"Mom... I'm telling the truth. I'm pregnant and Leo's the father."
Aya stared at Jienna and sighed. Charmaine told her she wanted to continue her studies abroad because Jienna is definitely pregnant and she didn't want to get on her sister's way anymore. She told her she was overthinking but it looks like Charmaine was right.
"What's with that look mom? Don't you believe me?" she asked as she saw Aya's unsurprised expression. Did she think she was lying?
Aya sighed. "Why do you have to do this, Jienna? You're ruining your life!" she lamented. "Leo still wouldn't marry you even if your pregnant. His grandfather still wouldn't let you into the Ji house hold."
Jienna shook her head. This talk again. They only favor Charmaine. She's always been their favorite. Why are they always bullying her this way? It's always about Charmaine. Even when they know she's carrying Leo's child, they still wont let her be with him. Why are they so biased towards her little sister?
"You only care about Charmaine! You don't care about me!" she yelled.
Aya shook her head. She was glad James wasn't home, or else how can she face her husband if he witness Jienna acting like this? She has been tolerating her for so long now!
"That's not true. Charmaine's engagement was a matter between the Songs and the Jis! You and I have no right to interfere!" Aya yelled back.
Yes, the engagement was a quest for more power. The heiress of the Songs getting married to the Ji heir, the two of them will produce a power couple. If she can, she would protest against this, but this was an engagement made by the previous generations. Aya who only married to the Songs have no right to intervene with what the elders have agreed upon. Nor Jienna...
"What do you mean by that? I have all the right because I'm Jienna Song!" she argued. "I'm the first born! I should be treated better than Charmaine!"
"Charmaine isn't competing with you anymore. She left for the US yesterday. She said you can do whatever you want now." Aya relayed with sad eyes. She didn't want her daughter to leave. She didn't wish for all these to happen. But still, her family's disarray was partly her fault.
Hearing the news, Jienna sneered. "She gave up on Leo already? Did the accident drove her insane?" she mocked with a smile. "Oh, whatever. She's out of my way now. Leo's mine."
"I told you it's impossible! The Jis won't accept you because you're not a Song!" Aya blurted out. She lowered her head and held her forehead. She needs to tell Jienna the truth now before she starts creating more trouble. "You're not James' daughter, Jienna! Not a single drop of the Song's blood run through your veins. I'm sorry."
Jienna went pale. She shook her head but was unable to refute her words. How could that be? Between her and Charmaine, she-Jienna has more resemblance to Aya. How could she be the adopted child? Unless... unless she was Aya's illegitemate daughter?
"You're lying... you're just lying to me!" Jienna exclaimed before dashing out. She's not a Song? How could that be? But if that's so, then everything could be explained. Why grandpa Ji didn't like her for Leo. Why everyone in the Song family always favored Charmaine more. Does Leo know about it too?
***
"Hello Auntie?!", Leo greeted when his call connected and he heard Aya answer the phone. "Is Charmaine home? Can I talk to her? I've been calling her since yesterday but I can't reach her."
Aya was stunned when she heared Leo's voice from the other end of the line. Leo has never called to ask for Charmaine before. Not even when she's recovering from the coma. She wondered what happened.
"Leo... didn't she come to say good bye to you yesterday? She already left for the States. She'll continue her studies in the US."
Leo froze. So it's true? Charmaine really left? He had been thinking about this since yesterday so much that he didn't even catch a wink of sleep. Turned out Charmaine was serious when she said she's letting go of him? That stolen kiss yesterday, it was a goodbye kiss?
"Oh, I thought she was kidding. I never thought...." he stammered. He never thought there would come a day that Charmaine would let him go.
"You don't have to worry about her anymore. You won't be seeing her for a good few years." Aya told him before hanging up.
Leo was very surprised, not only because of the news he received but also because of how much Charmaine's decision affected him. Why would he be crushed by her desertion? She didn't mean anything to him, did she? She's her future powerful half. But he didn't have feelings for her..... did he?
***
Leo turned around and saw Jienna entering the house. He furrowed his brows when he saw the suitcase she was carrying. What is she doing?
"Leo, please help me. I have nowhere to go." Jienna told him. It's her luck to see Leo in the living room. She won't have to look for him.
"What are you doing here, Jienna? Those suitcase..."
"I runaway from home. I told my mom I'm carrying your child and she was furious. Please help me." she begged.
"Wait-wait." he said waving his hand and stepping back when he saw Jienna approaching him. "What child are you talking about?" he asked with furrowed brows.
Jienna touched her stomach. "I'm pregnant with your child. Can you let me stay here for a while?" she begged. Her eyes were red as if she had just cried.
Leo stood still frozen. Jienna... is pregnant? Child... is this the child Charmaine was talking about? Is this the reason Charmaine left him? She surrendered all her right to a child...
"Please Leo? Mom wanted me to abort the baby. Please don't let them kill our baby!" Jienna pleaded with tears welling up in her eyes. "Please Leo!" She lowered her head and pretended to grieve. It wasn't true that her parents wants her to abort the child, but things are calling for drastic measures. She can only put the blame on her mother now!
Leo thought for a while. Abort the child? He narrowed his eyes. Even if he didn't want this, he also didn't want to kill his own child. It took Leo some time to digest this revelation, but after a while, he turned to Jienna and nodded. "Alright. You can stay. And about your parents, I'll think of something." he promised.