. "He's just always around, like he still has feelings for you or something" he said, his tone laced with frustration. I let go of his hand and adjusted myself.

"Jermaine, we've spoke about this before. Kabelo and I are just friends" I said. "Friends? That's not just friendship" he said as his eyebrows raised. "You're reading too much into it. Besides, you have Marissa, you don't see me causing a scene." I said as I scrolled through instagram. "That's different" he said, using his deeper, inner voice. "Don't even start with me, how?" I asked getting a bit irritated. "There's a lot of feeling involved here" he said. "And why do you care! You have unresolved issues" I said. "Issues? You're the one who's still clinging on to the past!" He raised his voice.

"Kabelo's just being supportive. You're the one making this complicated."I said. Jermaine stopped at a red light and turned to me, "I'm making this complicated? You're the one who's still being a fool for him" he said and I scrunched my face. "That's not true" I said with so much frustration on my face. The light turned green and his jaw clenched. I looked at his veined hands grip the steering wheel and his frustrated demeanour, he looked extra attractive when he's mad and jealous.

The silence grew thicker as we pulled up to his house and he parked the car. I quickly walked out and walked to his apartment and he came behind me, his cologne squeezed through my nose and it reminded me of our prime. "You're still clinging to the past" his voice echoed through the apartment as he threw the keys on the kitchen counter. "I'm not clinging to anything! You're just insecure!"I said and his jaws clenched. "Insecure? You're the one who's still in love with your ex" his eyes flashing.

I took a step closer, "It doesn't matter cause it's not fucking true Jermaine!" I raised my voice in more frustration. Jermaine's walked up to me, his face inches from mine, his voice went low but still assertive and firm, "Don't bullshit me Naledi." I looked into his eyes as our words hung in the air, tension building. I quickly looked at his lips and slammed him against the wall trying to move past him but he grabbed and kissed me. The kiss was so rough and desperate, it screams 'I miss you'.

Jermaine managed to pick me up and put me on the counter and I had flashbacks from the time I used to be tiny and portable. His lips devoured mine as his hands travelled somewhere else. "I hate you" I whispered, breaking free from the kiss. "I hate you too" Jermaine replied, his voice husky and deep. He took off my underwear and we looked at each other with so much anger before he devoured me and I missed the sensation.

He came up to me and kissed me roughly, making me taste myself. "If you weren't carrying my baby, I'd have you begging for mercy" he growled and shivers went down my spine, I smirked as I looked at him, "good thing I'm done with you forever" I said as he put me down. He turned me around and held me to him, feeling his hard member on my ass, "We'll see about that" he chuckled. His hand slid around my belly, I swear it felt like the most seductive thing ever. "My baby's going to change everything." I felt my tummy turn, from anxiety or anticipation, I don't know.

"And when you're all healed up, you'll be back here again. I'm taking you hard and slow, until you scream my name" his voice dropped to a whisper and my eyes widened, shocked at what he's saying. "Jermaine" I said trying to sound firm but my kitty was begging for him. He just smiled , his lips grazing my ear, "Mark my words."