By the time Aiah entered her sixth month of pregnancy, the changes were undeniable. Her bump had grown more prominent, making her movements slower and her patience shorter. But it also made everything feel more real—every little kick, every flutter, every hiccup reminded her and Mikha of the tiny person growing inside her. The sixth month was a mix of laughter, tears, and the kind of love that only deepened with each passing day.
/
Aiah had been sitting on the couch for hours, trying to finish a freelance project. Her legs were propped up on a cushion, but by the time she stood up to stretch, she groaned loudly. "Babe!" she called out, waddling toward the kitchen where Mikha was stirring a pot of soup.
Mikha immediately turned, concern flashing in her eyes. "What happened? Are you okay?"
"My feet," Aiah grumbled, pointing at her swollen ankles. "Look at them! Parang hindi ko na sila kilala. They're puffy. And ugly. And—" Her voice cracked, and Mikha rushed to her side before the tears could fully spill over.
"Hey, hey," Mikha said softly, leading her to sit back down on the couch. She knelt in front of Aiah, gently resting her hands on her wife's legs. "First of all, they're not ugly. They're your feet. I love every part of you, even the puffy ones. Second, let's get you some relief, okay?"
Aiah sniffled, her lower lip jutting out in a pout. "What kind of relief?"
Mikha smiled. "Stay here."
A few minutes later, Mikha returned with a basin of warm water, a towel, and some lotion. She gently placed the basin at Aiah's feet, kneeling down once again. "Okay, let's give these feet a little love."
Aiah blinked, tears welling up again—but this time, they were the good kind. "Mikha, you don't have to—"
"I want to," Mikha said firmly, sliding Aiah's feet into the warm water. "You're carrying our baby. The least I can do is take care of you."
As Mikha massaged her swollen feet with the lotion afterward, Aiah let out a long, contented sigh. "You're too good to me."
"And you deserve it," Mikha said, pressing a soft kiss to her knee. "But maybe take a break from sitting too long, ha?"
"Fine," Aiah said with a smile. "But only if I get more foot massages like this."
"Deal," Mikha replied, laughing.
/
One night, as they lay in bed, Aiah suddenly gasped, her hand flying to her bump. "Mikha! She moved!"
Mikha immediately sat up, her eyes wide. "What? Really?"
"Yes!" Aiah said, laughing as she grabbed Mikha's hand and placed it on her stomach. "Wait, wait... there! Did you feel that?"
Mikha's face lit up as she felt the tiniest flutter beneath her palm. It wasn't strong, but it was there—a small, unmistakable kick. "Oh my god," Mikha breathed, her voice filled with awe. "That's her. That's our baby."
Aiah nodded, her eyes glistening with tears. "I've been feeling her for weeks, but this is the first time you got to feel it."
Mikha didn't move her hand, her gaze fixed on Aiah's bump as if it held the secrets of the universe. "She's real," she murmured, her voice breaking slightly. "I mean, I've known she's real, but this... this is something else."
Aiah cupped Mikha's face, smiling as she wiped away the single tear that escaped her wife's eye. "You're going to be the best mom," she whispered.
"So are you," Mikha replied, leaning down to kiss her bump. "Hey, baby girl. It's me. Mommy Mikha. You're already my favorite person in the world, next to your mommy Aiah."
Aiah laughed softly, running her fingers through Mikha's red hair. "She's going to love you so much."
"And she's going to love you more," Mikha said, resting her cheek against Aiah's belly. They stayed like that for a long time, basking in the quiet magic of their growing family.
/
The next afternoon, Aiah waddled into the living room with a determined look on her face. "Babe," she said, her voice serious. "I need pancakes."
