Chapter 5: A BIG SURPRISE

Jewel arrived home and went directly to her bathroom. She noticed a purplish bruised on her wrist and some other red marks on her body. She soaked in a warm bath. She smiled full of bitterness. How could Cherrie set her up like that? She really pushed her to the edge. She received a message from Cherrie explaining things and now she understood why Larry is angry. He was a fool for misunderstanding her. He planned on using her until his ego is satisfied. That’s not going to happen. She loves him but she's not someone who will cry and silently accept his torture. She is not a sort of heroin in the novel who can endure hardship and live happily ever after. She won’t stand by and wait until her love interest realized his mistakes. She's going to leave everything behind. 

She was offered to work abroad. Her dad's boss wanted her to work with Simon in his Branch office in Australia. After a warm bath she dialed her father's number to let him know she's accepting CEO Halls offer. Her father was also relieved. In a week they manage to arrange everything. Simon Hall flew to Australia first and she followed after 2 days.

It’s only been 2 months after she graduated and now she's working as a junior creative designer. Simon Hall accepted the General Manager Position although his the Heir of the Hall Industry. He still needs further training and exposure with their business. His dad the CEO is also still young and far from retirement.

Originally she applied for a local advertising company in West Country but due to the scandal the company retracted their contract. She was grateful that the Hall Family likes her and believed in her abilities that’s why they offered her a position in their company. They are also relieved to know that someone can keep an eye on Simon Hall. She's still sad though now she will live far away from her dad.

"Ding dong…" 

She looked at her watch. It's 7 PM. She quickly took her bag and walked to the door. When she opened it Simon smiled at her. They lived on the same floor of Hall's Condominium.

"Ready?"

He asked. They agreed on dining out together. 

"Yes, let’s go." 

It's never boring to ride a car with Simon. They always have a lot to talk about. They also grew up together. Her dad usually brought her to play with the Hall's kids. 

They reach the restaurant. She let Simon ordered the meal. When the waiter served the food, she crinkled her nose. 

"What is that awful smell?" She covered her nose and scrutinized the food. All that Simon ordered was her favorite seafood’s. The waiter looks flustered when she inspects the food. She can smell it’s the steamed fish where the disgusting smell is coming from. 

“Are you sure the fish was steamed fresh?" She politely asked the waiter. 

Simon also checked the fish and for him it smells good and looks okay aside the pungent smell of onion. 

"What do you think Simon?"  She asked while covering her nose. He chuckled in return. 

"Looks okay to me... Maybe you just not like the onion smell...” 

Simon noticed that she's getting paler. 

"Just remove the fish and pack it for me."

When the fish was gone her color returned to normal. 

“I thought only pregnant woman have sensitive nose." He chuckled once again. 

Jewel froze for a second. Simon jokes hit her. Her period is already delayed, her sensitive nose and cravings to eat certain food especially sour fruits is evident. Simon gazed at her when she's not moving to eat. She lost the color of her face again. 

"Are you really okay?" She can hear his starting to get worried. She smiled. 

“Simon I need to see a doctor, I'll go tomorrow before going to work. I'm not really feeling well these past few days." 

"Why wait for tomorrow, let’s go to the hospital now." 

"No its okay, it’s not really that bad. I'll go tomorrow. Let's go home after the meal." She assured him."

"You don’t need to go to work tomorrow. I'll ask for a 2 days leave."

"Alright." She agreed right away. She felt like she really needs a break. 

They are supposed to see a movie but since Jewel lost her energy they went home. 

She can’t fall asleep. She's worried at the same time she feels butterfly in her stomach. What if she's pregnant? She needs to sleep for tomorrow she's in for a big surprise. 

She woke up at 7 AM. She showered and ate breakfast before she browse the web for a nearby Prenatal Clinic. She found a private prenatal clinic 2 blocks away from her building. She grabbed her bag and go after setting up an appointment.

Nervously waiting for the result he texted Simon that she was about to finish the test. She could just buy a pregnancy test kit in any pharmacy but she rather takes a proper test for the most accurate result. 

"Ms. Anderson the result is out, Dr. Smith will be seeing you now."

The nurse voice startled her. She breathes deeply before going inside.

"Congratulations Mrs. Anderson. Your 7 weeks pregnant. Your husband will be happy to hear the news." The doctor shook her hands. She smiled and thank him. She did not bother to correct the doctor’s assumption. 

The time seems to stop for her. The doctor gave her a lot of advises but in her current state of mind she couldn't comprehend. She walked out of the clinic in a daze after the doctor gave her prescription of vitamins and medicines she can take during pregnancy. 

To digest the news she went for a walk and window shopping in the nearby mall. She was in deep thought when her phone rang. She looked at the phone. “Unknown number.” It takes a while before she decided to answer the call but it stop. She was about to put the phone back to her bag when she heard the message notification. 

This is Larry Williams, answer my call.

The message seems too arrogant for her. She silenced her phone and just keeps watching it as it keeps on ringing multiple times. When finally the ringing stopped, it shows 10 missed calls. She doesn't want to talk to him right now she's still confused whether to tell him or not about her pregnancy. She vowed not to answer any unknown numbers. They can send message if it’s really important. 

She walked around the mall and stopped by a maternity clothing store. She placed her right hand on her yet none existing baby bumps. She walked in and scanned the entire store. 

She's only 22 years old and just graduated from college. She has a lot of plan for her future. She wants to get married at 27 and be a mom at 29 or 30. She signed deeply while checking different baby clothes in the rack. She was pregnant and not married. Her fantasies walking down the aisle wearing a pure white wedding dress will never going to happen. A cute purple baby dress caught her attention; she took it out from the rack. She loves the color and buys it even though it stills a long way to go before the baby is born. 

Abortion is never an option. According to the doctor it’s a miracle she gets pregnant. Her hormones are not stable and her uterus is not in a good condition, she have to be careful. She was thankful for not having the usual morning sickness that came along at the early stage of pregnancy. 

Her phone vibrated and saw it was Simon calling. She pressed the answer button. 

"Hello!" She tried to sound energetic. 

"Where are you? I'm going out early today at work, I'll come get you.. Are you still in the clinic?" 

"I’m done with my checkup. Meet me at Zeon Mall." 

“I’ll be out at four, stay there and stroll let’s eat something later." 

"Okay" 

Simon did not ask anything yet, he preferred to hear about the checkup result personally since deep inside he have expected the answer already. 

Jewel chose three pieces of maternity dress and five sets of baby clothes. She paid and head out immediately. She still have an hour and a half before Simon come. She went to a book store and check out some reference books for pregnancy after choosing 2 books she lingered in the Fiction aisle in the book store reading synopsis of any book that caught her interest. She checked her watch and it was 10 minutes before 4, hurriedly she went to pay her book in the cashier. 

Simon texted her, he was on his way, while strolling near the food court she saw a crepe cake shop. Her mouth watered after seeing a strawberry cream filled cake. She replied and provided the name of the shop where she will be waiting for him and then she went inside. She ordered right away she knows Simon won’t mind if she eats while waiting for him. 

Outside the shop Simon saw her eating happily. He walked in and Jewel wave at him. 

"That looks delicious." He teased. 

"Yeah, sorry I ordered and eat without waiting for you." 

"No problem." He waved at the waiter and ordered the same crepe cake and a black coffee. 

"How's your check up?" He noticed she froze a little. She sat up straight and looked at him.

"Well, not bad.. I'm going to be a mom." She tried to say it in a humorous manner but Simon still saw awkwardness and hesitation. She rummaged inside her bag and handed him a piece of paper without speaking. When he red it just like what she said it’s a confirmation of her pregnancy. He intently stared at her then he noticed 2 shopping bags from a well-known maternity clothing store. 

“I can tell, you have decided to keep the baby." 

"Yes." She replied confidently. 

"I'm guessing the father that's…its Larry right?" 

She nodded then he glimpsed a sudden sadness in her eyes after a second it was gone and was replace by a look of determination. 

"Are you going to tell him? Simon was curious. Larry is also his friend they just lost contact after the scandal. 

“He hates me, what if he asks me to abort it?"

"I don't think he can force it if you refused." 

"I don't know, I'll tell him if he makes an effort to contact me again." 

“I see."  

They continued eating and when they are done Simon accompanied her to buy medicine and vitamins for her pregnancy. Both of them agreed to break the news with her dad when they go back to West Country for the Founding celebration of Hall Industry. 

She was nervous and excited. She tried to eat healthy for the baby. Unfortunately Larry never calls again. She does not want negative thoughts so she pushed aside her feelings. According to the doctor emotional stress is bad for her baby's development. She is now 3 months pregnant her breast started to feel full and heavy. Simon keeps saying she becomes more beautiful and glowing. In her country pregnancy out of wedlock is still a conservative taboo so it usually brought fort fear and depression that affects woman's demeanor but in her case she accepted the fact and her fate. She's confident that without a husband she can provide for her children a happy home. 

She was really glad that she skips the entire morning sicknesses during the early stage of her pregnancy. It makes easier for her to work. She avoided food that will make her tummy unnecessary bigger. Simon was a big help. He indulges her cravings. At times they jokingly played as husband and wife especially when she asked him to buy something she wants to eat. She remembered the startled face of him when she first jokes at him outside. 

They are walking along the Food night market street. There are two beautiful girls checking him out but his too focus looking at the food stalls. She wrapped her arms around his waist. 

"Hubby... Our baby wants to eat that strawberry sorbet." She placed her other hand on her still flat tummy and used her lips to point at the ice cream stand. She saw dismay on those two pretty girls and she chuckled at Simon's confused gazed. She tiptoed and whispered "Those two hot girls are checking you out." 

He turned at the direction she point at. 

"You just ruined my chance to hook up and get laid with those hottie." He looked dejected. She laughs out loud. She knows his secret. His not attracted with girls but his still at his confused stage so he can’t come out of the closet yet. She knows it since middle school. His not into dressing up like girls, he doesn't walk or talk like usual gays. His actually very manly. The most evident in his nature is he gets interested with same sex. Unintentionally he blurted out that he likes Joe Hensen when they talked about secret crushes. Jewel looked surprised and Simon red as beet when he realized his mistake. They promised to keep it a secret. 

Simon never dates boys. He goes out with woman but just for a show. He admitted he was resigned to his fate marrying a woman beneficial for their business. According to him he still love being on top. She just laughs it off but she also wonders what if he really falls in love with a guy. What if another Joe Hensen appeared will he be able to maintain his current resolution? She prayed that day won’t come for his peace and happiness.