Zuria
I woke up to murmurs.
The overhead lights buzzed faintly, their brightness making me squint as I stirred on the stiff bench. My head ached slightly, and my chest still carried a dull throb where the pain had struck before. My limbs felt heavy, and I groaned, shifting as the voices nearby began to sharpen in clarity.
"
...she possibly be pregnant?" Danny's voice drifted over.
"I really don't know," a woman answered. "I just told you what I felt when I touched her. It wasn't intentional."
What the hell?
I blinked a few more times, adjusting to the light and the sudden sharp tension curling in my stomach. Were they talking about me?
Dragging myself upright, I winced. My back screamed from the hours on that rock-hard bench, and my legs protested as I moved. The ache in my chest wasn't as strong, but it lingered like an old bruise—silent but not forgotten. They hadn't noticed me yet. I cleared my throat sharply, cutting through their conversation.
Danny spun around. "Oh, Zuria. You're awake!" He rushed toward me, his expression etched with concern.
He crouched beside me, his warm hands steadying my shoulders. "How are you feeling now? You said your chest was hurting right before you passed out. We were all really scared."
The two women behind him stayed rooted where they were, eyes curious but cautious. I couldn't tell if they were concerned or just fascinated by the drama.
"I honestly don't know," I murmured, brushing a hand over my forehead. "It came out of nowhere. One second I was fine, and the next… I could barely breathe. I've never felt anything like that before."
Danny frowned deeply. His brows furrowed, and I could tell he was mentally calculating all the possible things that could've gone wrong. I tried to stand up, but my legs buckled immediately, and I stumbled forward.
Strong arms caught me just in time.
"Hey, easy!" Danny steadied me, helping me back onto the bench. "You shouldn't be standing yet. Just sit down. You're exhausted. Let me talk to Mr. Connor. I'll ask him to give you the rest of the day off."
He gently adjusted my position, brushing imaginary dust from my shoulders before shooting a look toward the door. "Wait here," he added and turned to leave. The two women followed behind him without a word.
As soon as the door closed, silence settled around me like a blanket. I leaned my head back against the wall and exhaled slowly. My body was screaming for rest, and the nausea creeping up didn't help.
And then, in the quiet—
'Hi.'
I stiffened.
'Hey, Adelaide,' I responded internally, my tone tinged with sarcasm. 'You finally decided to talk to me again. I was starting to think you'd ghosted me for good.'
'I'm sorry,' she said softly. 'I just needed some time… to think. To hide, maybe.'
'Well, your little staycation left me dealing with everything alone. You know that, right?' I snapped, not hiding the frustration.
'I know. And I hate myself for it. You've been so strong, and I just— I wasn't. I couldn't face it all. Not like you.'
My anger fizzled into sadness. 'I get it. I really do. But I needed you, Adelaide. I'm scared, and this whole thing... It's crushing.'
'We'll get through it. Together this time.'
I smiled faintly. 'Thanks. I'm holding you to that.'
The door creaked open again, and I looked up. Danny walked in, flanked by the two women—and behind them, Mr. Connor.
Just the sight of that man made my stomach turn.
"I can see you're awake," he said, his voice flat. "If you're feeling better, then you can return to your station. We're behind."
Are you serious?
Danny immediately stepped forward. "Mr. Connor, she fainted. Her chest hurt so bad she collapsed. She couldn't even walk just now. Making her go back is dangerous."
"She could seriously hurt herself," one of the women added. "It's a kitchen, not a desk job. She could fall into boiling oil, or cut herself with a knife. We got lucky this time."
Mr. Connor shifted uncomfortably. "And who's going to cover her shift, huh? Half the day isn't even gone yet."
What about Tony?
Danny didn't miss a beat. "There are plenty of people here who can fill in. It's not like she's the only one who knows how to plate fries."
The woman smirked. "Yeah, and it wouldn't look great if the owner found out you kept a sick worker in the kitchen. You know how strict he is about safety, right?"
That made him freeze.
He scowled but finally sighed in defeat. "Fine. She can go. But I want her back tomorrow, understood?"
Before Danny could celebrate, he added, "And if she's too weak to go home alone, then someone should go with her."
Danny's eyes lit up. "Perfect. I'll take her. That way we're sure she gets home safely."
Mr. Connor narrowed his eyes. "You? You want the rest of the day off too?"
Danny grinned like a kid who just got away with something. "Exactly."
"You're getting half-pay for today," Mr. Connor muttered before storming out, clearly irritated.
Danny turned to the women. "Thank you. You guys really came through."
"You owe us donuts," one of them said with a wink, and then they were gone too.
Danny turned to me, arms spread. "Aren't I amazing?"
I laughed despite myself. "Yes, Danny. You're incredible."
He helped me up, looping my arm over his shoulder and bracing my waist. Together, we made our way through the restaurant. Mr. Connor glared from the corner, but Danny walked right past him, chin high.
Once we were outside and several blocks away, Danny stopped.
I frowned. "Why are we stopping?"
"I was thinking... should we go straight to your place? Or maybe somewhere else?"
I raised a brow. "I thought you were taking me home?"
"I said that, yes. But I know for a fact you haven't eaten today. And I need to talk to you—really talk."
He looked serious, and I knew what was coming.
I sighed. "Alright. Let's get something to eat."
We ended up at a cozy burger place a few streets down. I collapsed into the seat, the exhaustion heavier now that I was sitting. Danny went to order for us, and I waited, nerves twisting in my stomach. This was going to be the first time I said it out loud to someone else.
When he returned, he sat across from me, fingers laced in front of him.
"So," he said, voice low. "When you fainted… one of the women said you were pregnant."
I looked away, but he continued.
"She used to be a midwife. She said she didn't mean to, but when she touched your stomach, she knew."
He leaned forward slightly. "I didn't want to believe it unless it came from you. You don't have to say anything if you're not ready. I just… I care."
I met his eyes, and a calm fell over me.
"You're not intruding, Danny. You're just being a friend. And yes… I am pregnant."
His mouth dropped open. I couldn't help the smile that tugged at my lips.
It was exactly the reaction I had expected.