Chapter 20 - Twist of fate

"Shelly!" I called out sharply with my voice raised in panick - chuckling awkwardly as I moved towards them the moment they simultaneously turned their heads to face me.

"Shelly, why don't we um -- get Chloe here some refreshment then, you both can continue your chit chat" I said, clearing my throat halfway as I spoke while rubbing my palms with my gaze fixed on Shelly who only gave me a mischievous smirk before turning her gaze at Chloe and said. "Babe, what will you like to have?"

"Water will be nice" Chloe answered calmly.

"Nah... I know what I'll get you" Shelly teased with a faint chuckle and left for the kitchen.

I squeezed my eyes closed for a split second in pleasant relief before turning to look at Chloe whose eyes were roving - staring at the family portraits hung on the wall.

"Please feel free to look around... Um, I'll be with you shortly" I said to Chloe in a hasty voice with my legs impatient to leave. I needed to rush now into the kitchen and see Shelly just before she comes out.

"Okay" Chloe replied curtly, turning her head halfway to give me one last gleeful glance before sluggishly walking towards a large portrait when I turned and jogged for the kitchen.

****

"Seriously Shelly?... 'You never expected her to have anything to do with me' -- is that what you were about saying to Chloe?" I asked, sounding disappointed and annoyed as I entered the kitchen to see Shelly pouring a chilled apple fruit drink into an empty glass cup she'd set on a small sized tray.

"Well, isn't that the truth? I mean, somehow -- she'll get to know that you're just using her and nothing more" She answered with a shrug, barely raising her head to look at me.

I turned from left to right in a frustrative manner and growled "For heaven sake I've changed Shelly, why can't you atleast see that and be happy for me?"

Then Shelly stopped pouring the juice and slammed it on the kitchen table before turning to give me a sober look.

"Because it's not easy!" She choked out with her voice shaky in a somewhat depressed tone.

"How?" I gasped in confusion, taking slow steps towards Shelly who forcefully closed her eyes and licked her lips before opening them, and when she did -- her eyes were a bit moist from the tears that gradually welled up.

"It's not -- easy letting you go Liam" Shelly added breathlessly before lowering her gloomy gaze as I approached and stood in her front.

"Oh Shelly" I heaved a deep sigh with empathy in my voice as I clamped onto her shoulders with both hands. "I know it's not easy but -- tearing me down won't work out fine for you. All am asking is your permission to love your friend Chloe and If you love me and want the best for me, you'll let me to. Please?"

"Okay..." Shelly started to say and paused, sniffing while heaving out a deep breath from her mouth. "Well I guess you really love her don't you?" She chuckled in a somewhat sad voice, looking straight into my eyes as I stood motionless - laughing at what she'd just said.

"More than you can imagine Shelly" I managed to say as my laughing subsided.

"Well I'm -- sorry I was a jerk by trying to ruin what you both have." Shelly said, sounding remorseful while fidgeting her fingers as she spoke. Then she lowered her hands and narrowed her gaze on mine with a serious look on her face, saying "And yes... I want you to be happy so -- you have my permission dating Chloe but please, don't break her heart or I will never forgive you."

Her last response was a sign of truce - that we were now even and no more grudge which I found very satisfying as it broke a broad smile on my lips.

"Thank you" I replied in a very low hearty voice and hugged Shelly - pulling away quickly when I heard footsteps approaching towards the kitchen.

"Um, can I come in?" Chloe's low voice sounded faintly inside the kitchen from where she stood in the centre of the doorway - giving two light taps on the door that immediately drew our attention.

"Chloe... My bad, so sorry I left you in the palour all by yourself" I chuckled with an amused shake for my head while moving forward to meet her.

"Here you go" Shelly said softly as she approached - holding the small sized tray on both hands with two filled glasses of fruit drink on it.

"Thank you" I said with a wide grin, handing Chloe a glass before carrying the other one. "So let's go to the palour?" I urged courteously, moving out of the kitchen entrance before turning to look at Chloe who was still standing to look at Shelly.

"Aren't you joining us?" Chloe asked politely to Shelly who only shook her head in refusal and laughed before folding her arms, saying. "To sit with you guys in the palour? Nope -- am not ready to let you guys bore me with your unending love talks... Just go on, I'll catch up later"

"Okay" Chloe laughed and turned to follow me back to the palour.

*****

"You have such a lovely house" Chloe complimented as we lowered ourselves to sit on a two sitters couch.

"Well, still can't compare it with yours" I chuckled in a friendly tease, taking a sip of my fruit drink before turning my head to look at Chloe who was now smiling as she sat mute.

Then I snapped my right finger in recollection when Chloe's previous statement rang in my head.

"Aha, I almost forgot. You said -- you had something Important to tell me. I hope is not about your dad considering on firing me for not coming to work?" I asked, adjusting my body on the couch so I could fully face her.

"No... No, that's not reason.." Chloe started to say in between her muffled laugh and took one last sip of her drink before dropping the glass cup on the side stool beside the couch.

"Pheww...some relief. So what's the Important message because am really -- really itching to hear it." I chuckled, leaning by back comfortably on the couch while slowly raising my glass to take a sip with my gaze still leveled on Chloe who sat with her hands clamped together - facing me fully before clearing her throat to speak.

"I'm pregnant Liam" Her nervous voice broke out, filling my ears as soon I took a sip of my drink with the frightening weight of her words tightening my throat - making it hard for me to even swallow the drink which in turn began to choke me.

"What?" I gasped, coughing hard as I leveled my glass immediately on the stool beside me before giving Chloe a frozen stare.

I was shaken by the unexpected reveal. We only made out once in her playhouse -- well, yes it was unprotected but even at that, I wasn't expecting her to stay without taking a preventative pill or something!

"Are you okay Liam?" Chloe asked immediately as she drew closer on the couch - placing both hands on my right arm while I struggled to abate the cough which had my face red like I was choking to death.

"Am... Am fine." I stuttered in a strained voice - clearing my throat hard as I leveled my gaze on Chloe who gave me a faint smile. "So you're pregnant?" I repeated as though I didn't hear her clearly the first time.

"Hm-mm" she hummed softly with a convincing nod of her head. But I wasn't too convinced; what if she was just pulling a prank on me? No! I doubt she was -- her facial expression was too serious to be telling a lie!

"But how -- I mean we only had sex once, and that was two week ago" I muttered almost inaudibly, crashing my back on the couch while slowly rubbing my forehead with my right palm in a pondering manner. I was beginning to feel weak with my temperature slowly rising like I was becoming sick.

How will my mom react if she found out that I slept with my employer's daughter and got her pregnant?! Even the mere thought of it sent chilly shivers down my spine.

"Well, I um... I felt curious day before yesterday and bought a pregnancy test kit at a pharmacy -- you know, that toothbrush looking kind of stuff" Chloe informed calmly with a shrug of her shoulders and paused to give me a searching stare.

I only nodded my head at her, urging her to keep going as if I understood what she was saying when infact -- i was totally clueless and confused. This was my first time hearing of 'pregnancy kit', not to talk of knowing how it looked like!

"...so I urinated on it and I got two red lines --which meant that I was pregnant" She concluded and forced a nervous smile on her face.

The word 'pregnant' made my heart sink each time it came out of Chloe's lips - clouding my head with so many worrisome thoughts.

"Um... What do we do now?" I asked, sounding a bit jittery and desperate as I sat upright to face Chloe who immediately adjusted herself to give me a suspecting look.

"Are you suggesting I get rid of it?" She asked with curiousity in her tone of voice.

So I shrugged my shoulders and said in a cowardly voice "ermm... If it's okay by you. And besides, I don't think it's best keeping it since you'll be taking your exa..."

"Stop Liam!" She blurted in interruption, sounding very annoyed before springing up from the couch.

"So what do you want to do, Keep it?" I choked out in frustration - standing up after Chloe who turned to face me.

"Yess" she answered bluntly to my face, making me feel faint in petrifying shock -- not quite the response I was expecting to hear!

"What about your parents? Aren't you bothered because I am... Mine too, my mom -- we barely have enough to even consider taking care of a child" I lamented almost breathlessly in a low voice - lowering my gaze in worry.

Then Chloe moved closer with a consoling smile on her face and cupped my cheeks with both hands - slowly lifting my head so our eyes could meet.

I was startled to see that she was more reserved than I was - like she wasn't bothered about the pregnancy. Well, why should she when she was from a rich family who could cater for her needs.

"Look, I know this might be hard on the both of us -- but in a way, I'm glad it kind of happened" she whispered to my face in a soft calm voice.

"Why will you say that?" I asked immediately, pulling my head back from her touch with a confused look.

"Well..." Chloe started to say with a shrug as she retreated a step back from me. "Atleast now that I'm pregnant -- maybe I won't have to marry Kelvin, because I don't want to"

"But -- that will mean your parent knowing about the pregnancy" I groaned in regrets.

"Yes.." Chloe's breathless voice broke out as she moved a step closer. "Which is why I want us to tell them together" She added with a soft smile that only heightened my nervousness - causing my eyelids to blink rapidly in panicking shock.

"What!... Are you thinking straight Chloe? Meeting your parent about the preg..." I growled to Chloe's face in a terrified voice and paused instantly when the palour door squeaked open with my mom entering - gently closing the door behind her with a broadened smile on her face the moment she saw us standing closely together. She was back from shopping, holding to large stuffy polythene bags on both hands and sluggishly moved towards our direction when I...