Chapter 4. Being Pregnant by Stranger

The door of Selena and Karina's house opened and slammed loudly as Zayn arrived, wearing shorts, a plain shirt, and messy hair. The man's face immediately searched for Karina and rushed towards her.

"What happened? Are you pregnant? How is that possible? Tell me who that man is! I'll drag him here right now!" Zayn shouted, visibly upset by Karina's pregnancy.

Karina winced, and Selena quickly blocked Zayn who was about to ask a barrage of questions to Karina.

“The questions can wait! Where's the pregnancy test kit that you bought? We can't assume and it's better to check it now," said Selena as she reached out her hand to ask for the purchased test pack from Zayn.

Zayn reached into his pocket and took out 2 boxes of pregnancy test kits that he had just bought from the pharmacy.

Selena handed them over to Karina, "Do you understand how to use it?"

"I'm not that dumb, Selena." Karina replied as she took the two test packs from Selena's hand and went to the bathroom.

Upon arriving in the bathroom, Karina didn't immediately use the pregnancy test. She looked at the box in her hand and fell silent for a moment. Her mind was blank, and she didn't know what to do if she found herself pregnant due to her own carelessness.

"It's okay. If I'm pregnant, I'll raise this child alone. I don't need that man," said Karina, trying to comfort herself in the midst of the continuous worry that enveloped her.

Karina immediately took the position and performed the pregnancy test on her urine. After the examination, Karina didn't immediately see the line on the test pack. She sighed and tried to calm herself down.

"Okay, I'm ready," murmured Karina, then turned over both test packs and looked at the lines etched on the pregnancy test devices.

Both test packs that she used showed two clearly etched red lines, indicating that Karina was pregnant. Even on one of the digital test packs, it showed a positive sign with an estimated gestational age of three weeks.

"Three weeks? It's true, this is the foreign man's child." Karina murmured as she looked at the estimated gestational age.

Karina didn't know whether to feel happy or sad now. Her feelings were shattered when she found herself pregnant now.

The thought of aborting her pregnancy also came to mind. But quickly, Karina shook her head and pushed the thought out of her mind.

"I won't abort it, I will give birth to it and raise it," said Karina.

Karina came out of the bathroom after being in there for a while.

"What's the result?" asked Selena.

"The result is negative, right?" asked Zayn.

The couple and their friend looked curious about the result of Karina's pregnancy test.

Karina handed over the two test packs she had hidden behind her back to Zayn and Selena.

"I'm pregnant." Karina said.

Like hit by a massive meteor, Zayn's body collapsed and fell to the floor when he saw Karina's positive pregnancy test result.

Selena felt the same way, her body felt weak knowing that her close friend was was carrying a child from a man she didn't even know.

"Contact that man now! He must take responsibility for his actions towards you. He took your virginity as he pleased, but abandoned you with his child like this," said Selena, who had been urging Karina to contact the man who had slept with her.

Karina lowered her head, feeling guilty. Especially since she had already lied to Selena.

"Tell us where the man is now, Karina." Zayn requested.

Karina's shoulders shook, and she suddenly burst into tears. Selena immediately hugged her to comfort her, but Karina's crying didn't stop, it even grew louder.

"I'm sorry." Karina said amid her sobs, which sounded heartbreaking.

Zayn finally softened and patted Karina's shoulder to calm her down. "This is not your fault. The man is to blame, Karina." Zayn said.

Karina stood up and wiped the tears that had been flowing from her cheeks since earlier while sobbing, "It's my fault. For lying to you both and eventually making this problem so complicated."

Zayn glanced at Selena and they locked eyes.

"We should sit down. I'll make some tea to lighten the mood," said Zayn as he walked towards the kitchen to prepare some tea.

Meanwhile, Selena guided Karina to the living room and they sat down there. It was only 4 in the morning, but they were already so emotional. More precisely, Selena was worried about Karina's condition. For Selena, Karina's safety and health surpassed anything else in her world.

Shortly after, Zayn returned with three cups of hot tea. He placed the three cups on the table and sat across from Karina, who was still trying to calm her sobs.

"If you don't want to talk about it, don't force yourself, Karina. The most important thing now is your health and the health of your child," said Zayn.

Selena nodded in agreement with Zayn's words.

"Or do you want to have an abortion?" asked Zayn.

Instantly, Selena looked at Zayn with anger and Karina's crying stopped.

"I will take responsibility and give birth to this baby." Karina replied.

Zayn looked at Karina, "Tell me who the man is. I will drag him here right now." Zayn requested.

"I don't know him." Karina said while wiping her tears.

Karina's statement succeeded in making Selena and Zayn silent.

"What do you mean you don't know him?" Selena asked.

Karina finally gathered the courage to look at Selena. "He was a stranger I met at the bar. We had never met before. That was my first time," said Karina.

Selena's world seemed to crumble upon hearing Karina's words. She started crying as well.

"Karina! You did this, did you think it would make me happy? NO! Oh, I could go insane!" Selena yelled while continuing to cry.

Karina felt guilty hearing Selena's words.

"I never thought it would turn out like this. I just didn't want you to worry about me. So I did it." Karina replied.

Zayn felt sad hearing Karina's explanation. He got up from his seat and approached Karina, then hugged her.

"It's okay. Everything will be fine. Even without a partner, you can still be happy. You have me, Karina. I'm here. I can replace the role of a father figure for your child." Zayn said.

Karina cried again, feeling guilty for Zayn's words and offer. It only made her blame herself even more.

"That's right. Your child can consider Zayn as his father. I don't mind. I understand." Selena added.

"No, Selena. Don't create another lie. I don't want that. It's enough. I will give birth and raise my child. He will understand when he grows up." Karina replied.

Selena hugged Karina too, hoping that her embrace could give Karina a little bit of strength.

There was no time for anger for her at the moment. The most important thing was Karina now. However, on the other hand, Karina still felt guilty, even though her determination to give birth and raise the child was becoming stronger and unwavering.

Karina's hand rubbed her flat stomach, "You will become a strong child, right, my dear?" Karina asked in her heart.

In addition to Karina's regret, Selena also felt remorse for always teasing Karina as an old maid. Until finally, this happened, and it made Selena also feel responsible for Karina's pregnancy.