Chapter Two: A Cause Of Misfortune, A Bundle Of Joy

I was broken out of my reverie when Charlotte took me by the shoulders and shook me -- hard. "Loosen up, will you ?! A night like this is once in a lifetime.”

“I should be saying that to you, I’m worried about you, you know Skyler is possessive. Charlotte won’t you suffocate if you marry someone who won’t let you feel free?”

“ I think we’ve talked about this before?” She raised her eyebrows, displeased.

“Alright, alright. Sorry.” I closed my eyes and sighed again.

“At least I’m about to get married, what about you? You don’t even have a boyfriend at twenty!” Charlotte scoffed.

“Don’t mock me will ya?” I pinched her arm. She is older but we communicate like how sisters do.

“And who told you Skyler won’t let me come out?” Charlotte declared.

“Well, unless you get a divorce and decide to remarry in the future ... " Charlotte’s chocolate brown eyes were as wide as saucers at that last remark.

"What did you just say?"

"Calm down, Little Miss Morgan. I'm not trying to curse you or anything.” I paused waiting for her anger to subside. "Eleven hours can make you change your mind from walking down the aisle. For Skyler maybe, but you, nah ... " I asserted, hitting the bull where it hurts.

The glare Charlotte sent my way had me backpedaling," Kidding! Gosh, Charlotte, can't you take a joke?"

I drank three glasses of champagne and felt a bit dizzy, I didn’t mean to sound harsh, I’m known for not sugar coating but I had to lay down the truth. I’m the law of falling in love, the one who falls first loses. And to this fact, Charlotte already lost.

Sharon suddenly drew a drink from the table before us and forced it in the hands of the bride-to-be. Gave it to Naomi and handed a glass to me. I was slightly drunk, but I didn’t care at all, just took it from her hands.

Charlotte blanched, her mood back again, and I sighed in relief. "Let’s drink up!"

"Pathetic…'' Sharon scoffed, rolling her eyes, I was drunk, but didn’t quite make out her full words.

The next moment, I blanked out.

*****

Five years later!

It happened. My fate was already set in stone the night I had a smoky and indulgent sex with an unknown species.

An irreparable mistake that could destroy my career.

That memory was bleak, I had been defiled that fateful night. I couldn’t even remember the man I slept with. He oozed off a dangerous aura, and I knew because my body subconsciously reacted. I remembered how panicked I was on New Year’s day. Holding a pregnancy test kit in the bathroom, with two red lines visible on it. My body trembled all over.

Mom disliked me, and I didn’t want her to hate me more. I was scared when I found out that I was pregnant. Charlotte was the only one who knew of my circumstances back then, I couldn’t tell Naomi because she is a blabber mouth, and through her, Sharon will find out.

I opted to stay back in the States, and Sharon felt relieved that I wouldn’t be going back to New Zealand with them.

What hurts more than anything, was the fact that mom didn’t bother to share any sentiments with me. She left without a care in the world.

She might have felt that getting rid of a trouble maker like me is nothing but good news. I had to endure her neglect, I still wished she could miss me while I’m here. I want her to know my importance if that still meant anything to her.

Gosh, I’m willing to endure it. For one thing I’m sure, her words were true… I am unlucky.

I sat on a stool, in a daze. It's been five years already, the pain I went through, the joys and sadness that comes along with being a mother. Kelvin had been nothing but a sweet cute little child. Knowing for a fact that Charlotte was married, I didn’t want to bother her, taking care of a child could be quite tasking, I’ve experienced it first hand.

I’ve stayed away long enough, I’m planning to take Kelvin to Charlotte’s and go back to New Zealand. I want to hide him for a while till I’m certain my parents will accept his existence.

I chuckled drily as I skimmed through my phone, I have only received ten messages from my mom these five years. Funny huh?

Two messages a year. I’m really unlucky, why can’t I receive her love? Am I unworthy of her love?

Tears slipped out of my eyes, my nose was sore. Regardless of how I’ve been treated, I still made sure to give my son all the love I have.

"Knock, knock. '' A knock on my bedroom door brought me out of my thoughts.

"Come in!" I yelled.

The door opened and Charlotte peeped her head into my room, a smile forming on her face when she saw my diary placed on the table.

“Given your stubborn personality, it’s almost impossible to believe that you write a diary.” Charlotte snickers.

I let out a smile as I closed the diary and placed it on the side table, "When do I ever listen to you. Even the fiercest of all personalities keeps a diary when they want to." I stated, while getting off my bed.

"Did it help?" A slightly hopeful Charlotte asked, looking at me.

I let out a defeated sigh. “I have to get past this Charlotte. I can't keep being a broken girl." I sighed once again and added, "If only life was this easy, Charly."

“I know moving on was easier said than done, especially when you had to move on from all the barrage of misfortune.”

I quickly shook my head and looked at Charlotte, not wanting my thoughts to go down a dangerous territory,

"Now come on, let's go downstairs before Grandma ends up blowing up the house.” Charlotte lets out a laugh, "You have got to give her some credit." She defended, as the both of us walked downstairs.

"Trying to convince me or yourself?" I asked.

"A bit of both." Charlotte admitted, making me chuckle.

We saw granny standing in front of an open fridge, frantically searching to make something for breakfast, while Kelvin watched her from behind.

"Toast, I can still make toast!" Grandma said, glancing at us with a sheepish look on her face.

"Forget the toast grandma, it's all about the hot chocolate." I say, walking over to the microwave to make us some hot chocolate.

"Wrong, it's actually all about the coffee." Charlotte retorted, walking over to the kettle to make herself some coffee. Jeremy Morgan, Charlotte’s younger brother, entered the kitchen, "Is there coffee?" he asked.

He came to stay with grandma last week since I will be going back to New Zealand.

I wanted to see what Sharon

have been up to these years, she should better get ready for my anger.