Chapter Three: Rejection and Revelation

"This is... Wow. I can't believe it. You’re really pregnant. Congratulations, Rhys." Dr. Collins's words, though meant to be congratulatory, felt surreal, echoing in the sterile silence of the clinic room, a stark contrast to the emotional tempest raging within me.

I sat across from her, my fingers gripping the test results she had just handed me, the stark black ink on the crisp white paper a jarring confirmation of the impossible, a tangible representation of a reality I couldn't comprehend. "But how is this possible? I’m a guy. How can I be pregnant?" The question hung in the air, a desperate plea for an explanation that defied logic, a desperate attempt to reconcile my reality with the impossible.

She gave me a reassuring smile, her eyes filled with a professional calm that belied the extraordinary circumstances, a steady presence amidst the chaos. Before responding, she pressed a button on her phone, her movements deliberate and efficient. Within seconds, her assistant, Mina, entered the room, her expression a question mark. "Mina, cancel my remaining appointments for the day and close the clinic." Mina looked surprised, her eyebrows arching in question, but she nodded and left to carry out her orders, her professionalism unwavering. Dr. Collins turned her attention back to me, her expression serious yet gentle, her demeanor a calming influence. "It appears you have both male reproductive organs and a functional female reproductive system. That’s the only explanation I can offer right now. I’ll need to conduct more tests, but based on your results, your pregnancy is just like any other." She smiled and walked over to the door, opening it, a gesture that invited my companions into the room. "Come in, you two."

Orion and Sammy rushed inside, their faces etched with worry, their eyes searching mine for any sign of distress. Orion grabbed my shoulders and shook me slightly, his eyes wide with concern, his voice laced with anxiety. "Rhys, are you okay? What did the doctor say? Oh my god, is it a false alarm? Nooo, what about the baby?!"

Sammy rolled his eyes, a hint of amusement flickering across his features, and pulled Orion’s hands off me, his movements gentle but firm. "You always have to be dramatic, don’t you?" He turned to Dr. Collins with a polite smile, his demeanor shifting to one of respectful inquiry, his professionalism a stark contrast to Orion's frantic energy. "So, what’s next?"

She handed me a white envelope, its contents a roadmap to my uncharted future, a guide through the labyrinth of my unexpected pregnancy. "Inside, you’ll find your check-up schedules, the vitamins you need to take, and a list of do’s and don’ts. So far, I see no difference between your pregnancy and a typical one, so I believe you’ll be fine."

I could barely process her words, the reality of my situation still a hazy, unbelievable dream, a surreal experience that defied comprehension. It still hadn’t fully sunk in that I was actually pregnant, that a life was growing within me, a tiny miracle unfolding within my own body.

"Rhys, I’d also like to consult with a trusted colleague about your condition, if that’s alright with you." Her voice was gentle, her tone reassuring, a subtle reassurance that I was not alone in this extraordinary journey.

I nodded absentmindedly, my mind consumed by a single, overwhelming thought—Frederick. How would he react? Would he be happy? Angry? Disgusted? I didn’t know of any other man who had ever been pregnant before. I was the first, a pioneer in a terrifying, uncharted territory, and I had no idea how he would take it, how he would reconcile this impossible reality.

"And Rhys, I hope that at your next check-up, the baby’s father will be with you." Her words were a gentle reminder of the responsibility that lay ahead, a responsibility that suddenly felt insurmountable, a weight that threatened to crush me.

I bit my lip anxiously, a knot of fear tightening in my stomach, a cold, icy dread that spread through my veins. I wasn’t sure if Frederick would accept this, if he would embrace this impossible reality. He was my family—my only family. If he rejected this baby… if he rejected me… I didn’t know what I would do, how I would survive. "What if people find out? What if they laugh at me?" A deep fear settled in my chest, and my eyes started to water, the weight of the world pressing down on me, the fear of judgment a suffocating presence. Orion gently squeezed my arm, his touch a comforting reassurance, a silent promise of support.

"Rhys, stop thinking about other people. Who cares what they think? You’re pregnant, so focus on happy thoughts. Gosh, I’m so jealous. I want a baby too!" His words, though laced with his characteristic flamboyance, made me laugh a little, easing the tension that had been gripping me, a brief moment of levity in the face of fear.

"Want me to get you pregnant?" Sammy whispered teasingly, his eyes twinkling with mischief, his voice a playful murmur.

Orion turned bright red, his cheeks flushing crimson, and Dr. Collins chuckled, a warm, genuine sound that filled the room, a moment of shared amusement.

"Sammy, your boyfriend is adorable. You should bring him to our family dinner next week. The family would love him."

Orion turned an even deeper shade of red, his embarrassment palpable, while Sammy grinned mischievously and pulled him closer, his arm wrapping possessively around his waist, a silent declaration of affection. "I will, aunty."

"Hmp!" Orion huffed, but a small smile played on his lips, a silent acknowledgement of his affection.

That evening, Orion fussed over me as if I were a delicate porcelain doll, his concern bordering on comical, his protectiveness a comforting presence. "Rhys, remember what your doctor said—no stress, take your vitamins, and please tell Frederick soon. Now go rest. I’ll take care of the cooking."

I shot him an unimpressed look, my lips twitching with amusement, a playful challenge. "You can’t cook. You’ll burn my kitchen down. I’ll cook. My belly isn’t even big yet—I can still move."

Orion sighed in defeat, clearly wanting to argue but knowing he’d lose, his concern battling with his pragmatism. "Fine. But we’re going shopping for maternity clothes soon. Your clothes won’t fit once your belly grows."

Once Orion left the room, I placed a hand on my stomach, a wave of tenderness washing over me, a surge of maternal instinct. "Baby, I hope your daddy accepts you. No matter what happens, I love you." I picked up my phone and dialed Frederick’s number, my heart pounding in my chest, a frantic drumbeat against my ribs. After three rings, he answered, his voice a familiar comfort.

"Hello? Baby?" His voice, usually warm and reassuring, sounded strained, tinged with an undercurrent of anxiety, a subtle shift that sent a shiver of fear down my spine.

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"I'm pregnant." The words hung in the air, heavy with unspoken emotions, a declaration that shattered the silence of the room.

I lowered my gaze, unable to meet his eyes, my heart pounding against my ribs like a trapped bird, a frantic rhythm that echoed my inner turmoil. Frederick's expression remained frozen, his eyes wide with disbelief, his features a mask of shock. He stared at me as if I had sprouted horns and a tail, a creature from a fantastical nightmare, a being that defied all logic and understanding.

"Hah? Can you repeat that, Rhys? I must have misheard you," he said with a nervous laugh, his voice trembling slightly, a desperate attempt to cling to the familiar. He stepped closer, taking both of my hands in his, his touch warm yet hesitant, a gesture that held a fragile hope.

"I'm pregnant." I repeated, my voice barely a whisper, the weight of the truth pressing down on me, a crushing burden.

His grip loosened, his hands falling away as he stared at me in shock, his eyes searching mine for any sign of deception, any indication that this was a cruel joke. I felt the sting of tears threatening to escape my eyes, the fear of his rejection a cold, icy grip on my heart, a chilling premonition of loss.

"What the fuck are you saying, Rhys?" His voice was sharp, laced with a mixture of confusion and disbelief, a raw, unfiltered expression of his bewilderment.

This was exactly what I had feared—Frederick not believing me, rejecting me, dismissing my reality. A sob escaped my lips as I turned away, unable to bear the weight of his disbelief, the pain of his rejection.

"Are you deaf? I said I'm pregnant!" I cried, my voice cracking with emotion, a desperate plea for understanding.

His eyes widened as he stumbled back onto the couch, his expression a mask of shock and confusion, his movements jerky and uncoordinated. I couldn't hold back my tears anymore, they streamed down my face, hot and heavy, a torrent of fear and despair. "But... how is that even possible? You're a man! We're both men!"

I knew this was hard to believe, a concept that defied all logic and understanding, a biological anomaly that challenged the very foundations of our reality. I had expected this reaction, had braced myself for it, had tried to prepare myself for his disbelief, but the reality of his disbelief was a crushing blow, a physical manifestation of my deepest fears. "I'm pregnant, Frederick. I am."

He shot up from his seat, stepping toward me, his movements jerky and agitated, his eyes filled with a frantic energy. Grabbing my shoulders, he shook me, his grip tight and firm, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and anger, a desperate attempt to shake me out of what he perceived as a delusion. Fear crept into my chest, a cold, icy dread, a premonition of the end. "Damn it, Rhys! You're a man, and men don’t get pregnant! This is absolute bullshit! Stop joking around!"

I saw the frustration and fear in his eyes, the denial that clouded his judgment, the desperate attempt to cling to a reality he understood. I averted my gaze, unable to watch his reaction when I showed him proof, the proof that would shatter his world, the tangible evidence of the impossible. Breaking free from his grip, I walked to the table and picked up the test results Dr. Collins had given me, the stark evidence of my impossible pregnancy, the documents that held the truth he so desperately wanted to deny. Turning back, I handed them to him, my hand trembling slightly, the fear of his reaction a palpable presence. He hesitantly took the papers, confusion evident on his face, his eyes searching mine for any sign of deception. "This is the proof. Test results. Frederick, your aunt was the one who examined me."

As his eyes scanned the documents, I saw the shock flicker across his face, followed by a wave of disbelief that darkened his expression, a shadow of fear and disgust. He looked up at me, his eyes filled with a mixture of fear and disgust, a raw, unfiltered expression of his inner turmoil. "You’re—you're a man. Men don't get pregnant." His voice was barely a whisper, his disbelief evident, his words a desperate attempt to cling to the familiar. I felt another tear fall down my cheek, tracing a hot path down my skin, a testament to the pain of his rejection.

"I know. But guess what? I’m pregnant. And you're the father."

"No. No, this isn’t happening. This is... Ah, this is a joke! A sick joke!" He paced back and forth, his movements frantic, his voice rising in pitch, a desperate attempt to convince himself. "You’re trying to trick me. You’re trying to ruin my life!"

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