"Are you really gonna keep that baby? In this economy?!"
I was on the phone with my friend to share my thoughts and circumstances with her. The moment she knew my predicament, she instantly bombarded me with this and that, trying to reason with me about keeping a child.
"Well, I can't abort, can I?" I asked hesitantly while folding my clothes.
"Yes you can! You have the rights. It's your body Meg." She stated with conviction.
My eyes wondered around, fidling the clothes that I haven't fold yet. My hand gripped the phone tightly as if its gonna help me think better.
With a resolute face, I opened my mouth. "I'm gonna keep the baby. I don't want to regret when it was already too late." I firmly affirmed, trying to convince myself rather than my friend.
Moments later I heard a sigh on the phone. Knowing my friend, she probably given up with reasoning with me. She knew me too well. If I said that I won't abort, I would not do it even if ten bull pulled me.
"Ok, fine. Like I said, that is your life to decide. You know that I'm always here, but if your regret your decision someday, don't expect a hug for me but a slap. Ok?"
Chuckling at her ruthless words, I hummed in agreement.
"So what's your plan about that thing?"
She's really not fond of babies. I shookt my head at the thought. I know the reason why and I understand her. If I were in her shoes, I'll be like that too.
I continued my halfway done folding before answering. "Well... I plan to go for a check up every week? Is that right, or month? I'm gonna confirm first with a doctor. To check if the baby is alright. Gonna need to work hard to earn money before my stomach get huge. Buy some baby stuff..." Listing all the things that I will do, I stood up from where I'm sitting.
"Not that plan. I mean, what about the baby daddy of that?" I heard a clang and a voice, she's probably talking to someone.
"Are you busy? I'll talk to you later if your are." Trying to change the topic, I asked her.
"Do not change the topic Megan. Tell me quickly!"
She's not concerned about the baby father at all. I can hear the eagerness for gossip in her voice.
"Can't find a dead man right?" I jokingly uttered. "Bye, need to do something!" And before she could answer, I ended the call.
I'm not a person that can stand hot seat. I'd rather avoid people than make myself uncomfortable about the topic that they want to push.
After putting my folded clothes in their right places, I looked at my small bedroom. I lived in a small apartment. Its a two storey apartment and I occupied the second floor. It has one of everything. One bedroom, one bathroom, one small kitchen, and a small balcony. Just right for a single person.
Now I deeply regreted buying that expensive bracelet. It cost me so much that I'll probably be poor for a whole month or more than a month.
Thinking of that bracelet, I rummage through my cabinet before finding the box. Opening it, it still as shiny as ever. It was really exquisite. Never in my life I owned an accessory of this caliber. My jewelry cost me just 500 to 1,500 at least. Not exceeding that at all. It just lowered but it will not get any higher than that.
Being orphaned at a younge age—ten years old to be exact. I longed of owning my own things, properties-—and that includes jewelries. My humble and tragic origin is my drive to continue with this life and achieve a comfortable life.
Its because of those bloodsucker that I'm still at this state. Gnashing my teeth in hatred, I took a deep breath.
Thos people still hunt me till this day. I rid of them in my mind and held the bracelet. A pity that I can't wear it for experience. Anyway, it'll be for the baby so it's worth it.
The thing that I regretted not having, I'll try to give to my baby. If that's what it wants, of course. Can't force anyone, especially my future child.
That's bad parenting. And I don't want to be labelled as such.
Before I take a better look of the bracelet once again, the apartment began to shake like crazy. Because I'm not prepared for that, I lost my balance.
My hand instinctively protected my stomach as I was falling sidewards.
"Ouch!" My other hand that holding that bracelet bleed as I use it to try to cusion my impact.
"Where the heck this thumbtack came from?" I muttered under my breath as I crawled towards the table to hide.
This happened again. I can't help but to worry. This is the third earthquake as of this month. What a strange phenomenon but the news didn't even disclose why this happen.
They just narrate the tabulated casualties in the affected area and reminded us to keep safe. They even show in Tv, and broadcast it in radio of how to survive an earthquake and what to do if you got trap inside a building or fallen debris.
Sure they give assurance to the public, but there's this nagging feeling inside of me that this is no normal happening. There's something big going on that I can't pinpoint exactly.
I can just wait and see... if there's even one to see.
The government is keeping tight of everything. Once I get under the table, I held the table leg so it will not shake so much while protecting my stomach.
My body is hunched, my mind scattered that I even fogot about the bracelet.
Taking a glimpse of the Jade on my hand, my body froze.
The blood that was falling on my finger disappeared like its was not even there in the first place. Like it was all my illusion.
But I'm not crazy to make things up in my head, especially in this urgent situation. I can feel the pain earlier, and my finger is still stinging even though there'not wound nor blood to see.
Before my head could progress this absurb happening, the bracelet suddenly emit a bright light. It almost blinded me. If I didn't closed my eyes immediately, it can probably could.
When I feel that the light subsided, I opened my eyes. Looking down at the bracelet that I throw due to shock, I saw the light gone. The luster of the bracelet is gone too, compared to before, it looks dull now.
"What just happened?" I asked myself out of disbelief.
Dumbfounded, I picked it up to examine. It really lost its luster. Its not shiny and looks ordinary now. Did they just scammed me of my thousands!?
When I was about to be angry, a thing, like a hologram suddenly pop up in front of me, making me almost jump and bump into the table.
[Initiating contact... Welcome host for binding the Maternal System. ]
Startled, I looked around but did not find anything aside for my things that fell down during the disaster.
"Who?" I asked no one in specific.
[ Apocalypse is commencing, recommending the host to be prepared. Time: 2191 hr ]
"What!" Not even a second yet I got shock so many time already.
What apocalypse, what ready? And how many days is that hours converted to?
No one answered my outburst, the earthquake is long gone like the other earthquake that has come. The hologram in front of me is still there, showing me that I'm not hallucinating or gone crazy.
The hologram is now emitting a blue light, there are words posted there that woke me up my stupor.