"How is she?" Blaze asked.

"She's holding up and caring for herself," Luce said as she emptied her tray.

Monday told no one about her pregnancy. Only Luce knew for the moment. She didn't plan on announcing her pregnancy until the bump made its coming out . Monday had seen it once too often: one announced their pregnancy, and the next minute, there was a miscarriage.

Thus, she kept he mouth shut and avoided meeting people. She spent a lot of time reading and following online courses. She, too, pretended life went on. Kenneth gave no sign of life. It saddened her, but she didn't see the point of whining or crying. Monday had one goal, and she strived to achieve it.

"Where are you heading now?" Blaze asked.

Luce's lips drooped, "geriatric."

"Good luck."

Luce waved and left the doctor, who headed back to his office. Blaze was halfway there when he recognized a familiar silhouette walking towards him. In her thoughts, Monday even strode straight past Blaze.

"Monday?"

Monday approached him, remembering how Luce had explained it was essential for Blaze to see someone's lip movements when they spoke, "Oh, doctor, I didn't see you."

"Yeah, I noticed," Blaze replied nervously, "I just left Luce if you're looking for her."

"I'm not here for my cousin. I had an appointment," Monday replied.

A few seconds of silence passed, and Monday wondered if the doctor would let her off the hook concerning the explanations, but Blaze's insisting stare pushed her to answer.

"I'm sure Luce told you already," Monday began.

Blaze frowned to feign ignorance, "tell me what?"

"Please don't play with my intelligence, doctor. I'm sure you know I'm pregnant. I just came from obstetrics and got lost."

"I see, sorry. I didn't intend to play with you. I figured you wanted to share things on your own time." Another awkward silence passed before Blaze pursued with, "If you want, I can lead you out of this labyrinth."

"Thank you. I don't have the mindset to find my way out right now."

The two began to walk down the corridor.

"How did it go?" Blaze asked.

"My appointment, hmm, it went," Monday answered. She didn't mean to sound dry, but she couldn't help it, even with Blaze's compassionate stare upon her.

"I know we don't know each other well, and I'm probably not the person you wish to talk to, but if you need any help, Iㅡ."

"Can I ask you a question, doctor?"

"Yes, sure," Blaze replied, stopping on the spot.

"It's indiscreet," Monday emphasized.

Blaze smiled, "I offered to lend an ear, so fire."

"Did your parents hesitate? I mean, did they hesitate to have you when they found out you would have a hearing impairment?"

Monday asked the forbidden question, the one people thought about but never had the guts to ask. Even Blaze had scruples to ask his parents, and their answer was what he decided to reveal to Monday in the hospital's bustling corridor.

"My mother didn't doubt; she told me she loved me from the moment she found out about her pregnancy. My parents knew the probabilities were high, but they chose to have me, and from the looks of things, they don't regret it. It was harder for my father. He felt guilty since it was hereditary, but he got over it. Both have always supported me. My parents helped me achieve my dreams."

"Don't you wonder about your children sometimes? They could also have hearing loss."

"I do. For years, I stressed I didn't want a child at one point."

"Have you changed your mind?"

"Yes," Blaze answered solemnly.

"What made you change your mind?"

Blaze took a deep breath, " In my case, I'd say it's meeting someone who accepts me as I am and everything that comes with it. It's like that better-for-worse vow people take when getting married. When you love someone, you overcome. Sometimes it takes time, but you overcome."

Monday nodded. Blaze's answer corresponded to what she portrayed in her books. People in love overcame things. Monday wondered why Kenneth didn't believe in her or them.

Didn't he love her?

Monday found herself doubting. She was the only one to have expressed her feelings until then.

How did the man feel about her?

One thing was sure: there was no use fighting for their relationship if Kenneth didn't have profound feelings for her.

"Thank you, doctor."

Blaze swiped a hand on his head, "I'm not sure I helped."

Monday attempted to stretch her lips in a smile to reassure the man, "You did. You helped me a lot."

The two continued to walk and took an elevator to another wing. "This lift will take you directly to the building's visitor exit," Blaze explained.

"Thank you, doctor."

"Please call me Blaze," he said as the lift shut its doors.

Monday took a step back in her relationship, not because she gave up but because she thought Kenneth needed time. She knew it wasn't the solution and that there was no guarantee Kenneth would come around, but she decided to keep the faith for the both of them. In the meantime, she made sure she took care of herself. Of course, this solid motivation came after the thought of terminating her pregnancy.

She made a decision, but there was that one time after her return from New York when she missed the man so much she could have ripped her heart out to have Kenneth by her side.

Monday weighed the life of a being she had never met and the love of a man she could not live without, only to detest herself for even thinking about it.

What kind of a monster was she?

Not that she thought people who aborted were monsters, but it was her fickle reasoning that had no foundation.

A child or a man? It wasn't even a question.

"Don't question God," Luce told her at the time.

Thus, Monday promised herself to do better and become the protector her child deserved.

"Kenneth, Kenneth, are you listening?"

The man adjusted his position in his chair and cleared his throat, "Yes."

Mathilda nodded and presumed the presentation, letting Kenneth sink into the abyss of his thoughts again. Kenneth thought of the last time he touched and kissed Monday. If he had known it was the last time, he would haveㅡ.

What would he have done?

He barely slept, and he had his psychologist change his treatment. He needed to be in a euphoric mood to cope, but even the high dosage didn't do the job. There wasn't a fraction of a second he didn't think of her. It seemed his feelings for Monday duplicated to infinity, and his heart only beat at the thought of her. Kenneth worked out so much that he strained a ligament. With his psychical training on hold, Kenneth was without distraction.

Thus, his dilemma ate him up.

Why couldn't he shrug off their relationship?

He made a choice. All he needed to do was stick to it. Why was he thinking of this selfish woman who ignored his feelings?

Why?

Why?

WHY?

Even work didn't offer the escape he needed. Kenneth postponed the talks and conferences. He focused on the publishing part of his business, or at least he tried to.

"So what did you think," Mathilda asked when everyone left the room.

"It was great," Kenneth replied with that cheerful enthusiasm he served in his talks.

Mathilda pursed her lips. She knew the man better, "You don't give a fuck. Do you, Kenneth?"

"No, really, it's a great plan."

Mathilda scanned his face. The man was lifeless. Even his red hair lost its vaillant flame.

"Kenneth, what's the matterrr? You haven't been yourself lately."

"Nothing that I can't handle. I'm fine; it must be one of those seasons."

"Doesn't seem like it's nothing. You look like a dead raccoon flattened by a fifty-tonne lorry."

"I'm fine. I need some sleep," Kenneth replied and swiped his hands on his face.

"Then go home. I'm sorry to say this, but yorrr useless here. You're haunting the building," Mathilda said, mimicking a ghost.

"I need to be here," Kenneth said, gripping the armrest. " I need a distraction."

"Face it, Kenneth, whatever yorrr, going through, face it. Things don't just go away, thanks to work. Stop being avoidant."

"You don't even know what my issue is," Kenneth retorted.

"I don't need to know your problem to give you advice. Also, I thought you didn't have one," Mathilda interjected.

Caught in his own game, Kenneth left the office and went to be verbally flogged elsewhere.

"Well, well, don't we have a very infliction here?"

"Hi, Greta."

"I thought I'd never see you again. Is love really that good?"

"Greta, please spare me."

"What can't I complain? My best friend disappeared for nine months. The whole town knows his lover's name except me. And here you are, looking like a species on the verge of extinction."

"You're right. I'm dying right now."

"And I bet it has nothing to do with your finances. I would appreciate helping you if it were. Playing agony aunts isn't my field."

Kenneth dropped on her couch, "no, it's why you haven't seen me in a while. Sorry, but it's the agony aunt I need right now."

Greta shook her head, "I don't get it. Why do you ask me for advice when you know that I know nothing about relationships? Don't you have some Alpha male friends full of pride and testosterone to listen to your rants?"

"Your opinion isn't biased, and it matters to me."

Greta laughed," You're such a liar. You're a masochist who wants to be punished without paying any fee."

"Yes, and I know you enjoy inflicting such suffering."

Greta smiled, "I have to admit it's gratifying to glue your know-it-all mouth shut. So go on, spit it out."

"Monday is pregnant."

Greta gulped as she imagined the bombshell the news was for Kenneth. The day was definitely going to be a long one, thought Greta as she got up and said, "Want some scotch?"