It Started With The Hickeys

The Wright Heir

It's been a couple of months and she had settled down in a decent size apartment. Just a few blocks away from her work.

Finding a job is not a difficult task for her. With her exemplary credentials, any company would certainly hire her.

She has a usual morning, she wakes up early, did her little workout, took a shower, and prepared her breakfast. But aside from what she normally does, she did one exception earlier. And although she has been convincing herself it's unnecessary, her gut feeling won.

"Shit"

Closing her eyes, she gently rubs her face while heaving a deep sigh. Still hoping it's just a dream.

"This should be a dream" She frustratedly whispers while massaging her nape. And before opening her eyes, she takes a very deep breath to calm her nerves.

But no matter how many times she closes and opens her eyes, she was still met with the same outcome.

"Two lines" She weakly whispers. Hopeless that it will still change after the nth time she checks it.

"Why now?"

Sobs rock her shoulders while slumped on her bathroom floor. She has no strength to stand up.

"You're so cruel to me, Mr. Fate" With tears already brimming her eyes, she buries her face in her bended knee as she hugs herself.

Though she can never forget what happened a couple of months ago she was taken aback by its consequences. It's been a week she has been convincing herself she was wrong with her suspicion but the result said otherwise.

She is bearing the fruit of the one night she spent with Xander Wright.

She has been feeling peculiar for weeks now and no matter how she cast aside her qualm, it's quite persistent. So she took the test earlier.

And now, she is staring at the two vivid lines on the kit, yielding positive. She was not convinced with the first one so she took another. A different test kit. But like the first one, the screen is screaming with the word Pregnant.

She is pregnant and no matter how hard she denies it, she knows in her heart she is. Even her body is telling her that another heartbeat is beating inside her.

She's ready for the new chapter of her life, for new adventures and explorations. And whatever happened months ago, she is ready to move on. But this happened.

She takes her time crying until her sobs become chuckles. A tearful chuckle. It's a crazy rough ride for her sanity. But having Xander Wright's child inside her gave her unexplainable joy and fear.

She fears the unknown but at the same time fascinates her. The thrill of discovering and quelling uncertainty is what excites her tedious life. The adventures, regardless of how impossible are the main reason why she left her farm life. Despite her love and respect for her family and ancestors, she chooses to chase her dream and left the kind of life their forefather has bestowed on them.

Yes, she's young to be a mother but she will strive to be the best for her unborn. She will tread a different path together with her child.

Gently, she caresses her still-flat stomach. Her heart is filled with overwhelming mixed emotions. Fear, uncertainty, excitement, and happiness.

"Mama's here my little one" With fat tears streaming down her cheeks, she whispers while smiling.

"Mama will take care of you" she added while curled on the floor. Hugging herself while crying.

She cries for the wonderful gift fate has given her. She cries because she would be alone in this plight and it would not be easy. She cries from the uncertainty that her unborn might not know its father. She cries because of the unfathomable happiness she feels in her heart. But most of all she cries because she will be a mother.

And indeed pregnancy was not an easy plight. Especially if you're alone.

Her morning sickness started and she has no one to comfort her. Loneliness slaughters her sanity and no one is there to calm her. Insecurity is eating her confidence and no one is there to hug or assure her.

However, she endures. She surpasses all the hardships. Even the curiosity of people who talk behind her back.

She walks confidently with her huge baby bump without minding the hushed murmurs following her. She just wants to work to earn her living and whatever people are saying doesn't affect her.

She chooses not to be affected. After all, she has no plans of staying. Once she gives birth to her son, she will leave again. She will start anew where no one knows about her and her son's existence.

"You're going home now, Skye?" Lily, her colleague who somehow becomes close to her, asks when she saw her stand up and pick up her bag.

They still have ten minutes until clock out. And seeing her prepare to leave is quite odd. She has been so dedicated with work that she never left early except for days when she's not feeling well.

"Yes, I'll be going first, Lily" She smiles while wearing her coat.

"Can't you wait a little more, I will just finish this and we could leave together. Let's grab some dinner" Lily turns her chair to face her.

"I can wait but this little fellow here, cannot" Pointing at her bump, she chuckles.

"What do you mean?" Suddenly worried, Lily's eyes widen.

"I think, my little buddy will be coming out soon. Very soon" Still calm despite the nagging pain she had endured the whole day, she smiles.

"Skye is about to give birth!" Abruptly, Lily stands up and announces to everyone in the room.

Every one of her colleagues knew she is living alone. And despite her constant refusal for their help they had been trying to assist her in any way they can.

"We need to bring you to the hospital" Lily exclaims while collecting her stuff.

"I'll drive you there. Where's your key?" Adrian, another of her friend came closer with an open palm. Asking for her car key.

"I'll be fine. I can still drive myself to the hospital. Just finish your work first. Then you can visit me later" As usual, she refuses.

"Are you for real?" Aghast, Lily incredulously raves while she just chuckles.

"You're about to give birth, Skye. It's fine to be calm, but you're acting way too calm. It's kinda bothering" Josie interjected, incredulous.

"But I'm really fine. It's still not that painful" she explains with a smile. Which is true. She is sure she could even drive herself to the hospital.

Whilst their argument, Adrian grabs her car key and Lily takes hold of her arm. So she has no choice but to let them bring her to the car. And she was thankful they insist.

The pain is getting intense and she might put herself and her baby in danger if she insisted to go alone.

Birthing has always been scary for soon-to-be mothers, but Skye was never scared. She has been ready for whatever pain she will encounter ever since she discovered she was expecting.

After a couple of hours of rest, she is now ready to face the world with a sleeping baby boy already in her loving arms.

"Xander Nicolo Monticello" she whispers while caressing her son's still wrinkled face.

"It's just you and me little buddy. But it's fine, we can do this" With a tearful smile, she continues. She is alone with her newborn as she requested.

Indeed, she has no one. But she doesn't mind. It's her choice and she will make it through.

She is enjoying her quiet time with her son when her phone sounded, receiving a call. Carefully, she answers after taking a deep breath.

"Hello, Papa" Her voice is hoarse, and almost trembles after hearing the familiar person from the other line.

"How are you my Cielo?"

"Uhm, I'm great. I'm busy with work lately" She replies while trying to contain from bursting to cry after hearing her father.

"Your mama told me you can't go home for the holidays?"

"Uhm, yes papa. I'm new to the company and I only got short days to spend the holiday" Despite the tears streaming down her face, she tries not to quiver.

"We could visit you, instead" Her father suggested.

"No, Papa." She suddenly exclaims.

"What I mean... I'm always on the field. I cannot spend time with you. I will try to go home once I got a long vacation leave" she readily explains, afraid her papa would hint at something.

"You okay, my Cielo? You sound distressed. You go home if that company is giving you a headache. You don't need to work" Worry laces her father's voice like her mother's when they talk the other day.

"I'm great, Papa. And my company is treating me well. Don't worry. I'm just so happy to hear your voice, I can't help crying. I miss you so much" It was not a lie. Hearing her parent's voices always bring tears, especially now that she becomes a mother without their knowledge.

Her tearful eyes tenderly watch her sleeping baby in her arms. If only she could tell him about her newborn. But it's still not the time. She promised to be someone they could be proud of. And that's what she will strive for despite her unexpected pregnancy.

"I will come home soon. Please stay healthy. Don't exhaust yourself too much working on the farm" she makes her voice chirpy as she used to.

She is a mess for crying but she never wanted her parents to know her struggle. Whatever choices she made together with all the consequences, it's all for her to deal with alone.

"Please come home if you can my little Cielo. We all miss you" her father's quivering voice adds to the anguish and guilt she feels.

"I will papa. And for a thousandth time, I'm no longer little. I'm a grown-up woman now" Pouting, she whines but she only got a chuckle from her father.

"You will always be our little Cielo. No debate about that" he insisted, making her playfully groan.

"I love you, Papa. I miss you" chuckling, she said instead of arguing with him.

"Go home soon, please. It's been a year since you've been away from home" His voice quivers. She knows her father is also controlling his tears.

"I will, Papa. I got to go. Please take care. Bye," she hung up after hearing her father's farewell.

After talking to her father, she snuggles her face close to her baby. Filling her lungs with his scent while she whimpers her sobs.

It's been a roller coaster of emotions since she got pregnant. The journey is quite rough but she made it through. And she is now holding her mistake but the greatest gift life could offer her.

"I'm sorry, my little dove. Mama can't show you to anyone yet. Please forgive me" she bitterly whispers while showering him with tender kisses. The little man would slightly squirm before going back to sleep again.

Guilt has been consuming her conscience for not being able to bring him home to her family. But keeping him a secret is the best way she has right now.

She's miles away that even her family doesn't know where she is. But she knows she can't hide for long. She needs to regain her strength so she could face her new life with her son.

Staring at her sleeping angel, she took a very deep breath. How could she deny the truth?

"The Wright blood is so superior. As early as your birth, it's evident you bear your father's genes" she whispers while caressing his tiny prominent nose.

"We need to be as far as we can from all the Wrights, my little dove" she added despite the heaviness in her chest.

"No one must know you are a Wright heir"

****tbc****