Chapter 5

"Let’s ask the guard. Maybe he knows where Draken went," Matthew suggested so we got back in the car and went to the guard’s post at the main gate.

Matthew and I got out to ask.

"Uhmm... sir, we just want to ask if you have any idea where Draken Luzevia went?" I asked.

"Ah... The Luzevia's, ma'am? They left last night. They're moving to the USA. That’s what the household staff said before they left," the guard replied.

My eyes nearly popped at what I heard from the old guard. Matthew and I exchanged looks... even he could hardly believe it.

"H-Huh?"

"That’s what they said, ma'am."

"Thank you, sir," my brother said, and immediately supported me. "Mathia—"

"B-But... that's impossible. W-Why didn't he tell me? W-We texted earlier, didn’t we, Matthew? You saw his text, right?" I asked my brother, and he simply helped me into the passenger seat before moving to the driver’s seat.

"Why did he do this to you?" Matthew asked, but I didn’t answer.

"N-Not sure. Maybe he’s just going to be late—"

"What are you saying? Didn’t you hear what the guard said? They’re going to live in the USA. My question is, why did he make a fool of you? He made us wait for nothing."

I couldn't speak at Matthew's words. I felt a heavy weight in my chest and then the steady fall of my tears.

"We better go home."

"N-No. Maybe Draken is just late—"

"No. Let’s go home."

"M-Matthew..."

I couldn’t hold myself any longer. My tears poured out. Perhaps the guard’s information was wrong. Draken would have said goodbye if he were leaving... impossible!

I... It's possible.

Lost in shock and crying, I didn’t notice the sudden downpour. My vision blurred further with the rain mixing with the tears on my face.

A few moments later, I felt the car stop. I was in a daze as I stepped out into the heavy rain. We were home.

"Mathia!" Matthew's shout registered, but it barely cut through my numbness. I walked into the house soaked through, Matthew supporting me as my legs hurried.

"Mathia? Matthew? Where the hell have you both been?!" Father’s voice rang out, furious, but I was hardly aware of him through my stupor and sobs.

"Mathia? Why are you crying? Matthew, what happened to your sister?" Mother asked, helping me. "Get her some clothes. Quickly. Hand me her bag."

Moments later I saw Matthew hand my bag to Mother, but it slipped and fell to the floor. "Matthew, pick that up..."

The house suddenly seemed to quiet down, as if the world paused. "What—What does this mean?" Mother asked, scooping up six pregnancy test strips scattered on the floor. "Oh—Oh my God!"

I watched Father approach and take the tests. "What—Mathia."

I broke down and confessed through my tears, "I-I'm pregnant."

"What—" Father swore, and I felt the sting of a hand slapping my cheek. "Who is the father of your child?! Who?! Who?!" he demanded, his voice furious, and another slap landed across my face.

"Don't hurt your daughter!"

"Dad!"

"You two, be quiet!"

I felt Father grab my arm and drag me into a room. Matthew and Mother followed immediately. "Who is the father?! I thought you were smart! Why did you get pregnant? Who got you pregnant—your boyfriend? Is it him, Mathia? Your boyfriend? Huh?!"

I couldn’t answer. I only cried. More hard slaps rained down from Father. I heard Mom and Matthew pleading for him to stop, but it fell on deaf ears. I felt as if I didn't exist to any of them in that moment.

"What the hell?! Your daughter is pregnant!"

"I don't care!"

"Dad! Stop that!"

"Don’t interfere, Matthew! That man is a beast! We'll have that damn child aborted!"

"What are you saying?! Don't hurt your daughter!"

I heard them restrain Father, every shout and sob echoing through the house. I had feared this consequence, so I had kept quiet. In a sense, maybe this was for the best.

"Whether she wants to or not, this woman’s pregnancy will be ended!"

I shook my head slowly in disapproval. My body was trembling as my mind spun with humiliation, fear and a fragile hope for the future of the child inside my belly.

My father stopped and looked at me enraged. I know, he loves me that's why he's disappointed at me getting pregnant.

"Mathia," my brother called me as he crouched beside me and wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I'm still crying not because of what my father did, but what Draken did to me.

"My daughter," my mother cried as she come towards me and hugged me, while my father paced the hallway, furious and ashamed.

The house filled with empty noises. Only my lamentation echoed around us because of what Draken did. He left me. He broke my heart.

Why?