A Night to Regret

Chapter 2: The black sheep returns

"You mean, you didn't know who's the guy you f****d with? Sky, come on! Why didn't you know about it?!!"

I shot her a glare. "What can I do? I was drunk and didn't know what I'm doing. I can't remember how we s*x. I don't even know what he looked like. All I knew was that I just woke up in the morning naked and alone in the bed," I explained. "How about you? When you get drunk, can you recall what happened? You wouldn't know, right? You barely know what you were doing."

Frustrated, I ran my fingers in my hair. I don't know what I'm going to do now knowing that I am pregnant. I don't know how I am going to look for that guy. How on earth would I know who he is?

Allison silenced and hummed like she was thinking for any idea. I hope her suggestions would give me benefits.

I set my hand in a flat tummy and circularly rotated my hand on it. I sighed in distress. There is a living thing now in my tummy. And that would be my child. But despite my concerns about myself, why do I feel excited and nervous at the same time? My child that my blood runs through his or her veins.

I heaved out a deep sigh.

"Sky, isn't our semester break two days from now?"

I looked at her and nodded. "Yes. Why?" I asked while caressing my flat tummy. I'm so glad that Allison and I already made up things. No grudges anymore. I know that we couldn't resist each other. We're best friends and almost sisters to each other.

Slapping her was involuntary for me. I didn't know that I could do such a thing. That I could hurt my best friend.

She gave me a worried expression which made me confused and bewildered. She knelt in front of me and held my hand.

"You told me that you're going home to have a vacation, right? It will be two days from now. Right? Right?"

I knotted my forehead. "Why do you ask? You already know my answer too—"

"Just answer my question, Sky!"

I gazed at her weirdly. What is she up to? "Yes. I'm going home. Why do you ask? I've already told you about this." I gave her a perplexed look.

She gently pulled my hand to hers. Still, a worried expression was on her face. Why? Is something wrong with me going home? Allison's actions were making me so confused right now.

"Allison, why do you ask?"

It took her a moment before she answered my question.

"You're going home in that status, Sky? You're pregnant for Pete's sake! What if your parents know this? What are you going to do?"

My eyes enlarged. Oh my god! Of course. Why didn't I realize that? I'll be damned if my parents know my condition. Rest assured, my father would slap me and curse me. I looked at Allison's eyes and held her hands tightly to mine.

"W-What am I going to d-do, A-Alli? I'll be d-dead if they know a-about my s-state."

My tears fell. I never thought about that. Just in time that I'll be going home to my parents' house. I'll be in a dangerous place if I go home in this kind of condition. I'm pregnant! s**t! Why haven't I realized that?

Thinking about what my situation would be if my parents knew that I'm pregnant, scares me too much. I know my father. I'm sure he will reproach. s**t! I would break my promise to them. f*****g s**t!

"H-Hey, calm down, Sky!" She hugged me then put a distance so she could see my eyes. "I have an idea. We must see a doctor—an OBgyne and let's see how long you're pregnant at this moment. If we know the result, we will make a plan for your homecoming, Sky."

My eyes were teary when I looked at her. Then I hugged her so tight.

"T-Thank you, Allison. Thank you that y-you are here for me. I-I wouldn't know w-what I would do if you are not here with m-me." I closed my eyes and cried silently. I felt Allison tighten her hug to me.

"I-It's nothing, S-Sky. You know I'm... I'm always here for you... you're almost like a sister to me." She snuffed. "Wait. Wait. Can we break our hug? I'm just going to wipe my nose."

We both chuckled as we broke our hug. She wiped her nose.

After a while, she patted my head lightly. "Tomorrow, we're going to see a doctor, okay?"

I wiped my tears and nodded my head. We both separated as we reached our rooms. I laid in my bed and as soon as my back hit the soft mattress, I felt nervous in an instant. I affectionately massaged my tummy with my hand.

I think about my future. What am I going to do when the living thing inside me starts to grow? Should I stop studying if I have a child and have to take care of my child?

Thinking those things, crept out the s**t of me. Brrr!

"Your baby is seven weeks and five days old. You see that small thing in the monitor that looked like a crumpled paper, that is the fetus. That is your growing baby. And it's a healthy one."

I couldn't help the happiness shown in me as I looked at the screen of the monitor where my child was. The doctor motioned the sonographer circularly in my stomach.

Damn. It was like a jelly bean on the monitor but I couldn't help but feel happy by seeing it with my own eyes. I was touched and about to cry. I caressed the screen of the monitor. I couldn't wait to see him or her.

I felt a hand touch me. I found Allison looking at me happily. I smiled at her and mouthed to her, 'my baby'. She nodded and was about to cry, too.

I looked at the doctor. "Doc, when will I know the gender of my baby?" I asked excitedly.

She removed her mask and gave me a sweet smile. "Maybe seventeen or twenty weeks after now, you'll know what the gender of your baby is. You have to see a doctor once a month to have a check-up. But you have to be careful, I can see that you're still young to get pregnant," she advised and started to remove the ultrasound gel in my tummy she put a while ago. 

I bit my lip. How did she know that I'm still young to get pregnant? My happiness was instantly gone from what she said. They were nervous and fearful about my fate. I felt Allison gently squeezed my hand.

I just gave her a sad smile and told her that I'm fine.

After my ultrasound, Allison and I decided to go home. I'm still holding the ultrasound picture of my baby that was in my tummy. Every time I laid my eyes on the picture, I couldn't help the feeling of butterflies in my stomach. I felt so happy and excited.

But I know I have to wake up now.

My parents wouldn't be so happy if they got to know about my condition. I'm sure they will drive me away once they know that their only daughter got pregnant in no time.

I bid goodbye to Allison. I know that she's worried right now knowing about my condition. Luckily, I am going home with a flat tummy for now. I'm sure they wouldn't notice my tummy yet. They would suggest that maybe I am just getting fat because I kept eating unhealthy foods.

But I couldn't help but worry again.

While I'm on my way home, I nervously started to fire inside. I heaved out a deep sigh and relaxed. I can act smoothly. I just have to be a good actress and everything will be fine before I get back to school after the semester break.

The cab stopped at our house. I was so nervous about seeing our house. It was big but simple. It is painted with white paint. I felt like I'm going to cry while grabbing my baggage and opening the gates. I'm afraid that I might not be a good actress and reveal myself in no time.

I fanned myself and tried to relax.

"Chillax, Sky. Don't show it to them. Just relax. You can do this," I talked and calmed myself.

While I was walking to my house, trepidation couldn't stop me. And as I held the doorknob of our house, it is as if I want to back out right now. But no, I mustn't back out. That would make me suspicious and worry about my parents. I have to be careful.

I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I twisted the doorknob and opened it. I slowly opened my eyes and entered the house.

There I saw my parents sitting on the sofa and were busy watching television. Their gazes slowly laid on me. Their eyes widened when they saw me. They all stood up as soon as they saw me entering the house.

"Mina!"

I smiled awkwardly. "I-I'm home."

Mama attacked me with her hugs. "My dearest daughter, welcome back!" I heard my Mama sniffing. I couldn't help but roll my eyes. My mother is still an emotional woman. I hugged her back. Even though I felt my hands fidgeting, I managed to act as calm as I could.

I'm sure if I'm alone later, I'm going to break down. I won't let that happen.

"Father." I gave my father a nod as he came closer to us.

Mama broke the hug and faced Father. "Honey, our daughter is here," she said, all smiles.

I bowed my head. "Dad." I kissed him on his cheek. Then I looked at him.

He eyed me up and down as if he was scrutinizing and observing me so much like he was having a suspicion if something changed about me or not.

That instantly made me nervous about how observant my father is. I'm in a dangerous state if my father noticed something in me. I would be dead for sure.

Slowly, he smiled and opened his arms. "My daughter!" He approached me and hugged me. I was shocked by his action. I thought he was going to scold me like how he used to do it every time I went home.

I hugged him back but father pulled out our hug and cupped my face. He checked my face and his forehead knotted. "There's something in you that changes a little."

I just felt my heart stop for a moment when he said those words. What on earth! I prayed silently. Is he going to notice and know now? Right now? As in? I'm so not ready for this.

"Honey, stop that. You're scaring our daughter," Mama said and pulled me in a hug again.

I sighed in relief. Thanks to Mama for saving me from the scrutinized eyes of his. "You can rest now. We will call you later if the dinner is served, okay?" I nodded at what Dad said. I broke my Mama's hug and kissed her on her cheek. Then I went upstairs, right straight to my room.

I knocked myself down in my precious, soft bed, thinking about what happened earlier. Did Dad notice something in me? But when I asked Allison if something changed about me, she told me that nothing changed. I'm not that fat or thin.

Hmm... that's weird.

Frustratedly, I winced my hair. It's very hard to have a Brazillian father. Yes, my father is Brazilian. So, it means I have a half-blood of Brazilian. Mama is a Filipina. I'm half Filipino, half Brazilian. But I was born here in the Philippines and grew up here.

My father wants me to call him 'Father' or 'Dad' because that's what he wanted me to call him. And I'm the only daughter. So unlucky me, isn't it?

I spent my time in my room thinking about possible excuses in case they notice something weird in me, especially that I am staying in this house for two weeks until the semester break finishes. I'm afraid I would show some symptoms because in my case, I'm pregnant.

And Allison searched on the internet that I may conceive something. Or crave something to eat. That's how to be a pregnant woman. It would be hellish but worth it.

I was wishing that sem break has to end now because right now, I couldn't bear being surrounded by the severity of my father. As their only daughter, he has the right because I'm the only heiress of his wealth.

"Mina, dinner is ready!"

I sighed and got off in bed. I changed my clothes before I went downstairs. I went to the dining room. My parents were already sitting and waiting for me to join them.

As I sat in the chair, I saw what the foods prepared by my mother were. I simply scratched my nose when I smiled something that doesn't fit right through my smell. It was pinakbet. I didn't like how it smells though.

"What's with that disgusted expression on your face, Mina?"

I lifted my gaze to my father when he suddenly asked. "Pardon, Dad?"

His forehead knotted. "I said, what's with that disgusted expression on your face? You don't like pinakbet?"

I nodded my head and covered my nose with my hand. "I don't like how it smells right now. Did you put a fish paste on it?"

"What?" Father asked sternly. I know he understood what I said so I don't have to repeat myself, perhaps. I took the spoon and fork and chose other viands or dishes which were cooked by Mama. When my eyes laid down on the pinakbet, I felt like I made a very disgusting expression. "You didn't like the smell? But it's your—"

"Mina, isn't that your favorite?" Mama butt in.

My fork stopped in the mid-air and my eyes enlarged. I realized what I just said earlier. s**t. Holy s**t.

I turned to Mama. I chuckled awkwardly as I put down the kitchen utensils I was holding. I stood up. "I'm not hungry anymore, Ma, Dad. I'm going to sleep," I reasoned.

"B-But, Mina... You haven't tasted them..."

I bit my lip. "I'm tired." That's the only answer I said and an excuse for me.

As I made my way out of the kitchen, I couldn't stop myself from cursing many times in my mind. s**t! My pregnancy almost revealed me in front of my parents. That was the first sign. s**t! Holy s**t!

My eyes flew to the oranges I saw in the living room. I approached it and took some. As I was about to go upstairs when I stepped on something slippery which made me fall. My butt hit the floor. Hard "f**k!" I shouted in pain when I touched my butt. I looked at the thing I just stepped in. It was the toy from our golden retriever dog named Khalid.

I heard running footsteps coming in my direction. Oh no! I'm so dead.

"What happened?" Dad asked, worried.

I gave them an awkward laugh and scratched the back of my head. "I-I'm sorry. I stepped on Khalid's toys and then I slipped. Sorry if you—"

"MINA, MY GOODNESS! YOU'RE BLEEDING!"

I froze and slowly gazed down. My eyes enlarged as I saw my lower part bleeding. I covered my mouth in shock as a batch of tears rolled down my eyes. My baby... My God...

"Oh my god, Matheus! Mina is p-pregnant! She's...She's preg..pregnant!!!"

My eyes widened from that statement of my mother. This is the end of my acting. I didn't even have the chance to at least enjoy not being able to know about my condition.

I felt myself being lifted. I turned my head to see my father's grim face. I gasped softly as I saw how grim his face was. It was like he wants to kill someone right at this moment.

"I know, Divina. I can see it very clearly and with clarity," he said sternly and harshly. "Get my car keys, Divina and we have to go to the hospital. Faster!" Mama moved and quickly got the keys.

Then, Father looked at me, angrily while he was walking towards the parking lot. "Is this your surprise to me, Skelemina Hitherway?! You went home when you're pregnant?! What is this all about, huh? I thought you already changed!"

He said angrily as he carefully lifted me to the car—to the back seat.

They hurriedly entered the car and he started the engine. Mama held my hands even though she has lots of questions in her eyes right now. I just lowered my head to hide my embarrassment.

I failed them. I failed them too much for their expectations.

"Sorry, Dad." That was all I could say while massaging my tummy. Please, baby. Don't leave me. I couldn't help but cry upon my condition. I don't want my baby to leave me. I think I couldn't take it if something's going to happen to my baby.

It made me cry more for the next words my father told me that shattered my whole world.

"You turned yourself back again as a black sheep of our family. You are such a disgrace to our family, Mina," he said.

Those words were engraved in my mind forever. A black sheep is always a black sheep. She would never change. I thought I could make them proud but... I made a huge mistake.