"Congratulations, you are pregnant" Mrs. Han said, smiling as she glanced at the paper on the table in front of her. Alina, on the other side of the table, looked directly into Mrs. Han's eyes with her mouth twitching.
She stood up when she realized Mrs. Han was surprised. "Oh my gosh, that's wonderful news." Alina exclaimed, swiftly changing her cringe-inducing expression to a professional smile, and shook Mrs. Han's hand and made her way out of the door.
"That's not possible, Lucien and I never had sex, so how can I be pregnant?? This doesn't make any sense" Alina mused to herself as she pressed the elevator button to her left. "Was I too drunk to remember? No , that has never happened..... "
"Excuse me! Are you going to come in or not"? A sudden voice interrupted her thoughts. She walked in. "What floor?" the woman questioned her again. "Ground, thank you."
*ding ding* the elevator moves and opens in a few seconds later, Alina rushed out and headed towards the parkade. She slammed the car door shut as she got in. "Heavens," she sighed as she drove away.
She dialed a number on her phone hastily. After three rings, the rings stopped. In a soft and calming voice, a woman answered "hay Ellie! What sup?" . "Danny, I've screwed up! " Alina's voice began to quaver . "I don't know what to do, It's over, I'm done for good...." "Whoa calm down. Honey, are you alright? Where are you right now?" The woman asked.
"Perk & Pepper Café" Alina replied.
"Alright, be right there" the woman said before hanging up the call.
Danielle is my sister. She's a year older than me, and we've been glued to each other's hips since birth. At times, she can be intimidating, but she has been there for me more than our parents.. We each have our own houses not too far from each other. The only reason she lives alone is that she has too much money and is too lazy to deposit it in the bank. And don't want to pay must tax.
"Welcome," a woman greeted as Alina entered the café. Alina, with a poker face, walked to a table near the window. "Would you like to order, ma'am?" asked a young man in his twenties, holding a notepad and pen, poised to take down her order.
"Could I please have one Frappuccino with extra cream, and one Affogato with two plain chocolate cakes? And please bring it after fifteen minutes, thank you," Alina ordered from the young man.
A few minutes later, a woman entered the café. She wore a tan-colored top and trousers, paired with a navy blue overcoat. Her hair was pulled into a neat bun atop her head, accentuating her dusky skin and sharp eyes. Standing at about 5 feet 5 inches tall, she exuded an air of confidence and elegance.
"Welcome", the lady at the gate greeted her. "Thank you" the woman replied as she walked straight to Alina.
"My baby! Are you alright? What happened?" she inquired with concern in her voice.....!!!
"It might come as a surprise, but please try to remain as calm as possible," Alina said, gesturing for Danielle to take a seat with both hands extended in front of her, accompanied by a forced smile.
"Dude, you're scaring me. Alright, let me prepare for the worst," Danielle responded, taking a deep breath. She continued in a serious tone, "So, did you finally murder someone?"
"Unfortunately, no, Danny!" Alina exclaimed, frustration evident in her voice.
"Oh, well, at least it's not that bad," Danielle breathed a sigh of relief. She grasped the top rail of the chair, sliding it slightly backward before settling in comfortably.
"It's actually quite the opposite," Alina confessed, her hands covering her face in dismay.
"Ah, I see," Danielle nodded, indicating her readiness for Alina to elaborate further.
"Here's your order, ma'am," the young man approached the table with a tray. Bending down, he carefully placed it before them. "Enjoy your meal," he added courteously, before returning to the counter.
Alina pushed the Frappuccino towards Danielle. "I'm pregnant," she said solemnly. Danielle was too stunned to utter a word. Suddenly, she chuckled and burst out laughing. "Ellie, that was hilarious. Jokes apart, now will you please tell me what's the matter?" she said between laughs. An awkward silence enveloped the air. Alina and Danielle locked eyes.
"No, wait, are you serious?" Danielle's laughter faded into a serious expression. "Does Lucien know?" she continued, her tone now grave. Once again, complete silence met her inquiry.
"Okay, my last question, is Lucien the father of the child?" Danielle asked, waiting for Alina's response. However, all Alina did was lower her gaze, as if burdened with guilt.
Danielle raised her drink to her lips, taking a sip, her demeanor now more relaxed. "So, who's the fortunate man?" she asked casually.
Alina sighed, her uncertainty palpable. "I honestly have no idea," she admitted, her voice weighted with uncertainty. Once again, a heavy silence filled the air, broken only by the murmurs of other patrons at nearby tables.
*Slurp* Danielle emptied her cup with another sip of coffee, then another, until it was drained. "So, was it a one-night stand? Or just a random encounter?" she inquired, her curiosity evident.
Alina shook her head. "I can't recall the specifics, but a month ago I remember being incredibly intoxicated. The next morning, I found myself waking up in a lavish hotel room, with an envelope full of cash on the bedside table," she recounted, her voice tinged with perplexity.
"What? An envelope of cash? Do you even realize what that implies, Ellie?" Danielle's voice carried a deep gravity."I had no idea what was happening. I tried to recollect, but it was futile. I assumed it might have been my own money. I wasn't undressed, and the room was impeccably tidy, so I concluded that nothing had transpired and simply brushed it off," Alina explained.
"Hmm," Danielle sighed heavily. "Well, what's done is done," she continued, her tone solemn. "So, what's your plan now? Are you considering abortion, or will you keep the baby?"
"Abortion," Alina responded promptly, without hesitation.
"Good," Danielle replied succinctly.
"Your drink's going to spoil if you wait any longer," Danielle remarked, nudging the Affogato and cake towards Alina, encouraging her to indulge. "So, how did you realize you were pregnant?"
"I missed my period this month. Initially, I thought it was nothing to worry about, but since yesterday, I've been experiencing nausea every time I eat anything. So, I decided to go to the hospital for a check-up, and they advised me to see a gynecologist. I was completely clueless until then," Alina explained, taking a bite of cake. She then went for her coffee, but upon taking a sip, she immediately felt nauseous again. Quickly, she stood up and hurried to the restroom. Danielle was taken aback, but she promptly followed Alina to the bathroom.
"Goodness, that's worse than I imagined," Danielle expressed with concern evident in her voice. "How long have you been feeling like this?" she murmured softly.
"How much have you eaten since yesterday?" she inquired."Hardly anything," Alina whispered before passing out. Danielle gently rubbed Alina's back, offering support as she allowed her to lean against her shoulder.
To be continued!!