Rule Four || Dream

⏸Red String: 12⏸

{Shizuka}

My fingers fumbled with each other as Erie and Hiroshi sat in the kitchen with me, discussing the baby. I would have never thought before that this would happen when I got pregnant. I expected them to be cold towards one another. I'm glad they aren't, or else this wouldn't work.

"I want to pay for something though," Erie argued with her cousin. Her voice hadn't rose at all, so she was speaking calmly.

Hiroshi shook his head though. "No, no. I'm the man, and I helped create it. I should have all the bills."

Erie sighed, and her blue eyes went to me. I smiled at her, still glad that she's talking to me again. All I really need to worry about is this baby that's arriving. And my job. Would I be able to work after I have the baby?

"Do you think Hiroshi-san should pay the bills?" Erie asked me.

I looked at Hiroshi, who had his eyes on me as well.

"Personally, I would say no, since I don't think it's fair for him. But I'm not going to make decisions for him."

Hiroshi shook his head. "It's fine. Anything for my Shizuka and Erie. Even if it hurts me..."

We all went quiet, and I finally felt the guilt hit me. Hiroshi actually loved me. He wasn't using me or anything. In reality, I was using him to try and get over Erie. He didn't ask for this.

"I'm sorry, Hiroshi-kun," I whispered, my eyes trained on the table in front of me.

Yes, I was a chicken. I couldn't look him in the eye. I didn't want to see the hatred he has for me.

"...How long?" He asked.

I wasn't sure if he was talking about the baby, or Erie and I's relationship, so I didn't answer. Luckily, Erie did.

"It was a couple of months. We broke up weeks before you two started seeing each other, I think."

"How come you've never told me before now? Before I started falling for her?"

Erie hesitated, and I looked up to see Hiroshi staring at me. He was falling for me? Me? A bitter, old, working lady who had nightmares about her ex?

"I was going to tell you later on in our relationship..." He trailed off, tearing his gaze away from mine.

"Hiroshi-chan..." I started, but I didn't know how to finish.

He shook his head, but did't look back at me. "As long you and Erie-san are happy, then I'm okay with it. I just want you two to be happy. Now if you'll excuse me, I have work to do."

He quickly got up and left, leaving me feeling horrible. He was falling for me, and I wanted his little cousin.

"Shi-chan?"

I turned to Erie, who I knew wanted to cry. But she just strongly looked me in the eye. I admire her for being like that. "I'm feeling awful about the whole situation, and I know you do too, but you should not even think about that right now. Remember, no stress."

She's right. I can't stress myself out. If I had a miscarriage, I would never forgive myself. Having done all this work for nothing.

"Your doctor's appointment is tomorrow, okay?" She asked, looking on her phone.

"Okay."

With Erie being Erie, she was being productive with handling the baby. Like she is on stage, she's working hard for somebody that isn't her. And she doesn't care if she benefits from it or not. That's another thing I can't get over about her. She'll do just about anything for the people she loves. Like when we broke up, she realized it was over between us, and respected my wish to be left alone.

Oh, how I wish she hadn't.

"Erie-chan?"

She looked up at me expectantly. "Yes?"

"How do you feel about what Hiroshi-san just said? About him falling for me?"

Again, Erie hesitated. I knew that it was because she loves both of us.

"Well, I don't really like it. Yes, I love him so much because he's my cousin, and I've always seen him as an older brother. But, I love you too. I want to spend the rest of my life with you. I want Hiroshi-san to be happy too, but not with you. Lets face it, I'm a jealous person."

I smiled a bit to myself. "You are sometimes. But I am too."

"No, you're not. You aren't even the type to get jealous," Erie chuckled.

I raised my eyebrow. "Oh really? Remember when you dated Aya-chan? I was so jealous then."

"You were?"

"Yes! Seeing you hugging and kissing made me want to punch her face in! And I have never been so violent in my life before!"

Erie smirked at me, making my face hot. "Jealousy looks hot on you, Shi-chan."

I looked away, trying not to show her my burning face. Instead, I felt her fingers under my chin, and she pulled me around to face her. Her eyes traveled all around my face, taking in my embarrassment, making me turn even redder.

Then she leaned in and kissed me. It was short, but it felt like minutes had passed before she pulled away. Even with everything that just happened, I couldn't help but think that Erie and I were meant to be. Like it was fate to have us meet, and get back together after all of our hardships.

The situation about Hiroshi wasn't brought up the rest of the day. And the next day, Erie and I went to the doctor's office, like she scheduled it to be. It felt a bit weird though, since our roles are switched. She's managing the baby inside me, almost.

I laid in one of the comfy beds, and the doctor came in and began preparing me for my ultrasound. Erie stood beside me, answering any questions I was asked. I wasn't complaining because, frankly, she knew me better than I knew myself.

"She knows you very well, huh, Nishida-san?" The doctor asked, smiling nicely.

I nodded. "It's kind of creepy, isn't it?"

Erie playfully slapped my arm.

"I'm kidding, Erie-chan."

The doctor applied the cool jelly to my belly, then pressed the wand against my abdomen. She moved it around, concentrating on the screen beside us that was showing black and white. When she stopped, she smiled at the picture. Then I heard the sound of something. I was confused, and looked at Erie, who looked as if she was about to cry.

"That's their heartbeat," the doctor said, noticing the face I made.

My face relaxed as I listened to the fast sound. My baby's heartbeat.

"How do you feel?" Erie asked, looking down at me.

I looked up at her, since she was standing above me. "I feel...really great."

"Would you like a recording?" The doctor asked.

I nodded quickly. Of course I wanted a recording of my first baby's heartbeat!

After the ultrasound, my doctor told me tips on how to have a healthy baby. Like no drinking or smoking, eating healthy foods, letting the baby listen to music, and having no stress. Erie was drinking the information up, nodding and asking questions, while I was staring down at my flat stomach. Knowing that a baby was in there, breathing, with a heartbeat, made me want to watch out for myself more. Not only is it mine...

...I can tell it's Erie's too.