“So, is this big baby still sick?”
Rather than being concerned, Kairos chuckled with satisfaction. Even though it was already the fourth day, Edward was still sick and looked weak.
“Sam, I think you should check on this big baby. My gut feeling tells me that the fever Edward is suffering from is not just a normal fever.”
This evening, Kairos didn’t come alone. He deliberately brought Samuel to check on Edward’s condition, which hadn’t improved.
Kairos had repeatedly given advice, even forcing Edward to stay in the hospital. But instead of agreeing, he refused Kairos’s suggestion.
“No need to exaggerate.”
Kairos reflexively narrowed his eyes in disbelief.
“Who’s exaggerating? I’m acting like this because I’m seriously worried. Just imagine, all these years of working together, I’ve never seen such strange behavior like you showed yesterday.”
Samuel, puzzled, asked, “What did Edward do?”
“When we had a meeting with the developers a few days ago, Edward suddenly left the meeting room, and you know what reason he gave me?”
Samuel raised his eyebrows, waiting eagerly for Kairos to reveal Edward’s reason.
“What?”
“He said he deliberately left the meeting room because he felt nauseous after smelling the body odor of one of the meeting participants, which he described as a mixture of garlic and motor oil.”
Samuel burst into laughter. He could imagine how annoyed Kairos was at that moment after hearing Edward’s reason.
“I’m not making this up,” Edward defended himself. “At that time, I really felt nauseous and wanted to vomit because I couldn’t stand the smell of one of the meeting participants’ body odor. Rather than vomiting in front of everyone, I decided to leave.”
“But what you said at that time was really exaggerated, Ed,” Kairos said angrily. Then he turned his gaze to Samuel. “Can you imagine, the smell of garlic mixed with motor oil? I don’t think any chef in the world would be crazy enough to use motor oil in their cooking.”
Samuel just laughed. Then, he returned his focus to Edward.
“Well then, let me help check on you.”
Samuel then sat on the sofa, right next to Edward. He took out a stethoscope and began to carefully examine Edward’s body and make a diagnosis.
“Besides the fever, what other complaints do you have?”
“Nausea and vomiting,” Edward replied softly.
“How about your appetite? Is it stable, decreased, or the opposite?”
“On the first day, I felt weak and had no appetite at all. But for the past two days, my appetite has increased significantly from usual. However, every few hours after eating, I immediately feel nauseous and want to vomit.”
Samuel nodded in understanding.
“Are there any other complaints you have?”
Edward tried to remember. If possible, he wanted to convey all the strange feelings he had to his friend.
“I feel like my sense of smell is much more sensitive. My body also feels much weaker than usual. My back also often feels sore. And what’s strange is that I easily feel sleepy and lazy to do anything.”
Samuel laughed. Finally, he knew what illness Edward was suffering from.
“Do you want to know what’s causing your condition like this?”
Edward nodded and asked in return, “What?”
“You have Couvade Syndrome, Ed.”
“Couvade Syndrome?” Both Edward and Kairos said the same sentence.
“Yes,” Samuel nodded. “Couvade Syndrome or sympathetic pregnancy. Where an expectant father experiences symptoms commonly felt by pregnant women in the first and third trimesters.”
“Wait a minute… wait a minute,” Kairos interrupted. From his expression, it was clear that he was confused. “Can a man feel something like that? Isn’t he the one who’s not pregnant?”
“Of course he can,” Samuel said confidently. “Usually, this kind of pregnancy is triggered by a very strong bond between the husband and wife. And because of the strong bond, husbands experience pregnancy symptoms felt by their wives.”
Kairos understood what Samuel explained. But still, there was something that felt uneasy.
“The problem is Bella isn’t Edward’s wife. Yes, even though her womb is borrowed, but the baby she carries is the seed of Edward and Julia. So why would something like this happen?”
Samuel shrugged. Although he knew what was really happening, he had no intention of telling the truth.
“I don’t know. Maybe this happened because Edward has an unusually close bond with Bella.” Then Samuel deliberately glanced at Edward, who had been silent the whole time. “Isn’t that right, Ed?”
Edward remained silent. He didn’t deny it but didn’t confirm it either. Instead, he was lost in thought about Samuel’s words, which made him wonder if he really had a spiritual connection with Bella.
***
Because of Samuel’s words, Edward became lost in thought. Even until nightfall, he continued to question within himself the reasons that made him experience Couvade Syndrome.
“Bella…” Edward called out when she finished helping him take the medicine Samuel prescribed. At the moment, they were sitting side by side on the sofa in Edward’s room.
“Yes, Sir? Is there anything else I can help you with?”
Edward shook his head. He didn’t need any more help.
“No. I just want to ask you something.”
Bella looked up. She focused her attention on Edward, examining his handsome face carefully.
“Yes? What would you like to ask?”
Edward remained silent for a moment. He tried to formulate the sentence he wanted to convey to Bella, unsure how to ask.
“Sir?” Bella prompted, curious when she noticed Edward’s silence.
“What?”
“During this pregnancy, have you not felt any of the usual symptoms pregnant women feel like nausea or vomiting at all?”
“It’s strange, but I haven’t felt anything,” Bella replied confidently. “I’m confused too. Because as far as I know, almost all pregnant women experience morning sickness. Whether it’s nausea or vomiting. But strangely, I haven’t felt anything. My appetite has even been stable.”
“Are there any other complaints you have?”
Bella recalled what had happened to her in the early stages of her pregnancy. After thinking for a while, she realized she hadn’t felt anything strange or difficult.
“Fortunately, no. At the beginning, I sometimes felt stomach cramps and had a disrupted sleep pattern. But now it’s getting better over time. Is there something wrong, Sir?”
Edward shook his head again.
“No. I just wanted to know.”
Bella smiled. Since her task was finished, she intended to leave the room and let Edward rest.
“Since it’s already night, you should rest.”
Edward nodded in agreement.
“I’m also feeling sleepy.”
“In that case, let me help you move to the bed first.”
Bella helped Edward walk to the bed. Before leaving, she sat on the edge of the bed to check Edward’s body temperature using a thermometer, following what Samuel had instructed her to do.
“Your temperature is already very normal.”
Edward nodded and looked at Bella intently. He stared at the woman sitting so close to him.
“Thank you so much for your help.”
Bella tugged at the corner of her lips and smiled. Her beautiful face made Edward unable to look away.
“No need to hesitate. I’m just doing what I can. I hope your condition improves soon.”
Edward didn’t reply. Both of them remained silent for a while. Until, somehow, the madness emerged. Edward, carried away by the atmosphere, consciously and boldly leaned forward. He gently pulled Bella’s chin and held it, planting a kiss right on her lips.
Their lips met and parted alternately. Soft and gentle, as if intentionally savoring the supple sensation.
While Bella was initially shocked and surprised by what Edward did, she chose to remain silent, experiencing and enjoying the moment. Gradually, she was swept away and reciprocated the kiss that Edward gave her.
They kissed each other for quite some time, responding to each other until the kiss naturally ended.
With their breath still heavy, their foreheads leaned against each other’s. They gazed at each other for a moment. Then, not long after, a voice was heard from the direction of the door.
“Darling… I’m home.”