The soft glow of the living room lamp cast a warm light across the space, enveloping Andrei and Cristine in a peaceful bubble of their own. They sat side by side on the couch, their conversation having drifted into a comfortable silence. Cristine leaned back against the cushions, her hand absently resting on her stomach.
Andrei glanced at her, his usual confident demeanor replaced by something more uncertain. He shifted slightly, his fingers drumming lightly on the armrest as if debating whether to speak.
Finally, he cleared his throat, catching her attention. "Cristine," he began, his voice unusually tentative, "can I... uh, can I feel it? The baby, I mean."
Cristine blinked, startled by the request. For a moment, she was at a loss for words. Then a soft smile tugged at her lips, and s
