PREGNANT AFTER ONE NIGHT STAND

Well… how can I socialize when I’m always overworked and have many off-site agendas? Not to mention Krystal always orders me around with no consideration for the fact that sometimes I really want to be free from the grueling work. Even though I earn a lot of money, sometimes I envy those who can go wherever they want after office hours.

Me? I have to wait for Krystal’s permission before I can leave.

That’s why I’m confused. Krystal’s change in attitude is incredible, from a devil to an angel. That’s how I described it, right? It’s what I feel. I want to ask, but I’m never able to. I’m afraid that if I ask, Krystal’s attention will disappear. Even though she’s strict and firm, Krystal is actually kind.

The intercom in my apartment rings. I know who’s coming. It must be Cedric. In a hurry, I check my hair once again before I head out. Before, I rarely went back and forth to the mirror. Feeling satisfied with everything, I head to the office. Arriving at my desk, I check again if there’s anything missing or if I’m ready to handle the busy agenda.

For some reason, I have to do it this time.

“Good morning, Anya!”Belonging © NôvelDram/a.Org.

I feel like going back to my room. Why did I open the door with such a wide smile like this? Dona and Naomi barge in without me telling them to. And Cedric? He only gives a small smile as he watches the two of them take over.

“Hey, Anya. Are you sure you’re ready to work? I don’t want to deal with you passing out again,” Naomi says without any regard for me. Meanwhile, Cedric just gives me a quick peck on my temple when I glare at him, he chuckles softly.

“Let’s just go straight to the office, okay? No need to get dressed up like earlier,” Naomi complains as she sits on the sofa. “Anya, what did you have for breakfast?”

“I said I would tag along for breakfast and then we’ll leave. Your excuse of taking multiple rides is ridiculous,” I scoff at Naomi, who receives laughter from Dona.

“Serves you right. Anya’s getting strict again, Nao.”

I roll my eyes in annoyance. “I just made spaghetti. That’s all I had time for.”

“I WANT!” They’re the most unified when it comes to free breakfast.

“Don’t eat too much! I only made two servings. Dividing it into four portions won’t be enough. My husband and I won’t eat much.”

That’s just words; they don’t listen anyway. Once I serve the spaghetti, they eat it eagerly. I wince because Cedric, who I wanted to prepare breakfast for, ended up with so little! These two!

“It’s alright. Aren’t you still hungry yourself? If you’re still hungry later, we can stop by and get breakfast,” Cedric assures me.

I nod happily. It’s true, I’m still hungry. Luckily, I had milk earlier, or I might have fainted. Cedric probably isn’t full either. He eats quite a lot. The spaghetti he ate was just a few bites; it was probably just to get it out of the way so it wouldn’t dirty his teeth.

“Why are you pouting again? We said we’d buy you breakfast later.” Cedric playfully ruffles my hair, which I intentionally left wavy. Just a small wave accent at the end. Before I could respond to his words, Dona’s voice dominates the conversation. I feel like slapping her, but she’s my dear Dona, what should I do?

“We have to get used to seeing Anya acting all cute with Cedric,” Dona’s statement is agreed upon by Naomi. I just shrug it off. I’m used to it, and it has become sort of a routine because these two just can’t resist teasing me.

“Hey, we haven’t told you about Monday, right?” Dona says, but she grimaces for some reason.

Curious, I look at her, “Why? What happened?” I’m starting to suspect that they’re hiding something.

“Nothing. Monday was just a regular day,” says Naomi.

This only makes me more suspicious, right? As I stare at each of them, no one says anything except the sound of fork clinking and phones vibrating against the plates. Even when we went to the office and bought porridge so that I could have breakfast, they remained tight-lipped.

Not a single word about Monday. What’s up with Monday? Anna didn’t send me any messages related to work until today, just asking about some things I didn’t consider crucial.

I press them for answers, but they just say in unison, “Forget it, what matters is that you’re back to work and ready to face Krystal who’s shining even brighter.”

Isn’t that annoying?

I definitely need to find out what happened on Monday.

***

I work as usual. I greet Krystal, who welcomes me with a big smile. Oh, this time she even hugs me! I was standing near Anna’s desk and froze in place because of her actions.

“Are you sure you’re okay?”

My hearing isn’t wrong, right? My body isn’t going anywhere, right? I’m still here, right?

“I’m fine, ma’am.”

“Don’t say you’re fine when you’re actually not, okay? You make me worry!” Krystal’s eyes are so intense as she looks at me.

“I understand, ma’am.” I dare not challenge her gaze for too long. She’s beautiful, yes, but also full of intimidation as usual. I feel nervous and awkward in this situation. In the past, when I made a mistake, Krystal would reprimand me with a sharp look and an air of authority. I understand that in Krystal’s eyes, mistakes should ideally… ideally, yes, be at a zero scale, meaning there should be no mistakes at all.

But how is that even possible, right?

Now, she’s giving me the same intense look, but with a different problem. Even though her tone demands answers, I still feel a sense of warmth in her words. I hear Krystal let out a soft sigh.

“Alright then, just take care of yourself, Anya. Remember, you’re pregnant.”

I swear my face must have turned purple. Krystal said that so casually right when Anna is within earshot. After that, she walks toward her office, leaving me with no face left in front of Anna.

“You are pregnant? Oh my God! Why didn’t you say anything? If I had known, I wouldn’t have bothered you during break!”