Chapter 115 A Friend indeed
ARYA’S POV
By the time I made it back to the hostel, it was nearly dark. I trudged up the stairs, every step heavy with defeat.
When I opened my door, I froze. Marco was sitting in my chair, looking completely out of place in the dingy room.
I frowned. “Marco? He looked up immediately, meeting my gaze. "What are you doing here?"
"Waiting for you." He stood, his expression concerned. "Cherry let me in. She said you went job hunting."
I set down my bag, suddenly exhausted. "I did."
"And?"
I shook my head. "And nothing. Same as always." I couldn't keep the bitterness from my voice.
"Arya." He moved closer. "This is exactly why I told you not to worry about work. You have the card. You can focus on taking care of yourself and the baby."
"I don't want to just use your money, Marco!" The words burst out. "I need to do something. I need to feel like I'm contributing, like I have some control over my life."
He narrowed his eyes on me. "You're pregnant, Arya."
"I'm not an invalid! Women work while pregnant all the time.” A frustrated huff left my throat. “I just need someone to give me a chance."
He shook his head and stepped closer. "It's not safe.”
"Nothing about my life is safe!" I wrapped my arms around myself. "But sitting here, doing nothing and living off your charity, that would kill me.”
My voice came out strained as I spoke. “I need this, Marco. I need to feel like I'm worth something beyond being a burden you're taking care of."
His jaw tightened. "You're not a burden."
"Then let me work. Please." I met his eyes, willing him to understand. "Let me have this one thing that's mine."
Marco was quiet for a long moment, his expression was conflicted. Then he sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Fine."
"Fine?"
"You can work. But-" He held up a hand before I could celebrate. "Nothing that puts you or the baby at risk. And if your health suffers, if the doctor says you need to stop, you stop. Agreed?"
I was so relieved that I felt dizzy. "Agreed. Thank you, Marco. Really."
"Don't thank me yet." He cleared his throat.
"Actually, there's something else." He cleared his throat. "I was wondering if... maybe you'd want to go out this evening? There's a movie playing at the cinema on Fifth Street. Nothing fancy, just-"
He stopped, looking almost embarrassed. "Never mind. That was stupid. You're probably tired, and I shouldn't be asking that much frim you."
"Okay," I said before he could take it back completely.
He blinked. "Okay?"
"Yeah. I mean, I haven't been to a movie in..." I couldn't even remember the last time. "It sounds nice."
A smile broke across his face, and he pressed a quick kiss on my cheek. Great. I'll pick you up at seven?"
I nodded. "Seven works."
"Okay. Good." He seemed suddenly boyish, and it reminded me of our younger years. "I'll see you then."
He opened the door just as Cherry was about to knock, her hand raised in the air. She stopped short, her eyes darting between Marco and me.
"Am I interrupting something?" She said skeptically.
"No, I was just leaving." Marco nodded to her politely. "Take care of her, would you?"
"Always do," Cherry said, but there was an edge to it.
Marco gave me one last smile before heading down the hallway. We both watched him go, waiting until we heard the exterior door close.
Then Cherry whirled on me.
"Okay, spill. What just happened? Why was Mr. Mysterious here, and why did you look so..." She gestured vaguely at my face. "Less terrified than usual?"
I sank onto my bed, and she plopped down beside me.
"He came to check on me. I told him about the job interview and how it went badly." I picked at a loose thread on my blanket. "We argued. I told him I needed to work, that I couldn't just sit here living off his money."
She nodded. "And?"
"And he agreed.” I exhaled. “He said I could get a job as long as it's not too strenuous and I stop if the doctor says so."
Cherry studied my face. "That's good, right? So why do you look like there's more?"
"He asked me to go see a movie with him tonight." I said tentatively.
"He asked you on a date?!" Cherry's voice rose an octave.
"I don't think it's a date. It's just… we're friends and he’s helping me.” I said with a casual shrug. “We're just going to see a movie."
"Arya." Cherry took my hands, her expression serious. "Honey. That man is not looking at you like a friend and I saw it just now.”
I shook my head quickly. "You're reading too much into it."
"Am I? Because from where I'm sitting, you've got a guy who's giving you unlimited money, doesn't want you to work, wants to control where you live, and now wants to take you on dates.” She cocked her head to the side. That's not friendship. That's-
"It's just a movie," I said firmly. "Marco has always been like a brother to me. Since I was a kid. He's just being nice."
Cherry didn't look convinced, but she squeezed my hands. "Okay. If you say so. But be careful, yeah? Make sure you know what his intentions are before this goes too far."
"There's nothing to go too far with. I'm pregnant with another man's baby, Cherry.” I shot back with a small smile. “I'm not exactly dating material."
"That doesn't mean he doesn't want-" She stopped herself. "Never mind. You're right. I'm probably overthinking it. Anyways…”
She leaned over me, placing a hand on my belly and grinned. “I’ve missed my favorite neice. Did you miss me, jellybean?”
I rolled my eyes but she pulled out the plastic shopping bag she brought with her and her grin widened.
“I brought you things.” She quipped. “Well, not for you actually, but my jellybean.”
I rolled my eyes. "Cherry, you don't have to keep doing this for me.”
"Shush. I saw these at the thrift store and thought of you." She pulled items from the bag one by one. "Baby onesies, I did get the gender neutral because I know you're stubborn about not finding out. Some prenatal vitamins because the clinic ones taste like chalk. And-"
She produced a small stuffed elephant with a flourish. "For our little jellybean."
My throat tightened. "Cherry, I can't afford all of this."
"Good thing they're gifts then." She set everything on the bed between us. "Besides, what else am I going to spend my tips on? My apartment is already full of ridiculous things I don't need."
I picked up the elephant, running my thumb over its soft gray fabric. "What if it's a boy? You keep calling it 'her.'"
"Auntie Cherry has a feeling." She tapped her nose knowingly. "Besides, boy or girl, they're going to be beautiful. Just like their mama."