Chapter Three

"I can't do this anymore,I'm so tired!" I sighed, slamming my face against the table and closing my eyes to rest.

Paperwork and meetings are both so boring that they make me sleepy and tired. I'm grateful that I have a job, but I'm so done with this type of work. I resigned before and chose to work in the coffee shop because I needed a break from all of the hard work I'd done in the past....

But here I am, worried about a piece of paper that will make me vomit just by reading it.

I messed up my hair. I'm completely exhausted! I just want to go home and sleep in my bed.

"Get the hell out!"

When I hear a loud bang on the door, my soul almost left me in shock.

What's that? I ask as I raise my head.

So, what happened?

I saw fear on the faces of the other employees who work on this floor. So, what happened?

I motioned for Irene, one of the workers here, to come over to me.

"Can you tell me what happened?" I ask. She even approached me closely and whispered.

"Sir's ex lover was here earlier; they had a fight, and his ex-secretary slash ex-girlfriend seems to be pregnant."

My eyes widened and I dashed into Eugene's office.

I felt sorry for Eugene's appearance when I walked in. He was crying like a helpless child on the floor next to his office table.

"This can't be...," he sobbed.

"Are you all right?" I asked, taking a bottle of water from his office kitchen and sitting down next to him.

I drank some water and patted him on the back. Is love really this painful?

"I thought you'd give me the water, you cruel woman," I couldn't help but laugh when he looked at me with sullen eyes, and he's still crying while complaining to me.

"Here, be thankful I still have some water for you," I said as I opened the bottle and placed it in his mouth.

When I put the bottle in his mouth, he still pouted, but he drank it. He really does resemble a crying baby right now.

As the sun began to set while we were still sitting on the floor, I opened the glass window curtain.

The atmosphere is peaceful but relaxing as we gaze up at the golden sky. I don't want to ask him what's wrong or make him explain why he's crying in pain... I want him to tell me everything when he's ready. For the time being, I'll simply remain by his side. I don't want him to be alone while he sobs in pain.

"I'm going to be a father; I'm not a fan of a Broken Family." I locked my gaze on his face as he spoke.

Eugene, the childish man I know, vanishes. His voice is so solemn that I almost didn't recognize it. This is the first time I've seen this side of him.

"My Mom and Dad died by suicide," he sadly laughed as he gazed out the window at the setting sun.

My chest hurt so much after hearing those.

"I was only ten years old when they committed suicide, and I saw it face to face." I, too, am in tears after hearing those.

How do you maintain a smile when you're carrying something like that?

"How can I be a parent? I'm not sure I can; I can't afford for him or her to grow up without a complete family." I took his hand in mine, he looked up at me.

After all, he shared with me, so perhaps it's not such a bad idea if I tell him about my life as well.

"You know, I'm also an orphan," I said, sadly. He confronted me right away.

"Really? H-how?" I averted my gaze from him and wiped my tears away.

"I was only five years old when they died; were they sick? I'm not sure; I grew up in an orphanage, but the orphanage burned down, so I lived on the street," I smiled as I turned to face him.

How did you go to school? How did you live on the street? How did you eat? Oh god,

I..." I shake my head as I see how surprised he is.

I told him my entire story, from the beginning to the present. As I tell him my story, the night grows darker. I don't want to get up until I've told him everything.

It's already late at night by the time we finish talking. When I saw him crying because of my story, I burst out laughing. He keeps saying how proud he is of me and how much he respects me.

When both of us is already calm, I went out to fix my things to go home.

While fixing my things I saw Eugene get out in his office holding his bag.

"I am hungry." I said while arranging my desk.

"I'm hungry too." he also said, while carressing his tummy. I'm in awe when I saw how puffy his eyes were because of crying.

We're always like this. Go home and eat dinner together.

Where? Probably at my house. She's a baby boy, and I always have to look after him or he'll die in hunger.

"We're just ordering food online; I'm hungry, and I don't want to cook," I explained as I buckled my seatbelt.

"Let's just eat outside," he suggested, his gaze is already fixed on the road.

"I don't want to, Child; I'm already sleepy; I want to sleep after dinner; don't talk, drive safely," I said.

He didn't say anything and just pouted his lips. He always does that when he can't disagree with my decision.

We arrived at our building. Yes, he's leaving in the same condo building with me, right in front of my unit is his unit. Destiny? no way! He forced the owner to purchase the condo on the other side, which is unfortunate for the current occupant. I can't even drive my own car because he insists on driving me to work.

When I entered my Unit I immediately went to the bedroom and got dressed. Eugene, on the other hand, is also dressing in his unit, he will just come in later. He knows my pass code, I also know his.

Of course, it irritates me at first; what kind of boss would do something like that? But, the truth is, I don't know why I'm no longer irritated. And... It makes me kinda happy knowing that he's just out there.

Something isn't right with me.

When I arrived at my unit, I went straight to my bedroom to get dressed. Eugene, on the other hand, is dressing in his unit and will arrive later. He knows my passcode, and I know his as well.

I can't remember how we got so close, now that I think about it. Friends? He is both my boss and my enemy. My neighbor as well. Let's just leave it at that.

I heard the sound of the opening door then Eugene came in carrying a bucket of chicken and something else from the famous bee, as I was lying on the sofa.

"Food is here, let's eat!" he exclaimed, placing the food on the small table in front of the sofa and turning on the t.v.

It's a good thing he eats alone; we were both hungry, so we didn't talk while eating.

We were both lying on the sofa after we finished eating. He's on the small sofa, while mine is the longest. He's engrossed in a video game channel on the internet.

I turned off the TV and sat on the floor in front of him when I remembered something.

"Why did you turn it off?" he asked, and I quickly hushed him and ordered him to sit.

"Be serious first, and then we'll talk. We didn't clarify this yet," I insisted.

He sat down on the floor beside me.

"What is it?" he asked, yawning.

"Your ex-secretary, er, ex-girlfriend, is pregnant?" I confirmed. His expression changed quickly as he nodded.

"Will she come back to you? It's impossible she won't, because you're going to have a baby soon," I could see his jaw clenching in rage.

"I heard she's getting married to her foreign boyfriend, and she just came in to say that when she gives birth, she'll leave the baby with me," he said.

I was taken aback, and anger welled up inside of me. What kind of woman is she? Can she really abandon her child for the sake of a man? Seriously. She'll marry another man while disowning her child?

"You know what? It's a good thing you two broke up. What kind of woman can do that? She'll leave her baby just to go with another man? Didn't she think about how her baby? A child without a mother? Did she know how suck it is to grow without a mother?" I asked, almost crying, thinking of the baby who was abandoned because of a nonsense decision made by his/her mother.

I only saw her in the photo. She is stunning, but what does it matter if that's how she acts? He'll smell garbage.

Isn't he aware of how difficult it is for a child to grow up without a family?

The Baby hasn't been born yet; she's being given away. It broke my heart...

"Hey Laura, don't cry," he said as he wrapped his arm around my shoulders.

I turn to face Eugene and look him in the eyes. I put my hand on his cheeks and look at him more closely.

"Don't feel sorry for her; if she doesn't like the Child, we'll take it; we'll save the baby from a mother like her," I insisted. He nodded and laughed.

"You're such astrong woman" he said half smiling, I kept my eyes fixed on him. I want him to understand I'm serious.

"I'm not saying this half-heartedly, Euegene. I'm serious, We'll take care of the baby, We'll do everything so the baby doesn't feel lacking in care and love. Don't worry, I'm here if you're scared being a first time parent I'm here to help you. I don't know how to be a parent either because like you I didn't have a parent when growing up too... but that is not an excuse for us not to be a good guardian to the baby; all we need to do is love him/her. " I said firmly to him.

He was just staring at me, his eyes is now clouded with tears.

"Thank you. Thank you for saying that," he said as he hugged me tight.

In return, I gave him a pat on the back. I didn't pay any attention to the strange feelings that arose in my chest.

After that night, we decided to live in a single unit and began preparing for the child's arrival. Because it's a penthouse the place is too large for us. I have my own room, and Eugene has his own as well. There's also a room for the baby and one extra room.

We're so excited that we spent the entire day decorating the entire bedroom, buying various baby items, and practicing how to properly care for a child.

"We're done!" I exclaimed, looking around the room.

"This turned out great; I hope the baby likes it," he says, his eyes gleaming as he scans the entire room. "I didn't realize I was this excited. I can't wait to see the baby sleeping here" he said, staring at the small crib lovingly.

 "It's kind of funny," I murmured, Eugene looked at me, waiting for me to finish what I was saying.

I smiled and moved closer to him, placing the baby pillow and joining him stare at the crib.

"It's as if it was only yesterday when I told myself I wouldn't want to have a child. I grew up without a parent, so I don't have any confidence to raise a child. But here I am shamelessly taking the role, as if I'm capable of being a perfect mother to your child," a bitter and worried smile escapes from my lips.

"Listen, Laura," he said. "I can't thank you enough by staying by my side, you don't gain anything for taking the role, but you still spread your wings for us and help me,  so I can welcome my child with excitement," he reached out for my hand while his gentle eyes were fixed on me.

"And I'm sure you'll be a good Mother. The child is so lucky to have you."