4

31

The next day I woke up early because I felt like something was turning in my stomach, I was facing the mirror now while looking at myself, I was holding my stomach while wondering if I ate something bad last night or maybe it was morning sickness.

well yes I have a hunch but I don't want to admit it, I won't accept that I'm pregnant until the doctor says so.

I immediately took the contraceptive pill, even though I wanted to follow my grandmother's wishes, I still didn't want to ruin my career, I kept it since I was young and I won't let it ruin just because of the possibility that there was something in my womb.

I quickly drove to the resort where we were going to be taping, Dani met me, sweaty and obviously nervous.

"Ms. Xaira, we need to hurry, we need to finish the 15 scenes in exactly 10pm." he said while helping me pick up my things, mommy and I have a 9pm flight.

"Can't it be 9? That can be done, no more bloopers, just straight."

"The director said 10 because they say they will re-review mistakes after everything is shot, double time." he answered, I just nodded before going to Mama Ched and asking if I could leave at 8:30pm.

32

"Good morning Mama Ched." I greeted him with a kiss.

"Good Morning Xaira, get ready, let's start." He said while arranging the clothes I would use.

"Mama Ched, I wish I had a favor."

"Sure what is that?"

"Mama Ched, I'm going on leave for 1 week, so I have to be home by 8:30pm later because my flight with mommy is exactly 9pm." I answered, showing him my flight ticket.

"Alright, I'll just tell the director, but we're not sure if you'll be allowed, don't worry, you can leave at 8:30-9:00pm." I smiled because of that, I immediately ran to the make up table so that the make up artist could fix me.

I took the taping seriously to reduce bloopers and cuts, it would be faster if I didn't have to repeat the take, it's already 8pm and I've been looking at the time for a while now.

"Okay last 4 scenes, back to your place." They just wiped my sweat for a while before I returned to my seat.

33

Razi will be my partner for this in scene 12, she will be Hiro's partner in this show, well she's my enemy in real life, she's too jealous of what I have, and I have a bad feeling for this scene, He will slap me and I know he will make this slap come true.

"That's right! Don't take Gerald away from me, I'm his girlfriend, you should be ashamed of yourself!" I threw my line at him, he looked at me annoyed before saying his line.

"Why should I pity myself if you are more merciful? Your family has rejected you because of the love you fought for—"

"We fight!"

"Why did he replace me with you?"

"He didn't replace me with you, you dared him. You're a desperate woman who is willing to do everything just to get everything from me, because you're jealous." I stopped when he suddenly slapped me, I felt like my cheeks were red because of the force, isn't there yet in the slap scene, right? Well yes, he believed the slap as I expected.

"Wait, that's not in the script." Suddenly Mama Ched us.

"Stop Ched, that scene was good." Direk stopped, I sneezed because of that, it's also good that my cheeks are red.

"Stop being Insecure Razi, that will cause you to fail even more." I said before sitting on the make up table, they took ice packs to put on my cheeks.

I looked at the time again, 8:28pm, there were three more scenes.

Mama Ched came to me to check my cheek.

"How's your skin?" He asked before lifting the ice pack that was sitting on it.

"Still blushing, we can't start while your cheeks are blushing." i took a deep breath because we will have to wait for its redness to disappear, it will waste more time.

34

I took the phone to message mom in case I couldn't get home early.

You:

Mom, If you want to go first, go ahead, I'll follow. I promise.

I put the cellphone back in my pocket after sending that message, we waited for a few more minutes before we were sent back to our place.

"Ms.Razi, be careful, if you have a dispute with Ms.Xaira please don't involve this, we are at work so be professional." director reminded Razi, before we start again.thank god and he didn't believe the slap the second time because mommy can't see me with a scar on my cheek because she's too weak to react when it comes to my skin; I'm still young and my skin is the most he cares about.

"And cut! thank you so much everyone, packing now." I breathed a sigh of relief when the taping was over, Dani was the one who arranged the things, I told her to take them to the condo; I immediately ran to the parking lot, I started the car but won't start.

I panicked when I got out because the car didn't have gas, if you were to look at it.

I walked another two kilometers before I reached the high way, my feet were hurting because I was wearing heels, I had no choice, I had to take a taxi.

I raised my hand to call a taxi but no one came.

Its 9:05, maybe the plane will leave me.

I took a deep breath before taking out my cellphone, I will call our driver even though the house is too far from here, I have no choice.

35

"What are you doing there on the side of the road? Are you begging there?" A car stopped in front of me, I knew that voice.

"You know, if it bothers you, please just leave." I said titiming, he immediately closed the window of his car.

I have no choice, I need to eat my pride.

"Wait!" I stopped him when he was about to leave, he opened his car window again because of that.

"Why?" He asked.

"I need your help." I even swallowed after looking at his whole car, there it is. "I have to get to the Airport so please help me." I added, I heard the unlocking of his car so I immediately got into the back seat, my hair stood up after remembering what we did here.

"What does it cost?" He asked, I struggled before taking out my wallet.

"How much? Go drive, my flight was at 9 a.m., it's your fault if I'm left behind!" I blame him, he just wowed because of that.

"Why is it my fault? You're the one asking for help, can't you lower your pride even now—" he immediately stopped when I kissed him, I was also surprised by what I did, I couldn't think of any other way to calm him down.

"Well I guess, one kiss is enough for you to shut up, also a pay for bringing me to the airport, now I'll drive because I'm late." I swallowed my shame because of what I did, he looked at my lips as if he remembered something but I immediately covered it. "Drive it!" I said annoyed.

I looked at his car, I stopped looking after seeing my bra stuck on the side of the seat, this is the bra I left behind, hasn't he cleaned the car yet? Or maybe he just didn't see it?

36

I took a deep breath before taking it slowly. "Oh If you saw a bra there, don't think bad of me." I gave up my bra because of it. "Well I'm not gay so basically it's not mine, that's a ah my girlfriends bra, she was left that there." he explained, he said he was a girlfriend, I closed my eyes tightly before putting the bra back, maybe when I took it, he would think I was hungry for the bra so I took it.

when we got to the airport he immediately opened the door for me, I turned around and was about to leave but I turned back before smiling at him.

"Thank you." I said with a smile before turning back again, well I owe it to him, maybe later I'll disturb his time.

I immediately looked at the time, 9:21pm, I asked if the plane had taken off, I was very grateful and it said that the flight was at 9:30, I quickly looked for mommy.

"Mommy!" I called him, he smiled after seeing me.

"I'm so sorry, I just arrived." I said before taking my suitcase next to him.

"It's okay, the important thing is that you came." He replied with a smile, I hugged her tight before we walked into the plane.

37

Mommy and I have been staying here in Paris for five days, I wake up every day because I vomit, I am also always asleep and other food is also starting to smell to my smell, well I often feel dizzy and have a headache and all those signs are signs of pregnancyEven if I want to use a pregnancy test, I still try to stop myself, I won't believe it either because the doctor hasn't told me yet.

I immediately fell down after smelling the food cooked by mommy, the sweet smell.

"Mom, what did you cook?" I asked while going down the stairs, I almost tripped because I really wanted to see what he cooked.

"It's squid, why are you going down so easily?" he asked laughingly, I quickly grabbed a spoon before standing next to mommy to pay attention.

"Mom can I?" I asked, I was really hungry.

"Go ahead." mommy seemed to be having second thoughts about her answer but I ignored it, I immediately took a bowl and put a dish in it, mommy just watched me while eating.

"Why do you seem to like squid so much now, don't you eat it?" he asked in surprise, I stopped eating because of that.

"Ah, mom people change." I answered nervously, he just nodded his head before taking his food.

38

after a while I suddenly yawned, I feel sleepy again, I haven't even been awake for an hour and I haven't finished eating.

"Finished your food so you can continue your sleep, what time did we fall asleep last night." mommy said, she finished eating, she waited for me to finish before taking my plate, she took it to the sink.

"Mom, what if I get pregnant?" Out of nowhere I asked him while he was washing the dishes, he barely stopped washing before looking at me.

"I know you'll be a good mother, of course we'll accept you, you're 24 years old and you're at the right age, so your grandmother will be happy when that happens but don't mind her, enjoy your maiden life, married life can wait." I smiled because of what mommy said, I found myself hugging her while crying, I don't know why.

"Why are you crying?" mommy asked, I laughed softly before shaking my head, I pulled away from our hug to wipe my tears.

"It's okay mom, I can't control my emotions." I answered, he laughed at me before going back to what he was doing.

39

I went back up to the room to see if there was a schedule sent by Mama Ched good to know and there is none yet, I can still make the most of my moments with mom.

to be honest I'm closer to my mom than my dad, I don't know, Dad always left when I was young and mom was left at home with me, but lately, because I'm older and I can't anymore also need a lot of attention, mom is going with dad for businesstransactions.I stopped checking messages when my phone suddenly rang, it's an unknown number.

"Hello?" I answered the call, he cleared his throat before saying his words, well yes he's a boy.

[Are you Ms. Xaira?] he asked, I could hear his voice and tone of speech a little but I'm not sure.

"I am." I answered, I think it's Laurent. "What do you need?" I'll add more.

[I am the man at the bar, let's meet, you forgot something and I just want to ask if—]

"If I'm pregnant?" I cut him off, I heard him swallow because of that. "Well I'm not, no need to worry." I'll take it back right away.

"Ah, so yeah if you want to get this one, just meet me at th—" I cut him again.

"Just throw it, I don't need that by the way, thanks for reminding me Mr, Also thanks for the that night." I said before hanging up, I was holding my chest after hanging up, my nervousness was overflowing.