Chapter 6: Intentional Abandonment

Rissa jolted up from the loud blaring of the bedside alarm. To her dismay, Diane had intentionally placed the alarm right beside her left ear.

She got up abruptly and screamed at her “Do you want me deaf?" she said, pretending to be angry.

Diane laughed hysterically, rolling her eyes inwardly; she had wished she could make her truly deaf

" You will miss the train at this rate”, Diane said, dabbing a face mask on. Rissa's heart skipped a beat, it was true, she was meant to leave for the countryside that day.

If she didn't meet up, she would have to wait another week for the next train. She suddenly felt lightheaded and held a nearby slab for support.

" Are you okay?" Diane asked, concerned " I am not okay, thanks to your lovely alarm”, she responded sarcastically, eyeing her while Diane giggled annoyingly.

Rissa managed to regain her composure as she wasn't willing to tell anyone apart from her mum about her pregnancy.

While in her trance, she felt soft hands wrapped around her " I will miss you, Rissa”, Diane said sweetly, still holding on to her.

Rissa reciprocated her love and made her way into the bathroom; she had her body hastily scrubbed, staring at the mini bump on her stomach.

She dressed up afterwards and carried her luggage, placing it carefully by the doorway.

" Aren't you going to have breakfast before you storm off, abandoning your best friend?" Diane said teasingly, making Rissa laugh.

" Quit the damsel in distress role; it doesn't suit you; you have a boyfriend who would pluck the moon for you; I am retiring”, Rissa joked, and they both laughed.

" Well... maybe, the last part is true”, she responded, blushing furiously; Rissa felt a pang of jealousy remembering what she had with Liam.

" What should I fix you?" Diane said sweetly " It ain't my last supper, Diane; a cup of coffee will do”, Rissa responded hastily, hoping to have fooled her enough.

Diane was about to walk into the kitchen when her phone rang and she picked up. It was from the office so Rissa made her way to the kitchen to make herself a cup.

Her morning sickness was starting to show up, so she had to leave before Diane found out; it was too shameful.

She was humming her favourite Taylor Swift tone when her eye caught something.

The part of a broken glassware, her mind wavered back to a few days ago when a mere message from a named Adrian made Diane drop and break the tumblers.

She felt curious, but who was she to question her when she had a secret of her own, her pregnancy?

She gulped down a cup of coffee and they made their way out of the house to the train station.

In their chattered cab, they talked about what the future likely holds and they laughed about it.

" I will call you every day; you better brace yourself," Diane said playfully as they made their way to the ticket booth.

Rissa scoffed loudly giving her a playful tap “Don't make burdensome promises, you are too precious for that" Rissa responded

" By the way, aren't you supposed to be at work, like, by now!" Rissa said wondering

" Well! I took the day off," Diane responded, giggling "In my usual way”, she smirked, and Rissa laughed.

An announcement for the preparation of the departure of the train was made.

Rissa hugged Diane and made her way into the reserved seat of the train, clutching tightly her luggage.

She kept turning back to wave at Diane from a distance, she kept doing it at intervals till she bumped into a solid wall frame.

She looked up, and her eyes were met with the mesmerizing cold gaze of an attractive male.

Her handbag fell and the contents poured on the floor.

She quickly squatted down to pick them up; the man didn't spare her a second glance; he just walked away nonchalantly.

"Uncle Adrian! The beautiful girl's bag fell”, Arya said, pointing her pinky fingers to Rissa, who kept packing her spilt bag content.

Adrian gave her a shuush, picked her up and walked away " Jerk!" Rissa scoffed loudly.

Rissa couldn't see Diane anymore; she sat on her reserved seat and put on her earpod, listening to her usual heartbreak songs.

The seat beside hers was also occupied by two garrulous guys who were engrossed in every gossip in town.

She rolled her eyes inwardly at their slandering words towards celebrities, she increased the volume of her music and dozed off.

Within fifteen minutes, her phone rang, and she opened her eyes in time to pick up her call.

" Hi, Mum”, Rissa said happily " I have exactly 14 seconds left”, her mother responded, and they both laughed.

" I am already on the train" she said smiling " I have the house prepared for you already, don't stay out at night" her mother warned

" Thank you for believing me”, Rissa said warmly, imagining hugging her tightly.

" Now it is time”, her mother responded, smiling “Call me when you get there”, she added and dropped the call.

Rissa felt warmness in her heart; she couldn't stand to be humiliated once the news of her pregnancy reached the media.

Her heart thumped loudly in her chest when she thought of how Liam would feel; how had she been so silly to get so drunk like that?

She felt guilty for keeping it all from Diane who had accommodated her all the while.

" I told you she isn't" the lanky boy blurted out angrily

" She is, look closely " the chubby one responded getting agitated at his disbelieving counterpart

" Shouldn't we find out?" the lanky boy offered

" The looser gets to do the dishes for the month" he added smiling devilishly

" Deal" the chubby one responded. They both turned to face Rissa who felt bewildered at their intense stares.

" What!" Rissa screamed at them feeling pissed.

" I told you she isn't the one”, the lanky boy blurted, feeling ashamed.

The chubby guy brought out his phone, it took him some seconds before he finally turned his phone back to Rissa.

" Aren't you the one in a blanket?" he said giving her a toothless smile.