Twenty

During Maeluthe’s stay in the hospital for several days, she had not even been able to see the young man since the girl regained consciousness.

She feels too much concern. Isiaah is not the type of man who will just keep quiet whenever there is a problem or something that bothers him.

Maeluthe tried to understand the situation. Shee could not help but think that his mother might have convinced Isaiah to stay away from her.

She gently caresses her stomach, occasionally talking to the child mentally. She is happy that she is still in good condition, plus the doctor is taking good care of her now. He also needs to watch what she eats as well as what she does.

Smiling, Maeluthe made her way out of the hospital. She tried to call Isiaah, but he couldn’t even turn on his cellphone.

She keeps wondering why. The woman was not able to think about anything else, maybe because of her weakness.

He quickly hailed a taxi to his girlfriend’s house.

This is very unlike him, Maeluthe thought.

She was not upset that the man did not visit her. She just can’t help but worry especially since he doesn’t even reply to her messages.

It took an hour before she returned home. It slowly turned Isiaah’s open unit. She had already entered, but there was still no shadow from the man could be seen.

What’s wrong with him?

‘‘Isiaah, are you here?’’

She found no answer.

She turned to walk to see if the young man’s shoes were there, and they were all complete.

She hurried to his room and found the man lying down.

So is this what he is doing all this time? He didn’t even pick me up?

‘‘I’m okay now. Have you eaten?’’

She suddenly remembered the man’s habit of not eating when he’s stressed. According to him, he only ate a complete meal when he was with me.

Isiaah didn’t want to sit on the bed to welcome her, so Maeluthe stared at him intently. ‘‘Are you sick?’’

Maeluthe quickly approached him and touched his forehead with her hand, which the man immediately removed.

‘‘What’s the problem? Didn’t you meet your mommy? Are you eating well?’’

Still, no response.

‘‘Isiaah, Talk to me. Tell me the problem. You don’t have a fever but–’’

‘‘You’re pregnant.’’

This time, it was Maeluthe who fell silent. She was shocked at those dagger-like words.

She would actually tell Isiaah about that and she had no plans to hide it.

Only that she was waiting for the right time.

She doesn’t want Isiaah to feel responsible for the baby. They had only known each other before, and if she suddenly showed up, to tell the truth, their relationship would not be effective because they had no feelings for each other.

She didn’t want the man to choose her just because of their child.

Only now have they fixed everything. Only now has their relationship become clear to them.

She did not know to whom the blame might be laid, who probably said that thing to the man.

‘‘Leave,’’ the man in front of her said without any kind of emotion.

Maeluthe was finally overcome by fear. Where will she probably start? How would she be able to say everything to the man completely?

‘‘Isaiah, please, hear me out–’’

‘‘I want you to leave,’’ he repeated. ‘‘Now.’’

You are the father of the child in my womb, Isaiah. She wanted to let that off her mouth, but she can’t–she was afraid.

But it was very difficult for Maeluthe.

It is like a word is already on the tip of her tongue, but she can’t find the right timing to say it–even in this situation.

‘‘Don’t leave me, alright?’’ Isiaah said to the woman in front of him with a smile.

He caressed the girl’s cheek gently and with great care. ‘‘I don’t know what I can do.’’

‘‘You’ll cry a river?’’ Maeluthe joked.

‘‘I’ll cry a river.’’

The woman gently punched Isiaah. ‘‘We’ve only been so cheesy for a few days.’’

The woman blinked, then sought Isiaah’s eyes as she remembered what time they talked about leaving each other. ‘‘Sai, please, hear me out. You just need to know–’’

‘‘Know what?’’ The man finally stood up, causing Maeluthe’s knees to become weaker. ‘‘I already know what I think I should know.’’

‘‘You know? I don’t know why I still had hope about you, Mae. I really thought you were different.’’ The man laughed softly. ‘‘Love is. . . dumb. I j-just can’t accept that with so many people. You’re still the one who will fool me.’’

Maeluthe couldn’t stop crying so much. She knew that a situation like this could be risky with her son, but no matter how much she wanted to calm down, it was as if she was forcing her heart so much about what she heard from the man.

‘‘Why?’’ He continued to laugh in extreme frustration. Isiaah could not believe that Maeluthe had done this to him.

Even though the day that they were together was very short, he really loved her. He really thought she was different. But after hearing that the doctor said — that she’s six weeks pregnant, it was as if he had suddenly fallen from a very high place.

He was careful with every intercourse. Maeluthe has her own dream, and she is passionate about it, so Isiaah does not want to interfere in that matter. He was sure of what he had done. He never thought of getting the woman pregnant because her education would be greatly affected.

‘‘Did you just come to me so that someone could take your child?’’

A loud slap was Maeluthe’s response to the young man.

Of course, Maeluthe didn’t mean that. She knows the truth to herself. God knows everything.

Even when she found out that she was pregnant, she never went to the man. He did not plan to approach Isiaah, and even more, he did not want to let the man take what he thought was his son to others.

‘‘Isaiah–’’

‘‘I want you to leave now, Maeluthe Legson.’’

Maeluthe tried to calm herself. She sighed over and over.

She repeatedly imprinted in her mind the possible effect it could have on her unborn child.

‘‘You are the father of this child, Isiaah–’’

‘‘Are you that desperate?’’ The man didn’t even care about what she was saying.

‘‘We did it. Before we met that night on the road. We met at Sweet Heavens, do you remember? You were with your friends, and we–’’

Isaiah’s irritation was more than complete with what he was hearing.

What more lies do you have to tell me, Mae?

‘‘Shut it! Do you think I can believe you? You fooled me! If what you say is really true, why didn’t you say it at first? If it’s true–’’ He was sitting in the opposite side of the bed, tweaking his own hair as if it will make him calm down. ‘‘Leave, please. . . leave.’’

‘‘If you send me away, will I leave?’’ Maeluthe asked her boyfriend from deep thought.

‘‘What kind of question is that, Maeluthe?’’

She just smiled at the man. ‘‘It was just random. Maybe I am just scared. What if you woke up, then you don’t love me anymore? You want me out of your sight. Am I going to leave?’’

Isiaah’s face suddenly became serious. He held the woman’s hand tightly. ‘‘You know that won’t happen. But, if that’s the case. . . if I’ve really gone nuts and make you leave? You should leave.’’

‘‘Why?’’ Maeluthe asked again.

‘‘Because you don’t deserve me. You don’t deserve a man who will hurt you, be mad at you, make you leave. You deserve a man who can keep you at any type of day — dark days, and even happy days.’’

The woman approached Isaiah for the last time that day.

Last resort, Mae. You need to try one more time.

She held his hand tightly, but he continued to struggle and take it away. He was determined to make her leave.

‘‘Isiaah, I love you. Can you, at least, believe that. . .’’ That voice was hoarse, but there was a big streak of sadness. She didn’t want to leave, but there was nothing else she could do.

‘‘There was no chance did I plan to approach you and ask you to accept this child. Not once did it occur to me to deceive you or to hide anything from you. That’s not how I love you, Sai.’’