| Fan Fiction |
by kglove
“Wow, that was real quick baby. Did you even…” she stopped when she turned around and saw Gerald holding the plastic from the drug store.
“Why do you have this?” he held out a pregnancy test kit.
“No reason.” Kim walked over to where Gerald was standing and tried to take it away from Gerald’s hands but he wouldn’t let go.
“Kim, are you pregnant?”
“I don’t know, I'm not sure yet. I was about to do the test when you arrived. I didn’t tell you because I wanted to be sure first. But I have been experiencing dizziness, upset stomach, and my monthly period is delayed for two weeks now.”
“How can you be pregnant? We’ve been careful.” Panic evident in Gerald’s voice.
“Maybe we slipped.”
“Kim, you cannot be pregnant.” Gerald sat down on the bed.
She held his hand as she sat down beside Gerald. “Baby, it’s okay. I'm scared too.”
Gerald yanked his hands away from Kim and walked over to the other side of the bed. “No, you don’t understand Kim. You can’t be pregnant now. We’re not ready for this. I’M not ready for this.”
“I know that, but we’re going to get through this together.”
“We should have been more careful. This can’t be happening right now.” He was pacing around the room.
“WILL YOU STOP SAYING THAT?” Kim glared at him. “This is your fault as much as it is mine.”
“What are the chances that you are indeed pregnant? You’ve been delayed before, haven’t you?”
“Really, Gerald, I'm not hearing this right now. And anyway, if I am in fact pregnant, we don’t really have a choice about this. We are responsible for the consequences of our actions. Well, at least that’s what we told our parents when we told them that we are moving in together.”
“Of course, we have a choice.”
“What exactly do you mean by that, huh, Gerald?”
“Well, I'm just saying we do have an option.”
Kim was rendered speechless by Gerald’s statement. She stared at him for the longest time and could not believe that he can suggest something like that. Gerald didn’t seem to notice Kim’s aggravation with what he just said for he was still walking back and forth.
“Baby, can you please do the pregnancy test right now so we can be sure. We need to make a decision.”
Gerald was stunned when he felt Kim’s hand on his face.
“Aw! What the hell was that for?”
“There is no decision to be made because I would never ever agree to whatever murderous thought you have on your mind. If you don’t want it, fine. But if I am pregnant, I am not going to get rid of it regardless of you being around or not.”
“Kim…”
“You know what Gerald, we have been together for so long but I can’t believe that I am clearly seeing you for who you really are for the first time.” Kim picked up the pregnancy test that Gerald dropped on the floor and went straight to the bathroom and locked the door.
She slumped on the floor as soon as she was inside. She couldn’t believe the way Gerald reacted to the possibility of her being pregnant. What made the feeling worse was that he was even suggesting that they have an abortion just because he is not ready to be a father just yet. She cried for several minutes before she was able to will herself to do the test.
Meanwhile, Gerald was sitting by the bathroom door with his head on his hands. He felt stupid for his behavior earlier. He knows he hurt Kim’s feelings but the thought of having a child at this point was too much to handle for him. Realizing that Kim had been in there for a long time, he pressed his ears against the bathroom door and heard Kim crying. He sighed and held the knob before letting it go and sat on the bed instead.
After waiting for almost half an hour, the door opened. Gerald immediately stood up and looked at Kim whose eyes were all puffy from crying. She handed the pregnancy test to Gerald.
“It’s negative. You could breathe now.” Kim said without looking at Gerald before she went out of their room.
Gerald immediately followed Kim and hugged her from behind. Kim stood there and fresh tears fell from her eyes the moment he touched her.
“Kim, I'm so sorry. I feel terrible for what I said. Please, forgive me.” He was also crying, kissing the back of Kim’s head.
“I don’t know what to say, Gerald.”
“Just please say that we’re going to be okay.”
“I'm not sure I could say that right now. I need to time to think.”
Gerald’s hug tightened. “Baby, please. I don’t want to lose you. I love you so much.”
Closing her eyes amidst all the tears, she gathered all the strength left and pulled his hands away from her body and walked away from him. She stopped by the door and turned around to face him.
“I love you too, Gerald, but at this point I don’t know if that is enough to make this relationship work. What happened today was really hard for me and I know it is for you as well. It would probably be for the best if we give each other some space.”
“Kim, I don’t want space. I want you.” Gerald took a step towards Kim but she raised a hand to stop him.
“Please Gerald; it’s what I want from you right now.”
“Can we talk about what happened first before you make a decision?”
“We will talk but not now. We’re both emotional and we just might make a decision that we will regret.”
Gerald sighed in frustration but nodded. “Okay, I’ll give you your space but promise me that you’ll come back to me.”
Kim didn’t answer and just smiled weakly instead. “I have to go.”
“Kim.” She stopped and turned her head towards his direction. “I’ll be right here waiting for you.”
Afraid that she will not be able to leave once she saw the remorse on Gerald’s eyes, Kim looked away and closed the door.
***
Kim stayed with Cathy for the next few days. She avoided seeing him at work and goes to their apartment when she’s sure that he already left so she can get clothes. Gerald calls and texts her everyday but she hasn’t responded to any one of them.
“Girl, until when are you planning to keep this up?” Cathy asked her one night while they were having dinner.
“I don’t know, Cathy. I miss him but I'm not sure if I'm ready to face him.”
“I can’t blame you for feeling that way but you have to give the guy some credit. He sends flowers every single day. He calls you, me and my house everyday even though he knows you will not talk to him. Maybe he’s really sorry for what he said and did, which he should be anyway. He screwed up big time. I never saw that coming from him. I would have kicked his ass if I saw him the same day you told me about it.”
“Yeah, that’s the reason why I didn’t tell you right away. I know you’d be mad at him, even more than I was, especially if you saw me crying my heart out.” Kim laughed.
“The guy hurts you so bad yet you can even think of protecting him against me.” Cathy snorted.
“Sis, I just don’t want to add fuel to the fire, so to speak. If you get mad at him, Xian will be mad at him as well. You know how your boyfriend mirrors your feelings sometimes even if he doesn’t really agree with you. He’s just avoiding an argument.”
“Hey, that is not true. Xian has his own way of thinking and it just so happens that we think the same way most of the time.”
“Right.”
“Don’t change the topic. We’re talking about you and Gerald here.”
Kim sighed. “I’ll talk to him tomorrow.”
“You should. The sooner you resolve your issues, the better. Think about all the years that you spent together. It would be a shame if you throw it all away just like that.”
***
Gerald just finished washing the dishes and was startled when he saw Kim enter the apartment and closed the door. He immediately run to hug her and only to let her go when he realized she wasn’t responding.
“Sorry. I'm just so happy to see you. I missed you.”
Kim walked past him and set her bag on the sofa. “I think it’s about time we talk about what happened the other day.”
Gerald sat on the chair opposite Kim. He took a deep breath. “Kim, baby, I'm really, really sorry. I know words aren’t enough to express how truly sorry I am. But if you give me one more chance, I’ll be a better man.”
Kim fidgeted with her hands and avoided looking at him. She was afraid to even glance at him. “Gerald, what happened the other day really hurt me. We always talk about getting married, raising a family and growing old together. I never expected you to react the way you did. I understand that you were scared out of your mind because I was. You know what really set me off?” Kim gazed at him for the first time. “It was your idea that we have an abortion.”
“Kim.” Gerald went over to where Kim was sitting and knelt in front of her. “That is the most ill-advised thought I ever had in my entire life. I panicked. Yes, I have always wanted to marry you and have kids. Don’t ever doubt that even for a second.”
“I haven’t, but you did.”
“No, Kim, listen to me…” Gerald pleaded.
“Gerald, I don’t know how to move on in this relationship after what happened. No matter how hard I try to forget, at the end of the day that is all I can think about. I can’t even look at you in the eye without feeling betrayed.”
“Tell me what I can do to make that feeling go away. Anything.” Gerald buried his head on his hands, crying.
“Gerald…”
To her surprise, he grabbed her and hugged her tightly. “Please, Kim, give our relationship another chance. I promise to make up for all my shortcomings. Just don’t leave me. Please.”
Kim’s resolve softened as she felt Gerald’s fear of losing her. She eventually raised her hands which were on her sides and hugged him back. Feeling Kim’s touch, Gerald cupped her face.
“Thank you. This means a lot to me, Kim. I love you so much.” He kissed Kim’s forehead and hugged her again.