[ Bella's Point of View ]
I smell strawberries.
I woke up from a deep nightmare, and my head hurt so bad.
"Good evening, Bella." Jameson stepped inside my room without any shirt.
As soon as I saw him, I remembered him kissing the lady at the grocery. Turns out that the girl suddenly attacked him. I got jealous for no reason.
YES, I WAS FREAKING JEALOUS!
"WHAT THE HECK ARE YOU DOING HERE?" I screamed at him.
That's right, I was drunk yesterday. I had to drink so I could forget every single thing that had happened.
"Why do you keep forgetting?" he asked and sat on my bed.
My eyes couldn't help but look at his body.
Oh, goodness.
"Why are you staring at my abs?" he asked and looked at his body too.
"I am not looking at anything," I replied.
I looked at his eyes, and his gaze stared directly at my soul. We were like a pair of flushing fools.
"Bella, I love you. I really really love you," he mumbled in a soft, low voice and moved closer to me.
I expected him to kiss my lips, but he kissed my forehead instead.
"Do you remember when we were in middle school? I told you I want to have lots of kids," he suddenly said and smiled annoyingly.
Yeah, I do remember him saying that.
Does that mean-
"Let's make one now, Bella," he solemnly said.
He tucked my hair behind my ear and brushed his nose to mine.
"Jameson," I spoke.
"Hmm?"
"Thank you for everything. Thank you for loving a psychopath."
"I will always love you, Bella."
"I love you too."
He cupped my face, and I smiled at him. My heart is beating so fast.
He pressed his lips against mine, and our hearts kept pounding against each other. We fell into the night, made love.
I gave in.
Throughout the years, he has always been patient with me. He loved me despite my character. He is my lifeline.
I guess there's always at least one person who will genuinely love and accept you for who you are.
And mine is Jameson.
I already know what love is. When my brother, Richard, died because he saved me, that's love.
Love is when you are willing to sacrifice everything, even your life, for a person.
And that's what Jameson has been doing for me.
And I am willing to do it for him too.
Because I love him.
I love him so much.
He tamed the psychopath.
...
/ A month later /
Janice is sitting beside me at the ob gyne clinic. I told her I needed a check-up because I didn't get my period for a month.
Well, it's normal, but I can't help but think about whether I'm carrying a child or not.
"Hey, Bella, what if you're pregnant?" Janice asked with a worried face.
I smiled at her. She was a really great friend.
"I wonder. If I am pregnant, I will name the child after you," I replied, and she gasped.
"Oh my goodness. Does that mean something happened with you and Jameson? You told me the both of you aren't dating!" she complained.
It's complicated, I know.
"Hi, miss Bella. Congratulations, you're pregnant," the doctor said as soon as she finished checking me up.
I didn't know what to feel, but I was happy. I'm glad that I'm carrying the child of the man I love.
I remember my mom. That night when she died, I didn't fire the bullet at her.
She suddenly grabbed a knife from her pocket and sliced her neck.
I promise myself I won't be a mother like her. I will give my child the love and care she needs.
I'll make sure my child won't disdain the world just like how I was before.
"But, your pregnancy is dangerous, Bella. Your womb is smaller than normal. We will assess it as soon as the child grows," the doctor added.
I felt a sudden stab in my chest and held my stomach.
"Will she survive?" I asked agitatedly.
"We will never know, miss."
Janice gently patted my back for comfort.
I cried and hugged her. What if my baby won't survive?
"Shh, Bella, it's going to be alright. She's going to survive," she replied.
As soon as I went back to my apartment, I saw Jameson waiting for me.
"Darling, where have you been?" he asked and cupped my face.
"I'm pregnant," I said and smiled at him. He looked so surprised and happy that he couldn't even say a word.
"I'll be a father?" he asked with his blue eyes sparkling.
"Yes," I replied and kissed him.
"I want our child to have your eyes," I added.
I can see the love and excitement in his eyes. He is so happy.
I don't want him to worry about my baby and me.
"I love you, Jameson."
...
/ Three months later /
"Bella, congratulations!"
We're now at Jameson's apartment for the baby shower. There are a lot of people here today congratulating us.
"Bella."
I looked at the person who spoke, and it was Niana. I smiled at her, and we hugged each other.
"Oh, Niana," I mumbled.
"Congratulations. I can't believe you're now a mother. I know you're going to be a great mom." She held my hand and kissed my forehead.
"Thank you for everything, Niana. Our past is so messed up, but you were a big part of it."
I also met Jameson's sister. She was so benevolent and beautiful. Except, she doesn't have the blue eyes Jameson has.
Ivan and Janice also ended updating each other. I'm the happiest for both of them.
I looked at all the people having fun right now, and I can't help but be happy too.
This happiness, I've been waiting to feel it. I held my stomach and spoke, "Baby, mommy loves you."
I felt a hand grabbing my waist, and it was Jameson. He kissed the tip of my nose and placed his one hand on top of my belly.
"I'm so happy," I told him.
"Me too. I can't believe this is happening," Jameson said.
As soon as I give birth, we're going to get married.
I hope I will still survive by then.
I want to marry the man I love and see my child grow up.
...
/ Four months later /
I felt my stomach as Calcifer was moving around.
Yes, our baby is a boy, and his name is Calcifer.
I wondered where we got his name, but I found out that Calcifer would suit him.
"Darling," Jameson spoke.
He already knows my condition. I couldn't keep hiding it from him because he is the father of Calcifer.
"Are you okay?" he asked as soon as he came home from work.
He is a very hands-on partner. As always, he never left me.
I nodded my head and held his hand.
"What if Calcifer won't survive?" I asked him. He sat beside me on the bed and shook his head.
"No, Bella, don't think about that. He will survive because he is a brave being like you," he said.
I rested my head on his shoulder. Loving him is so beautiful and warm.
"Bella, don't stress yourself too much, okay? You're going to give birth any time next month, so you have to stay strong for Calcifer," he said and patted my head.
I sighed and closed my eyes.
I felt like everything happened so unexpectedly.
I winced in pain as I felt cramps in my stomach.
"Ahhh," I groaned.
"Darling? What's happening?"
I am bleeding.
Jameson immediately took me to the hospital, and he was so worried.
I can't see him in pain because of me.
The doctors told me that giving birth would be very dangerous. One will die, and one will survive.
I knew it. My condition is precarious.
"Bella, please, I don't want to lose you," Jameson cried and held my hand. I looked at him. His blue eyes were filled with sadness and tears.
I shook my head and looked at him. "Jameson, I want my child to live," I said.
"Bella, we can make another child, okay? Please, stay with me. I can't lose you." He continued crying, and I also cried with him.
I love my child so much. And I don't want to see him die in my arms.
I want him to live a life I haven't experienced before.
I want him to be free.
I want Calcifer to love and to be loved.
I want him to live.
"Jameson. I love my life, but I love you and Calcifer even more. I want Calcifer to live with you. I want him to be loved by you. I want him to see the world and realize its beauty. I don't want to see him dying in my arms, Jameson, because if I did, I would also die," I mumbled while crying.
Jameson kept crying, begging, pleading me to live.
"I've lived a life already. I already got what I wanted. You loved me, and I learned to love you back. That's more than the years I spent surviving. Jameson, I love you so much. Please show Calcifer the same love you've shown me. Don't leave him, Jameson."
Jameson wiped his tears and calmed down. "Let's get married," he said.
We invited over a priest, Janice, and Ivan.
I just laughed at myself for being a bedridden pregnant bride in this hospital.
Jameson and I married in such a strange but unique way. I was lying on the hospital bed while he was standing right next to me.
It might not be like any other wedding but what's important is our love for each other.
Jameson is now my husband.
"I love you, darling," I mumbled, and he kissed me.
...
At midnight, everyone around me was crying. I saw Janice, Niana, and Ivan outside the ward, and they were crying, probably also trying to accept my fate.
I smiled through the pain, knowing that I have friends who truly care for me.
Jameson is still holding my hand, and he kept kissing it as I gave birth.
I looked at him, and I couldn't help but cry.
I can't believe this will be the last time I'm going to see him.
I shouted in pain as Calcifer pushed his way out of my body.
The doctors lifted him up to my arms, and I saw him crying.
Any time now, my womb is going to rupture. But my death won't be like any other deaths.
I looked at Jameson, and we kissed for the last time.
"Please take care of Calcifer. Tell him that I love him so much. I...I will forever treasure you in my heart, Jameson." I said my last words and continued to hold unto Calcifer and Jameson.
I closed my eyes and smiled.
Until then, my love for these two will go on.
Live, Bella. Continue to live.