Leanna-Chapter 220: [Epilogue 3.1]

[Epilogue 3.1]

Honestly, I didn’t believe a word of what my mother-in-law said about the gigantic tree that even five men couldn’t circle the bark with their hands. But standing in front of it and actually staring at it, I was amazed.

This is like the most gigantic tree I have ever seen in my entire life!

The three was short, about three meters high. Its bark and trunks were thick, and its vast canopy spans endlessly, taking half of the top of the mountain in its shades.

And there was this tombstone.

It was little than I imagined, around half a meter tall with neatly written alphabet words ’Iraya’ carved on it.

"Zoe."

Lawrence gently called when I stared at the tombstone in a daze. He squeezed my hand and led it on the stone.

When my shaking palm felt that warm, smooth rock, my eyes closed.

I wish you two can continue your love beyond reincarnation.

----

Six months later

"Wow, you sure can eat."

Lawrence wiped away the sweat from his face as he shot a glanced at the basket full of eaten mangoes before he sat next to me.

"Be careful you don’t hurt your stomach," he added before he too peeled some mangoes and began eating.

I glanced at the eaten mangoes were the seeds the only thing left –– almost filling the basket. I already stopped counting when I ate ten.

"I’m hungry," I said and wiped the juices dripping from my mouth.

Lawrence laughed a little before we resumed eating the mangoes in silence, looking at the busy people working in the orchard. Not long after, my mother in law came walking in with a basket of fruits in hand.

"Zoe dear, have some more fruits. It’s fresh from the orchard."

"Mom, don’t encourage her. She might get stomachaches," Lawrence protested.

"Hush now! Pregnant women should eat lots of nutrients for the baby."

Pft! *cough . . . *cough . . .

Lawrence rubbed my back when I choked. After I stabilized my breathing, I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry at the sudden proclamation that I was pregnant.

I had long accepted the fact that I would never bore children, although the breakdown and depression sometimes kicked in. However, the environment and mostly the people surrounding me, showering me with attention and love, did miracles.

"You okay?" Lawrence asked as he rubbed my back.

He reached for the water and handed it to me. I readily drank the water, soothing my sore throat.

"Here, Zoe, what more do you like to eat? What do you crave? I’ll ask the men to get it for you." My mother in law urged as she replaced the empty basket with a new one full of fruits.

"Mom, it’s my usual cravings before my period. Nothing to get excited about," I joked, yet my eyes moisten. I was still sensitive when it came to pregnancy topics.

Lawrence and my mother in law glanced at each other and glanced at basket full of eaten mangoes before staring at me with raised eyebrows. 𝗳𝚛𝚎𝚎𝘄𝕖𝕓𝕟𝕠𝚟𝚎𝕝.𝗰𝕠𝐦

I pretended to look forward, seemingly amazed at the working men like out of nowhere, something would pop right there.

These past few weeks, my cravings got over the top that if I didn’t satisfy it, it wouldn’t make me sleep.

"Zoe, when was your last mens––er . . . cycle?" Lawrence questioned with an awkward face.

"Two months ago. Why?" I said nonchalantly and stared at him.

Lawrence looked at me with shining eyes, but my face remained skeptical.

"It’s normal for me to skip my period, Lawrence. I’m irregular," I explained.

But Lawrence ignored me and glanced over at his mother.

"Mom, ready the car. We’re going to the hospital, now."

----

On the way to the hospital, I kept myself in check, not to be affected by my mother in law’s rattling about her own pregnancy of the twins.

"I’m sure what you’re feeling are symptoms of pregnancy. Heck! When I was pregnant with the twins, I had eaten more than two sacks of mangoes every day. My cravings wouldn’t be satisfied, and your father had to knock from our neighbors, asking if they had extra mangoes or ice cream. Ahahahaha!"

I leaned my head on Lawrence’s shoulder as our fingers interlaced. My face plastered a smile while listening to my mother in law’s stories. Lawrence, on the other hand, closed his eyes as he leaned on the window with no care in the world, rubbing his thumb against the back of my palm.

I didn’t want to raise my hopes only to be stripped it from me in the end. I don’t think I could handle another disappointment after almost like a thousand disappointing news.

Only, everyone around me didn’t lose one bit of hope. Saying Lawrence and I should try harder, which I just laughed it off.

My mind already accepted it was my period. Though, my heart beat slow and steady, but hard. Like it was excited for some reason.

----

"Congratulations! You’re seven weeks pregnant. And judging from your scan . . . you’re having triplets!"

". . ."

". . ."

What?

I tried to focus on the middle-age woman wearing a white gown. Desperately analyzing what she said, yet I absolutely couldn’t digest anything.

Nothing.

It felt like I was transported to another world where all I saw were white and deafening silence. I didn’t even understand why Lawrence was panicking.

"Doc, this is my wife’s first pregnancy, and she’s going to have triplets? Is this going to be difficult? Will there be any complications? Are they going to be alright?"

I didn’t understand what they were talking about. Everything was in slow motion. I couldn’t feel anything. Not my breathing. Not the pounding of my heart. Not the feeling of my limbs.

I was floating.

Eventually, my brain could no longer handle all these sensations that exploded all at once. It shut down together with my body, and before my consciousness faded, Lawrence frantic voice called me.

"Zoe!"

----

"Mmmnn . . ."

I groaned when something squeezed my hand.

I opened my eyes, and the clean white room came into view.

"Zoe . . ."

I glanced to where that voice I love so much came.

Lawrence smiled with worried eyes. His hands clasped mine.

"What happened?" I mumbled with a groggy voice. I wanted to move my other arm, but a needle pricked on the back of my palm stopped me.

"You passed out. You’re inside a hospital room. God, don’t scare me like that!"

Passed out?

With shaking voice and moistened eyes, I asked him, full of doubt and hope.

"Am I . . . p-pregnant . . . ?"

Lawrence stared at me, assessing if I was okay before he nodded with wide smiling lips.

"Easy . . ." Lawrence caressed my cheek when I laughed and cried at the same time.

"I didn’t know you can pass out because of so much happiness."

"Well, now you do."

Lawrence chuckled and gently but firmly kissed my forehead with glistening tears in his eyes that I couldn’t help but cry some more.

"It’s going to be a hard pregnancy, but nothing dangerous. Just to be safe, I’ve already hired an at-home doctor and nurses to take care of you 24/7. I’ve asked my parents to clean the bedroom on the ground floor and make sure there are no radiation at least ten meters from you. I’ve also asked the doctor to get me all the things you needed, medicines, the food you should eat and not eat, kinds of milk you should drink and––"

"Lawrence." I laughed when he panicked. The excitement and happiness radiating from him were so apparent it rubbed on me.

"Calm down. You’re missing the most important thing."

Lawrence grinned when he saw my playful smile.

"If you’re talking about what will happen with our sex life, I’ve already asked the doctor about it. She said it’s fine as long as we’re gentle and careful. And that’s why from now on, we will refrain from having sex, and I have to abstain for––"

"That’s not it!" I laughed and smacked his chest.

Lawrence grinned as he leaned and kissed me.

"It’s not . . . ?"

He gently bit and nibbled my lips. I didn’t know how long we’ve kissed. It was slow and gentle and lingering and . . .

. . . just pure bliss . . .

"No, silly." I giggled as we locked eyes, our foreheads touching as our lips occasionally grazed in a sweet kiss.

"Names. Names of our kids."

My greatest wish was to have a family of my own. I had long since made up names for my children, yet I didn’t think a single trip to Mt. Iraya would change everything for me. Miracles or not. My long, heartfelt wish was given to me, and for that, I’ll be forever grateful.

"Well sweet cake, now that you’re mentioning it. Do you have something in mind?"

I licked my lips and muttered, "Well, how about if it’s boys . . . let’s name them Ray, Roy, and Larry."

Lawrence laughed and pecked my nose. "And what if it’s girls?"

Our eyes locked in silent whispers of love that made me realized how much I was thankful to be alive.

"If it’s girls . . . how about . . . Ira, Aya, and Iraya?"

Lawrence’s eyes melted with delight and sparkled with joy.

"NO! What about Lawrence Jr., Lance Jr., and Leon Jr.?" My mother in law barged in and came pouring in people who were important in our life.

"What are you talking about? It’s going to be girls named Lean, Leanna, and Leandra!" My father in law ran inside and interjected.

"If I may, I think Zoe, Chloe, and Amanda are good names," chimed in grandpa Luke, who I didn’t know was already here.

I laughed when those were the names of mother and grandmother.

"Zoe, how are you?"

"Aunt Zoe! Aunt Zoe!"

"How are you feeling?"

Everyone converged beside me, and the room echoed with different cheers of laughter and joy.

Leanna and Cain with their twins, Cole and Lina. Estela and Zhander with their son and daughter, Zachary and Ella. Emery and Lawrence with their baby boy, Len. And Elliot with his girlfriend, Saoirse Wilson (which was very unexpected). I didn’t even know when they had arrived.

I looked at Lawrence. He was laughing and smiling nonstop as everyone congratulated us. Everything was in slow motion. I was engraving each second of this moment.

Lawrence met my eyes in an intimate unspoken conversation.

"I love you."

"I love you more."

Fin. 🐇

----

A/N

Thank you for reading Zoe’s Story ^^

ONWARDS to EMERY and after would be the SIDE STORIES and SPECIALS. Don’t miss out and stay tuned ^^