Chapter 3

Serah's POV.

The news was still ringing in my head like an echo I couldn’t silence. Me? Pregnant? It was hard to believe. I kept replaying it over and over again in my mind, trying to make sense of it. How could this have happened? How did I not realize sooner? The truth was undeniable now. I was carrying a life inside me—a baby. And the father of that baby was none other than Brian.

Brian.

Just thinking about his name stirred a whirlwind of emotions inside me—pain, anger, confusion. How would he react when I told him? Would he be shocked? Angry? Would he deny it altogether? I didn’t have the answers. All I had were fears and a growing sense of uncertainty.

“Serah, don’t think about this too much, okay? I’m here for you, and I’m going to take really good care of you.” Mia’s soft voice pulled me out of my spiral of thoughts. She had been nothing but kind to me through all of this. A true friend. A sister. Her concern and presence had become my anchor in these stormy times. I knew she loved me deeply—her actions proved it every day. She had always supported me in everything, and now she was standing by me once again, refusing to let me go through this alone. I truly didn’t know what I would do without her by my side.

I turned to her, tears welling in my eyes. My voice trembled as I spoke. “Mia, I don’t think I’ll keep the baby.” The words came out before I could stop them. Saying them aloud made everything feel even more real.

She froze for a moment, looking at me in disbelief. “What are you saying, Serah? You will not abort this baby, and that is final,” she said firmly, her voice laced with anger and shock.

“But Mia—”

“No buts, Serah,” she cut me off sharply. “This baby is innocent. It had nothing to do with what Brian did to you. You will not punish a child for the sins of its father. I refuse to accept that.”

Her words hit me hard. I knew she meant well, and I knew she was right. But my heart was a battlefield of emotions. “Mia, I cannot bring this child into this world as a single mother,” I said quietly, barely able to look at her. “If I keep this baby, I’ll have to inform Brian. He has to know that I’m expecting his child.”

She paused, her face softening just a bit. “Do you think he’ll accept the baby? That he’ll take responsibility?”

I sighed deeply. “I don’t know, Mia. But I can’t keep this from him. He has a right to know. I just hope... I hope he’ll accept the baby.”

“I hope so too, Serah,” she said, finally calming down. “But for now, you need to rest. When you wake up, everything will feel a little clearer. I’ll be here, waiting for you.”

Her words were gentle, soothing. She tucked me in, and for a moment I considered letting myself drift off. But the truth was, sleep was the last thing on my mind. My thoughts were still consumed with Brian. Would he accept this child? Would he be angry? Would he push me away again, just like before? Deep down, I didn’t just want him to accept the baby. I wanted him to accept me again. I wanted us to rebuild what we once had. I wanted us to be a family.

I knew it wouldn’t be easy. It would be a tough journey both emotionally, mentally, and even physically. But having Brian by my side would make it bearable. It would give me hope.

When I opened my eyes again, the room was quiet and dim. I blinked a few times, adjusting to the light. I turned my head and saw Mia curled up on the couch next to my bed, fast asleep. She looked so peaceful. Earlier, she had been so worried, pacing and speaking with urgency. But now she looked calm, her breathing slow and steady. I didn’t want to disturb her.

“My phone...” I whispered to myself. I hadn’t checked it in hours, and suddenly, I felt the urge to hold it, to scroll through the familiar apps, the messages, anything to distract me.

I looked around and spotted my handbag hanging in the corner of the room. It was a bit far from the bed, but I was determined. I slowly swung my legs off the bed, wincing as a wave of pain shot through my head. I steadied myself, then reached out with effort and grabbed the bag. My fingers found the phone inside, and I cradled it like something precious as I returned to the bed.

I unlocked it and went straight to my chats with Brian. As I scrolled through the old messages, my heart sank. We had been so happy once. So in love. The messages were full of jokes, sweet words, promises. When did it all start to fall apart? Where did I go wrong? My vision blurred with tears, and before I knew it, I was crying again silent, painful sobs that shook my whole body.

Mia stirred on the couch. My crying must have woken her up. She rushed to my side, her face full of concern. “What happened, Serah? Are you in pain?”

I quickly wiped my tears and tried to compose myself. “Nothing, Mia. I was just checking my phone,” I said weakly.

“Who gave it to you? I remember placing it over there,” she said, pointing to where the bag had been.

“I took it, Mia. I’m sorry. You were asleep and I didn’t want to disturb you,” I explained, feeling a bit guilty.

She sighed, reaching out her hand. “Give it to me, Serah. You have a head injury, and now you’re stressing yourself even more. You might get a serious headache. Please, just rest. That’s what’s most important right now. I want you to get better.”

I nodded silently and handed her the phone. She was right. My body needed rest, and my heart needed time. The battle ahead would be long, but for now, I had to heal.