XIX. December 31st, 1986

Mira's POV:

Ever since I left Bulteria, I told myself I'd gotten rid of anything related to Immortals.

But how can I reject the handsome Earl who wants to be my friend?

I'd never expect to see Earl Alaric Desdemona as a student at my medical school. But here we are. Considering how he's in his last year, I can safely assume he isn't stalking me because I'm insanely beautiful.

I chew on the tip of my pen and glance upward. Alaric caught me looking at him, and instead of saying something, he smiled. Instantly, I look down at the textbook.

It's been three months since we became friends.

As I enter my fifth month of pregnancy, the baby bump is becoming apparent. But because of the temperature drop, I've been hiding it with thick coats.

After we finished studying, or in my delusional mind, I like to call it a date.

"See you two next time," someone says.

Okay, maybe not a date, considering how there are four other people with us.

After we said our goodbyes, Alaric walked me to Carter's car. It's one of those days where Carter has to stay late at school. Since I hadn't had an episode since last time, Steven allowed me to take Carter's car more often.

I took a part-time job at the school library, so I get to fill up my own gas tank.

How adult-like of me.

"I'm sorry, what did you say?" I asked. I haven't listened to a thing Alaric said since we left the library.

His eyes are just so dreamy, and he smells really good - crazy comforting.

"The practical," he said. "It was difficult, wasn't it?"

I nodded, "Yeah. Yeah."

"What did you get?"

"I don't remember. Probably like 80-something."

"No way," he said.

I opened my textbook and pulled out the practical score sheet - 98.9.

"Wow," he said. "There is an 8 in there for sure."

I folded the paper, "I had a bit of extra tutoring." From my doctor brother and the Dean of the school.

They refused to let me even use the toilet without answering a medical question.

When we got to the car, Alaric hung out a bit longer than usual. He leaned a hand against the car but quickly removed it when he realized it was wet. I smiled at his cute antics.

"What is it?" I asked.

He wiped his palm against his coat. "I was wondering if you'd be willing to tutor me."

"You mean alone?"

He nodded, "Over coffee? My treat?"

"Oh-" I tapped my fingers against the textbooks.

"Unless I've been reading too deep into this, and you're actually not interested in me."

"That's-" I exhaled, "Look, I think you're so cute, and getting to know you - past your status as an Earl - I think you're even cuter-"

He smiles.

"But, this can't happen."

Alaric smile disappeared, "If it isn't too much. May I know the reason?"

Oh, how cute. He wants to know why.

"I...I'm pregnant."

Alaric tucked a hand inside his coat, "I'm sorry. I didn't know you were spoken for."

"No. No." I bounced in my shoes. "It's a bit embarrassing to talk about, but I'm pregnant from a one-night stand."

"Oh-" he said.

"Yeah." I smacked my lips, "So, not quite right if I said yes and you didn't know."

"What I'm hearing is," he smiles again, "You want to go out with me?"

"Maybe." I giggled.

"Look, I like you, Mira. You're smart. You're kind. You're beautiful."

Please, stop feeding my ego.

"And honest, too. I respect that," he said.

"Thank you."

"But, how about this? I like you, and you like me, so how about we still hang out as friends and maybe go get coffee as study buddies?"

"Alaric."

"I understand you're not looking for anything serious."

"I don't want to hurt you," I said.

"For you, I'm willing."

I closed my eyes and grunted softly. It's those puppy eyes that got me weak on my knees. "Okay."

"Okay?"

"It's not a date."

"Yes, not a date." He popped the driver's side open for me, "It's getting cloudy, so you should get going."

I got inside the car and placed my stuff on the passenger side. Alaric closed the driver's door. I slid it down. "I'll call you," he said.

"Not a date," I reminded him.

He salutes me, "Loud and clear."

The not-a-coffee date went exactly as I planned it. No study was done, but there was a lot of smiles and laughter. Alaric and I sat inside the cafe for hours, barely sipping on our drinks.

When it rained, it gave us an excuse to stay inside longer.

Before I knew it, a month passed, and guilty, I let him kiss me on our fifth not-a-date.

Sadly, all dreams must come to an end.

"Come with me to the New Year Charity Event," Alaric asked.

The New Year Charity Event is the party every wealthy family attends, which includes a mixture of humans and Immortals.

"You may even see Asena and Gwen," he included.

It's sad to say, but as time passes, I've been receiving fewer letters from my best friends. Other than the miles and oceans that separated us, Asena and Gwen seem to be busy dealing with a lot of political affairs.

Not too long ago, Gwen's family told me she decided to stay in Bulteria. Unlike me, who's constantly anxious over there, she's thriving.

He holds my hand, "Please be no-my-date."

My other hand rests on the small bump on my stomach. Each day, it only grows bigger.

"I'll be there with you every second." Alaric leaned inward and kissed me.

"Okay."

Because of finals and Christmas, New Year came by in a blink of an eye. The final wasn't as bad as I expected, and since my parents spent the holidays abroad at conventions, Steven and I weren't too worried about figuring out how to spend Christmas. Steven feels like it is too early to come out of the closet, and I don't think our parents want to see me right now.

We end up spending Christmas with Carter, who doesn't see his family anymore. They disowned him when he was twenty after he came out.

When the New Year Party peeks around the corner, I was more anxious than ever. Memories that occurred less than half a year re-surfaced.

Carter and Steven made their way downstairs in casual suits. They're attending a New Year party hosted by a mutual colleague.

"Are you sure you don't want to come?" Steven asked.

"Nah. You two love birds have fun."

Steven doesn't know I'm leaving for a party on New Year's Eve. I debated whether or not to tell him, but the bigger my stomach became, the more anxious he's been.

That, and I collapsed two weeks ago. Similar to last time, my heart stopped beating for a few minutes.

When I went to the doctor, they diagnosed me with SCA - Sudden Cardiac Arrest.

It's interesting, considering how my family has no history of heart problems. They conducted multiple tests on me, and they said I was perfectly healthy. Steven got some of his colleagues to conduct tests on me, and so did Carter - nothing.

So, SCA, it is.

There are no treatments for SCA.

But, with my new diagnosis, Steven became a helicopter brother.

If I told him about the New Year Party, he'd probably stay at home with me. With my presence and residency, Steven has no life. He barely spends any time with Carter, and they live together.

I caught Carter whining to Steven about his lack of affection towards him and how it feels like they're roommates, not lovers.

I feel kind of bad.

I'm cock blocking them.

And I shouldn't be doing that since they've been extremely supportive. I'm living under their roof, driving their car, and I'm pretty sure Carter is paying my school tuition.

Carter keeps telling me not to worry about it. When I went to student services, they told me I didn't have any fees.

The guilt is strong within me.

I waved Carter and Steven goodbye.

After ten minutes of no sign of them returning, I got ready for the New Year Party. Carter met Alaric in passing at school, but they never really interacted. Steven met him once when he picked me up from school, but he was with a group of other people. I don't plan to introduce Alaric officially.

Horrible, I know.

But I warned the man that I was not looking for anything serious.

When the bell rang, I rushed downstairs with one earring on. After I put on the other, I looked in the hallway mirror. The dress was tight on top to show off my double-in-size breasts, but it extended outward past it to hide the baby bump.

I exhaled once before I opened the door with Alaric and flowers on the other side. I smiled, "You're so sweet." I kissed his cheek.

I step aside for Alaric to come in and then close the door. While I find a vase for the flowers, Alaric looks around the room. "You're living with Dean Cunningham?"

I forgot there are pictures of Carter and Steven everywhere.

When the flowers were inside the vase, I turned to him and smiled, "Yeah. The Dean and my brother are good friends." I don't think I have the right to out my brother or the Dean. "They're roommates now, and because of—" I rub my stomach, "they're helping me out."

Alaric nodded, "That's kind of them." There's a part of me that feels like Alaric knows what's going on between Carter and Steven. I mean, which roommate hangs a picture of their friend on the wall with them hugging?

"Let's go," I said.

Alaric followed me out the front door. After I locked the door, he walked me to the car. The ride to the New Year's Charity Event was a lot less nerve-wracking than I thought. In a weird way, it felt comforting going there.

When we arrived, there were a hundred flashing cameras.

"We're heading in the back door," Alaric says.

"We can do that?"

"Some families don't feel comfortable in public, so they created a separate entrance for them."

Alaric circles past the main entrance and into the garage. The garage wasn't as gruesome and dark as I expected; rather, it was clean and well-lit with many people. My eyes widened when we passed the row of expensive cars.

The valet opened the door for us, and Alaric handed him the keys. He made a triangle with his arm, and I looped mine into it. The walk to the main room was quiet, with a few people in sight.

"How are you feeling?" Alaric asked.

I exhaled a steady breath, "Not too bad."

The longer we walked, the more people appeared. Soon, we made it to the main room. Similar to the ones I saw in Bulteria, every inch of the room was decorated to perfection.

The waiter offered us a glass.

Alaric took one, but I kindly rejected it.

One step after another, Alaric ran into people he knew. He greeted them and then introduced me. My grip tightened on his arm when their eyes traveled up and down my body. They smiled, but I could feel the judgment in their eyes.

Alaric attempted to make the introduction as smooth as possible, but when the situation demanded, he couldn't walk away from a conversation. During our transition from one group to another, he promised me a break because every time we tried to step away, someone new appeared.

On our next transition, I whispered: "I'm going to take a quick break."

Alaric smiles, but I can tell he's not happy with how the evening turned out. "I'm sorry."

I assumed he did not think a lot of people he knew would appear. At least, that's what he told me.

"It's okay. I understand." I'm not only saying it because I do understand. I attended similar events when I was younger with my parents. It's all about rubbing elbows.

I made my way to the resting area, and when my butt meets the chair, I exhaled in relief. My lower back and swollen feet are aching like there's no tomorrow.

I glance upward to see Alaric's forced smile and seemingly fake laughter.

It must be difficult to be an Earl.

The longer I sat there, the more I wanted to tell Alaric the news—how we're not fitted together, even for fun. It's better for him to feel a bit sad but then move on and find a woman who can tolerate being next to him with these events.

I spot a waiter with a delicious tray of chocolate. Since I can't drink tonight, I might as well dive deep into sugar town. I twirled my ankle, then stood up and rushed to the waiter.

When I caught up with him, I tapped his shoulder, and he turned around with a smile, "Ma'am, would you like some-"

"Yes."

I grabbed one and then dropped it. "I'll take the whole tray."

He chuckles, "I apologize, but I can't let you do that."

I frowned at his statement.

He grabbed a napkin and tucked all the chocolate inside. "Would this be acceptable?"

"Yeah." I grabbed the napkin with the chocolates.

"Heartbreak?"

"Not mine."

I thanked the waiter and returned to the resting area with a handful of chocolates. At least I got high-class chocolates out of this event.

I popped one in my mouth, and my legs melted.

"Mira?"

Parallel to my right was the sound of a familiar voice. I turned my head, and with the chocolate half-chewed in my mouth, I saw a familiar man.

He places the glass on a passing tray, "Why are you here?"

"Uncle Lucian!"

I steer my attention to the voice behind me. Alaric came up and wrapped his arm around my lower back. Lucianus's eyes travel alongside the hand before it bounces back to us.

Alaric smiles, "How are you?"

"Well. You?"

"I'm doing good." Unlike earlier, Alaric's voice somehow sounds a bit more comfortable and playful. He realized Lucianus was staring at me with a questionable look. "Where are my manners?"

The longer Lucianus stared at me, the more uncomfortable I felt. It's as if I was caught in some sort of wrongful act.

"Uncle Lucian. I would like to introduce you to my date, Mira."