Scented Claudia

I lay slumped over my desk, staring at the ceiling, feeling utterly defeated.

I had tried everything.

Every single plan.

Yet here i was, still empty-wombed and mission failed—again.

Maybe Raphael really didn't want a baby.

A long, miserable sigh escaped me.

I reached lazily for the How to Be a Better Mom book beside me.

I flipped it open and squinted at the pages, my mood turning even more bitter.

Hay. Sayang.

My fingers traced over the words.

I imagined reading them while holding my own baby.

How hard could it be, seriously?

Other people got pregnant by accident while i was here, practically masterminding blueprints and failing spectacularly.

What now?

I wasn't even that old, okay, not old-old, but still! I was turning 28 this year.

My friends were posting milestone photos of their kids online, and me? Still childless and insult to injury, kissless, because my own husband was apparently boycotting my mouth.

All because of my failed stunts. 

Even a peck on the lips was now nonexistent.

I rolled onto my stomach with a groan.

"Para mawala daw kalibugan ko."

WTH.

Was he serious? He was basically starving me of affection.

At that moment, Vanessa peeked into my room and raised a brow. "What's with the face?"

I turned my head with exaggerated drama. "I'm doomed."

She burst out laughing. "What now?"

I sat up, arms crossed. "Raphael. He's impossible. I need a baby, Vanessa!"

She plopped down beside me, eyes dancing. "Uh-huh. And?"

"I've tried everything! The accidental fall into his arms. The wet shirt moment. The massage trap. I even locked us in a room together! And here i am, still babyless and touch-starved!" I whined.

Vanessa lost it, clutching her stomach as she howled.

"Stop laughing!" I scolded.

"I—I can't!" she wheezed. "Miss Claudia, you're unbelievable! You really thought those would work?!"

"They should have worked!" I snapped.

She wiped away tears of laughter. "Miss. He's got the self-control of a monk!"

"Or he's just stubborn," I pouted.

She smirked knowingly. "Or maybe he knows exactly what you're up to and he's enjoying watching you suffer."

My mouth dropped open.

"That—!"

I grabbed a pillow and screamed into it.

Vanessa wheezed even harder. "Oh my god, I'm dying!"

"You should be helping me, not laughing!" I whined.

"Okay, okay, fine," she said, waving a hand.

"But let's be real. At this point he probably sees you as a walking threat."

"Vanessa!"

She shrugged. "What? It's true. You've been hunting him like a predator."

I let out a strangled groan and flopped back onto the desk.

She sighed and patted my head. "Look. Maybe stop forcing it. Let him come to you for once."

I gave her a deadpan stare. "I don't have that kind of patience."

She snorted. "Clearly."

After Vanessa left, I refused to give up.

If Raphael was going to be stubborn, I was going to double down.

So i grabbed my keys and marched straight to the mall.

If he wouldn't let me have a baby, then i'd make sure he saw one everywhere.

Baby clothes.

Baby shoes.

Baby toys.

And the best part? I was taking them straight to his mother's house.

Let's see him escape this one.

After shopping, I showed up at Raphael's family home with my arms loaded with bags.

To my luck, he was the one who opened the door.

His eyes flicked to the bags, then back at me, expression unamused. "What are you doing here?"

Before i could answer, his mother and sister, Viviena, appeared from the living room.

"Claudia, dear!" his mother greeted, standing to hug me.

I kissed her cheek with exaggerated sweetness before dumping the bags onto the table.

"Mama, I brought you a gift!"

She beamed, excited, but froze when she peeked inside.

Baby clothes.

Tiny shoes.

Soft plush toys.

Meanwhile, Raphael's death glare practically burned a hole through my skull.

I refused to look at him. Ignore the haters.

"Not yet, Mama! But we're planning," I declared proudly.

"You are planning," Raphael corrected in his deadpan voice.

His mother gave him an annoyed tsk while Viviena lit up like a Christmas tree, squealing over a tiny onesie.

"Look, Mama! Isn't this adorable?" I squealed, waving the baby clothes in Raphael's face.

"So cute!" his mother agreed, fully onboard.

I slipped baby shoes onto my fingers, making them dance. "I can already see our little one wearing these!"

Viviena clapped like a seal. "You'd make such a cute mom, Claudia!"

I grinned. "Right?!"

Raphael just rubbed his temples, muttering something under his breath like he was repenting for his sins.

Then his mother pulled me aside into a private room.

She looked me over, concerned. "Claudia, dear, why don't you have children yet?"

I let out a dramatic, heart-wrenching sigh. "Because Raphael doesn't want any. But i do!"

She gasped in horror. "Oh no. This won't do. We need a plan."

Our eyes met in perfect, scheming harmony.

And just like that, we were co-conspirators.

"When he goes to shower," she whispered conspiratorially, "you sneak in."

My jaw dropped. "Oh my god. Genius!"

We high-fived like partners in crime.

When we left the room, Raphael eyed us suspiciously.

"What are you two plotting?"

"Nothing!" we chorused in unison.

-

At dinner, I sat beside Raphael, casually playing with an orange.

He watched me warily. "Why are you even here?"

I smiled sweetly. "Because my husband is here. Where else would i be?"

Viviena giggled from the kitchen.

Then Raphael stood up. "I'm going to take a shower."

Our eyes locked.

This was it.

The moment.

Viviena leaned over, whispering, "I'll turn off the lights."

"Perfect," I hissed back.

As soon as we heard the water running, our plan went into action.

The lights went out.

"Oh no! It's so dark!" I gasped theatrically.

I staggered forward, hands out, searching.

And then—

Oh.

I hit abs. Hard, defined, glorious abs.

Before i could react, strong arms wrapped around me.

"What exactly do you think you're doing?" Raphael's deep voice rumbled in my ear.

Abort mission.

He hauled me out of the bathroom, shut the door behind him, and sighed deeply.

"Mission failed again," I muttered under my breath.

He shook his head, water dripping from his hair. "You're unbelievable."

I scowled, crossing my arms. "One day, Raphael. One day."

I sat hugging my knees on the living room couch with Viviena and his mom.

We all looked like we'd just lost the final round of a national competition.

Viviena groaned. "Ugh! I really thought the bathroom plan was foolproof. The lights out? The dramatic fall? It was perfect!"

His mom shook her head. "I don't understand. How did i raise such a dense son? In my day, men were eager. What's wrong with Raphael?!"

I sighed. "Maybe… maybe he really doesn't want a baby."

Viviena gasped like i'd committed blasphemy.

"Don't even say that! We did not go through all this for you to give up!"

His mom nodded firmly. "That's right. We need a new plan."

I buried my face in my hands. "I've tried everything! Even seducing him. He just patted my head and told me to sleep early."

Viviena clutched her chest, scandalized. "That monster!"

His mom shook her head in disbelief. "Unbelievable. We need something bigger. Something he can't avoid."

We fell silent, brainstorming.

Then Viviena snapped her fingers, her eyes alight. "What if you make him jealous? Let him see he could lose you. That'll wake him up!"

I sat up straight. "That's… actually genius."

We exchanged a triumphant high-five.

His mom nodded sagely. "Men don't always realize what they have until they think they might lose it."

"Exactly!" I said, practically bouncing. "We'll do that tomorrow."

-

That night, I crept back to Raphael's room.

He was sitting on the bed, scrolling through his phone.

The moment he saw me, he sighed.

"Why do i feel like you're up to something?"

I smirked and ignored the question, crawling onto the bed beside him.

"Don't you dare do anything stupid," he warned, pointing a finger at me.

I gasped in mock offense. "As if i'd rape you!"

His face turned red as he threw a pillow at me. "Claudia. Go to sleep."

I laughed, hugging the pillow before scooting closer. "Just let me hug you."

He sighed, but didn't push me away.

I wrapped my arms around his waist, resting my head on his chest.

His heartbeat was steady.

Comforting.

"Goodnight, husband," I whispered.

He didn't answer, but i felt his hand settle gently on my back.

I closed my eyes, smirking.

Tomorrow. The real game begins.