59. A male or female.

TONY.

"What are you doing here?" Lara asked me as soon as she opened the door. Her face drew into a confused stare, which left as soon as it came and was replaced by one that looked like she was pissed, but she tried to cover it up with a smile. She looked around her corridor as if looking for someone, before facing me again. "What are you doing here?" She asked me again.

From my experience with girls, they're mostly always happy to see their boyfriends whenever he comes unannounced. But Lara was different. She had always been like that. Whenever I don't call her or let her know I was coming over, she always behaves in a way I didn't understand whenever she sees me in her place.

I believe someone shouldn't feel uncomfortable seeing their boyfriends unless they're hiding something, or being sneaky due to one reason or the other. Moreover, Lara comes to my place quite often without letting me know beforehand. At times I return from work and just meet her in my place, but I never feel somehow about it. She's my fiancé after all. So, I wonder why it's not the same for her.

"What am I doing here?" I returned the question with a confused look on my face. "Does that even make sense to you? Why would you ask me such a question?" I asked her and scoffed. It sounded insulting to me, but I was in no way ready for an argument, so I'd rather let it be than push it further.

"No. I was just surprised to see you. You always tell me whenever you're coming. And today, you just came unannounced, so—"

"If you want me to leave, it's fine. I can leave if you have stuff to do. I just decided to come since it's been a while since I visited you at your place. It's nothing serious." I said and was about to turn to leave when she held me by the arm.

"Babe? Why would I tell you to leave?" She said and cleared her throat before dragging me inside by the arm. Then, she closed the door behind us. "The thing is that I was discussing with the girls, and I had no idea any guy was going to join us." She said.

It was only then that I noticed the presence of her friends in the room. Looking forward to the far end of her sitting room, I saw Beth. Our eyes met, but she looked away immediately, making me chuckle lightly.

"Oh," I said, itching the back of my neck. "I had no idea you had stuff to do with your girls. My bad, I should have called beforehand." I added. That was satisfying to hear. My mind had started to wander somewhere else with the expression she gave when she first saw me.

"No, it's fine. You can stay," Yeesha said to him, and the other girls turned to look at her, including Lara. It seemed like she glared at her, but I didn't want to imagine things again. "Oh, sorry. I think you'll have to excuse us. It's a girls-only thing." She said, more like she corrected herself.

I shrugged. "Fine then. I'll take my leave now. I'm sorry for interrupting your fun. I'll make sure to call next time, babe." I said the last sentence to Lara and she gave me a small smile.

"We'll fix our seeing each other at another time." She said and I nodded. She then held my hand as we turned to walk to the door. "How's work going?"

"Pretty well," I replied. "And how's my baby?" I touched her stomach with my free hand and she chuckled.

"Your baby doesn't let me sleep well at night, so that assures me that she's doing fine." She replied with a smile on her face.

"She?" I stopped in my tracks and turned to face her with raised eyebrows. "How sure are you that the baby is a female?" I questioned.

"Not a male. I want a female first. I mean, yeah, I have to pass all my good looks and attributes to her, and I'm so anxious to do that, so this baby has to be a female." She said and touched her stomach.

I rolled my eyes and folded my arms, a small smile tugging on my face. "I have a physique any man would want to have. That's a plus to my handsomeness. Trust me when I say that's enough reason for our baby to be a male. He'll be the one caring for his siblings when we eventually have others." I explained.

"Whatever!" She said and raised her hands in surrender. "I'm totally fine with anyone. Either male or female, they had better look like me!" She added, making both of us laugh.

"You two know we can hear you, right?" Grace shouted from the other side of the sitting room and we both turned in her direction.

"Who do you think she should birth first? A male or a female?" I asked her.

"A male that looks like his dad, of course," Janet replied.

"Her dad? Nah," Yeesha replied and scoffed. "I'd prefer a female that looks like Lara. That's an addition to the fact that we'll be godmothers to that pretty little child when she's born!" She squealed as she said the last part.

"Hey!" I countered, my eyes opening wide, as I tried to explain my points. The girls looked in my direction immediately, including Lara, who had a big smile on her face because she was winning. "What did she mean when she said…" I paused to clear my throat, then I tried to mimic Yeesha. "Her dad? Nah." Everyone burst into laughter, including Yeesha. "I am very good-looking, so what does that statement mean, uh?"

"You're just jealous that I won, duh," Lara said and laughed loudly.

"Not yet!" I wasn't going to agree. Then, I looked around to see if there was anyone else that could support me. It was then I noticed Beth sitting quietly and watching all our drama without a word. "Yes! Beth! Who do you choose? A male or a female?" I asked her.

She looked at me, but nothing came out of her mouth. The look on her face made me feel so guilty. I shouldn't have asked her. It was only then that my mind went to the fact that she was also carrying my baby. I cleared my throat and was about to change the topic when she replied.

"It'll be better if she resembles Lara." She simply replied, but with no fun expression on her face. The other girls squealed in happiness since the person they had supported won the argument. Beth on the other hand looked away without a word.

"Fine, you guys won. I should leave now." I said and not waiting for them to say another thing that would hold me down, I walked to the door. As soon as I turned the doorknob and opened the door to step out, I met a face that looked familiar in front of the door. Just that I didn't remember where I have seen the person before.

"Uhm, hello? Are you looking for someone?" I asked him.

"Oh, yeah. Could you please tell Lara that Tom is at the door?" He replied.

"You're here to see Lara?" I asked again, unsure of why he was there to see her. I looked into the house at the girls that were still discussing. "Lara!" I called.

"Yes?" She replied, making the others stop talking.

"Someone is here to see you."

"Uh… me? who?" She asked, walking towards me.

"Tom."