ONE

MIA'S POV:

"No, this can't be happening!"  My eyes grew wide as saucers and I stared down at the pregnancy kit in my hands.

"When…when did this even happen?" I stammer, panic kicking in instantly.

I clutched my chest, my hands so shaky that I began to inhale and exhale to calm myself down.

"Okay Mia, no need to panic, just stay calm and think of a way to resolve this," I mumbled, trying hard to get a hold of myself.

“Wait, how the hell can I resolve a pregnancy?” 

My palms instantly became sweaty,

"I… I….I need to get rid of this pregnancy kit,” I stuttered.

"Mia, what's wrong? I heard you scream downstairs. Is everything okay?" 

My mum's voice resonated from the door. 

"Oh, no," I whisper-yelled and hastily threw the kit on the bed and tried to hide it under the sheets, but then, the door opened and my mum walked in.

I quickly stood straight to avoid suspicion and hoped that she wouldn't look down on my bed.

"Uhh…. Nothing Mom,” I faked a smile and turned to look at her.

"What do you mean by nothing when I clearly heard your scream downstairs? And why are you sweating so much," My mom asked and eyed me suspiciously, then slowly walked towards me like a predator advancing towards its prey. 

"Am I sweating so much?" I asked more to myself and raised my hand to my face and indeed cold sweats were trickling down.

"Mia, are you hiding something from me," she asked, her gaze firmly fixed on me.

"No Mom, why would I hide anything from you, I'm your precious daughter remember," I replied while cursing myself inwardly for lying to my mom"

"If you are not hiding anything from me, then what were you trying to hide under the sheets?" She asked as she reached out to the pregnancy kit.

“Shit, She saw it,” she mumbled in shock. I stood and watched in trepidation as she got hold of the pregnancy kit.

Her jaw dropped on seeing the kit. She stared at me in shock. Her mouth parted but no words came forth.

“You…you…” she stuttered, too shocked to utter a word… 

"It's over for me," I mumbled and looked down at the ground.

"Mia, what's the meaning of this? This can't be true right?" She asked her gaze on me, screaming shock, disappointment, and anger.

"Mom, I can explain," I said in a bid to calm her down.

"You can explain what? That you got pregnant out of wedlock at such a young age!!" she exploded like a time bomb and angrily stared at me.

"Mom, seriously I'm being honest here. I don't know how it happened. I've never slept with a man before. I can't even explain how this happened!" I yelled in desperation, hoping that she would believe me. 

"What? So you still have the guts to lie to me? And what did you just say? You've never slept with a man before? Was it an animal that got you pregnant or pregnancy fell from the sky to you? My mom asked in sheer disappointment.

"I just don't know Mom. I don't know how all this happened. I.. I can't just tell. Gosh, this is so confusing." I mumbled to myself and ruffled my hair in frustration, about to break down.

The room became silent. The only sound that was heard was I and my mum’s heavy breathing. After a moment, my mum turned to me.

"If you are so sure of what you are saying, then go dress up. We are going to have this test again at the hospital. Let's just hope that this kit is fake," she said and threw the kit on the bed, then walked out of the room.

"Going to the hospital would be a good way to solve this problem," I thought aloud as I hurriedly dressed up.

A few minutes later, my mum and I were ready. We got into our old truck and drove to the hospital. 

Getting to the hospital, we made an appointment to meet a gynaecologist.

After a few minutes of waiting, we were ushered into the doctor's office by a nurse. We thanked the nurse as she left for her duty post.

"How may I help you?" I heard the doctor say as he stared at us.

"Well!" My mom started.

"We are here to have a pregnancy test done," My mom said.

"For whom, if I may ask?" The doctor said as he stared between me and my mom.

"Do I look like I'm still giving birth," My mum retorted sarcastically.

The doctor ignored her as he handed me a small container.

"Here, take this," he said as he gave me a little smile.

"I need a sample of your urine to conduct the test. The bathroom is over there." He said as he pointed at a door in the left corner of the office.

I slowly walked over to the bathroom with a bowed head. Getting to the bathroom, I slammed the door shut. 

I came out a few moments later and handed him the container containing my urine sample.

"Then, I'll go conduct the test." He said and left the office.

"You better pray that the result turns out negative or else, you won't like what I'll do to you." My mom warned and glared daggers at me.

That instant, I felt a cold chill run down my spine, the mere thought of what she might do made me tremble. My mum is so strict and cares less when punishing me. Ever since my dad died, Mum has been the one catering to my needs. She worked tirelessly each day to make sure I am okay. 

A few moments later, the doctor walked out with a smile on his face and handed a paper containing the test result to me.

"Congratulations, you are three weeks pregnant," his face beamed with a happy smile as he said this.

At that moment, I felt my whole life crumble in front of me. 

"How could this happen?" I asked myself in disbelief. I was sure I haven't met any man since I became a woman so how could this be?

I turned to stare at my mom and found her cold gaze at me. I immediately shook at the thought of her plans for me.

"Doctor, are you sure you conducted the test well?" My mom asked with narrowed eyes.

"Of course," the doctor exclaimed.

"Thanks a lot, doctor. We'll take our leave now."My mom said as she gestured at me to follow her.

I reluctantly followed her out of the office. I bowed a little at the doctor before leaving, thinking about what had befallen me.

I met my mom waiting outside the doctor's office.

"Now I think you know the next step to take." She said with a small smile which I thought was creepy.

"What next step Mom?" I was a bit unsure of what she said.

"Showing me the father of your child." She said with clenched teeth.

" What?" I gasped in shock.

"Mom, didn't you hear what I just said? I don't know who's respon…"

I trailed off, as my mum held my jacket and pulled me out of the hospital.  Getting to the parking lot, she threw me inside the car like a rag doll.

" I don't want any excuses. Drive before it gets dark." She yelled and she got into the passenger seat. 

Having no choice, I ignited the engine and drove off with no destination in mind.

Luckily for me, we became stuck in traffic. I sighed and made use of that opportunity to put my mind together.

"I need a grandchild, Liam. When will you bear me a child," I heard someone yell. I looked out the window and saw a woman by the side of the road yelling at a young man who had a striking resemblance to her.

"I don't care if the baby is from your wife or if it's from a random woman. Just give me a grandchild, Liam!" the woman yelled.

"Mothers," I mumble, staring at them. I was about to look away when an idea suddenly struck me.

"This might be the heavens helping me out," I thought.

Not wasting any time, I hastily got out of the car, leaving it in the middle of the road, and found my way towards the woman and her son by the roadside.

"Where are you going off to, Mia?" Mum yelled after me. I didn't reply, making her get down from the car and run after me.

We walked towards the woman and her son just when they were about to leave.

" Wait" I called out to them and they turned to me with a questioning gaze.

"How may we help you?" The woman asked, staring at me as if trying to figure out who I am.

"He is the one responsible," I said as I pointed at her son.

"Responsible for what?" She queried, confused.

"I'm pregnant for your son," I said with a small smile.

"What!!"