For some reason, this chapter has the most PK comments from you readers. I can't even delete all toxic and harsh ones from how fast they gather back, ugh
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Friends are those who will make you laugh no matter what, especially when you've thought that you'd never smile again.
Should I really do it? Was that the right thing to do? Could I live with that decision, if I did do it? So many questions were on my mind at that moment. Is having an abortion really the best option for me? I mean, I was taking care of Ayden and all, but would I really be able to take care of a newborn baby without a single knowledge of how to raise one? Even if I couldn't do it and end up giving it for adoption, I'm sure that grief will eat me alive, but abortion would be much worse. Was I really capable of killing a baby? My baby?
Different people would bring different decisions. No one could say if they're right or wrong except for those people themselves, just like how no one can judge other people. As for me . . . I still had no idea what to do. I know what most people would say; that thing is not even alive, it's just an embryo, but I couldn't agree to that. The moment it was created, it became a living thing, or so I wanted to think.
I know, I was just an eighteen-year-old girl. I was supposed to be finishing my senior year at the moment. Yet here I was, one month into the pregnancy with the child of a man who was number one on my list of people I didn't want to see ever again. My body shivered just from thinking about it. It was the beginning of December, the winter, and my once most favorite part of the year. But I loathed it now. It was at times like this that my parents died. Two months ago, I became an adult, but two years ago on the very same date, I became an orphan.
Even so, I could raise my child, couldn't I? I may not be able to give them the best things in the world they deserve, but I could give them love. I'm sure Ayden would love him or her as well. Melissa would definitely be there for me and . . . that's right, I still had a third of the money I got from that guy in the bank. It wasn't little. I could use it for the baby. Maybe find a better apartment somewhere. I could even find another job if necessary. He and Ayden could keep each other company and be less lonely. That is, if only I decide to keep the baby.
But I was afraid. The baby was going to grow up one day. What would I do if it asked me about their father one day? I couldn't deal with it. It would be too painful for me. It would be too agonizing to even think of that man and the circumstances under which my future child was made. What would I do if someone else asked me about his father? Would I be able to stand the pressure?
My thoughts were shortly interrupted by the sound of my phone ringing. I saw it was Mel.
"Hey, Kay-Kay I need yoâ I mean can I ask you for something? A little favor for our long-lasting and beautiful friendship?" Her voice was sugarcoated and I immediately knew that she wanted something from me. But, what? She almost never needed anything from anyone.
"Sure, just say what you need," I said, acting all innocent like I didn't know her hidden intentions. Melissa was never a sweet talker when it came to grown-ups, you see. She cursed a lot, yelled a lot, but was literally a fairy with children. The younger, the nicer.
"You are the only one that can save me now. I don't have anyone else I could ask!" Of course. Old li'l Mel. She could go on and on with her conversation until she's managed to entangle you up in her plans so deeply that you just couldn't get away unless you said "yes."
"What is so important that requires my genius self?" That was the reason why I liked talking to her. She took my mind off of any worries. It takes just a sentence of some story she had to tell to make me entrapped in listening to her voice until the very end. At times like this, one could forget everything.
"Well, are you free on Saturday night? And the day after, actually?" She trailed off, and I confirmed, wondering what she was scheming this time? I swear to Santa, if she's just trying to set me a date or something . . . "Alright, the thing isâ Were you just sobbing? Oh my God, you were, haven't you? Of course you cried. What happened? Who do I kill? Is everything alright? Where are you?" Shoot, I forgot about that. Stupid sniffles. Think, Kaley, think!
"Umm, it's stupid. I tripped and hurt my leg, so I am at the hospital checking it out. Nothing serious, but it hurts so damn much." I nervously laughed at the end and hoped that she'll believe it. She did. Pure luck.
"Damn it woman, you are so clumsy that I'm afraid to take my eyes off you even for a second." She sighed and I almost did a victory dance then and there, praising my clumsiness and lying skills. I stopped though. It was not a good thing to praise about me. It's as if I was turning evil.
"Oh, right, forget about that. You know my family? The one I said I loathed but got in touch with again? Well, more or less, I'd rather marry Satan than sign a peace treaty with all of them. Oh, fuck, I'm going to some stupid party that my grandfather threw. I have to actually, and Amy will be all alone, so I've been wondering if you could come to babysit her? If I'm not mistaken, they're letting Ayden go on the same day, so you can bring him over!"
It was my time to sigh now. What do I have to lose? "Fine, fine, I will," I said and she went silent for a second, making me worried. Was she alright?
"Wow, that was fast. I didn't even have to try." That made me burst out laughing. Oh, how I needed this in my life, especially now of all times.
"Go away before I change my mind," I chuckled and she only left a sarcastic laugh which made me shiver. I swear, she was evil. Pure, pure evil.
"Right," she finally said and I could imagine her rolling her eyes at me. "But you are still coming, aren't you?" How could I say no? She would annoy me anyway for the whole day until I said yes.
"Of course, it would be my pleasure." No, never when it comes to you. Just my luck. She won't be there, just Amy and Ayden, so I'll survive. Somehow.
"Great, I will come and pick you up, take care!" She ended the call with that. She was overly cheerful for her age sometimes. How old was she? Oh yeah, twenty-five, but she acted more like a five-year-old though.
Once again my internal battle was interrupted this time by a knock on the door.
"Come in!" I said and Max's head popped in. Where did he go anyway?
"Ready to leave?" he asked and I nodded, standing up. I grabbed my belongings, which weren't much, and started walking. He said nothing. He didn't ask what was wrong with me and I had a feeling that he knew, but I didn't want to push my luck and make him find out in case he didn't. I hugged my arms and rubbed them. I was still cold. Freezing even.
Once we were in the elevator, he took off his jacket and placed it around me. I weakly mumbled a "thanks" as I rubbed my nose, feeling like I could sneeze. The jacket was really warm and comfy. Oddly enough, it made me feel safe and relaxed.
After a short period of silence, he was the first one to speak.
"Look, I don't know what happened, but if you need any help, just call me and I will be there faster than superman to come for you and make you feel better." His voice was stern and serious but had a cheerful ring to it. I glanced at him and smiled.
"Thanks," I mumbled again as he grinned, noticing my reddened cheeks from the cold.
"Ohhh, is that because of me?" He was mocking me and it took all of my willpower to stop myself from killing him.
"Or rather because of your manliness, which is amusing to me because you have none." There you go. I stuck my tongue out at him.
Me and Max had our usual quarrels. We weren't close friends, but we could talk freely. I mocked him for being adorable, he mocked me for being boyish. Melissa usually just ate popcorn while enjoying the show. Seriously, those five times we argued she was munching on some popcorn from who-knows-where.
He placed his hands across his heart, pretending to be wounded and dying. I just rolled my eyes.
"Don't you die on me, you still have to beat superman, remember? Now get up, you are too cute for your own good." I don't think I've smiled like this in a long time, but his face was full of terror like he's just saw a ghost.
"You did not just go there, but you did!" Disbelief was plastered on his face and his voice sounded terrified. It made me even more amused, with his eyebrows raised the way they were.
"Yeah, maybe you're right. Cuteness and a little tiny, tiny bit of manliness." I closed my right hand in a fist before putting it on my left palm like I just got two and two together. "There is a little of it, just a little. Yup, that's it, you are adorable!"
"I'm dying, you're killing me! You're seriously killing me." He continued to fake dying, now acting like he was losing the air from his lungs.
"At least be proud to die in the 'good arms' of this amazing person. Not anyone has the chance to do that." It was so easy to joke with him and talk. I was truly glad to have him in my lifeâhim, Melissa, and everyone else that cared for me. I was just a fool for taking it for granted.
"Never start an argument with a woman who knows how to argue and states that you are cute, or she will make you look like a complete fool," I repeated the words Melissa usually said which were actually true. Trust me, I've witnessed Mel doing so thousands of times with him, so I guess that is where I've picked it up. He only snorted at me like I was no longer a human being, making me grin in return.
"Why, why did you become friends with her? She's evil."
On that, we both agreed.
"We are here, where am I to drop you off?" he said once we heard the sound of the elevator doors opening. "I still can't believe I think of you as my sister," he grumbled. I couldn't help but grin mischievously.
"I'm just doing what all younger sisters are supposed to do; annoy their older brothers until we feel satisfied." I faked an evil laugh but failed as I ended up coughing not long after. Max only scowled once again and kept on grumbling under his breath as I followed after him.
"I hate you, you know that?" he said. I faked being hurt by his words, but couldn't hold my facade and burst out laughing again.
"Nah, you actually do love me, don't deny it." I blinked with what I called my "puppy eyes" rapidly in front of his face, pouting my lips just a little bit.
"How can I say no to that face?" He facepalmed himself and I grinned.
Max and I haven't gotten to a point where we could share secrets but truth to be told, I felt more comfortable around him so much that he might have just become my new brother. I didn't need to know much about him, now that I think of it. Secrets and past were one thing, but I care for the Max I currently know and that was enough for me . . . or so I thought until I saw his car.
"Fuck, you're actually rich!" I mean I did know he's well-off, but this definitely isn't the car he often drove. "Be honest, you're actually a hidden CEO or something, aren't you? Rich young master of some big shot family?"
"I'm just a doctor. Now get in or else I'm leaving you to run home." As he entered his gray Mercedes-Benz, I had a feeling that his shifty eyes were hiding something, but decided to act dumb. If I loved something, that was most definitely Mercedes. As for Max, he's of lesser importance.
"You wouldn't!" I pretended to be like one of those overdramatic ladies in soap operas.
"Oh, yes I would."
With that, I entered the car, believing him because he's done it to some close friend of his beforeâhe told meâand then he drove off towards my home.
It was the first time after everything that happened to me that I enjoyed my moments without thinking about the bad things that happened recently. I was truly enjoying my time with Max as I entered his car. We sang along the radio, though our voices were those of two dying hyenas, so we couldn't even get past the chorus without laughing like maniacs.
Then, I decided. I didn't care if I had to work two jobs to raise my baby. I didn't care if I had to buy us a new place. I didn't even care about the pain I've been put through. Because I decided with my whole heart; I'll keep the baby, and raise it in the best way possible. We people take hopes and good times for granted. We only realize how precious things to us are once we have lost them, and I didn't want to be like that. I didn't want anything else taken for me. Therefore, I decided to protect what I had with my own two hands, no matter how small they were.
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OK, OK, I don't want to get involved in your PK war, but I have to say a word or two. Kaley's choice is the choice she herself made in that situation, and there is no only one correct answer to this question. Whether it's abortion or keeping the baby, many people may bring many different situations, and all those choices can be right depending on circumstances. I do not purely believe that one should keep a baby conceived in this kind of circumstances, nor do I consider that it's right to get rid of it either.
There's at least 101 outside factors that can influence one's choice in real life, because that's what life is - a real mess with no correct answer to living, not a book where everything will go well. Likewise, this real life mess can either break someone, while the same amount of damage can just tickle another person. Everyone has their own weight to carry, so please don't use this as an excuse to impose your opinion on other people.
Pain, suffering, troubles, happiness and even "ordinary things" are different for every person out there. I won't ask you to change your opinion, just try to respect other people's decisions. Or if you cannot do this much, pretend to have never heard of it. Be happy ba, worry less about others