Father to My Baby Twin

If only that night Clarita had listened more to her mother's words, this wouldn't have happened. She wouldn't have lost all the luxuries of her life, her future, and her dreams. Unfortunately, she couldn't go back to eight months ago, when she was unknowingly framed by her classmates.

Clarita sighed tiredly. She had been traveling from one factory to another. And this garment factory was the last on her list for today. A bulging belly, a haggard face, not to mention a white shirt whose color had faded, and of course no one would accept Clarita as an employee.

"Where else should I go? I only have two hundred thousand dollars left in my severance pay. The boarding fee is due. Oh, God! Please be a little kind to me. I'm pregnant with that brazen man's child; come on. Do me a favor this time; I have to work soon," the woman complained as she looked up at the sky, which seemed to be getting gloomy.

She sighed even more softly as her womb moved, as if asking her to keep up her spirits. "Yes, okay, baby, let's try again, shall we? You do your best, so I can get a job soon. Okay?" Clarita's delicate fingers moved to rub her bulging belly.

Clarita never thought her life would change this drastically. She, who had always lived in abundance, suddenly became a woman in need and had to work hard just to buy a packet of nasi rames at a roadside food stall. She, who was used to getting in and out of luxury cars, now had to switch to public transportation, getting used to jostling with other passengers, not to mention she had to be willing to stand with two lives in her stomach.

Clarita could have contacted her friends, but she didn't want to. "There's no one she can trust anymore." That's what she said as she recalled the incident that ruined her future and all her beautiful plans. Clarita's footsteps grew weaker and weaker. She stopped at a minibus stop, took a deep breath of air, and let it out slowly. "I feel like I'm walking slowly, but why do I feel so tired? Is it because of them?" Clarita asked her own stomach. She shook her head and laughed, like a crazy woman talking and laughing to herself in broad daylight.

"Come on, Clarita, you're not a weak woman; it's not because they dumped me that I lost my life. Let's walk further!" Clarita encouraged herself. Now Clarita's laughter turned into a sad smile; her life was very, very sad.

No fancy clothes, no branded bags, no fancy self-care anymore—all gone because of that disastrous night. The 21-year-old woman was still trying to encourage herself. She was now truly alone; her words from a few years ago had been answered by God, complete with all the suffering that came with it. Clarita adjusted her hair ties and then put on the knit cardigan that was always in her carry-on bag. Once again, she rubbed her distended belly as she said sorry over and over again.

"I'm sorry if I can't give you a life of luxury later, son. Keep growing up well, even if the whole world rejects you." With that, Clarita got up and headed back down the sidewalk, sweat dripping down her cheeks.

Getting on and off public transportation is Clarita's new habit, especially since she was fired from her previous workplace. And again, because of her co-workers, who didn't like Clarita being the best employee. Now that she got off Route 34 again, Clarita's eyes stared at the towering gate protecting the entire factory. She closed her eyes tightly, and she hoped that this time God would help her. If this time she is rejected again, she will officially have the status of a "pregnant homeless woman."

"Excuse me, can I help you?" asked a man in a security uniform.

Clarita was stunned for a moment, after which she smiled slightly and said, "Excuse me, sir, can I apply for a job here? I saw a job advertisement in the print media yesterday." The security guard just stares at the woman in front of him, from the tips of her hair to the toes of Clarita's cheap flat shoes. He seemed to be whispering with his colleague, and before long another man repeated what the security guard had done.

What happened next made Clarita stare wide-eyed. How could those two hunks say something that hurts every woman's heart? "You? Want to work here?" he asked in a condescending tone.

"You have no right to dream. You know this is the place for beautiful, beautiful women. Are you alone?" she asked with a condescending laugh.

"You see you're pregnant, shabby clothes, no makeup on your face—you're pregnant and unemployed, right? Where is your husband?" she added.

"Let's just leave here and not accept employees like you." The two of them walked away, leaving Clarita to her own fury and emotions.

"What did he say? I'm unemployed and pregnant. It's easy to talk! You bastard! You old man! You're just a security guard; you're also an employee here; there's no need to be so arrogant! You'll see if I become a worker here and get a higher position; I'm sure you'll  suffer."Clarita screamed passionately, while the two rowdy men just waved their hands unconcernedly, as if what the pregnant woman in front of them said was just a dream.

Clarita turned to leave the factory, feeling uncertain. She was upset and angry at the attitude of the two security guards, but she could not deny the fact that they had spoken. The fact that she was 'unemployed and pregnant' because that's exactly what happened, and she had no right to be angry about it.

Clarita chose to return to her boarding house; only half a day of looking for work had drained her energy more. Especially now that her baby has entered the age of 34 weeks, soon she will officially become a mother without a husband.

Clarita's footsteps began to get out of balance, especially since this morning she only had a few pieces of bread for breakfast because she couldn't afford rice and utilities. She really had to tie her waist tight if she didn't want to accumulate more debt. The traffic light had changed color, and she immediately stepped out with the other pedestrians. Unfortunately, her body was too weak to walk fast; she stepped according to her ability; it was too risky if she ran in the midst of her pregnant condition.

Clarita's eyesight began to blur, but she wasn't that weak; she still tried to walk as best she could with her sight. Clarita's footsteps were getting more and more indeterminate as she walked unsteadily, until she heard a long honk. She turned her head and rounded her eyes perfectly.

"Aaaaa‼‼"