Contraction
Contraction
They had been planning this sleepover for ages. How could she pass up this golden opportunity to let loose and have fun with her girlfriends?
However, her body couldn't withstand the weight of fatigue. Spotting the weariness etched on Xu Nuan's face, Luo Dan suggested that she retire to her room for a good night's rest. She had already eaten, and staying up late could prove detrimental to her health.
Resisting the pull of sleep no longer, Xu Nuan conceded and retreated to the guest room for some much-needed rest. Ever since she entered her third trimester, Han Zihao had swapped their rooms, relocating their bedroom to the guest room on the ground floor.
Given that their original bedroom was located on the first floor, it wasn't safe for Xu Nuan to navigate the stairs in her delicate condition. Han Zihao was worried that with her natural talent for tripping over thin air, this might lead to a disastrous tumble.
The mere thought was terrifying for him; how could he allow her to come to harm? That is why he decided to convert the guest room into their primary bedroom.
___
Once Xu Nuan had settled down for the night in the guest room, Jia Fei and Luo Dan decided to call it a day as well. To stay close to Xu Nuan, they too decided to sleep in the guest room.
Luo Dan climbed into bed to sleep next to Xu Nuan, while Jia Fei staked a claim on the roomy couch in the guest room. Despite the bed being ample enough for all three of them, Jia Fei decided the couch was a safer bet.
She chose the couch because she was worried she might accidentally roll over in her sleep and squish Xu Nuan's belly. And if that happens, Han Zihao will never allow her to hang out with Xu Nuan in the future.
Everyone knew the guy was super protective of his wife.
In the hushed hours of the night, Xu Nuan found herself huddled on her side, her grip on the pillow unyielding, her body slick with cold sweat. A wave of pain had her in its clutches, making her tremble uncontrollably.
As she neared the ninth month of her pregnancy, her contractions had morphed into relentless beasts. While once they used to recede within mere seconds, they now hung around, their intensity increasing with each wave.
Her history of false labor alarms had seen her in the ER more times than she could count. Sometimes the culprit was as mundane as gas, other times it was a false alarm that led to unnecessary panic.
Every time she was in discomfort, Han Zihao would get all jittery and rush her to the hospital in the middle of the night. Yet, they would always find themselves back home after a few hours of rest and observation.
The doctor always offered the same soothing explanation. It was merely contraction pain, a standard affair as the due date neared.
Convinced that this was just another bout of contractions, she gritted her teeth, resolute in her decision to weather the pain and return to the comfort of sleep. Surely, sleep would provide a respite from the pain.
Taking a deep, steadying breath, she attempted to drift back into slumber. But, unlike the previous times, the pain clung on, its intensity escalating with each passing minute, making it harder and harder to dismiss.
"Ugh..." Xu Nuan moaned, her hand instinctively curling around her belly. Her complexion was drained of color and tears streamed unchecked down her cheeks.
Stirred by the restless movements and the audible signs of discomfort beside her, Luo Dan woke up. She frowned in concern, reaching over to switch on the bedside lamp.
The sight of Xu Nuan's ashen face and her body drenched in a cold sweat sent alarm bells ringing in Luo Dan's mind. She reached out to gently stroke Xu Nuan's face, her worry apparent in her voice, "Xu Nuan! What's wrong? Are you hurting?" She sat up quickly.
"It's...it's okay. It'll pass." Xu Nuan managed to grit out through clenched teeth. She insisted it would get better, but the relief seemed to be nowhere in sight.
Roused by the commotion, Jia Fei was now wide awake. The sight of Xu Nuan clutching her belly and hardly able to utter a word got her all jumpy. She shot up from the couch with a worried look on her face, "She seems to be in so much pain. Is she going into labor?"
" Or is this another contraction? Should we wait it out or rush her to the hospital?"
Luo Dan took in Xu Nuan's state - the pain was so intense that she was shaking and could barely respond to their questions. Making a quick decision, she said, "We can't let this go on. Get your car. We're taking her to the hospital right away."
Han Zihao had taken off on a business trip, leaving them with the task of caring for Xu Nuan. They couldn't afford to let anything happen to her.
Even if this turned out to be another false alarm, it was still preferable to take her to the hospital than to watch her writhing in so much pain without taking any action.
___
As they sped towards the hospital, Luo Dan was in the backseat of the car with Xu Nuan, offering words of comfort while Jia Fei was at the wheel.
"I'll call Han Zihao," Luo Dan said, reaching for her phone.
She felt the need to inform Han Zihao about Xu Nuan's condition and reached out to her phone to dial his number. However, Xu Nuan stopped her.
"No," Xu Nuan managed to say, "It might be... another false alarm." She was worried that this could simply be another bout of contractions. The last thing she wanted was to disrupt his important business trip over a potential false alarm.
If Han Zihao were to discover that she was heading to the hospital in the middle of the night, he would undoubtedly drop everything he was doing and rush back to her side without a second thought.
"But this time, it feels different," Luo Dan responded, anxiety creeping into her voice.
Luo Dan found herself wrestling with indecision. Still, her instincts were screaming that this wasn't your everyday contraction. Xu Nuan had never been this distressed from contractions before, and they would always dissipate relatively quickly.
If she were to go into labor while Han Zihao wasn't there, she didn't want him to miss such a significant moment, and moreover, she didn't want Xu Nuan to feel his absence during such a crucial time.
Overruling Xu Nuan's suggestion, Luo Dan decided to get in touch with Han Zihao. She dialed his number, only to find that his phone was switched off.
When Luo Dan found she couldn't reach Han Zihao, she quickly dialed Han Liang, who at the time was in the midst of a deep sleep in his apartment.
Roused from his sleep, Han Liang snapped to attention at Luo Dan's urgent news. "Okay, got it! I'll call Feng Sheng right now and get him to inform my brother about Xu Nuan."
"Don't worry, I'm on my way to the hospital too," he assured her, quickly dressing while simultaneously trying to get in touch with Feng Sheng.