Leanna-Chapter 201: [Epilogue 1]

[Estela’s POV]

[Epilogue 1]

It had been three months since I regained my memories. My family and friends were overjoyed, but my mother erupted when she found that Zhander and me were together again. She was so against it at first, but seeing Zhander, and I didn’t have any plans on breaking up, she conceded and pretended Zhander was air whenever he was around.

"You okay?"

Leanna asked when I sat in a daze at our usual table in the cafeteria during lunchtime.

Leanna and Zoe were laughing and joking while I remained silent, which was unusual, to say the least. Not because I didn’t want to join in the fun, but because I was feeling under the weather lately, and I was––

Crappy P***!

There it is again!

"Excuse me!"

I dashed to the nearest toilet, not minding Leanna and Zoe’s frantic calls.

When I reached the cubicle, my stomach churned, my mouth salty, my eyes watery as I vomited all the food I ate in the water closet.

After I flushed my dump, I slumped on the floor, feeling dizzy and weak. I was feeling so tired lately, and the swelling and soreness of my breasts weren’t helping me much either.

I stood and fixed myself, dismissing the idea it was probably my period knocking on me this month. Since it missed itself last month, it would all come gushing on torrent this month.

When I left the cubicle, I was surprised to see Leanna and Zoe looking at me with shocked faces.

"What?"

"Estela, I don’t know how to break this to you. But you have to remain calm and clear-minded." Leanna walked to me and grabbed my shoulders as she smiled, yet her eyes were nothing but worry.

What’s with her?

"Are you pregnant?!"

Zoe cried, and Leanna closed her eyes in irritation while I raised an eyebrow. It was good that no one was here at the moment except for us.

"I swear, Zoe. We should ask some symptoms first before we conclude." Leanna sighed, and focused her deep brown eyes on me. "Estela, when was your last period?"

I looked at her funny and frowned when she didn’t react and just stared at me with a serious face.

"About two months ago. I’m expecting it will come this week," I answered without care.

"Have you been craving anything lately?" Leanna asked while Zoe stared at me with wide eyes and dropped jaw.

"Yes. I’m craving ice cream right about now. But like I said, usual menstrual symptoms."

"Then why did you vomit just now? Since when did you start vomiting? Are those also usual menstrual symptoms?"

Leanna barraged me with questions that all I could do was stare at her with a blank face.

My brain also went blank.

I couldn’t believe I was pregnant since I already injected myself with anti-pregnancy since that time that Zhander and I––

". . ."

". . ."

". . ."

Crappy P***!

It was that time we first made love! We didn’t use any protection, but what were the odds?!

I mean, of course, we made love throughout the night and morning and was an unforgettable experience and made me revered Zhander more with his prowess in bed –– but that’s not the point!

"Crappy P***! I’m pregnant . . . I’m pregnant . . . ," I said, digesting the information inside my head.

Leanna held my hand to steady me when I wobbled at the shocking information.

"Hey, calm down. We’re not sure yet. Why don’t we have you check first?" Leanna smiled, and it made me calm down somewhat.

"Y-yes . . . Y-you’re right . . . Don’t tell Zhander."

"Of course."

The two nodded, and we left the school to the nearest hospital.

----

"I’m seven weeks pregnant."

I said in a daze as all blood was drained from me. My arms held my belly without thought as I got out of the check-up room.

Leanna and Zoe shot to their feet. Their eyes were wide, staring up and down on my belly with their mouth open.

"T-that’s . . . uhm . . . C-congratulations?!" Zoe cried in amazement, and I swear, I wanted to pull all her hairs out.

Leanna put his arm around my shoulders and help me calm down as her eyes searched for mine.

"Hey, it’s going to be alright. We’re here for you all the way."

I forced a smile and gripped her hands.

"Thank you . . . Don’t tell Zhander."

Leanna’s eyebrows twitched. Her expression was disapproving, but she still nodded nevertheless.

I didn’t know why I didn’t want to tell Zhander. Maybe the fear of what he might say or do. The anxiousness of the future now that we were expecting something entirely unexpected was killing me. I was scared and at a loss on what to do.

I mean, this is my first pregnancy. What should I do?

I’m in college, while Zhander was still in the early phase of his career.

He hadn’t even proposed to me yet!

Although he wanted me pregnant, that was before. And I think he was only mad in desperation, not entirely thinking straight.

But now . . .

What should I do?

What now?

----

"Hey."

Zhander held my chin and forced me to look at him when I just stared at the floor the whole time he was talking.

We were now in my condo where he came to visit me every now and then. We were having dinner, and I got to say I was preoccupied the whole time ever since that visit at the hospital a few days ago.

"You okay?" Zhander rubbed my lips with his thumb when I didn’t react and just blankly stare at him, unsure of what to do nor say.

Will he get mad?

Will he feel trap?

Will he abandon me?

Will he run away?

All the negative thoughts kept pouring in, and frankly, I didn’t know why I was so emotional. Usually, I would tell him outright, damn the consequences.

But these past few days, my hormones weren’t exactly cooperating, and all these negative feelings and thoughts kept invading my mind and corroding my heart.

Before I knew it, I was sobbing and crying nonstop.

"W-what’s wrong?" Zhander asked, voice panic. He stood from his seat and kneeled at my side and caressed my hair as he cooed.

"Little Stella . . . What’s wrong?"

"Z-Zhander . . . I-I’m . . . *sob . . . I’m . . ." I bit my lip and placed my fingers over my eyes when I howled like a madwoman.

Zhander stood and hugged me, pressing my head against his stomach as he held me closer to him while caressing my hair and rubbing my back.

I somehow relaxed with his gentle caresses.

"Have you calmed down?"

After I sniffed and hiccupped a few more, I nodded, and Zhander went on his knees and captured my eyes with his.

"Now tell me . . . What’s been bothering you?"

I wanted to cry again when he held my chin, worry on his face, coupled with his soothing voice.

"Zhander . . . I’m . . . I’m . . ." I bit my lip again and clasped my dress, stopping myself from crying in a frenzy.

". . . I’m . . . pregnant . . ."

". . ."

". . ."

Zhander blinked and stared at me funny.

"What?"

I closed my eyes tight and filled my lungs with air.

"I’m pregnant."

". . ."

". . ."

It was a while that we continued to stare at each other. His eyes were probing while mine were breaming with tears.

"Are you sure?" Zhander asked, which made me tremble, and tears fell again.

I lowered my head and chewed on my lips before I nodded, unable to say anything more. I was afraid if I open my mouth, cries, and howls would echo in the tense room.

"That’s great, Estela!"

He shouted in pure joy. Couldn’t contain himself, he hugged me, radiating with excitement. He kissed my cheeks before he settled his head on my shoulder, embracing me tight.

I was at a loss for a moment, didn’t know what to say.

"I-I thought . . . you would be mad at me . . . ," I mumbled while my tears never stop pouring, didn’t know if it was relief or my raging hormones. Maybe both while my hands wiped away my tears.

Zhander let me go and squeezed my hands before kissing them. He stared at me, full of love and adoration.

"Why would I be mad at you? The moment I told you I wanted you pregnant, I meant every word of it."

"T-then . . . why didn’t you stop me from those anti-pregnancy injections?"

Zhander smiled and gently wiped away my tears with his hands.

"I thought it is you who didn’t want to get pregnant. I didn’t say anything about it and let you do whatever you please because you’re still too young. I don’t want to restrict your freedom at the moment . . . I want you to enjoy life . . . If anything, it should be I who should ask you if you are mad at me."

I shook my head and hugged him back.

"I’m not mad . . . It’s just . . . I’m . . . I’m scared . . . and anxious . . ."

Zhander rubbed my back. "Shhh . . . I’m scared and anxious too . . . This is our firstborn, after all."

He released me and cupped my cheeks, looking at me full of thoughtfulness.

"But you don’t have to worry. You have me now . . . I’ll be at your side every step of the way."

He then kissed my eyes and forehead.

"I love you, little Stella," he whispered before he kissed my belly. "Thank you for this precious life."

I bit my lips when tears filled my eyes, yet again.

Really, these hormones should tone down a bit.

"I love you too, Zhander . . ."