PREGNANT AFTER ONE NIGHT STAND

“Cedric, I’m serious.” This time I whine. I don’t care if he thinks I’m being childish or anything. Since I asked, Cedric has only responded with a smirk or occasionally touching my chin. It’s so annoying! The discussion between Henry and Cedric about the new system doesn’t take long. It involves extra funding because it turned out to be beyond the previously agreed estimate when Kelvin and Sarman were still here.

Speaking of Kelvin, he isn’t involved with Sarman at all. He’s doing well and glowing like his face. Seriously. He got a new job with a promotion to a higher level. Maybe it’s his family background that paved his career path so smoothly. As for that semi-oriental guy, I have no idea how he’s doing. He sometimes sends messages, but I don’t bother replying. Why bother? I’m already busy with my own stuff, you know.

“Are you serious about marrying me?”

I shoot him a sharp look.

“Oh, come on, Joice. Seriously! You’re scarier than Krystal.”

“You’re being ridiculous!”

He bursts into laughter again. I wonder what’s up with Cedric’s mood? He seems to be overly happy today. Smiling all the time, laughing often, and his tone of speech is more cheerful than usual. Weird, right?

“Where are we going, Cedric? You haven’t answered me!” I say with frustration. I can’t hold back anymore. I’ve asked him several times about our destination, but all I get is a smile and a smirk. Like that’s going to satisfy my curiosity? No way!

“You’ll find out soon enough.”

See? Ah well, talking to Cedric today is so annoying. I choose to brush away his hand that tries to touch my head. Instead, I look out the side window of the car. I can’t be bothered to make eye contact with Cedric when he’s in this irritating mood. Whatever. I’m not easily swayed.

The guy in the cool blue shirt – I’m a little confused with the specific shade of blue; it’s like the sky but not quite, but it’s blue, how do I describe it? Anyway, he looks good, wearing smooth navy trousers. The sleeves of his shirt are rolled up to his elbows, still neatly folded, and he looks far from disheveled.

Cedric never looks disheveled, though. On the neatness scale, when he wears his OB uniform, I’d give him an 80. But now? Perfect! There’s no other word to describe Cedric’s different appearance.

I don’t know how long I’ve been asleep. Maybe the atmosphere was just so comfortable – well, luxury cars do offer tested comfort, after all – that I ended up half-reclining in the passenger seat of Cedric’s car. When I open my eyes, the car has already stopped moving, and I have no idea how long it’s been like this.

“Where are we, Cedric?”

He glances at me briefly. He puts down the phone that was with him and smiles slightly as he brushes the top of my head. “We’ve arrived at our destination.”

My forehead wrinkles. I look ahead, and it’s just a parking lot. There’s nothing else here. If we were going to a restaurant, there are no buildings around. Oh, wait… there’s one building in the distance that’s quite bright. Is that our destination?

“What are we doing here?” I’m still a little jet-lagged, not fully awake from the comfortable nap I had earlier. I don’t know why, but maybe during my days off, taking a nap became something that made me comfortable, which is why I quickly dozed off like earlier.

“We’re going to eat.” Cedric unbuckles his seat belt and unlocks the door. “Don’t get out until I open it for you.”

I scoff. “You’re being overdramatic.”

He just chuckles. But I wait for him to open the door; not that I can’t do it myself, but it feels nice to linger in the scent of Cedric that I never tire of, to have my hand in his so he can hold it gently, ensuring I walk by his side with careful steps. Just being like this already makes me very happy.

I hope that if this is the path that God has given me to be with Cedric, this man of mine will always be by my side. Until our baby grows up. Until our hair slowly turns white. Until we spend our entire lives in this world together. And if possible, reunite in heaven later.

“There you go, daydreaming again.”

I smile when he’s right in front of me. My hand is already in his, and our eyes meet in the air, and well… we’re quite close actually. But it’s so empty here. Like there’s no one else but the two of us.

“I’m not daydreaming.” That’s my first lie. I tighten our grip and, without permission, kiss his cheek. It takes Cedric by surprise.

“If you miss me, just say so, Joice.”

“Nope.” That’s my second lie. I do miss being close to him. Last night, I slept alone, and that’s normal, right?

“Then what was that earlier?”

I just smile. Ignoring him, but it’s confusing because we’re not moving. “So, where are we, Cedric?”

And, once again, I don’t get an answer. Slowly, Cedric guides me, and it seems like I’m right; our destination is the building across the street.

“Um… if I told you to close your eyes from now on, would you?” I shake my head firmly.

“It’s still daytime, Joice.”

“Exactly, so why would I close my eyes? What’s the point?” I narrow my eyes at him, and now I think he’s pouting.

“Oh, are you planning to surprise me?”

He falls silent. To the point, right?

“What’s the surprise?”

Cedric doesn’t say anything but sighs.

“Are you going to propose to me?”

“Joice… oh, come on, it’s not a surprise if I tell you. My intention was to make it more romantic. You close your eyes, and then… Ta-da! That’s the surprise for you.”

Now I laugh. “So it failed because of you,” he says softly. My laughter suddenly disappears because Cedric seems less enthusiastic now than earlier.

“You need to learn one thing about me, Cedric. This is important. I don’t like things that are overly romantic. Just enough is fine. Like you, who’s usually enough for me.”

“That’s the thing, Joice. What you think is normal for me can still make you happy. How about if I go beyond my norm? I want to make this memorable.”

“The proposal was already memorable for me.”

It seems like Cedric understands the meaning and direction of my words. “Please, Joice. You’re the one who creates the atmosphere. Makes my lips ask you to marry me in a place where it’s not supposed to happen.”ConTEent bel0ngs to Nôv(e)lD/rama(.)Org .

I just smile. “Sure, sure. It all starts with me. I’m the one who teased you. I’m the one who got pregnant with your child. I’m the one who kept rejecting you. I’m the one who kept denying your feelings. What else is about me in this relationship?”

Strangely, Cedric burst into laughter. He released once, and I saw him wipe the corner of his eye. Were my words really that funny to make him emotional? I don’t think so.

“You’re quite the talker, huh?” We continued walking on the grassy path, like a small garden, until we reached the brown-painted building.

“For me, romance doesn’t need to be excessive. I don’t like it when someone proposes and I have to close my eyes. Even if you’re there guiding me, it’s still uncomfortable,” I said.

“Have you been proposed to before?” I quickly turned to Cedric. From the side, I could sense a change in his expression. I felt guilty, but what could I do? I really don’t like being put in such situations.

Everything Cedric does is already romantic enough for me. No need for flowers, no need for chocolate bouquets. Even a warm cup of lemon tea and biscuits with a note in his handwriting to take care of my health, that’s already more than romantic. Seriously.

“I haven’t been proposed to before, Cedric. Only by you,” I said, and a faint grin appeared on the corner of Cedric’s lips. It made me sigh in relief. I thought he would be angry or think I’m difficult to please.

“So the surprise proposal failed,” he complained.

We were now in front of the glass building.

“Do you know, Cedric, why I’m afraid to close my eyes except when sleeping? Even that takes a long time for me to let go of the bad memories that haunt me.”

I knew Cedric was waiting for me to continue.

“I’m afraid that when I open my eyes, the person who was once there with me will be gone. Leaving me alone. Just like my father and mother before. They never came back without a trace, without me knowing anything. Even just to ask, what did I do wrong that they couldn’t stay?”

That’s true. I have my own reasons besides not being a big fan of overly romantic gestures.

“I won’t leave you,” Cedric said. Our eyes locked once again, feeling the gentle but cold evening breeze and the warm rays of the sun. I think it’s almost five o’clock. The atmosphere here is so calm, it’s like being in Beverly Hills, if I may guess.

“Believe me,” he continued, taking my hand and gently kissing it while our eyes were still locked. “Because I can’t stay away from you, Joice.”

A shy smile began to appear on my face. At such a close distance, the way Cedric looked at me left me defenseless. I’m drowning in the flood of love Cedric has.

“Joice, let’s get married.”

Cedric used his other hand to hold my waist. We were standing so close, like an essential oxygen supply between us. My lips formed a smile as Cedric said those words. Unbelievable.

“Yes.”

And Cedric closed the distance between us, and we kissed each other passionately. Savoring every touch we exchanged. Letting the cold wind and air accompany our moment.

“OH MY GOD! WE’VE BEEN WAITING FOR YOU AND YOU’RE TOO BUSY PLAYING LIPS!”

Naomi and Dona suddenly appeared near us, yelling and laughing.

“You guys…” I muttered, trying to hide my embarrassed smile. Cedric just laughed and patted their shoulders.