Chapter 7

MELISSA QUIZON

It had been two days since I was discharged from the hospital. I was always in deep thought. It was as if my head was going to explode with so many questions swirling in my brain. When the doctor told me the news, I didn't know how to react or feel about it.

Would I be happy? Or would I be sad?

How could I raise this child if I was this young? I was only Nineteen.

But I knew it was my fault. I had been so overwhelmed with the thought that Wright and I would be forever. Maybe forever was just a hallucination.

Even Grandma was cold to me. Although we were together under the same roof, it felt like she was far away. I knew I was a disappointment to her. I was not proud of what I did.

I hoped she was not blaming herself for all my wrongdoings.

I didn't want her to think that she had failed to raise me well. She should not blame herself. I was to blame because I was the one who was wrong. I was the one who loved Wright and believed that his love for me was real.

Shit! It hurt! He was the first man I ever loved. Why didn't he think of that? I gave him everything I had. Right. I had never heard him say, 'I love you' to me. Not even once. His charm had blinded me. I had been dreaming too much. I had always been looking forward too much.

I touched my stomach. I got up from lying on my bed and went to the mirror located at the side of my bedroom. I raised my shirt up to the bottom of my chess. I leaned over to see my belly, which showed a small bump. I touched it and caressed it. Suddenly, tears welled up in my eyes.

Wright needed to know about this. He was also accountable for this; he must take responsibility. With the lifestyle I had now, I couldn't raise this baby alone. I started getting dressed to go to Wright's condo unit. He needed to know. It was his responsibility.

"Thank you, sir," I politely said to the taxi driver and handed over my payment.

I prepared myself first before I rang the doorbell. I knew how he would react when he saw me on his doorstep once again.

I readied myself. The moment I saw his face, the first thing I would feel was pain.

My hand trembled as I raised it to ring the doorbell. I closed my eyes when it sounded. He would be responsible for our child. I was not the only one responsible for this child.

"Oh, it’s you again." When I opened my eyes, a woman with blue eyes opened the door for me.

Claire. Was that her name?

Suddenly, my knees trembled as the name entered my mind. She was here again. Were they living together?

"I-I n-need to talk to Wright." I tried to steady my voice.

"Come in." She opened the door wide for me to enter. I was surprised by how she treated me.

“Won't you even be angry that I'm here again? You won't shout at me? You won't throw me out me or call me anything?”

She laughed heartily. "Why should I? I will not stoop down at your level. And, one more thing—do you think you can get him back from me?"

I could barely move in my seat because of what she said.

She was right.

No. I had to get him. I had to—for our child.

Even if I hurt someone else, I didn’t care anymore, as long as I had Wright. We needed him—our baby needed him. I didn't care if this woman would get hurt. Wright was mine. I needed him. Even though I knew he was hiding from me, I had nothing to lose.

“Just sit down. I'll just call Wright. He is cooking,” she said before going to the location of the kitchen.

I just found out that Wright knew how to cook. I had never experienced his cooking. Were you that special, Claire, for him to do that for you?

What if she was right? What if Wright wouldn’t accept me?

How could I deal with this on my own?!

"What do you want this time?" A cold voice awakened me from my deep thoughts. I turned and saw Wright standing in the doorway of his kitchen.

I stood. “W-Wright.”

"What else do we need to talk about?" I couldn’t look him in the eyes because I was hurt by the blank expression he gave me.

"Can we talk? In private? Please? This is something important. I beg you." How many times had I begged him? How many times had I embarrassed myself? I hoped he would give me even a moment—even just a minute. He looked at Claire, who was now clinging to his arms. Claire nodded. Wright took a deep breath. "Library."

He walked first, and I just followed him. I stared at his back. Everything I once owned was now owned by someone else.

We sat facing each other in the library. From his aura now, I could feel that he had no interest in what I had to say.

“Spit it out. I don't want you to stay here. Claire might suspect that there's something going on between us,” Wright said coldly.

It felt like I was being punched by what he said. "I-is that how much you love her?"

"What do you want to talk about?!" He stared at me. I averted my gaze and bit my lips. “What is it?! Speak up!”

I cried. "I-I'm pregnant, Wright," I said directly. There! I said it!

“What?!” he said, confused. "Who’s the father?"

I gasped. “You! Stupid!”

I can't control my anger anymore. How dare he! When we were dating, there was no one else. How could he say that like I was some whore he got from the streets?!

"Mine?! Are you kidding me?!”

“I’m four weeks pregnant, you freaking trash!” I tried not to shout for the sake of my baby. I rummaged in my bag and looked for the pregnancy test I had used earlier.

When I found it, I stood up and walked up to him. I slapped the pregnancy test in his face. I saw how shocked he was.

“That's the proof I'm pregnant. And it's yours! Don't drag me through the mud, Wright. You are the only one who slept with me.” Tears were starting to run down my cheeks. "All the time we've been together, h-have you known anyone linked to me other than you? I-I don't even have any friends at school because they all stay away from me. After all, t-they hate me. Y-you still doubt me?"

He stood up and held the test that I slapped in his face. He was just shocked by my anger. “So, what are you asking for now? Money? Supplies?”

My lips parted. I was not a gold digger! “W-Wright, I-I don’t need money. Y-you. I need you.”

He averted his gaze. "I can't do that."

"What?!" I grabbed both of his arms. “Look at me, Wright. Please. I need you. We need you. Please. I’m begging you.”

"I-I can't. I'm sorry." He pulled his arms from my grasp.

"Please, Wright. I…I can't afford to do this alone," I begged. "Please, don't leave me!"

"Sorry."

"What can I do to make you not leave me?"

"Abort it," he said directly. “I am not ready to be a father.”

I stared at him for a few seconds. I couldn't believe what he just said. I stepped backward and put my palm on my belly. “What?! No! How can you be so selfish, Wright? You’d kill an innocent child?!”

“If you don't have an abortion, you won’t receive anything from me.”

I pressed my lips together, trembling. I didn’t know what to say to him. I knew that by the time I opened my mouth, unkind words would come out of it.

“You’re a beast! I never thought you were like that, Wright. How can you say that?!” I shouted. “This is your child! Shit! If they heard what you are saying, they would be hurt!”

"I don't like responsibility, and I hate kids, Melissa," he said coldly. I sat down on the sofa next to me. I felt like my knees couldn’t take it anymore. “Have an abortion. I’ll take care of all the costs. It costs less than raising a child, Melissa. Your choice.”

"I don't want to..." I covered my face with my palms and started to cry. "No…I don’t want to."

“Then…I won’t take any responsibility. It’s your choice. You may leave now."

I heard the door close when he left. When I removed my palms from my eyes, I was alone in the room. He was gone. I hugged myself because of the cold I was feeling.

‘I won’t take any responsibility,’ he had said.

How could I deal with this on my own?

I went out of the library and saw Claire standing outside the door. She looked at me seriously, but joy danced in her eyes. I covered my mouth before the sob could come out. I walked quickly to get out of his condo immediately.

I could no longer bear to see the person who wanted to kill my baby.

He threw us away.

He dumped us.

He would not accept us.

Why should I force myself on him?! If he didn't want to take care of our child, then I would!

I could do this! I could do this! Even if I was alone. I knew I could also find someone who would appreciate me, and he would not make me suffer the pain I felt when Wright dumped me.

"Mommy?" What?

“Mommy, wake up! You’re having a nightmare! Mommy...” Why was this voice familiar to me?

I slowly opened my eyes. They slowly adjusted the sunlight that shone on me. I saw familiar eyes staring at me. I got up immediately. I looked at the boy who woke me up. His tiny hands touched my cheek. I smiled when I realized that this was the angel who had come into my life.

"Reid."