Chapter 3: Done with High School

Then, a gentle kiss was shared between us. But when Jerry realized it was my first kiss, he suddenly backed out, not to push things beyond that moment.

“Vroom!”

The sound of a car pulling in signaled that Jerry's father had returned from his trip.

Jerry, upon noticing his father's arrival, hurriedly guided me back to the sitting room, where we pretended to be going through our books.

"Good afternoon, Dad. Welcome back, sir," we both greeted warmly as Jerry embraced his father, eager to hide any signs of our interrupted moment.

His father, Mr. Jackson, gazed around the sitting room with a smile, his eyes twinkling with curiosity as he watched the scene before him.

"Good afternoon, my son, and….” I understood he was trying to know my name, and responded immediately. “Vivian sir. My name’s Vivian, we’re classmates in school.”

"How're you both doing?" he asked calmly. "We're doing well, Dad," Jerry replied, trying to sound as natural as possible while suppressing the awkwardness from the interrupted moment with me.

I nodded in agreement, my cheeks blushed slightly with embarrassment as I tried to compose myself in front of Jerry's father.

"It's good to see you both spending time together. Well, I'll leave you two to your studies. I have some work to catch up on," Mr. Jackson said before heading to his room, leaving Jerry and I to continue with our reading.

Feeling uncomfortable, I asked if I could go home and meet Jerry at school tomorrow.

“It's fine, Vivian. Tomorrow then,” Jerry said, as he escorted me to the door and gave me some money for a cab ride home.

Returning home, I diligently finished the chores I left unfinished earlier, "I made sure everything was spotless," I declared to myself. However, my aunt hadn't returned from her shop yet.

Later, as she finally arrived, I greeted her warmly, "Welcome back! Dinner's almost ready." We sat down together, enjoying our meal and catching up on the day's events.

Meanwhile, Jerry and his father sat at the dining table, exchanging stories, "School was hectic this week," Jerry remarked, to which his father nodded in understanding.

"I can imagine. Work wasn't funny either, I had to make sure the company is going well,” his father replied, sharing his own experiences. They bonded over their meal, cherishing the time spent together.

Meanwhile, as Jerry and I drew closer, our intimacy deepened, “You are the first person I've ever been this close to,” I confessed softly, breaking the silence between us.

Despites Jerry's gesture of affection, showering me with gifts and outings, to expensive locations. “I just want to make you happy," he'd say. I seemed occupied with spending. I had found someone willing to cover my expenses.

“I had never had someone spoil me like this before,” I admitted. As our relationship progressed, he began to notice my increasing focus on material possessions.

Years later, as high school graduation loomed closer, "I can't wait to start university and build our future together," I expressed to Jerry, filled with excitement for what lay ahead.

But as the days passed, I couldn't ignore the sudden change of Jerry's behavior. "You seem distant lately," I finally confronted him, hoping for clarity.

His response was nonchalant, "Oh, it's nothing, just stressed with our final exams," he disregarded my concerns, leaving me feeling even more unsettled.

"I've been trying to talk to you, but you always brush it off," I voiced my frustration, but his excuses continued. "Sorry, babe, just busy with stuff,” he'd always say.

It slowly dawned on me that his interest wasn't genuine, “You only care about how I look and what I can offer," I realized, hurt by the realization.

Our relationship, once promising, was marred by superficiality, "You never cared about my feelings, just my appearance,” I confronted him, finally seeing through him.

Seduced by the wealth of Jerry's family, "Their lifestyle was like something out of a dream," I confessed, unable to resist the allure of their wealth.

Lost in the glamor, I failed to see the truth about his intentions, "I was so focused on fitting into his world," I admitted, blinded by the illusion of luxury.

As graduation approached, Jerry painted a picture of his future, "But he never talked about us," I realized, noticing his self-centered focus.

While he pursued his ambitions, “I was too busy fantasizing about a life of luxury,” I acknowledged, my own desires clouding my judgment.

Despite the growing issues, "I held onto our high school romance," I confessed, clinging to memories that seemed increasingly distant.

However, my desire for the elegant lifestyle that Jerry's father's wealth promised kept me from facing the truth.

I noticed all the signs, like how he only talked about fancy things and never asked about my day. But I didn't really mind. What mattered most to me was finding a guy with lots of money.

"If he's rich, who cares if he's not that interested in me?" I thought. So, I kept dating him, hoping he would spoil me with expensive gifts and take me to luxurious places.

"Emily warned me that he might not really care," I admitted, recalling my friend's caution, "But I wasn't worried. I thought being with a rich guy would mean a life of luxury."

As our relationship progressed, I found myself increasingly drawn to the material comforts he provided. Expensive gifts and lavish dates became the norm, overshadowing any doubts I may have had about his intentions. I convinced myself that the lavish lifestyle he offered was worth any emotional sacrifices I might be making.

However, deep down, a small voice nagged at me, reminding me that true love and genuine connection couldn't be bought with money. Yet, I pushed aside these thoughts, attracted to the illusion of happiness that his wealth provided.

One day, I visited Jerry's house, only to find him drunk. Despite being drunk, he initiated intimacy with me without any precautions.

After spending several hours at my boyfriend's house, I left and headed to the pharmacy to get medication for myself. I felt worried and anxious about the possibility of unwanted consequences from our encounter. As I waited for the medication, my mind was filled with thoughts about what had happened and what I needed to do next to take care of myself.

I anxiously waited for the pharmacist to hand me the medication. Despite knowing the risks, we had acted carelessly, and now I was left to deal with the aftermath.

As I left the pharmacy, holding the medication in my hand, I couldn't help but feel a sense of disappointment in myself for falling in love with someone like Jerry.

Heading home, I tried to push aside the thoughts spinning in my mind, focusing instead on taking care of myself and ensuring I didn't face any further consequences from my reckless actions.

But deep down, I knew that I’d have to confront Jerry about what had happened and have a serious conversation about our relationship moving forward.

“Are you okay? Vivian,” my aunt who saw me in my room, lost in my own thoughts asked. But it seemed I didn't hear her, my mind was very far away. My aunt who noticed I didn't respond went close, and pulled my hand.

“Good evening, Ma,” I greeted, pretending I was fine.

My aunt asked again if I was fine, and I reassured her I was okay.

She talked about my plans to further my education, since I was done with highschool. I smiled, as I hugged her, promising I'd make her proud.

Encouraged by my aunt's support and motivated by the promise I made, I felt a renewed sense of determination to pursue my educational goals. I began researching various opportunities for furthering my education, exploring different programs and institutions that aligned with my interests and career aspirations.

With my aunt's guidance and encouragement, I started taking steps towards applying for a university, preparing myself for the next chapter in my academic journey.

Months later, with a heart full of joy and a smile that could light up a room, I shared the wonderful news with my aunt. I have been accepted into the university to study business.

My excitement was one in million as I received the great news, my eyes shining with anticipation for the journey ahead. My aunt, who was proud of me, envelops me in a warm embrace and offers heartfelt congratulations. Together, we celebrated this achievement, knowing that it marked the beginning of an exciting new chapter in my life.

As the reality of my acceptance settled in, my mind was filled with excitement and anticipation for the adventures that awaited me at the university. I began making plans for my future, thinking about the classes I’d take, the friends I'd make, and the experiences I'd cherish. With my aunt's unwavering support and encouragement, I felt ready to embark on this new chapter with confidence and determination.

When I told Jerry I got into university, I was hoping he'd be happy for me, but I was disappointed by his lack of reaction.

"I don't get why he didn't seem to care," I wondered aloud, feeling let down by his indifference.

"I thought he'd be excited for me, like I am for him," I sighed, wishing for his support.

I had hoped Jerry would be my biggest fan, supporting my dreams and celebrating my achievements alongside me. Instead, his attitude only served to dampen my spirits and cast a shadow over what should have been a moment of pure happiness.

Feeling a mix of confusion and disappointment, I couldn't shake off the nagging feeling that something was strange in our relationship. I had always believed that we were a team, facing life's challenges and triumphs together. But now, faced with his indifference towards my dreams, I began to question the strength of our bond and whether we were truly compatible after all.

A few weeks later, I began to feel unwell. I had a fever and just felt sick all of a sudden. With my aunt away in the city, I found myself alone and unsure of what to do. Concerned about my health, I decided to visit the hospital to find out what was wrong.

At the hospital, I anxiously waited to see the doctor, my mind racing with worry. When I finally met with the doctor, he delivered unexpected news.

"You’re pregnant, Miss Vivian," he said gently.

The words echoed in my mind as I tried to process the shocking revelation. I couldn't believe it.

“ How could this happen?”