Chapter Three — Unexpected Pregnancy
The air in Golden fashion's studio hung thick with the scent of fabric softener and impending deadlines. Sunlight, filtered through the sheer curtains of her vast, loft-like space, illuminated motes of dust dancing in the air – a silent ballet accompanying the rhythmic whir of her industrial sewing machine. Makisha worked like she had no worries. Her dark hair, usually meticulously styled, was pulled back in a messy bun, escaping strands framing a face etched with both intensity and a subtle, knowing smile.
She felt nothing but pure satisfaction at the sketch that she made, that she created.
"Woah,"Chloe, her colleague whom was trying hard to be her friend, wowed in admiration. "This is more than a sketch, Makisha. It's magic. If only I could be like you,"Chloe pouted, eyes still trained on the tablet Makisha drew in. The design was a masterpiece.
"Oh,please Chloe. It's just a random dress,"Makisha mumbled with a smile as she did the finishing touches.
"Random? Christ, you call this random? I bet even madame Louise's mouth is going to drop when she sees this,"Chloe grinned cheekily.
"You think so?"Makisha asked, biting on her inner cheek as she doubtfully looked at her design.
"I know so!! Just show it to her first and....."Chloe was still talking.
"And what the hell is going on here?"heavy french accent resounded the studio and both girls snapped their heads up.
Madame Flora Louise. She's tall as a giant and ugly, to be honest. One look at her and you'd be reminded of the bulldog you saw at the zoo. Her fat went poorly with her muscles giving her this unpleasant appearance.
In other words, she was a richly dressed baboon.
"I asked a question, didn't I?"she questioned, towering over both girls who shrieked backwards.
Makisha held her tablet tightly behind her, away from Madame Louise's sight.
"It's nothing.... Madame Louise. We were just talking,"Makisha spoke boldly.
"Talking? Look around you,"Louise glared. "We have a runway show to prepare for. Translation? Everyone should be busy, but you both are gossiping away your lifespans!"she roared making Chloe flinch.
"And you. Is this your space? Is this where you're supposed to be?"she asked, glaring at Chloe.
"My apologies, Madame,"she bowed her head slightly in respect before scurrying off.
"I'm so sorry for slacking off, Madame, but I'm done with my own share of the work,"Makisha defended truthfully. It wasn't her fault that she was more efficient than all the other designers in the room.
"You're done, so? Would it kill you to join hands with others so we can get the job done in time?"
"I didn't realize we were allowed to help others,"Makisha mumbled.
"What is it you're holding?"Madame Louise asked with crossed arms.
"W...what?"
"What. Are. You. Holding? You'd be damned if you let me repeat it the third time,"Louise warned.
"It's nothing. Just the drawing tablet...."Makisha was stuttering when Louise held out her hand.
"Give it,"she instructed.
"Ma?"
"I. Said. Give it!"
Makisha hesitantly gave her the tab and for the first time in history, Makisha saw Madame Louise's ever hard face, flip into that of surprise and awe.
"This... This is.... Who drew this?"she asked, speechlessly.
"I did, Madame,"Makisha replied, looking down at the floor as she patiently awaited her fate.
"You...sketched this?"she asked and when Makisha nodded, she left without another word, taking the design with her of course.
"What was that?" Makisha wondered but then her head spun all of a sudden.
She felt bike rise up all the way to her throat and she dashed right into the closest restroom.
Throwing up everything she ate at lunch, she washed her mouth, flushed, and leaned on the wall tiredly.
She'd been throwing up since forever, running fevers that only lasted a couple of hours and then disappeared. She'd been so weak, if she wasn't hardworking, it would've affected her work big deal.
She had it in mind to pay the doctor a visit soon. She just hadn't had time to do it yet.
Forcing herself up, she walked out of the restroom to meet with Chloe who looked worried.
"Are you okay?"the girl asked, feeling Makisha's forehead for temperature.
"Yeah, I'm okay,"Makisha managed to say despite the fact that her vision suddenly doubled. The world was slowly fading out on her.
"But you look pale. And you've been throwing up all week! What if you caught a virus or something. Let's go see a doctor!"she could hear Chloe's concerned voice echo in her own blurry world.
"I said I'm fi...."Makisha was saying when she fell to the ground, the world blacking out on her totally.
Chloe screamed in panic.
"Somebody help!!! She's fainted! Call the ambulance!"she spoke, adding a bit of drama to her display.
★★★
"Kisha? Baby girl. Kish, wake up,"a familiar but faded voice echoed in Makisha's head forcing her to open her eyes.
She flickered her eyes opened, taking in the white walls and ceiling. She could recognize the smell anywhere. The smell of drugs....blood....
She was at the hospital.
"Oh Jesus. Thank God you're alive! I thought I'd lost you,"Gigi pulled her in for a gentle hug, worry etched on her fine face.
"What the hell happened? Why am I here? I was just at work...."Makisha trailed off, trying to remember what happened last but nothing.
"You fainted, Kisha. I told you to reduce your work hours! You never listen. This is stress taking its toll on you,"Gigi scolded.
"I can't. You know I need the extra pay,"Makisha groaned at the pang happening in her head.
"Then just accept help from me. You know I'm capable of providing for you,"Gigi spoke in concern, holding on tight to Makisha's hand.
"Of course I know. I just don't want to be the kinda friend who's leeching off you. It sounds cringe,"Makisha managed a smile.
"You never listen,"Gigi sighed. The doctor walked right in with a nurse who came closer to check Makisha's vitals.
"Hello, Miss Makisha. How're you feeling?"the doctor asked, a kind smile on his face.
"I feel so fucking tired and....I think a party's happening in my head. I feel weak too,"Makisha replied the doctor who took notes.
"When was your last menstruation seen?"the doctor suddenly asked.
"Sir?"both Gigi and Makisha asked.
"When was your last menstruation seen?"he repeated and Makisha racked her brain to remember.
Oh shit.
"Two months ago? But it's normal with me! Hormonal stuff...."Makisha tried defending.
"Well, I don't know what to say to that cause the pregnancy test we conducted said positive,"the doctor announced.
"You said what?!" Colour drained out of Makisha's face with the speed of lightning.
"You're two months pregnant, Miss. Congratulations,"he smiled. "As you're in the first trimester, I suggest you stay away from anything too stressful or strenuous. You need lots of rest cause with the amount of stress you've undergone these few months...you might loose the baby if care isn't taken..."the doctor stopped talking when he realized that both girls looked like they'd seen ghosts.
"Are....you okay?"
Gigi was the first to recover from the shock.
"Of course we're fine. Oh my God! Kisha!! Awwn, I can't believe you're carrying a mini Henry inside of you. I'm definitely sure Henry's gonna take the first flight back to Las Vegas once he hears this,"Gigi cooed before turning to the doctor.
"The baby definitely has a father, so please....give us some alone time,"she gave a toothed smile.
"Yeah, sure,"he walked out with the nurse and Gigi turned to Makisha in slowmo.
"How are you pregnant?!"she whisper yelled. "Scratch that, who got you pregnant?!"
Makisha tried to think hard but then the only thing ringing in her head was the doctor's words.
"You're two months pregnant, Miss "
"Two months pregnant!"
"Two.... Months.... Pregnant." The last one went slowmo in her brain.
Two months! Jenny's wedding! Glass elevator, room 9999!
Her eyes widened upon realization. She looked down at her stomach. The baby she was carrying was a product of that accidental night.
It seemed like Gigi realized it too cause she cussed aloud in both frustration and disbelief.
"Girls!!"Jenny barged into the room excitedly.
"Guess what?"she panted for air as she'd been running.
"What?"Gigi asked as Makisha tried to imagine what would be worse than an unexpected pregnancy.
"So someone online asked me who my wedding dress designer was and I replied Makisha. She's a star model and she wants Makisha to design her wedding dress. I think the wedding is soon though they haven't decided on a date. She wants something beyond the world. With this contract, she promised to give you connections with the modeling agency she's working with. She'll make sure you're their sure plug. Girl!!! You've made it!"Jenny screamed.
Makisha's heart dropped down to the pit of her stomach. With her pregnancy? There's no way she'd be able to scale through it without overworking herself. The foetus inside of her was so fragile and even if she wasn't prepared for it, she wasn't ready to loose it either.
I guess this was the point where she said....Bye bye, fashion designing. It's all over.