Chapter 52

Clara's POV

"What?" Mom repeated.

Derek finally registered as he formed a blank expression.

Katy had already vanished as I heard the sound of soft footsteps in the background.

Mom stared at us, her face confused and demanding answers.

"We are having a baby," Derek repeated, this time more softly, his voice filled with uncertainty.

Maybe this was the time that I jumped in. I could say that it was a plant baby that we were getting together with or even a puppy. She would be less opposed to that idea. But Derek beat me to it.

"This was not how I intended for you to find out. I probably should have done things a lot better. The pregnancy came as a surprise to us as well." He continued.

There it was. He had done it.

There was no saving me from this situation now.

I stood my ground, ready to face whatever Mom said next.

I expected her to start shouting or do something that was completely crazy. But instead, she remained frozen as the words slowly sank in.

She had only just met Derek, and she wasn't expecting a grandchild.

She looked terrible, light-headed, and dizzy, as if she was about to faint as she reached her hand for the wall for support.

I had done it, and I was about to kill my mother.

"Mom," I called out, moving to her side.

I tried to help her to her feet, but she quickly recuperated.

"I'm fine," she said, dismissing my help. She stood up straight to demonstrate that she was fine.

Derek and I were now more frightened than ever. She looked well enough to murder the two of us.

"I'm going to go upstairs and pretend none of this happened." She pointed behind her and then slowly walked upstairs, staying close to the wall in case she needed it for support.

She was in her denial phase, which means tomorrow was probably going to be a lot ugly.

It meant that I had the chance to tell her that the whole thing was a prank.

"I messed up, didn't I?" Derek whispered.

He was doing so well. How did it get this bad?

"You should leave right now," I said, pointing to the door.

If I was still alive tomorrow, I was going to strangle him.Before my alarm had a chance to wake me up, it was the loud noises coming from the kitchen that woke me up.

I examined myself for any possible wounds. I was still alive. I wasn't strangled in my sleep, and I had no scars on me. It was a good sign, maybe too good. The fact that I was still alive disobeyed every rule of nature.

Of all the things he could have said. He just had to elaborate that we were having a human baby despite seeing the clear signs on my mom's face that she wasn't happy.

If his face weren't so perfectly symmetrical and handsome, I would have punched him. I thought I had clarified that I didn't want my mom to find out.

She was probably too angry even to get upset.

As always, I had set my alarm for the latest time possible. I rushed to gather my things and leave the house without crossing paths with my mother. Perhaps this morning, she'd finally snap out of it and snap my neck.

She needed a day at least to cool down. If this was her reaction, what would she do when she found out I was lying about the whole thing?

I took a quick shower and then got dressed. I then rushed to the kitchen to grab an apple on my way out. I didn't have time to eat. After last night, I'm not sure I was even hungry.

As I opened the refrigerator, I spotted Mom at the kitchen counter. She was chopping carrots.

"Good morning, sweetheart," she said with a smile.

She startled me as I nearly bumped my head against the refrigerator door.

"Morning," I whispered back.

On the counter, she chopped the carrots aggressively. I could already imagine my head being in its place.

She continued to chop the carrots, smiling as she hummed to herself.

Something was wrong, terribly wrong. I hope she hasn't just returned from murdering Derek.

"Are you okay?" I whispered to her. I remained at a safe distance from her.

"Of course I am," she answered.

She seemed okay, and maybe I didn't have to be on edge around her.

"So, you are not upset?" I asked.

"Why would I be mad?" She asked, placing the knife down. "You know what I always say? A baby is always a blessing." She smiled.

"Really?" I whispered, relieved.

"What were you thinking, Clara?" Mom yelled. She held her hand in front of her mouth as if she was trying to hold back her temper. "After everything I've said to you, you did this. Do you have any idea what it takes to raise a child?" She yelled.

I tried to make my way out of the kitchen, hoping I'd still make it on time for my bus.

"I made breakfast," she breathed more calmly.

"I can't, I'm-m getting late for work." I stuttered. I pointed at the door, ready to make my way out.

"Sit down," Mom demanded. "If your boss had the time to get you pregnant, he can also give you time to eat." She snapped.

Without another word, I sat down.

She placed a plate of toast and scrambled eggs in front of me.

"Maybe if I had fed you, those brain cells of yours would have been working, and you wouldn't be walking around doing stupid things." She said next.

Ouch!

"You are already starving the poor thing. How are you supposed to be a parent?" She said as she poured a glass of orange juice for me.

She slammed the glass before me, giving me a stern look.

Mom returned to chopping her carrots. That was probably the only thing keeping her calm.

"I'm still trying to understand how this could have happened. I talked with you. There are so many stores around that you could have easily gotten protection. How could you be this irresponsible?" She continued. "Just when I thought he could be a decent person." She muttered.

Katy appeared. She looked at Mom, realizing the state she was in. She had turned to leave when Mom stopped her.

"You too, you better sit down." Mom pointed at Katy with the knife.

Katy unwillingly obliqued, pulling out a seat next to me while trying to keep a safe distance from Mom.

"You knew about it this whole time, yet neither of you said anything." Mom pointed at Katy.

She began serving Katy her plate, slamming the dishes against one another.

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't strangle that boy?" Mom asked.

"Giving birth costs thousands these days. You know we can't afford it," Katy stated.

Mom sternly shot Katy as she placed a plate in front of her.

Mom then breathed out, making her way out of the kitchen.

Katy looked around, checking to see if Mom was gone.

"Couldn't you be fake pregnant without getting caught? This is your fault, and Mom will never let me go anywhere again." Katy muttered.

"You mean right after you left me?" I whispered.

"I love you, but I love myself more. I'm not suicidal." She stated. "It's a miracle you are both still breathing. Besides, I wasn't there when you were busy getting fake pregnant."Really?" I whispered. "Well, I'm about to have such a long chat with Mom. Come to think of it, I might say that the reason I got pregnant was because I had so much free time without anyone paying attention to me. You'd be stuck at home for the rest of your life," I replied.

"You wouldn't dare." She whispered and gave me a stern look.

Katy and I both kept quiet as we heard Mom's footsteps.

I rushed to finish the rest of my food as I thought of an excuse for being late for work.

"She beat him up?" Layla laughed. "I wish I had been there to see it." She continued to laugh.