49. You can't like me.

BETH.

"That points to the fact that the baby in you belongs to me," Tony said to me.

I wanted to speak, but no words came out of my mouth. I wanted to deny what he had just said, but I just couldn't do it. It was his baby and he needed to know, as the father. If anything goes wrong in the future, it would be easier for me when Tony already knows. If I didn't tell him now, it would be two against one. That's Lara and Tony against me.

I sighed and sat on the sofa next to her, and then she spoke. "Fine, it's your baby, okay? But this mustn't be known to anyone, especially Lara. She'd be so hurt to find out she was being cheated on, and it would even hurt her more to know that her best friend is carrying her boyfriend's baby." I explained.

"But that's my baby too, Beth. Sooner or later, she'd find out about it," he said to me. "And the point of correction, she wasn't cheated on. It was after she ditched me on our wedding day that we had a thing. And it wasn't even intentional."

"But she won't understand that, she won't. And she won't take it lightly as well. But as long as nobody tells her, she won't know anything about it. So, let's just keep this a secret between us, okay?" I said to him. It's taking everything in me to beg him not to tell her. I've known Lara for years and I can easily tell that she wouldn't take it lightly if she heard about it. I just didn't know what to do, so I felt it was the right thing to let him know.

Instead of saying something about what I had just said, he stood there staring at me intently and I also stared back. When he eventually spoke, he said something I hadn't planned to hear in years. It came as a shock to me, and I couldn't believe my ears. "I like you, Beth," he said. From the look on his face, I could tell that he was being sincere, but I just couldn't bring myself to believe he had just said that to me.

"Uhm, I… ehn…" my voice trailed off as I started to look everywhere in the room except his face. My heart had begun to beat extremely fast by now.

He chuckled, probably noticing how uncomfortable I was. Then he walked up to me and sat beside me. He turned to face me, but I turned away immediately. I stood up from my seat and headed to the television. "Uhm, do you want me to switch it on for you?" I asked him, trying to change the topic of discussion to something else. "Supersport, yeah? Isn't that what you boys watch?" I asked again as I began to search for the remote control.

He chuckled again and said, "no matter how much you run or try to change the topic, I'll still say what I have to."

I stopped in my tracks and turned to face him from where I was standing in front of the television, while he was still seated on the sofa. "Tony, please, let's say—"

"I like you, Beth. I have feelings for you and I can't explain it. I know it would sound stupid right now since I'm dating your friend and she's carrying my baby, but that doesn't stop me from saying the truth about my heart," he said and stood up from the chair. He then walked up to me. Standing right in front of me with little distance between us, I was beginning to feel my hands getting sweaty. "And I know you also feel the same way for me as well." He said to me as he touched my chin and lifted my head upwards a bit.

"Tony—" I was about to speak when he crashed his lips on mine. I wanted it, I wanted the kiss badly but I knew at that moment that the best thing for me to do was to push him away. Immediately, I pushed him away and he staggered backwards. I stared at him, feeling a bit of guilt that I cannot even explain. "I'm sorry, but you can't like me. Please, focus on your girlfriend. I don't want a situation whereby this will affect my friendship. I love my friend so much more than to let that happen." I let out a sigh before repeating, "I'm sorry."

"What are you sorry for?" He asked me, his hands folded and him staring at me like he was going to pierce my soul with his eyes.

I thought about it too, but I didn't know what I was apologizing for. I felt it was only right to do so. Besides, he's right. I have feelings for him too, but I couldn't let that suffice. I would rather let go of what I have for him, including the baby than ruin the friendship I've been maintaining for years.

"You should leave, Tony," I said to him. "And also, I don't think I've asked for any favour from you before, but I'm about to do so now."

"Okay?" He asked, folding his arms and looking at me with a serious look on his face.

"Uhm, you need to first promise that you would do what I'm asking for," I said to him.

He rolled his eyes at me before replying. "Yeah, whatever. I promise."

"Thank you. I need you not to claim this baby," I said and touched my stomach. He was about to speak, but I beat him to it. "Just do this for me, please. It's the only thing we can both do right now to protect ourselves and the friendship between us, including the relationship between you and Lara."

"Beth, that's—"

"You love Lara, don't you?" I asked him. I knew what the answer was, but I wanted him to say it to my face.

"That's not the situation at the moment, Beth."

"Just answer me. You love her, don't you?"

"I do, but I also—"

"That's it. It's not very sane to feel for two best friends at the same time. Just stick to her and let's act like this whole thing never happened. I'll rather become a single mother than tell her who the father is. So, please, let's both act like today never happened." I said to him, but it sounded more like I was begging him.

"Whatever makes you sleep at night." He said and walked past me, heading to the door. "I just hope this doesn't cause more problems in the future," he added before turning the doorknob and walking out of the house, slamming the door shut behind him.

I sighed as I jumped on the sofa close to me. "What have I done?" I muttered to myself as I traced my lips, which he had kissed earlier on.