∘◦IS NOW◦∘

PRESENT…

“You are making a grave mistake, Ian,” Diana's tone of voice was one of complete indignation.

“Yes, it's true, and it's mine,” he mumbled.

“So, all the more reason why you can't force me to go with you. We are not in the Middle Ages where men force women to be with them,” she said, clenching her fists on either side.

Ian was pacing back and forth in the small room, like a caged lion. He was surveying the place, not caring about being obvious.

“Let me get this straight.” 

He tried to calm down, bringing a hand to his forehead to massage his temple.

“Do you think I'm gonna let you keep my son away from me? Where I can't take care of him and protect him from any eventuality?”

“I'm not cutting you out of anyone's life, Ian.” For Diana, things were getting out of control.

“No?” he gritted his teeth.

“I don't gonna deny that I'm thrilled with the idea of you taking responsibility, but I think you're taking this too far,” Diana replied.

“Ah! Taking it to heart.” he expressed angrily. “You mean, right?”

“Ian, there's no need for me to go with you,” Diana spoke in a soft voice and raised a hand to try to calm the atmosphere.

“It's so hard for you to understand that I don't want to miss any of the details of your pregnancy. Besides, you're alone in this town, and you don't have a job to support yourself comfortably.”

She opened her mouth to say something. But at that moment it was he who raised his hand, to stop her from speaking.

“Don't interrupt me saying that I'm not right, because I know you've just opened your website and that, although you've been called for several projects. You haven't closed any kind of deal with any of them.”

Ian continued walking restlessly.

“Although that's not bad, because you are just starting. The situation makes me wonder”

He pointed to her belly.

“What will you do when the pregnancy is more advanced, and then when the baby is born?”

“I will go on with my life. This baby that's about to arrive is the one who makes me want to live and get ahead. Why do you think anything could change?”

She caressed her still-flat belly.

Ian gave a lopsided smile, he liked her answer. He was bombarding her with logic. Everything he was saying was true. Therefore, she had nothing to object to, and that made her grind her teeth.

“You know that's not good enough, and it doesn't answer my questions,” Ian was pressing her, as he always did when she didn't want to talk.

“The most logical thing is that you live with me,” he answered confidently. “At least until he or she is born.”

What do you suggest I do then?” Diana questioned, shaking her arms in exasperation.

That statement made her put her hand over her mouth, to muffle her groan of surprise. She shook her head, so Ian wouldn't notice the effect it had had on her.

“What do you say? Do you want me to do what thing?”

She asked, shaking her head.

“That's absurd, Ian. Are you lost your mind?”

Diana complained, sitting down on the couch. Folding her arms across her chest.

“What? Absurd you mean? Your ideas in the head lately are. You can't take away my right to my son. Much less to take care of him, the baby is not only yours”.

Ian smiled as she remembered how it happened.

“I remind you that we both participated in the conception”.

“You're making decisions for me, Ian. I'm not going to allow that”.

She replied a little furious, not at him, but at herself, because images of Ian plunging mercilessly into her sex, and her begging for more, came to her mind.

“Stop the car, Diana. Isn't that what you did when you ran away from my house, without at least saying goodbye to me?”

He screamed.

“You just walked away and left me. No matter what I had to say. In that instant, weren't you the one who decided for me?”

“I left because, at the time, that was the right thing to do. What happened to us was just a coincidence,”

Diana answered in a soft and low voice, looking down at the ground.

“You're making decisions for me, Ian. I'm not going to allow that”.

She replied a little furious, not at him, but at herself, because images of Ian plunging mercilessly into her sex, and her begging for more, came to her mind.

“Stop the car, Diana. Isn't that what you did when you ran away from my house, without at least saying goodbye to me?”

He screamed.

“You just walked away and left me. No matter what I had to say. In that instant, weren't you the one who decided for me?”

“I left because, at the time, that was the right thing to do. What happened to us was just a coincidence,” Diana answered in a soft and low voice, looking down at the ground.

“Don't talk like that,” he asked, “You make me feel like I've done something wrong. You know I care about you.” 

It was better to say that than to tell him I loved him even more than before.

He shook his head and looked into her eyes, leaned a little closer, and pressed his forehead to hers, and sighing he said:

“Oh, Diana! If you hadn't run away from me that night. If you had stayed… You would know that you are in this trouble because of me”.

“Because of you? Why do you say that? As you just said, you're not alone in this,” Diana frowned in confusion.

Ian sighed and confessed:

“It's my fault. Because by some divine chance. That night, the condom I used, broke”

“And what are you telling me so far?” she asked, shouting, getting up suddenly and walking away from him.

“You had the chance, Ian, to do it, why the hell didn't you? Why did you wait until now to tell me?”

“Fuck Diana! I didn't do it… Because you denied me the chance to do it. By leaving the way you did”.

“I didn't tell you, because it was never my intention to get pregnant. And I didn't want you to think that I was doing it with ulterior motives, to get a benefit from you”.

“I would never think that of you. You are not alone anymore. Now you are my responsibility”.

“You won't understand, I didn't leave town just for you”.

Diana walked a few steps but came back to the living room and sat down on the couch. 

“It's also for my family”.

Her voice was broken.

“I don't want toxic people around my baby, I couldn't stand it”.

With those words, Ian knew that Diana would take good care of his son.

“Tomorrow we will leave for Miami,” he informed her without the right to reply.

“I can't…” The sound of her voice was apologetic, “At least not yet. I need time, I remind you that you can't force me either”.

“Then come with me, for a few days. You'll like a different environment”.

“Where to?” She asked curiously.

“To Italy,” he replied with a shrug.

“To Italy? Ian, you've lost your mind”.

“Come with me,” he repeated. “While we sort out whatever is going on between us,” his words made me think of a future with him.

“It's better Miami, then,” Diana resolved, running her hand over her head.

Ian let out a self-mocking laugh.

“You're amazing, Diana!” he said wryly. “We have known each other for many years. We have shared many nights, including one of passion. You carry my child in your womb, and you still treat me as if I were a stranger. I can't believe it!”

She blushed and shook her head.

“Whew!” she replied. “Always so direct. You should be a little more understanding with me, Ian,” she patted his belly briefly.

He squatted down in front of her and cupped her chin with his hand.

“There are many things we need to talk about. Have you been to the doctor?”

Although his tone of voice was soft, it had a hint of concern in it.

She nodded.

“Yes, I went to the office two days ago. Everything seems to be for the first trimester of pregnancy,” she shrugged.

“I'm glad to hear that,” he said, relieved.

“I can't leave here now,” she insisted again.

Ian stood up and put his hands in his pockets.

“Diana… it is really important that I go to Italy. It might be three days or maybe a week. I don't want to go and leave this half done. I want to leave you in a safe place and environment”.

“The last thing I want to do is hold you back,” she rose from the couch, determined to face all his logic. Go wherever you have to go. “I assure you everything will be fine”.

“You still don't get it, do you? Don't you? I don't want to let you out of my sight”.

“If you mean I'm going to run away from you,” he pouted and shook his head. “That's impossible, you always find me”.

It had been that way since they were in college. When she accepted that she was attracted to him. She put distance between them and avoided him at all costs, which did not bring good results because he always hit on her. No matter where or with whom he was, he would make scenes reproaching her for her abandonment.

“In the past, we used to get along very well,” Ian reminded him in a captivating voice.

“You're right,” she sighed.

“What happened to us, Diana?” It was a question he always asked himself.

“The circumstances of life, Ian. Not everything can always go our way,” she walked to the kitchen and opened the refrigerator. 

She turned and looked at Ian, 

“Sorry,” she shrugged, “I'm hungry”.

“For God's sake, Diana! It's ten thirty at night”.

“But I'm hungry.” She complained and closed the refrigerator again.

Ian looked at her with a frown.

“What's wrong? Why aren't you eating?”  he wanted to know.

“Mmm no… Nothing… I'll do it when you leave,” she answered as if it was of no importance.

Ian took a few steps toward her, squinting his eyes, and moved her a little to open the refrigerator door.

She clicked her teeth, already knowing what she imagined. There was no food.

“Don't look at me like that,” she said, pointing her finger at him.

“Do you have a fast food number?” he asked, squinting his eyes.

“Yes, of course,” she grinned from ear to ear.