F-orbidden Dalliance: Enemies to Lovers Romance ENGLISH

Chapter 2

― We are to pretend

not to know each other, okay?

“We are not pressuring you, dear, but it’s true, it’s for your own good. You two should start living together. What’s the sense of early engagement if you’ll wait for the wedding before learning about married life?”

I listen to mommy’s words, but none of it makes sense to me. I don’t know what is a good thing to say either. Even Tita Alice, Leonid’s mom, waits for me to speak up my opinion with a smile.

I had talked about this matter with Leonid. He agreed that whatever we should do, we will go after my decision. I admitted to him I’m not yet comfortable living with him under the same roof. It’s not actually just him. Even if it’s anyone, I won’t be comfortable.

I have been living with my parents in my twenty-three years of existence in this world despite dad’s persistent suggestion that I move out to be independent. I’m old enough, he believes. If only I’m old enough to make a decision for myself.

If only they start trusting my decision for myself.

And now that moving out is inevitable, I’m not comfortable living with a man, albeit it’s Leonid.

Yes, he’s my fiance but we really never have many interactions. We don’t even go past courting. We never tried since it’s a fixed agreement already. But the public expected we’re done with that stage because the engagement is already up. Living with him is a huge surprise especially that I’m yet to recover myself with the announcement of our engagement.

“But you have to decide, Kisu,” he had said as we discussed it.

He drove me home after we left the party the other day and mom interrogated us the next day, asking why we have to travel kilometers away if Leonid’s place is just near the event’s place, and not to mention each other’s company building. Now, they are pressuring me to move in at his place.

“You really have no choice. Right now or after the wedding is just the same.”

I nodded in agreement, gradually accepting our situation with a sigh and falling shoulders.

“Your mom is right,” Tita Lindsay said as I took longer to answer. “But if you’re still waiting for the marriage, we can move the date if you want to. A time wasted is indeed a waste.”

My stomach twists at the alarming suggestion. I give them a tight smile and sip on my tea to at least hide the surprise from my mom’s watchful gaze.

“We’ll talk about it po.” I referred to Leonid.

“Are you okay, honey? You look pale?”

I straighten from my seat and smile at mommy. “I’m fine, mom. I slept late last night.”

They left after that and went to the mall where a new branch of mommy’s jewelry collection will open soon. They insisted I should come with them but I don’t want to be bombarded with their opinions. I made an excuse saying I’m not feeling okay. It’s not entirely an excuse. I really feel sick and I can’t help but go back to bed.

The head of the housemaid said it’s just the stress of being married, but I feel something different from this. This is my body and I will be the first to know if something’s wrong. It’s not because of the marriage. I feel nothing about it but just the conventional obligation of serving my parents. The thought of being chained down, wears me out.

I use my car to meet my mom’s gynecologist in the private hospital near Leonid’s office. We will meet for lunch but I decided of going to the hospital first to talk to Mrs. Summers. I want to stop worrying and just want to be sure of a certain thing.

I didn’t schedule an appointment because I don’t want my mom finding out about my visit. We have our check-up once a month and she’ll be suspicious if she learnsI pay a visit twice this month. That’s why I thought it would be difficult to talk to Mrs. Summers because she’s working based on schedules. I suddenly felt reluctant to meet her until I saw her emerging from her office. Her face lightens up.

“What are you doing here? Where’s your mom?"

“Uhm… my mom…,” I shook my head as I decided to go straight to the point. “Mrs. Summers, can I make an appointment with you? Today?”

The smile remained on her lips, though her forehead creased, her face distorting looking closely at me. “What’s wrong?”

There’s nothing wrong, but her question makes me restless. I glance around to make sure I don’t have any acquaintances here. Mrs. Summers held my wrist and stared down at it. I can’t help but watch it, too. I don’t know what there is, but after seconds of feeling my pulse, her face turns serious. She drags me to her office and asks her secretary to leave us after announcing to cancel all her appointments for the time being.

“Mrs. Summers? What’s wrong?”

She leads me to a green cushion. She sits next to me and brings my hand to hers.

“Does your mom know you’re here?” I shake my head in confusion. “Are you sure about this?”

this

“Mrs. Summers…” I am trying to say but she let go of my hand and went to her desk.

“We can run some tests today to be certain. Don’t worry about it.”

“Don’t worry about what?”

She halts from checking the papers in front of her and smiles at me. “We need tests but I want to congratulate you right now.”

My heart drums. I stand from my seat. “Congratulate... for what?”

This is a moment in my life where I choose to play dumb and stupid instead of facing the truth. It’s the time where I refuse to recognize the possibilities because this is not what I had envisioned in mind.

Mrs. Summers walks back to me and takes my hands. “I’ve been in this profession for years now so I know one when I see it. I see nothing to be worried about. I’m sure your mom will be more than happy to know the truth of your gestation.”

My body recognizes the word like how I first noticed the colors and patterns of a painting rather than the actual image. I collapse on the sofa. Mrs. Summers quickly moved to help me.

“Careful.”

“I’m pregnant?” I asked, horrified.

She squeezes my hands after a minute of studying my troubled appearance. “If you’re worried about your mom, believe me, she’ll be happy. She often asks about your medical results.” Her eyes narrowed. “But this one is sudden. It’s only been weeks since your last test result and here you are.”

I feel lightheaded, so I rest my head on my fisted hand and close my eyes.

“Are you having morning sickness?”

Morning sickness

My palm instinctively covers my mouth after feeling the bile attempts to rise. It doesn’t continue but it never gives me comfort either. The memory of my horrible mornings these past days is a nightmare.

“Oh, dear! You’ll be okay.” She caresses my cheek as tears begin on the corners of my eyes. I bite my lower lip and shake my head to myself. It’s not okay. It’s not going to be okay.

“Your mom should be here to―”

“Don’t… P-Please don’t tell my mom… yet,” my voice croaked.

“Are you sure?” She waits for my nod of agreement. “So, you and Leonid want to keep it a secret for now?”

My head spins again. For years, I find Mrs. Summers's voice really soothing and gentle. That’s one of the reasons my mom likes her. She likes to be surrounded by soft-spoken women who only say the good things. She hates stressing herself with loud, scandalous, and according to her, uneducated women who ruin women’s reputation.

But right now, all that is coming out from her lips seems to shake my world. Leonid and I. Really?

My lips start trembling. The tears are sudden and unexpected. I immediately wiped them off. Of course, they would think this is Leonid’s. Everyone would expect it. Oh my god, what have I done?

I don’t want to stay in that building any longer but Mrs. Summers insists I do a checkup for us to know how the baby is in my womb. The baby. I shiver with the thought. I don’t want to do it but after reading Leonid’s text that he’ll be late, I decided to do it now. I will not have the time for this but right now.

We did both urine and blood tests. We waited for the result for about two hours. Mrs. Summers made sure it’d be fast and careful after I told her Leonid would be waiting for me. I am not telling her anything but she assumes I want to keep it from Leonid as a surprise.

Oh, god, they’ll be surprised, okay! Dad will kill me once he finds this out.

I grip the envelope containing the results tight around my finger, my mind is spacing out. I hope it disappears to nowhere and never to be found again. I have no idea where to keep it safe, or if I should throw it. But I want to thoroughly read it first. Maybe in our home. Or I will check in to a hotel and read these papers there before planning where to permanently hide it.

I’m still not sure how long Mrs. Summers agrees to keep her mouth shut, but I’m sure she’ll be waiting for me to announce it to my parents. If I fail to do that, either she or my stomach will reveal the truth to the world.

“Six weeks and a day,” Mrs. Summers announced in a gleam.

Six weeks. I can’t help but try to remember what I probably did to risk the life inside me. I’m sure I ate healthy foods. The reason for my sleepless nights is my ignorance of the cause of my morning sickness. I can’t help but think about it at night that I sleep very late.

I have little time before my stomach continues to grow. I walk inside the elevator and dismiss my thoughts. No. Telling this to parents is not an option. Dad will be hell mad. Just the mere thought of his reaction terrified me. I didn’t want to go home already. And mommy. This will be a great shame to the family. She will be happy if it’s Leonid’s, but the truth will make her curse me to hell.

I don’t have to push a button to the elevator because it’s already going down the basement. I take a large intake of air in an attempt to calm myself. I will be meeting Leonid. He must not notice my indifference. Though we are partners in pleasing our parents, right now I don’t think he’ll be all willing to help me out. Maybe he will, but how should I tell him and how can he help me?

I sigh and fix my appearance through my reflection in the elevator door. That’s when I notice I am not alone. The elevator doesn’t suddenly halt but it seems that it does. Seconds later, my world spins. I stumble backward and away from the man twice. The sound of my heels pierced my ears. He gives me a sideways, uninterested glance. My chest beats rapidly.

He doesn’t show interest. He casually pockets his hands and faces the elevator door again. He doesn’t spare me another glance.

I begin to relax. Cold sweat dripped on my back. Maybe he doesn’t recognize me, the reason why he never took a glance at me during that greeting with my dad. He doesn’t remember me at all.

“Are we to pretend not to know each other even if it’s just the two of us?”

I figure his voice sounds different when we are alone and in this enclosed space just like the first night. I tried taking those memories out of my mind but it was a struggle. My eyes widen after realizing he is talking to me. Our eyes meet in our reflection.

He has a smug look on his face. “So how are you?”

I blink at the same speed my heart beats. He is indeed talking to me! He smirks seeing how I become paralyze and speechless. Sweat forms on my forehead as well, but I can’t move to wipe them off. I close my lips tight as I feel my stomach turning upside down. It seems to want me to actually vomit here so I fight back the urge.

I’ve never been this grateful to seeing the elevator doors opening. I hurriedly scurry out despite my knees going weak. I’m aware of his presence behind me so I quicken my pace. I’m so anxious that I lose my way and turn in the opposite direction. I have no choice but to turn back, still, I make sure not to bump into him. I head to the east of the basement but his huge hand reaches out to seize my arm.

My heartbeat is at its extreme I can barely breathe. I gently try taking myself back but his hold tightens. My eyebrows furrowed. What is he doing?

“Is that your way?” he asks with malice.

I gawk at him. “What… What do you mean?”

“I think you’re kind of good and interesting so I waited for you to pester me, but it’s been weeks. How can you last that long?” His amused and curious eyes narrowed.

He let go of me the second time I tried to get free. I move uneasily on my feet. I can’t look him straight in the eye. He clearly recognizes me. “I don’t know what you’re talking about,” I deny.

He laughs. I spin my head back around him in confusion. He is actually barking a burst of laughter, showing his dominance and amazement, and it’s scaring me. “Using my words on me now, huh. I think that’s indeed your way of trying to get my interest.”

What? “I don’t gather anything you’re saying.” I fisted my hand on my side.

He nods to himself, keeping his body straight as if he’s not yet towering over me. “It’s probably because you are engaged now. I understand. But you were not yet engaged that night, so…”

“I don’t really know what you’re talking about. Please, excuse me.” I quickly turned my back to him. I am only able to take a few steps away before I stop on my tracks. I close my eyes, take a deep breath, and turn around again.

He raises his brows as he waits from where he is. I take a couple of hesitant steps. My wild beating heart is nearly making me faint.

“Look, I… I have no idea what you are talking about. I know you. You look familiar, but I really wish this won’t happen again. I don’t want you approaching me and talking this casually to me when―”

“This will be our secret.” He crosses his arms over his chest and nods his head. I almost agree if only I don’t see the gleam in his eyes and playfulness with his smile. I’ve seen him give that kind of smile when he’s being playful with the business. It’s disturbing right now.

“There’s no secret. We don’t have secrets. I don’t know what you are talking about and I’m telling you right now not to repeat this kind of prank ever again.”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,” he said with a smirk. I stop. He’s right, those are his own words. He said it as if he had been saying them a hundred times already.

I absent-mindedly nodded. “Yeah―”

“You look pale,” he pointed out in amusement. His eyes traveled down to the envelope I almost crumpled with my fist.

I don’t think I can last staying here with his arrogance. I turn my back to him in an attempt to avoid him.

“Okay, then. No secrets. We don’t know what the two of us are talking about.” He walks past me. I gape seeing him walk towards my car.