One More Time

CHAPTER 3

Mia exits the room, wondering what could be Alina's issue.

"Maybe she is just stressed and needs to scream some fatigue out." She shakes her round head and shuts the door behind her.

Alina waits for Mia to probably get to the stairs before coming out of the bathroom half-cladded.

"Yes yes yes, drumsticks." She shrieks in excitement as she takes the tray to her bed.

The plates of shiny thick drumsticks, chicken pie and a bowl of diced fruits are quite inviting. Anyone would die for the aesthetics.

She chews on the drumsticks voraciously and grabs a bottle of water from the mini refrigerator at the corner.

Bouncing back into her bed, she eats faster and faster, like a hungry child deprived of food for days.

"I'm pregnant." She stops and whispers to herself. "I'm pregnant." She says again, in between mouthfuls of chicken pie.

She stands up, the whole of her lips and cheeks soiled with oil and cream and she gulps some water.

With the towel loosely wrapped around her body, she walks to the mirror. "My tummy isn't that big. It is quite round like every other day. The strip is not accurate enough, I guess." She rubs her left palm around her tummy, yawning.

"I need to eat more. I'm really hungry." She belches, wiping her mouth and hands with the napkins.

Mia comes in almost immediately.

"Ma'am, I'm here to clear the dishes," She pauses, her eyes moving from the top of Alina's head to her feet. "You are not dressed yet."

She walks to her closet. "Let me get you a light gown to wear." She runs her fingers through the clothes and finally brings out a light cotton gown.

Alina looks at her quietly.

"Here, ma'am. You should put this on." She hands her the gown.

"Thanks." Alina says weakly. "Can I get more drumsticks, please?" She asks, taking off her towel.

"Of course, ma'am." Mia says and immediately turns to the other side as she drops her towel.

Alina laughs softly. "Are you shy to see me naked, Mia?"

"Err…" Mia trails off, her cheeks reddening, "I feel it is inappropriate, ma'am. Everyone is entitled to privacy."

"Spare me that." Alina slips the gown on. "You can look at me. I'm covered up."

Mia turns to her. "So…"

Alina cuts in, "So, I need a few drumsticks, please?"

"Oh, I will bring them up shortly." Mia replies, hurriedly taking out the tray.

"Phew!" Alina walks sluggishly to the bathroom and flips her towel to the hanger.

In a short while, Mia knocks and lets herself in almost immediately with a plate of drumsticks.

"Thank you." Alina takes the plate from her, her face masked with an avocado facial beauty mask.

"I'll be nearby if you need anything, ma'am." She says, staring at Alina eating quite abnormally.

In between mouthfuls, Alina tells her, "You can go."

As Mia leaves the room, she finds it gross but decides to ask no questions.

Mia steps in after two hours, after knocking severally, only to see the oil-stained plate laying carelessly on the floor as did Alina on the bed. Her hands totally oily, her legs wide spread and her hair in a loose and messy state.

"Oh." Mia shakes her head, "This is beyond fatigue."

She takes the plate away, cleans up Alina's hands with the napkin and tries to place her properly on the bed but Alina's constant turning makes it impossible so she is left alone to twirl and turn.

****

Alina carries two swaddled infants in her bosom, side by side. She smiles at them with beads of sweat on her nose, tired from hearing their cries which switches to laughter only when she swings them softly. She breastfeeds them one after another, and pets them gently.

"Mia, help me put him to sleep, please. I am worn out already." She calls on her maid.

"Okay, ma'am." Mia scoops the baby into her hands and takes him to his fancy cot.

Alina is left with the girl in her bosom and she kisses her everywhere until the baby shrieks, her bare gum visible and her eyes watery from excitement.

Alina smiles in her sleep and suddenly stands up from her bed and rushes to the toilet as she feels a push of liquid in her throat. She slides the door open and before she reaches for the basin, she pukes on the floor, splashing the wet mix of chunky drumsticks and fruits all over the floor and even the bathtub.

She pukes again, this time, voluminously. Her throat itches and her mouth feels dry as she tiptoes to the basin. She washes her face and mouth, feeling quite sore.

"I must have had too much of it all." She sighs, squeezing her face in disgust as she stares at the mess she had made.

She takes a bowl of water and tries to flush it all down the drain but it feels sticky and it makes a ball of anger and frustration rise in her guts. She couldn't help but scream for Mia's help.

"What took you so long?" Alina almost screams.

"I'm really sorry, ma'am. Mr. Sanders just came in, so I had to offer him some help with his luggage."

Alina's heart skips a bit but she regains herself after a short moment. "Okay. The bathroom floor is messed up. Courtesy, me. I need you to help me clean it up."

Mia stares into the bathroom and gives Alina a sour look. "Ma'am, are you alright?"

Alina raises an eyebrow, "Is that a kind question or?"

"No, ma'am, please don't take it that way. I was just asking if you are fine. You threw up. Your face is quite different."

"Now, you're calling me ugly?"

"No," Mia sighs helplessly, "What I mean is you need rest or medications."

Alina sighs and throws herself into the soft bouncy bed. "It is okay. Just clean it up, thanks."

While the intense scrubbing of the floor and abundant splash of water seems to echo from the bathroom, Alina takes her phone from the bedside and scrolls through it. Like a flash, she remembers her dream and how it felt.

Unconsciously, she calls Mia, hoping to share her feeling with someone

"Mia!"

"Yes, ma'am." She comes out of the bathroom, the large sweat maps underneath her arms are very much visible.

"I had a dream, Mia." She says, her eyes fixed to her screen.

"And would you like to share it with me?" Mia gives the floor a final scrub.

"I was with two babies."

"Oh. That's a good dream, ma'am. A sign of fertility."

"Yeah…" The chuckles from Alina's throat fades off as she stares at her tummy. "It felt cozy and tiring at the same time."

"Taking care of babies can be fun and sometimes stressful but I promise, you will come to enjoy motherhood once you are ready."

"And what if I am not ready for it? What if it happens just like that?"

"You are married, ma'am. That shouldn't be a worry to you."

"Ah. True, true." Anxiety creeps into her bones. She contemplates on whether to tell Mia she is pregnant or just let it be. She fights the thought in her head and Mia's voice comes to end it.

"Ma'am, I'm done with the cleaning. You ate a lot more food than usual. Do you feel hungry now?"

"Yeah."

"You will need some warm milk and something liquid, peppery and tasty." The maid counts her fingers.

"Mia." Alina says gently.

"Yes, ma'am." She takes a step closer to her.

"My throat is bare, my mouth feels odd and my tummy is empty, not so empty because I am pregnant and I am only telling you this because you are my personal maid. I trust you enough not to get so excited and go about telling everyone until the time is right." Alina's chest heaves up and down as she speaks out without stopping for a second to breathe in or out.

Mia's face switches from concern to shock and then, a wide smile. Excitement clouds her face but on the other hand, she tries to imagine how it all happened. She dismisses the thought of how Mr. Tim Sanders must have gone in between her mistress's legs and let the white thick slimy fluid fill her up resulting in a forming fetus in her tummy.

The smile that unveils her rabbit-like front teeth starts from the moment Alina mentioned the word 'pregnant'.

"Ma'am. This is great news. I am so excited!" She exclaims. "I promise no one would hear of it until it pleases you to let the information out."

Alina smiles and nods her head. "I'm sorry I was a little bit harsh earlier, I was just irritated, I guess."

"I totally understand. Besides, I knew it was more than fatigue but I didn't want to bring up the topic of being pregnant as it is quite personal." She opens up.

"It's alright, Mia. Just keep it cool. I'm sure you know what we ought to do at this stage and every other stage." Alina pats her lap feeling relieved that she spoke out.

"Of course, ma'am. I've been prepared for every stage in a woman's life. I'll fulfill my duties to you perfectly." Mia assures her.

"Thank you, Mia." Alina pokes the sides of her eyes with her index fingers as she is a bit teary.

Mia makes for the door and then stops in her tracks.

"Is there a problem?"

"No, ma'am. But how did you know you were pregnant?"

"I used a pregnancy strip."

"Well, there is still the need to visit the hospital and go through the due processes."

"Of course, we will schedule that."

"Yes, ma'am." Mia hesitates again, fidgeting.

"Why are you standing still?" Alina looks up from her screen.

"Nothing." She finally asks, "Is Grandpa aware?"

Alina's eyes grow round as she is in a confused state whether to let him know or not.

"Um… He isn't aware. Not yet." She takes a brief pause, "I checked it today. We can't rely on just the strip, so we can't tell him until we have the hospital reports."

Mia nods her head, "Okay, ma'am."

With a stern look, Alina points a finger, "Do not tell him yet, Mia."

"I won't. I won't, ma'am." She claps her palms together. "Let me fetch you some warm milk."

Mia closes the door slowly.