CHAPTER 10

The white wall was the first thing I saw the moment I opened my eyes. I was so sure from the smell that this place was a hospital.

“Hey,” someone spoke beside me.

I slowly turned my head in his direction. “Caster,” I said in a hoarse voice.

He smiled at me, though his worry could be obviously seen in his eyes. “How are you feeling? Is there something you want to eat?” he asked.

I shook my head, then tried to get up from lying down. He immediately stood up to help me move. I leaned myself at the headboard of the hospital bed, and for a moment, I observed myself.

“What happened?” I asked while lifting up my hand injected with an IV.

“You passed out last night because of too much fatigue and stress,” he started explaining.

Last night? Then, it meant that it was now morning. 

“Don’t worry; the doctor said that your baby is fine. There is nothing to worr—”

“What? I-I’m sorry? P-pardon?” I interrupted after hearing something I didn’t expect.

“I said, you don’t have to think too much because the doctor said your baby is fine, although you really need to avoid stress,” he repeated as I heaved a sigh.

“Baby?” I droned on as I slowly lowered my eyes onto my stomach. “I’m pregnant?”

He looked at me in puzzlement. “Haven’t you and Villa Forca reconciled? I thought...he’s the father,” he asked uncertainly.

I slowly shook my head as a no, staring blankly as I caressed my stomach. There was a life within me? How did it happen?

“Are you okay? You look bothered. It is not that I am being intrusive, but maybe I can help?”

I took a gulp and looked at Caster’s eyes. I was about to open my lips to speak, but I couldn’t utter a single word. I didn’t know what to say or even where to start and how I would explain. I think he noticed that I could hardly open up my mouth because he gently tapped me on my shoulder.

“Don’t force yourself,” he said and then slightly smiled.

I sighed heavily. “How the hell did this happen?” I asked in confusion and stared at Caster as if I could get any answers from him.

“Seriously, to be frank, I haven't had sex with anyone since Achetbir and I broke up. That is why I keep on asking, how did I become pregnant?” I opened up my thoughts.

He seemed so anxious about what I had said. He even stared at me for a long time, like he was searching for a joke.

“Are you serious?” he asked, then sat on the chair beside my bed so we could talk properly.

I just made a simple nod as an answer. “I am not also drinking, so it is very impossible for me to have sex with someone I do not know,” I explained.

For all of the pain that Achetbir had ever caused me right after we broke up, I habitually just slumped myself into my bed when I got home.

“When did you feel something start changing in yourself?” Caster asked in curiosity.

I suddenly had a short realization. “One week after I went for a check-up at the hospital, I noticed that I often went to CR to pee. Weeks after, I started to feel sleepy. Then, these past few days, I found myself being meticulous about my food…”

“What did they do to you on the last check-up?”

“The doctor injected something—” I stopped, realizing that I had felt a bizarre sensation after injecting that liquid.

Could it be?

Perhaps Caster detected my interrupted thoughts, so he breathed deeply. “I think you need to go back to that hospital so your questions will be answered,” he suggested.

I gulped a couple of times. My chest pounded out of nervousness.

“So, what’s your plan about that?” he asked as he stole a glimpse at my stomach.

What was my plan?

“I don’t know either. I am so shocked by what is happening, it feels like I am being played by destiny,” I accused.

I felt him again tapping my shoulder. “If you need something, do not hesitate to call me,” he sincerely offered, then smiled slightly.

I returned a small smile. “You are always there whenever I am in trouble or need help,” I said timidly.

He chuckled softly and pinched my nose. “You’re like a sister to me, Jandie. I guess that would be incest because you kissed me,” he said jokingly, which made my face turn red in embarrassment.

“Caster!” I hissed and hid my face using my palm.

He burst into laughter. “Now you’re smiling,” he said and gave me a genuine smile.

I was stunned and grasped my stomach. “Thank you,” I said sincerely as I smiled again.

“It’s my pleasure to help,” he answered.

Just like what we, Caster and I, had agreed on, I went back to the hospital where I had my last check-up. I took sick leave in order for me to handle things accordingly.

“You look pale. Can you relax for a bit?” he asked as we both waited for my turn to be called by the nurse.

Aside from refusing the idea of going there all by myself, I really did need to be with someone.

I bit my lower lip and tried to shake my hands. “I can’t help it,” I said.

He sighed and held my hands before caressing them. ”I am with you, okay?” he assured me.

I smiled bitterly. Who would have thought that the person I just met would be the one that I could lean my back on? I couldn’t stop myself from wondering, if the situation between us, Achetbir and I, was fine and all this happened, would he stay with me?

“Miss Mendoza, it’s your turn,” the nurse caught my attention, which brought me back to reality.

Caster and I looked at each other before we stood up. I walked before him until we reached the door. I took a deep breath and glanced at Caster, who was behind me. He smiled a little and nodded as if he were telling me he wouldn’t leave me.

Slowly, I turned the doorknob to open the door. I peeked in first before entering the room. I could feel Caster’s presence as he walked behind me.

My brows furrowed as I looked at the doctor, who was currently writing something on several sheets of white paper. 

She lifted her face up in our direction and pointed to the chairs in front of her desk. “Have a seat,” she said pleasantly.

I could barely even move as my eyes wandered around the room.

“What’s wrong?” Caster asked, then walked beside me.

I looked at him and glanced back at the doctor, who was looking curiously at my actions. “She’s not the one who accompanied me that day,” I murmured.

Caster immediately understood my point. He held me on my arm and gently walked me to the doctor’s place.

“Sorry for asking, Ma’am, is there any doctor in this room aside from you?” he asked respectfully once we were seated on the long chair.

Her forehead wrinkled at the question. “Nothing, hijo. We doctors do have our own spaces here. Why do you ask? What is your agenda?”

"I came here last month, Ma’am, for my irregular menstruation check-up...” I stated, which made the doctor listen to me attentively. “Yet, the doctor who had checked me was not you. I am having a problem, which is why I came back so I can talk to her,” I explained calmly.

The doctor leaned on her chair. “That’s impossible. I am the only doctor who enters this room,” she stated. “What's the problem?”

I bit my lower lip and sighed heavily. “I-I think I’m p-pregnant,” I began. “I don’t know how it happened because I haven’t had sex for a long time. Then I just felt these maternity symptoms weeks after I had my last check-up.

The doctor’s forehead creased. “You are saying that she did something to you that caused your pregnancy?” she asked for clarity.

I slowly nodded as an answer. She moved her lips in astonishment and shook her head. “I can’t utter any words. If she is a doctor in this hospital, how come she had been here in my room?”

I stopped and thought. She had a point. If you had been working a long time in a specific workplace, how could others mistakenly enter your room?

“Don’t worry, I will ask my other companions who among them entered my space, and I will let you know so that you can have a clear conversation.”

I smiled awkwardly. “Thank you.”

“I am sorry, hija; this is the only thing I can do to help. I do not have any idea what happened to you; my staff hasn’t said anything about this also while I was not here.”

“No, it’s fine. I do understand,” I said respectfully with a heavy heart.

What should I do now? I couldn’t find answers about what was happening to me.

We said farewell to the doctor and thanked her. I also asked for forgiveness for the trouble I had caused before leaving her room.

“What now?” I mumbled and looked at Caster as we were walking along the hospital hallway

“Did you not recognize her?”

I nodded a yes. We were about to turn when I saw a familiar image.

“That’s her!” I shouted lowly as I held on Caster’s arm while pointing in that doctor’s direction. She was currently walking out of the hospital.

“Let’s go; run!” I shouted and pulled Caster to make it to the lady.

“Hey, slow down. You might trip; there’s a baby inside,” Caster reminded me.

I stopped for a moment. Well, that was true. I had to take care of the baby from now on.

“Let’s go. We don’t need to rush. She is just walking at a slow pace,” he said and tapped my head.

The tables had turned, and he was now the one who was pulling me at a moderate pace. We reached the parking lot in a few seconds, and there was a small distance between the lady and us.

“Doctora!” I called.

She stopped what she was doing and turned her head in my direction. Recognition shot through her face as she looked at me.

“Doc, can you recognize me?” I immediately asked when we reached her place.

“Yes, you were my patient from last time,” she said.

I bit my lower lip and looked at Caster. He nodded at me as a sign to proceed to ask questions.

“Doc, I will be straightforward. Ma’am, I am pregnant,” I said.

I could see the happiness in the lady’s face about the news. “Congratulations, then!” she said excitedly.

I dropped my jaw as I was shocked in astonishment. I blinked my eyes several times before getting myself back to reality.

“But Doc, I never sex with anybody. I went to the hospital to cure my menstrual problems, not to make my period disappear,” I explained in frustration.

This time, she dropped her jaw. “You mean, you did not come here to get pregnant?” she asked for assurance.

“What? Of course not!” I answered.

“Oh shit! What have I done?” she asked herself worriedly as she rubbed her temple.

“Mind explaining what's happening, Doc?” Caster interrupted.

She looked at him for a second, then she returned her attention to me, “I am sorry, miss, but I accidentally inseminated the billionaire’s sperm in you,” she stated.

I froze where I was standing and clung to Caster’s arm. I could feel how he caressed my back. I could barely open my mouth after hearing what the doctor had said.

“Can we know whose sperm it was? I guess we have the right to know. Besides, we can sue you for this, Doc,” Caster intimidated the middle-aged woman coldly.

I saw how her face turned pale. Yet, for a moment, I did not want her to lose her job, so I pinched Caster’s arm gently. He looked at me curiously. I shook my head slowly in disapproval. He then released a big sigh.

“Who is the father of my child?” I asked calmly, though I was greatly trembling.

The lady stared at me and gulped. “Achetbir Villa Forca,” she uttered.

My knees suddenly fell at that moment. Luckily, Caster immediately grabbed my hand and supported me.

I was having a child with my ex-lover?