OASIS

"Meow."

Xenia picked up her cat, "Niki says you look like me."

"Meow."

"I don't see which part?"

Xenia was surprised when her friend offered her a cat at her baby shower, saying it reminded her of Xenia.

Having Oasis was like training to be a mother before birth. The cat was mischievous, and Mark hated her.

The cat and the man's relationship didn't start well; Oasis loved to leave Mark presents in his shoes. It wasn't rare to have wet feet or slimy cat poop as he popped in his feet in his boots.

Oasis instincts already flared Marks's infidelity; Xenia thought when she reflected on that time.

Sia grew up with Oasis, and if the little girl took her first steps at nine months, it was thanks to Oasis's swift getaways from a baby who didn't know how to control her strength.

If Oasis could speak, she would probably say she lived the good life. She had two mistresses who loved her. Fed and groomed, the cat had nothing to rumble about, except for the fact, there were no men around. So when Gregory Carlton moved next door, oozing in testosterone, a particular place on Oasis started to twitch or the itch if you wish.

"Meow."

"Mom, Oasis is sick."

"Meow."

For the last few days, the cat barely moved or ate.

"Is she going to die?" The little girl asked while poking her cat.

"No, Sia, who told you about death?"

"Grandma says when we don't move, we're dead, and we go and meet Jesus."

Xenia made a mental note to tell her mom to stop saying such things to the little girl.

The doorbell rang, interrupting their conversation.

"Sia, wait, don't open theㅡ."

"Mom, it's Gregory."

"Bonjour Sia," Gregory said.

The man and Xenia were two adults having fun. His visits to Xenia's apartment were frequent, not to mention daily.

It's not that Xenia didn't like it, she appreciated the man's presence, and this was what annoyed her, especially when he gazed at her as he did then.

Xenia felt as though Gregory's eyes dived into her soul, and it was difficult to snap out of the trance once the man locked his eyes on her.

"Wow, it's hot in here," Xenia tugged on her t-shirt before turning to walk into her living room, followed by Gregory and Sia.

"I bought too much fruit. I thought I'd share some with you,′ Gregory said, handing Xenia the bag with Grapefruit, Granny smiths, Grapes, and bananas.

"Thank you, Gregory."

"It's my pleasure," whether he had too much or it was just a ploy to visit them didn't matter Xenia melted in front of his smile.

Who would have thought this possible of Xenia?

The woman wanted to run around howling like a banshee when she imagined the relationship they had. Gregory, out of the office, was something else; he was reliable and straightforward. He made everything seem easy. What was even more alluring and added plus signs everywhere was he was an A+ lover. Stamina, whatever, you name it, Gregory had it.

"Gregory, Gregory, there's something wrong with Oasis, look," Sia said, poking her cat once more.

"Sia, don't do that," Xenia said from the kitchen while she put the fruits in a basket.

"Let me have a look at her," Gregory said. The cat didn't even stand up to limbo in front of her favorite man.

"You see, she's all fat," Sia said.

"Xenia," Gregory called, "I think you should take Oasis to the vet."

"Why? What's wrong with her?" Xenia said as she hurried to the living room.

"I think Oasis is pregnant."

"Say what? Gregory, take that back, I swear, take it back."

"What does preg-ant mean?" Sia asked, intrigued.

"It meansㅡ."

"Gregory, don't she's too young."

"Xenia, there's nothing wrong with telling your daughter about life," Gregory smiled in Sia's direction.

"What does it mean?" Sia asked, her gaze switching from one to another.

"It means your cat is going to have babies."

"Honestly, Gregory, it isn't possible; my girl Oasis isn't like that," Xenia protested.

"But mom, I thought the crane bought babies?

Gregory glared at Xenia.

"What, don't look at me like that," Xenia said, returning the same stare at the man who started to laugh.

"Well, well, between the oatmeal and this, all that's missing is the cauliflower."

"Oh, mom told me you could find babies in cauliflower too."

"Xenia, oh my," Gregory chuckled, "come on, you could at least say something close to reality."

The whole situation amused Gregory. Unlike what Wendon imagined, he was having a good time living ordinary but cocky moments.

"Stop laughing, Gregory. It isn't funny; we're in a crisis here. Someone knocked up my Oasis."

Gregory couldn't hold it in, and he practically laughed all the way to the vet's cabinet with Xenia's reproach to her cat, playing like background music.

XY XX

An hour later, the vet confirmed Gregory's diagnosis.

"Meow."

"Don't meow me, how could you do this to me, Oasis. After all, I've done for you, Oasis. I didn't raise you like that. How could you give yourself to some random ally cat." Xenia scolded as she paced back and forth in her living room.

"Xenia, I think you are exaggerating a little."

Gregory watched Xenia pace while he sat down with Oasis on his lap and Sia beside him.

"Gregory, stay out of this. It's between me and this kinky feline," Xenia said, pointing at Oasis. "I should have known. Why didn't I read the signs of all those grinding sessions on Gregory's leg? You couldn't hold it in, could you? You went sneaking around by my back."

"Meow."

"You could at least have the decency to deny it."

"Meow."

"What are we going to do now Oasis, tell me who did this to you?"

Gregory didn't know if he should laugh or cry; one thing was for sure it was Xenia was a one-person show all of her own.

"Xenia, I think Oasis understands. Give the cat a break," Gregory said as he caressed the sick cat's head.

"A break, who is going to take care of all of them? I'll have to give them away and everything to some random people who I'm not even sure will take care of them. I mean, Oasis doesn't know how hard it is to raise children."

" Xenia, are you still talking about Oasis?" Gregory asked, raising a curious eyebrow.

"I'm sorry, Gregory, it's just such a shock," Xenia slumped down next to Gregory.

Sia already snoozed, and her baby snores made the two adults look at her.

Xenia got up to take Sia to her bed, but Gregory stopped her.

"Leave it, Xenia, I'll take her," the man said, handing Oasis to her.

"Gregory, une histoire," the child mumbled in her sleep, making him smile at his return in the living room. It was Xenia he found dozing off.

The day, Oasis pregnancy, and of course, her endless ranting took the tole on her. Gregory waited fifteen minutes, making sure she was sound asleep, and there he lifted Xenia too, having carried her a couple of times before the action wasn't an endeavor.

She, too, muttered things under her breath, "tell me a bedtime story," the request, which wasn't as innocent as Sia's, made the man grin.

Gregory laid her on her bed. His heart pounded so hard that he placed his hand on it. He knew full well; it had nothing to do with the exercise of carrying Xenia. His heart wasn't beating because of her but for her.

Xenia was the most energetic and eccentric woman he had ever met. Headstrong, lippy extrovert, brave mom, and working girl, the woman, was a full package, Gregory thought when he enumerated her qualities. Here as he watched her sleep, Gregory sighed, admitting that perhaps it was more than just adult gameplay.