Unexpected Visitor.

"What are you doing here?" Ariana asked, her voice filled with surprise and a hint of anger. She stood at the doorway, her body tense and her eyes fixed on the unexpected visitor.

Derek, standing on the other side, met her gaze and replied, "I'm here to see you, Ariana. We need to talk."

Ariana let out a bitter chuckle, her voice filled with resentment and finality. "We have nothing to talk about, Derek. It's over. Long over."

Derek took a step closer, his voice pleading, "Listen, Ariana. I know I might have wronged you, but things happen. We can clear things up."

"Leave!!!" Ariana yelled, her anger boiling over in an instant. The sight of Derek standing before her only fueled the fire within her, the recent predicament intensifying her emotions.

As Ariana's voice echoed through the hallway, Derek was surprised. The air seemed to crackle with a storm of unresolved emotions. Ariana's eyes blazed with hurt, anger, and defiance, while Derek's expression wavered between remorse and desperation.

The silence that followed Ariana's outburst was heavy.

Derek, undeterred by Ariana's anger, spoke up, his voice filled with understanding and determination since he had planned for this. He took a step closer, his hand reaching out as if trying to bridge the emotional chasm that separated them.

"Listen, Ariana. I know you might still be angry," Derek said, his words breaking the heavy silence that hung in the air. His eyes searched Ariana's face, longing for a glimmer of forgiveness.

Ariana's expression hardened, her voice cutting through the tension like a blade. "I said leave! Are you deaf or dumb?" Her tone dripped with disdain, her patience waning with each passing second. "Leave now before I get the cops involved."

Just as Ariana's frustration reached its peak, a male neighbor from the next door emerged, drawn by the commotion. Standing beside Ariana, he added his voice to hers. "She told you to leave. Why not comply, young man?" Stanley interjected firmly, his presence lending support to Ariana's demand.

Derek's gaze shifted from Stanley to Ariana and back again, not knowing what to do flickering across his face. He realized the gravity of the situation, the weight of Ariana's anger, and the consequences that awaited him.

With a deep breath, Derek reluctantly accepted his temporary defeat. "I'll be back, Ariana. I'll be back for you," he said, his voice breaking out. Slowly, he turned away, his tie slipping loose from his neck out of nervousness.

As Derek walked away, Ariana's chest rose and fell with the intensity of her emotions. She watched him disappear from sight, relief and lingering pain coursing through her veins. The encounter had stirred up memories and wounds that she had tried so hard to bury, leaving her on edge yet determined to move forward.

Stanley kept a watchful eye on Derek's departure, ensuring he truly left and didn't linger nearby. As the tension dissipated, Ariana turned to Stanley, gratitude mingling with the lingering traces of anger on her face. She nodded appreciatively, acknowledging his timely intervention.

" Thanks, Stanley"

With the weight of Derek's presence still making her boil, Ariana closed the door behind her, seeking solace within the confines of her Apartment. She knew that even though Derek was gone for now, the echoes of their turbulent past would continue to haunt her for a while.

Ariana pondered to herself, her mind filled with questions and confusion. "Who did I offend?" she murmured, her words filled in with frustration. Just then, the doorbell rang, jolting her from her thoughts. "What the hell..." Ariana exclaimed, her irritation evident as she swung the door open, ready to dismiss the uninvited visitor.

"I said get lost!!" Ariana shouted, her voice sharp and hostile, only to be met with the sight of her best friend, Julia, standing at the door. Julia's face registered shock and confusion as she blurted out, "What did I do?"

Realizing her mistake, Ariana let out a heavy sigh, her anger deflating in an instant. "Not you, Julia. I'm sorry," Ariana apologized, stepping aside to allow Julia to enter her apartment.

As they walked inside, Julia's concern painted her face. "What happened? Why are you this angry?" she asked, her face showing her genuine worry.

Ariana shook her head, her brow furrowed with lingering frustration. "Nothing much," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of exhaustion. She gently sat on the couch, placing a pillow on her lap as if seeking comfort. "Derek came here a few minutes ago," Ariana answered, her voice tinged with bitterness and vulnerability.

"Why did he come? Why the hell was he here? " Julia asked, her words occupied with curiosity and concern for Ariana.

Ariana sighed, her eyes fixed on the floor as she struggled to find the right words. "He said we need to talk," she replied, her voice tinged with bitterness. "But I told him I have nothing to talk to him about. Besides, he's the least of my problems right now."

Julia's eyebrows furrowed in confusion. "So, what's your problem right now?" she asked, her tone gentle yet eager to understand.

Ariana hesitated, her gaze shifting from the floor to meet Julia's concerned eyes. With a deep breath, she uttered the words that had been weighing heavily on her heart. "I'm pregnant," she confessed, her voice barely above a whisper.

Julia's eyes widened in surprise, her hand instinctively reaching out to grasp Ariana's. "Oh my, Ariana," she whispered, her voice filled with a funny shock and empathy. "Are you... Are you designing the Holy Mary costume soon?" she asked.

Ariana let out a soft chuckle, a fleeting moment of levity amidst the heavy revelation. "No, not a Holy Mary costume for me," she replied, a hint of wry humor in her voice. "This is real, Julia. It's overwhelming, and I don't know what to do."

"Did you wake up from the wrong side of the bed this morning? Does acting strange and saying weird things now become the new trend?" Julia's words spilled out, confused and disbelief coloring her voice.

Ariana's expression hardened, her eyes narrowing as she met Julia's gaze. "I wish I were joking, Julia. I'm serious," she replied, her voice firm and resolute. "I'm pregnant!!."