บท 6: 6 Gift Of Life

Two months passed after Zarah's hen party and Ji An started to feel off. She felt sick and thinking it's probably the food she had, maybe it's a little off making her sick. Being picky with food was not like her but lately, she's been so picky and the food she usually liked, was now out of the menu and the food she hated was now on.

Every morning she has the urge to run to the bathroom and be sick, but nothing comes out except water. Whenever she smelt onions or fish she would immediately throw up. Today, she craved for steak, shrimp dumplings, steamed milk pudding, red apples, red grapes, dried tofu and nuts.

It's hard to get all the food she craved for while in Uni, plus she's staying in a flat with her friend Alice, though she doesn't mind what she eats as she likes all the food she serves her. She's in the same class as her and they became best friends shortly after meeting each other 4 years ago. She came from a rich family but she kept a low profile to find real friends that are not after her money. Having Ji An by her side made things fun and easier to deal with. The bond they have are like blood sisters.

Alice got curious about Ji An's behaviour, there was something different about her lately, she is not an expert but something was telling her that her friend is pregnant, "Ji An, had you had your period?" she made it appear that her question was just a casual one not meaning anything.

It made Ji An think and realised that she hasn't had it since last month. She answered Alice truthfully and innocently, "No. I didn't have it last month either. Why?"

Alice's question didn't stop there, "Do you have a boyfriend?" She sat next to her and held Ji An's hand, "Is there something you are not telling me?" her eyes were begging Ji An to tell her something, "Come on Ji, I'm your best friend." she moved closer to her friend, "Who is this boyfriend of yours? Spill! Is he the guy from China? When did he come over? He did make sure that you'll fall pregnant." She grinned at her friend was looking shocked.

"What did you just say?!?! Ji An cannot process the word "PREGNANT" because she cannot be! It was a mistake, she shouldn't be carrying a child.

"You are pregnant aren't you?" Alice looked at her confirming what she had just said seconds ago.

She immediately went on denial after hearing her friend's question, "Nooo.. noo! I can't be! This is probably some kind of bug! I think I should go to my GP and get them to check it out."

Alice thought that the best thing to do for now was to get a pregnancy test done. When it's confirmed, then that is the time to visit the GP and her dad to tell him her situation. However, Ji An still insisted that it must be a bug since she doesn't have a boyfriend. She also told Alice that she'll be the first to know if she has one.

But Alice wouldn't have it, she knows her friend too well, "You won't get a boyfriend because you want that guy from China." she stood up and crossed her arms, "All the handsome guys are after you but you're turning them down for him. Who knows if he is already married or have kids or maybe he got himself a pretty girlfriend. Come on Ji, how long has it been! Five freaking years and you are still here single! For god sake, move on Ji An!" She put her hands up, "Right, that's my nagging for today, now what are you gonna do if you are indeed pregnant? Who is the father?"

"I do...n.....'t kno.....w."

She was puzzled by Ji An's reply, "What do you mean you don't know? Obviously, you had sex with someone and you know that person, right?" Alice was a little bit frustrated with her best friend, she won't let her through and get answers that she wanted to hear.

Ji An doesn't know what to say anymore. The memory that she wanted to bury and forget flashed before her eyes, Zarah's hen party, that guy, that room, those kiss marks. She covered her mouth and she shut her eyes. "Alice, please get me a pregnancy test kit. I'll do it today! I have to find out if I am— Oh god, how am I going to tell my dad. I can't be!" She started to worry and panic because she knows her dad well, his health wasn't so good lately.

Alice bought 5 pregnancy test kit to make sure Ji An will get the accurate result. She gave them all to Ji An and told her how she's supposed to use it. Alice also told her to use all five just in case the other tests failed.

Ji An did the first test and the result was positive. It made Ji An got worried a lot but she told herself the first test must be wrong and the kit was probably ruined so she opened and use the next one. The result was positive again, her hands trembled as she held the test. "Alice do you have the one that gives you the details of how long you are pregnant?"

"Are you telling me the result was positive and you want to find out how long you are pregnant?" she handed the clear blue pregnancy test to her, "Here!"

Once again the result was positive and she was about 7 weeks pregnant. She came out of the bathroom, her whole body trembled. "Alice, how am I going to tell my dad? I can't have this child." she shook her head, "I'm still young. I'm still studying. I have my dreams and— how can I face Cheng Ze." Tears fell from her eyes.

Alice hugged her friend and told her that she will be there for her and they will both figure it out. She calmed Ji An down as it is not good for her baby inside her belly, they both hugged each other. After Ji An calmed down, she asked her what had happened and who was the guy she did it with. She just wanted the guy to take responsibility for her friend.

"I— I— I have been taken advantage of by someone. I don't know who he is. It happened on the night of Zarah's hen party. I can't remember anything. When I woke up, I was in this executive hotel room alone having no clothes." Ji An explained summarizing what had happened then.

"What????!!! Did you report this or have you told your dad about it?" Alice couldn't believe it happened to her friend, she was always careful and always protected herself. How did the guy do it?

"No and no. How can I report it to the police? I thought of it but what will I tell them? I cannot tell my dad, you know his health isn't good."

"Okay okay. Since you woke up in an executive room, that tells us that the guy was rich and that bastard took your virginity and made you pregnant! If I found out who he is, I will kill him if he doesn't man up for what he did to you." It made Alice furious and protective of Ji An.

Ji An went back home for a weekend break to tell her dad about her situation. However, it didn't turn out well. Li Jiefu suffered a heart attack after Ji An told him everything. At that time Ji An was 2 months pregnant.

After a week in ICU, Li Jiefu passed away. His health wasn't that good and Ji An's confession hit him hard. He didn't manage to recover from his heart attack and now Ji An felt more alone. She had lost all her loved ones, is she that unlucky? All that's left was Alice and her child.

She wanted to see her mother and see if she still care about her. But she doesn't know where she is in China. All she knew was that they left Beijing because her mother had an affair with someone she doesn't know. To save them from suffering from people who will tell them bad things, her mother sent them to their dad.