TWIST OF FATE

“Anywhere but home.”

Jason informed Lucas after getting into the back of his black-tainted car. He was done with work for the day, but for fear of his mother breathing down his throat, he'd rather stay out late.

“Alright, sir,” Lucas, his driver responded.

He didn't need to think twice, he knew the exact place that his boss frequented when he needed to escape his realities. Slowly, he increased the volume of the music, trying to soothe his boss.

“Turn it off.”

Jason hissed, tugging on his tie that was suddenly becoming too suffocating.

“I'm sorry, sir.”

He was already exhausted from today’s hassle, but he had to quickly fix a few meetings for tomorrow. His eyes were glued to his tab the whole time, as he immersed himself in work.

The rest of the journey to the club was calm and boring. In about half an hour, they arrived at the spot and Jason went to the bar. They didn't do much security check-up on him.

"Brandy is fine." He told the bartender who jotted down his order. He looked around, doing a quick sweep of the arena, unsure of what he was looking for.

The bartender returned to his side a few minutes later with a tray of his glass of alcohol. Normally, he would choose a section in the VIP lounge, particularly the extreme where he felt he had a bit of privacy, and relax with his drink. But today, he remained seated on the bar stool.

The last time he was reckless, he was lucky enough to have a beautiful damsel to himself... Well, even though she didn't pass off as the one-night-stand kinda lady, he hoped that he would meet her again. Her face was a bit too blurred.

For long hours, he drank in silence, with his expectation fading away by seconds. Accepting the fact that he might never see her again, he took the last drop in his glass, paid for his drink, and left the bar.

“Take me home.”

Lucas was shocked. He flipped his watch to see that this wasn't close to the time he would decide to go home when having a troubled day.

"Do I have to repeat myself?"

4 Weeks Later.

Kendall was lying on a hospital bed, wearing the uniform and getting ready for the implant. Beside her, Alicia sat with a blank expression. She was never a fan of it.

In her defense, Kendall had so much to do, with the top of the list being putting her scattered life in order and not adding a baby to it. She tried talking her out of it, but Kendall was the stubborn type.

After Kendall had stormed Doctor Sophia's office, demanding an immediate implant, Doctor Sophia had managed to convince her to return weeks later, when her body would be best prepared for the procedure.

She had given Kendall some hormonal drugs to boost her system and duly explained the details of the pregnancy procedure from scratch so that she would be aware of the complications involved, and for one in her shoes, it was doubled.

Also, Doctor Sophia made provision for a sperm donor when Kendall told her she didn't have any partner to help complete the process. Done with the basic preparation, they are here for the main procedure.

"Alicia, come on," Kendall kicked her feet in a slight protest. "Do we need to go over this again?"

“Over what?”

"You don't have to play dumb." Kendall brushed her off. "You look sad."

"No, I don't." She picked up a slice of apple from Kendall’s plate to munch on and shrugged a 'you see?' to prove her point. "I'm just not happy."

Kendall groaned. "Isn't it the same thing?"

"Uh..."

“Jeez, Alicia!” She whimpered. "All I'm asking for is that you should be happy for me, just for a minute."

“Well, you literally spent all you have on this baby.”

“At least, I have one now…”

Alicia puffed, defeated. "Fine, Kendall." she called her by her pet name. "At least I'm having a goddaughter out of it."

They chuckled and ate their fruit slices.

“Miss Kendall,” a nurse called when she got into my ward. “I'm here to help you to the theater.”

"I see you're ready." Alicia pouted and pulled her friend in for a big hug. This was going to be a major milestone in her life.

Kendall waved at Alicia before leaving for the theater, trailing behind the nurse. The theater was spacious with modern equipment and proper lighting.

They motioned her to lie flat on the bed with her stomach facing upwards. Her legs were raised, flexed at the knee, and secured by a strap in a lithotomy position.

Somehow, Kendall was scared. Her bestie’s words came hard on her, as she tried to imagine if she was ready to embrace motherhood. It was an entirely new path with so many responsibilities. Here was the wrong place to question her decisions, but she couldn't help it.

“Hi, Miss Kendall,” a new doctor, Doctor Anna, greeted her patient behind her face mask. She was the lady who took her through the last stage of the preparation as Doctor Sophia had other commitments.

After a while, the implant was done, and Kendall was ready to leave when Doctor Sophia walked into the theater. Regardless of her wearing a nose mask, the multiple creases on her forehead were a clear enough indication that she was worried and something was wrong.

She called aside her colleague, Doctor Anna, who had just finished off with the implant. Their murmuring was not audible as Kendall tried to listen in on their conversation.

Suddenly, Doctor Anna’s countenance changed, as she cupped her first and pressed it against her lips. At this point, Kendall couldn't ignore the obvious signs.

Instantly she sat up, ignoring the nurses who tried to make her remain rested on the bed.

"What's happening?" "Doctor Sophia?" Her voice was shaky as she looked from Doctor Sophia to Doctor Anna. "I need an answer, now."