ChrisannaTwo times done. Both times it was negative, which clearly means I'm not pregnant. But I still did the third test.Holding the last pregnancy test in my trembling hand, I fixate my eyes on it, watching the lines slowly appear. My heart pounds with both anticipation and a tinge of anxiety. This wasn't planned. I didn't want this, but a part of me quietly hoped it was positive. The lines move further, showing me another negative result. Disappointment washes over me. There's a relief too. It's a strange feeling how anxious I was, fearing it would be positive, yet got disappointed when it was negative. It's not the right time and it's fine. I let out a sigh, staring at the mirror of the washroom and take my phone to text Mama."Sigh! It's negative""You okay, Chrissie?" her response comes."Yeah. I didn't want that either", I type."Still, I know you were hoping it would be positive", she knows me so well."It's fine, mama. God has his plans""Auburn, you ready?" Samuel calls
SamuelAs we walk into the bedroom, Chrisanna looks around, scanning each detail with astonishment in her eyes and a beautiful smile lingering on her face. I stand a few steps near the door, cross-armed, watching her experience everything. I made sure she likes everything about this room, about the entire house. She touches the walls, tracing while walking to the bed, and slumps on her back, looking at the ceiling and spreading her arms on the bed. I can't help smiling at how much happy she looks. It's rare.It's too rare when the reason behind her happiness is me. I move closer to the bed until my face is blocking the ceiling from her sight. She laughs quietly as she sees me, folding her hands on her stomach. "You're watching me explore like a little girl, huh?" she scoffs.I nod."Why, though?""Because I don't wanna look away when I see you smile", I tell her and lean down, touching her chin. Our lips connect as I softly kiss her for a split second. Her eyes part open at me an
Samuel"Samuel!" Mom exclaims as we stand face to face in the police bureau. She looks miserable, all in tears. My heart literally stops when I imagine something worse. Did they get to know something about Chrisanna? Is it bad? But when I spot Uncle Scott patiently talking to one of the officers, I realize they know nothing about Chrisanna yet. He knows nothing. He wouldn't be this patient and calm. "What are you doing here?" she asks, sniffing. At this point, I'm lost. I can't find the guts to utter what exactly happened when Uncle Scott also looks at me, surprised. How am I gonna tell him that his daughter was abducted and I was there? I could do nothing! "You and Chrisanna went to see the new house, no? How did—" She pauses and holds my arms. "Did you— get to know something about Kane?"I gawk at her in confusion. "Mr. Gabriel?"Mom clears her throat. I can see the nervousness in her eyes when she tries to look composed. "I think he's in danger", her voice cracks. "I was talki
SamuelWith every passing second, anticipation grew inside me even though I didn't want to panic. I refuse to believe Chrisanna has an enemy— this serious— who would abduct her. "Samuel, where will you go to find them?" Mom scoffs. She's clearly exhausted and worried— the way she doesn't react properly now is a sign that she's tired. "Let the police do their job. There's nothing we can do", she holds my hand as we stand out of the manor.I was about to leave right after dropping her off. But at the same time, I'm really worried for her. "I don't think I can sit peacefully, mom. And—""Emily!" Uncle Scott's voice draws our attention as we look in the direction of the parking lot.Uncle Scott shuts the door and surges to mom right away."Recently, did you and Kane get into a conflict with anyone?" he asks straight. Mom gets baffled for a while as she tries to recall. "It's nothing new. We have been dealing with Davis for two whole years. Kane definitely had a spat with him last week.
ChrisannaMama is still losing her mind as she asks me a million times if I'm hurt somewhere and if I should get a check-up. I reject the idea since I'm completely fine, other than my strong headache which must be the effect of the drugs that they used to keep me unconscious. Uncle Kane is out of danger now but it took the doctors almost three hours to give the verdict. It was a dark moment until the doctors said he was fine and the pacemaker didn't need to be replaced."Samuel!" mama says, looking over my shoulder as I look up and find him walking towards us. "What's the update?""Mr Gabriel just came back to his senses. Mom is inside", he says.Mama lets out a sigh of relief. "Let me go and meet him", she gets up. "And I can't convince this young lady to get a check-up. I'm sure you can", mama taps on his shoulder before leaving. Damn, mama!Samuel quietly sits beside me and sighs, stretching his legs and leaning his head against the wall. His eyes close shut. He hasn't breathed o
ChrisannaSamuel lets out a deep exhale, holding the steering wheel, and then looks at me. I give him a smile of encouragement. We had a long conversation throughout the week, preparing him to finally meet the therapist. But I don't think he's still that comfortable to start this new journey. I hold his hand on his lap. "You'll be fine""I don't know", he gulps down, holding my hand back and looking down at our locked hands. "I have never opened up to anyone other than you. I don't think I can""You can. And you will", I lean in, touching his cheek. "You have already accomplished half of this journey when you showed the courage to go for this. The next step will be easier. You'll surely open up because that's what therapy is for, right? That person you'll be opening up to won't be someone you know. And it's easy to open up to a complete stranger. That person won't judge you or sympathize with you. They'll just help you. And it's easy'I can totally understand the discomfort when he l
ChrisannaHe turns to me with barely any reaction on his face. "I didn't", he says."Don't lie, please", my voice shakes."I didn't", he lowers his eyes, folding his shirt before tossing it in the laundry basket at the corner of the room. "I went to meet him. But then you said you wanted to go on a dinner""Why would you go to meet him?" I exclaim out of nowhere.His eyes immediately crash into mine, cold and numb as his jaw clenches. "How did you get to know?" he avoids eye contact, surging towards the closet."I saw the Uber message. I didn't mean to", I mutter. "I know that", he says. He doesn't begin to explain anything. Well, isn't it how he has always been? He just won't speak or explain anything. Sometimes I'm more pissed than I'm understanding."Will you tell me why you went to meet him?" I snarl."Because he's my father!" he shoots me a glare. "And you never told me I'm supposed to ask you before meeting him""I didn't say that", I exclaim as he looks away, aggressively t
Chrisanna"He didn't order anything from outside", Cooper tells me on the call."Okay", I mutter. "Thanks""Is everything alright? Well, I'm just surprised it took both of you months to get into a fight", he cackles."Shut the fuck up, Cooper. It's serious""Oops! Sorry. What do you want me to do now? Send him breakfast?" I snap right away. "Don't do or say anything. I'm hanging up""Okay"I cut the call and set the phone aside. I haven't gotten a single work done ever since I came to the office. And it's been ten whole minutes already. This morning, I fucked up.Yes, I fucked up in the worst way possible. And I can't find the words to explain myself. He never looked at me that way, with that gaze— like he trusted someone the most and his trust was broken. I feel guilty in every way possible even though I knew what I was doing. I was already feeling guilty for doing that behind his back but when I saw him staring at me that way the guilt multiplied.I was so stunned and numb that