Two weeks later, Betty found herself sitting in a cold hospital office, her hands tightening and loosening around each other as she waited for the doctor to return. The room felt too bright, too quiet, and every second that ticked by only made her stomach twist harder. She had been feeling dizzy for days, nauseous every morning, and unable to keep anything down. At first she thought it was stress, heartbreak, betrayal, and the sleepless nights. But when the dizziness grew worse, she decided she couldn’t ignore it anymore.
Her foot tapped against the tiled floor as she stared at the white wall across from her. She swallowed hard, unsure why a part of her felt scared.
When the door finally opened, she nearly jumped. Dr. Dickson walked in with a polite smile, holding a white envelope.
“Miss Betty?” he said gently. “Here are your test results.” He handed them to her with that same warm smile, clearly expecting nothing out of the ordinary.
Betty took the envelope with trembling fingers. Her heart thudded loudly in her chest. She opened it slowly, her eyes scanning the words she barely wanted to read. And then she froze.
Pregnancy — Positive.
The world around her went silent. She stared at the paper again, as if maybe she had read it wrong.
“I’m… pregnant,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.
“Yes, Miss Betty,” the doctor replied. “You’re pregnant. Congratulations.”
But there was no joy in her expression, only shock. Horror. Her throat tightened immediately.
“No… no, no…” she whispered, shaking her head. It felt unreal. Impossible. Terrifying.
She clutched the paper, grabbed her bag with shaking hands, and rushed out of the office before the doctor could say another word.
Outside, the sunlight felt harsh on her face, and the sounds of the street blurred into one loud, overwhelming noise. She hurried to her car, got inside, and gripped the steering wheel. Her breathing was uneven, her mind racing. A baby. She was pregnant. From that night. The stranger she couldn’t even remember clearly.
She drove without thinking, her hands cold against the wheel, heading straight to the one person she knew would understand or at least listen.
When she pulled up to Veronica’s apartment, she barely managed to lock the car before rushing to the door. She knocked once, and Veronica opened immediately, smiling at first.
“Hi, honey—”
“Oh, Veronica… I’m ruined,” Betty said, her voice breaking.
Veronica’s smile vanished in an instant. “Ruined? Betty, what happened?” She rushed forward and pulled her inside. “Sit down, talk to me.”
Betty sat heavily on the couch, her hands trembling as she dug into her bag. She pulled out the test results and handed the paper to Veronica.
Veronica opened it and gasped loudly. Her eyes widened, and she clamped a hand over her mouth.
“You’re pregnant?” she exclaimed. “Betty—oh my God!”
“Yes,” Betty whispered. “I just found out. Veronica, my life is ruined. Completely ruined. Worst part is… I don’t even know who the father is. I don’t even know what he looks like.” She covered her face with both hands. “What kind of mess have I gotten myself into?”
Veronica took a deep breath, trying not to panic. “Okay. Deep breath, Betty. Deep breath. There’s still a solution.”
Betty looked up with damp eyes. “What solution? Tell me.”
Veronica hesitated only a moment. “You’re… going to have to remove the baby.”
“What?” Betty gasped, as if someone had slapped her.
Veronica’s brows pinched together. “That’s the only solution, Betty. Except if you want to be a single mom. Are you ready for that?”
Betty shook her head instantly. “No, no, Veronica… I can’t do that. This is my baby. I can’t remove my baby.”
“Betty, be reasonable,” Veronica said softly. “This pregnancy came from a night you don’t even remember. You don’t know the father. You’re alone. Think about your future.”
“I am thinking about my future,” Betty whispered. “And I’m being serious. I can’t… I can’t do that to my baby.”
Veronica’s eyes softened, though worry still lingered. “You’re sure? Really sure, Betty?”
“Yes.” Betty inhaled shakily. “I’m sure. I’m going to keep the baby, Vero. I’ll do it. I’ll take responsibility. This child is a part of me… and I don’t want to lose it.”
Veronica studied her for a long moment, then nodded. “Okay. If you’re sure, I’ll support you. But what do you plan to do now?”
Betty wiped her eyes. “I’m not staying here in the city. I can’t. Too many eyes on me, too much chaos, too much stress. I’ll leave for my grandfather’s town. It’s quiet there. Peaceful. I’ll stay there until I sort myself out.”
Veronica let out a long breath. “I need you to think clearly, Betty. Are you absolutely sure you want to raise this baby alone? Move away? Change everything?”
“Yes,” Betty said firmly. “I’m sure. I have to protect my peace, Vero. I can’t stay here with everything falling apart. I’ll go tomorrow morning.”
“Tomorrow?” Veronica exclaimed. “So all our holiday plans are cancelled?”
Betty gave a small, tired smile. “I’m sorry.”
“No, no—don’t apologize,” Veronica said, taking her hand. “You matter more than any holiday. Besides… I can always come visit. I’ll bring food, gifts, whatever you need.” She squeezed Betty’s hand gently. “I’m not leaving you alone.”
Betty’s eyes welled up again. “Thank you, Vero. You’ve been such a good friend. The best, really.”
Veronica hugged her tightly, rubbing her back. “You’re not alone in this, Betty.”
Just then, Betty’s phone rang, breaking the hug. They both froze and looked toward the sound.
Betty reached for the phone, her heart tightening again when she saw the caller ID.
Anna.
The woman who destroyed her relationship. The woman Francis chose over her.
Betty lifted her gaze to Veronica, who nodded slowly. Pick it up.
With a deep breath, Betty answered the call.
Anna’s voice came through the phone, smooth and calm.
“Hi, Betty.”
Aksara