• Ezlyn •

I used to wonder that how can people call such a sweet man like Arsenio an asshole. Well, he proved me right after all.

God dammit, my whole body was sore for the whole day, I could still feel him inside me no matter how many showers I took.

A week passed and we didn't contact each other, there was nothing left to say. I wanted to cry at how our friendship was falling apart.

I only talked to Zen a few times over the text and I am pretty sure he knows what happened between us. Arsenio never keeps a secret from him.

There was a knock on my door and sighing, I got up to open it, expecting Arsenio on the other side probably to say sorry or something but I swallowed hard when I saw Marcelo standing on the other side, with his hands stuffed inside his pockets.

His eyes did a subtle scan of my body before resting on my face and he took a step forward.

"You said a month. It's just been week, Marcelo."

He stepped closer forcing me to step aside to let him walk inside as if he owned the place. "Just making sure you remember about my money."

"I have a quite good memory, thank you very much." I gritted my teeth.

He turned around, humming softly. "Arsenio didn't look so good today, is your best friend sick these days, hmm?" He was mocking me yet my heart ached for him.

"Stop stalking him! I'll give you your money, okay? Just leave him alone."

"I know, I know..." He said in an annoying tone, a mischievous smile playing on his lips.

"Now, get the hell out of here before I kick your ass." I warned and tried to push him out but he didn't bulge.

"Three weeks, Ezlyn. That's all." He once again reminded and his eyes once again ran over me before he left.

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It's been three weeks since I last saw Arsenio or Zenith and I missed them both like hell. I wanted my life to be like before.

And there was Marcelo who was bothering me and I hardly had any money to pay off his debt and wanted to cry out in frustration.

A plan started to form in my mind, a very stupid plan but I had no choice. I decided to collect whatever money I had and pack my stuff and leave this city.

It's not like I have a family here except those two idiots but I don't think I will be meeting them anytime soon.

Maybe Marcelo won't find me like that.

Hopefully.

So, I did like I decide and booked a cab to take me to Belmont MA which was nearby. I should have gone to somewhere far away but honestly, I don't have that much money.

Reaching there, I went to the low rent apartments that I had looked up online and rented it.

It was even smaller than my apartment in Boston but I didn't care.

I somehow survived for one week until I found another job as a cashier in a restaurant just like one I had in Boston.

Everything was going smoothly except my health which was a little weird. Nausea, vomiting, body aches, mood swings and the fact that I missed my period.

Everything was pointing to one thing: pregnancy.

I shoved that thought away as soon as I had it. It can't be possible but maybe...

I pondered, trying to remember if Arsenio used any protection but I couldn't remember anything besides I wasn't on any pills either. I never needed it.

Fuck.

What if I am pregnant with Arsenio's child?

There was a flutter in my belly on that thought, I don't know why it made me excited but everything got trampled down when I remembered that Arsenio once mentioned that he doesn't want kids.

Everything will be fucking complicated if I get pregnant. How will he even react to it?

I am not financially stable to raise a kid on my own. I can't even pay Marcelo's debt.

I still live in the fear that one day Marcelo would show up here or he will hurt Arsenio but since I am checking the news everyday, I know he is alright.

Everything made my head ache and I finally decided to get a pregnancy test.

I was in the process of buying the tests when I received a message from Zen.

It's been a month, Ez. Come back now, I miss you. Stop hiding.

I replied back instantly. Ask your friend to apologise to me first.

First of all, it's no one's mistake. Secondly, you know how stubborn he is. Just come back, babe and we three will discuss it.

Zen, I need time.

I refused to see any more texts from him and walked back to my apartment and took all the four tests and waited for the results.

Five minutes later, when all the tests came out positive, a tear escaped my eye. I am pregnant. I should be happy. This should have been a happy moment.

But I remembered Arsenio and my heart clenched when I realised how much I missed him and I wanted to tell him about the pregnancy but was afraid of his reaction.

He would definitely ask me to abort it.

At that thought, a protective feeling filled me and I placed my palm over my belly. There's no fucking way I am aborting this baby.

I will figure something out.

I always do what my heart tells me to, maybe that's why I suffer so much. Because our heart is stupid and it never cares about the consequences just like I didn't care about the future when Arsenio's mouth touched mine. I only cared about how special he made me feel for that night.

I cried out in frustration, not knowing what to do next except that I was keeping this baby no matter what.

And I decided not to tell Arsenio about it, it wasn't fair but I didn't care.

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Two months later, which I spent in complete loneliness, only ever talking with my baby which was honestly foolish cause they can't talk back to me but it was comforting to me.

My baby bump started to show and I would often stare at in the mirror, fascinated by it.

Except my pregnancy, my life was going completely smoothly until one particular evening when there was a knock on my door.

Dreading, I got up to the door and peeped through the peep hole and I gasped softly on seeing a furious looking Marcelo standing on the other side.

When I didn't make any efforts to open the door, he banged on it loudly. "Open the fuck up, Ezlyn or I will break this door. I know you are in there! Your games are over now."

It took me another ten seconds to open the door and Marcelo barged in immediately, shutting the door behind him.

My hand unconsciously went over my belly in order to protect my baby.

That movement didn't go unnoticed by him and his eyes narrowed at my belly.

He looked almost disgusted...no, he looked kinda hurt. "Are you... pregnant?"

I decided to ignore his question. "Why are you here? How did you find me?"

The hurt was replaced by pure fury. "Where the fuck have you been?! You think running away from me would help your case, huh?"

In that moment, I felt so vulnerable. "I don't have any money. I can't pay back your debt. I am sorry." That was the most vulnerable I had ever been infront of him.

For a second his eyes soften, just for a second. "Fuck the money, you tell me, are you fucking pregnant?"

"Why does that matter?! I don't have your money, go on, kill me. You don't get to question about my personal life!"

At this point, we were just shouting at each other, so I took in a deep breath to calm myself because all this wasn't good for my baby.

"Ezlyn." He warned stepping closer.

Exasperated with everything, I blurted out, "Yes, I am pregnant! Now, what? You going to threaten my baby too now?"

He glowered down at me, his jaw clenching and unclenching. He asked in a low and dangerous tone, "Who's the father?"

"Marcelo, what is your problem? Why are you so interested in my personal life?!"

He wrapped his fingers around my throat and pulled me to himself and his lips slammed on mine making me gasp.

What the fuck.

I clawed at his chest trying to push him away but he kept his lips attached to mine and as I opened my mouth to shout at him, he plunged his tongue inside my mouth unapologetically.

I finally managed to shove him away and slapped him on his cheek making his face turn sideways.

He was breathing heavily but he didn't react, he didn't hit me back nor did he curse or yell at me.

He gave me one last glance and moved back, leaving my apartment in complete silence.

Chapter completion on: 1/12/22
Published on: 25/1/23