The two weeks came to pass. To those who were waiting for this day, well, their patience had finally paid off. It was the day of the graduation party that Ethan was to host. In the past fortnight, invitations had been all over the University of Washington (U.O.W) class of 2016 students' montage. Ethan who was much of a sleeper was up earlier today than usual. He had been up as early as six helping the hired event organizers to execute the arrangements of each and every piece of the compound. From the wooden gate in front of the house to the thirty by thirty-meter backyard at the Purcells' home. They had invaded the backyard of their backdoor opposite neighbor, the Richards, at their consent. They had pushed back their wooden fence in order to allow more room for Ethan to host his friends-just for the day. A lot of tendril flowers were stationed at the gate giving a certain appeal to any passerby. The parking lot would be situated outside the home compound just along the street to where it led to and from Ethan's home in both directions. Ethan had asked for permission from the neighbors of course. People in Lower Queen Anne, Seattle, surely didn't seem to mind such a simple request from one of their neighbors.
The house itself was pretty big. It had three bedrooms and two guest rooms. Large living space was available downstairs with a dining room too big enough for the Purcells that it would be turned to a dance floor later on. There were double washrooms too; both up and downstairs, excluding the ones in the Purcells' bedrooms. The study room was to be opened too just in case some people felt the urge to sit down and read something-untethering themselves from the noisy world of the party. Beer was bought in plenty as well as those small party plastic cups. The music organizer had brought in three sound systems; one to be used in the living room, another one at the dance floor in the basement of the house, and the last one in the backyard of the home where there was a swimming pool. The swimming pool wasn't too big and neither was it too small. But it would do the job all the same. The 64-inch living room television had been removed from its locale and was put on some compartment in the backyard and connected to some electricity source all the while. Some chefs were already at their stations cooking up some meals that would be devoured by the graduating latter later on. To add to that, few waiters would be coming soon and they would serve their purpose for most of the night. Everything was perfect!
"No, a little bit to your right...yes, there. That's perfect." Ethan directed some electrician as he tried to fix a disco light bulb on a new position.
Ingrid came downstairs, her hair messed up and eyes sunk than ever. She looked tired in that pajama of hers, skin pale and seemed weak as if sick. She had zoned out deep in her thoughts of that week's Wednesday. Ingrid had been feeling unwell prior to that day. It was the morning sickness. She thought otherwise. She searched for pregnancy symptoms online as if she didn't know them. Of course, she knew since she had been learning about puberty since sixth grade and as the level of academia increased so did her knowledge of the human body and all it did to who, what, how, where, and when; and as of now, a senior junior in high school, she knew the signs. She just didn't want to accept them. The web search results affirmed her darkest suspicions. She ordered a pregnancy testing kit via her own Amazon account that Wednesday. She did the test. There was no escaping the truth! It was then that reality hit her. She had plunged into a self-dug hole that seemed impossible to climb out now. She cried by herself all day and night, keeping all the guilt burning inside her as she was afraid to share her troubles with the world-leading her to decide to lock herself in her room avoiding any form of communication since that day. The following days would be much tougher on her. The little girl would break like a frail twig.
Ingrid headed over to the kitchen fridge to grab something to drink and that's where she bumped into Ethan and suddenly she got back to the present. Ethan seemed shocked to see Ingrid... because he was.
His parents had left the house under his care and use for the day and night while they spent that time in some hotel room in the county for the day and night. Ingrid was still here because she neither saw nor replied to Ethan's text messages or calls. So she had no idea of what was to be done by the rest of the family as he remained back to hold his party. Since Ethan would be with her, they saw no harm leaving Ingrid behind.
That aside, she hadn't been outside her room since Wednesday earlier that week. Today was Saturday. The School calendar had been halted for the Christmas break and thus, it promoted her isolation expeditions. She hadn't been out while everyone was. She had been waiting till everyone was asleep in the dead of night: she would then go downstairs and grab something to eat or drink. She didn't tell anyone of her pregnancy for she knew the dire consequences if they knew of what she had been doing right below their noses. They thought that she was sick with something to do with whatever girls underwent during their periods and didn't seem so naïve to ask questions. For a family of brilliant minds that was pretty dumb of them.
"Hey, Ingrid..." called out Ethan as she excused herself from him.
Ingrid ignored him of course. She was in no mood to interact with anyone. He lashed out at her, grabbing the little girl by her hand. She was sweaty. She smelt odd too. He covered his nose with the stretch of his lower arm.
"Ingrid, what's wrong?" He asked, his face full of disgust.
"Nothing..." she mumbled as she looked away, avoiding eye contact at all cost. He grabbed her chin and made her look at him.
"Ingrid please talk to me. Let me help you, help you. What's the matter? Are you sick? Is something wrong?"
She almost burst out in tears, the guilt of her sins strangling her as dignity had slipped out already. She hugged tightly onto him, tears rolling down her face as she wept bitterly on his torso. Ethan was still puzzled. What was her deal?
She untethered herself from his grasp, wiped off her tears, and quickly raced back upstairs to her room and locked herself in. Ethan became plunged into arrays of questions that seemed to have no answer. He shook his head as he sat on a chair in the dining room. The bad news was still to come.