PREGNANT AFTER ONE NIGHT STAND

Longing for Cedric has been driving me crazy and also making me think that he’s starting to ignore me. It’s been three days since the incident that I should have explained first, and afterwards, Cedric himself decides whether to be angry or not.

I can feel it all. Everything. Ever since I sent him a message after Henry really left, there’s been no response. He hasn’t even read it, but his WhatsApp status always shows he’s online. What else can it be but ignoring? Right?

Damn it, Cedric has already become a part of my life. Not just leaving a mark in the form of a child. My feelings are starting to waver and always directed towards him. Even before it’s fully grown, Cedric behaves like this. What else can it be but rude and obnoxious?

If I wanted revenge, this is not the way to do it! I hate it! I really hate it if Cedric is doing something disgusting like this to me. Then all the attention, understanding, and words he said were just lies? Just to please me? So that I wouldn’t carry out my well-planned intention?

Ck!

I feel like I’m being deceived by everything about Cedric. And even until this moment, I’m waiting for him to just reply to my message, even if it’s short.

“Miss Anya? What’s wrong?” Anna suddenly appears in front of me. I’m confused because I don’t feel like doing anything wrong.

“You slammed the report on the table quite hard. Why?” Anna asked.

I didn’t realize my frustration could lead me to do that. Even though there’s nothing wrong with the report that I’m going to submit to Krystal this afternoon. Anna said that Krystal, our beautiful boss, won’t be at the office this afternoon. I regularly provide reports, but I didn’t ask further like, “Where’s the boss? Is she back at the office?”

No.

Krystal had informed earlier that she had very important matters in Surabaya. All approvals are still handled, but through email. For those requiring her signature, I have full authority to affix the official stamp representing Krystal’s name. And that’s not just put on any document. I have to confirm the details related to Krystal’s stamp.

“Oh, it’s nothing. Reflex. There was a fly,” I said. I don’t care even though Anna is still secretly watching me. As long as Anna is here, I feel really helped. A lot of work she finishes on time and neatly. Although some of them need my correction, Anna never stops learning quickly. I think if she’s brought to more meetings outside, her abilities will improve greatly.

Krystal likes employees with a high level of initiative, especially those within her reach. I’m like that too. So it’s not just about being asked before starting to work. It doesn’t feel comfortable, right, to have a coworker like that.

“Are we ordering lunch delivery again?” she asked, realizing that I haven’t moved from my desk. I see her busy marking our boss’s schedule, which she has updated. I let out a soft snort. I thought she was still watching me, being weird like this.

“Maybe we should order again.”

Anna looks at me, as if wanting to ask but then stops herself.

“Why, Na?”

She giggles softly. “Let’s go out, Miss. It’s boring staying inside all the time.”

“You can go out if you want, Anna. I won’t stop you.”

Her lips pout, just like a younger sister pouting at her older sister. “What I mean, let’s go eat out. You and me together. There are gossips out there that I hear, saying that Sister Anya is really mean and arrogant. She won’t even go out with her juniors. So, if I eat with you, those gossipers will shut up!”

My mouth gapes in surprise at this information.

“Seriously, Miss. But you aren’t like that. They don’t even know you, but their comments are so mean.”

Finally, I force a smile. “So, you going out to have lunch with me means that I’m nice and not like what they commented?”

I’m sure the answer will be an enthusiastic nod. And her two thumbs will be raised perfectly. The sparkle in her eyes shows her joy because I guessed right.

“Anna, let me tell you something. I don’t need that kind of recognition from others. They’re free to say whatever they want about me. They don’t know who I really am here, right? Even if I pay attention to them, I think they’ll find ways to bring me down again. Whatever it is.”

Then the shoulders of the sweet girl slump weakly. “It’s just annoying, Sister. They’re so mean. But you not like that,” she said.

“If you want to have lunch outside, let’s do it. But I won’t do it just to show that I successfully had lunch with you, okay?”

Anna bursts into laughter. “You’re something else, Miss.”

I guess the idea of having lunch with Anna isn’t bad. Even though my mood is still messed up because of Cedric, maybe it’s a good idea to have lunch outside the office. “Let me ask Krystal for permission first. We’ll go out of the office.”

“Hmm, is the restaurant far?” Anna looks confused.

“Well, yeah. I said I didn’t want to show up if I successfully had lunch with you.”

Even so, Anna laughs again. “Sure. Later I’ll order a taxi online for us.”

“Just use my car.”

***

Being angry is pointless; everything has already happened. Refusing would be impossible, as there were many people in the basement. Henry deserves to be labeled crazy! I didn’t know he was there; maybe he was just going to have lunch or something. I didn’t ask. But as soon as he saw me heading to the parking lot, he followed me. Urging me to sit in the passenger seat and he would drive us wherever we were going.

Anna was confused. I knew it. She kept looking at me with worried eyes. Maybe to her, I looked scary because I gave Henry a few cynical looks. Even the girl was holding my hand on purpose, not to hide herself but to prevent me from getting angry.

“Is this the place, right?” Henry asked to make sure. I didn’t want to answer. When he took control of my car, I didn’t say anything. I had already agreed with Anna on the restaurant we were going to. I wanted to have the beef rib soup that Krystal recommended not long ago. I wanted Anna to experience how delicious it was.

The girl nodded enthusiastically, saying she would order more if it was really delicious. It seemed that someone like Anna could eat as much as she wanted and still stay small. Lucky her, right?

“Seeing the sign, it should be correct, sir,” Anna answered. I didn’t care. In my mind, a warm bowl of beef rib soup completes with tomato slices and accompanied by crackers and half a portion of rice was surely delicious, and I would finish it. But with Henry suddenly interrupting and forcing his way like this, my appetite vanished.

It was annoying because I had already refused him, but that smiley man was being insistent. Henry, pretending to be gentle, wanted to open the car door for me. In my dreams! I had already opened it and got out. I walked into the restaurant, followed by Anna, who I thought was half running to catch up with me.

I don’t know why I started to hate Henry.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Anya? Just stay quiet,” he said.

I was really trying to gather my appetite. I had to fulfill Baby’s nutritional needs, right? Last night, wrapped in a blanket still infused with Cedric’s scent, I read many articles about pregnant women. During pregnancy, nutritional intake should be carefully considered. If it’s difficult, it’s okay to change fruits as long as I keep trying. I was lucky that even though Baby sometimes misbehaved, I could still make an effort to eat. It’s just my mood that often-turned upside down and had to be coaxed to gather and chew food.

And now, this mood is being messed up again. It seems that giving Henry too much space was a mistake.

“Are you feeling unwell?”

“What’s your business? I want to eat. Can you be quiet?” I stared at him with a sharp look. Henry, who was sitting across from me, just chuckled as if he didn’t care that his behavior was making me extremely annoyed.

At this dining table, none of us spoke. Even Anna seemed to eat in a hurry. I started to feel guilty. Maybe I’ll make it up to her another time. As long as Henry is not there, it will be more comfortable and enjoyable. We can exchange stories or whatever; I’m not that close to Anna anyway. Maybe inviting Dona and Naomi wouldn’t be a bad idea, right?

We didn’t need much time to finish the meal, deliberately so we could quickly return to the office. Not because of my overwhelming workload this afternoon, but I didn’t want to have a debt of gratitude for Henry’s treat. I paid for my and Anna’s meal, leaving Henry’s. In other words, he can pay for himself, right? Anna can, too. I’m not underestimating her, but she’s behind me. Henry isn’t.

“I should be the one angry, Anya,” Henry said as he started my car’s engine. We were getting ready to leave. His words made me turn to look at him. What does he mean? Because of him, Cedric hasn’t contacted me! Making me look like a crazy person heartbroken by someone he loves!

“But I’ve been observing you every day. I proved it today. You lied to me. You don’t have a fiancé; you’re only close to two people who are no longer near you.”

I was taken aback.

“Don’t think I haven’t been watching you since last week, Anya.”

Fix! Henry is mentally ill!

“And don’t expect me to believe your nonsense. If you want to lie, make it a bit more logical, Anya. You saying you’re pregnant is already very illogical.”

***