245 Never!


    “How about what I want?” More tears flowed down E’s cheeks.


    “I thought you said you would do anything for me. Please, Leon, my heart isrge enough to love you and our children! You won’t be sharing me with anyone. I want to be a mother. I want to know what it feels like to have my own child. Please, baby! Don’t deny me this opportunity. Let me just have this one and I will forever be grateful to you.”


    “E, you’re not listening to me!” Leon massaged his throbbing temple in anger.”


    “I do not want to father a child. I don’t want any child tied to my name. Do you know what this pregnancy will do to you? In a few months, you would grow in size and lose your curvy shape. I won’t be able to cuddle you when and how I want to. You won’t fit into your beautiful clothes. I won’t be able to go out with you to social functions. Is that what you want? Just take this one out so that we can have our perfect lives together.”


    “There is no such thing as a perfect life!” E stood up and began pacing around the office.


    “If your mum went through all the ordeals you just mentioned, and gave birth to a handsome child like you, then I don’t mind taking that same step.”


    “Really!” Leon said between tightened jaws.


    “Yes! I don’t mind getting fat! I don’t mind looking shapeless! I don’t mind staying back at home if you are embarrassed to take me out on social functions!” E’s watery eyes shimmered with determination.


    “Hmm...” Leon chuckled bitterly as E’s words spewed hot coal on his erratically drumming heart.


    .....


    “What makes you think you can’t cuddle me if I’m pregnant? What makes you think we can have our special moments together? Have I denied you sex ever since you learned about my pregnancy?”


    Leon slowly stood and took a deep breath to steady his rampaging hormones.


    “E...”


    E didn’t give Leon the room to speak as she took the words right out of his mouth. In her current state, one could liken her to an attorney giving her closing argument to win the favor of the judge and jury.


    “Leon,” E walked up to him and held onto his waist while resting her head on his chest. “We can do this together if you just give it a try. For weeks, I have battled morning sickness, mood swings, fatigue, and so many other things. But for once, I’ve never denied you of my body. And I promise I won’t, if you allow me to keep this pregnancy. Please, I want this child. I want you and this child in my life.”


    Leon slowly released himself from E’s tight grip and held onto her shoulder.


    “You have to choose, E, is either me or this growing seed in your womb,” Leon said sternly.


    “Don’t make me choose, please! I want the both of you!” E cried harder.


    “I’ll leave Doctor Julie to talk some sense into you since you’re adamant to listen to me. If by the time I return home from work, you are still parading this...” Leon gesture to her womb in disgust, “...then be rest assured that you have made your choice and you would live with the consequences.”


    Leon released her and stormed out of the office.


    As E watched Leon walk out on her, she felt her world crumble with no hope of restoration. She slowly walked back to her seat, holding her chest tightly as though her heart was about to drop. Then she sat down, and plead her head on the desk, crying her heart out.


    A few minutes after Leon left the office, Dr. Julie slowly walked into the office and quietly shut the door behind her. She stood by the door for a few seconds unsure of how to approach E or talk her into considering the medical procedure.


    E, who had been patiently waiting for Dr. Julie to confront her, slowly lifted her head and red in her direction.


    “You...” E sniffed and wiped her reddened eyes. “... I trusted you! I thought you were my friend! I thought I could confide in you! Why do you choose to hurt me this way? You go behind my back plotting with my husband to take away my joy! How dare you? You were the one who talked me into keeping this pregnancy! And now that I’ve gotten used to it, you n on taking it away from me! Never!”


    “E, calm down! We could resolve this amicably.” Dr. Julie said pleadingly.


    E stood and walked up to Dr. Julie, pointing a finger menacingly at her.


    “Are you listening to me? I said never! I will never let you hurt my babies except if you n on taking my life.”


    “No one is taking your life! Please calm down.”


    “Don’t tell me to calm down, you betrayer!” E raised her hand to p Dr. Julie but she decided against it and brought her hand down.


    “You know what, you and your procedure can go to hell and rot there. Get out of my way before you’ve released the tigress in me.” E threatened in a fierce tone.


    “E, please!” Dr. Julie sped both hands together. “I can’t let you go out looking like this.” She gestured at E’s messy and swollen face. “People will get the wrong idea. It is fine by me if you do not want to remove the child. I will never force you. Just hear me out first before rushing to conclusions.”


    “I’m not interested in whatever you want to say, and you don’t have to worry about the way I look. It’s my business!” E replied dryly. “There is no amount of defense you wille up with that will make me ever trust you again.”


    “Fair enough! You don’t have to trust me. But at least, just hear me out. Let’s sit down and talk. I promise I won’t say anything about the pregnancy termination procedure. I just want to speak to you, please.”