Chapter 2 Misery

“What are you talking about, Seth?” asked Edith.

"Both of you. You and the baby who are in your womb right now."

Like being struck by lightning at the day, that's Edith felt at this moment. She assumed that what she had just heard was wrong. She closed her eyes and took a deep breath. Thinking hard to digest all these situation. Edith opened her eyes and asked, "I thought you were wrong, Seth! I'm not pregnant. So I ask you, do you want to set me up again?"

Seth shook his head and looked back with a look of sincerity at Edith. She became a different person at this time. But Edith remained vigilant, she didn't want to fall into the same pit twice.

"I only found out today. The doctor just told me what happened to you. You are pregnant and your gestational age is nine months at this time."

"This doesn't make sense. The doctor must be wrong! How could this happened?"

"Edith, wait! Goddamn it!"

Edith hurried to leave the infirmary. She ignored the voice calling her. She wanted to run as far as possible to forget what she had just heard. She returned to her classroom and grabbed her backpack violently. She didn't care about the female students who saw her already flushed and tearful face. To hell with all that, she just wanted to go out of this place.

Edith held her stomach, which was now hungry. She wanted steak like the one served by the school cafeteria. She took a wallet from inside her bag and checked the contents.

She decided to buy burgers sold at roadside stands. A burger that is not as expensive as steak, so she can still save her money. Edith walked up to the burger vendor's stand and looked at the menu on the board.

"I want one big BBQ beef burger, please!" said Edith.

The cashier gave Edith a quick look, then refocused on the monitor screen in front of him.

His hand moved quickly pressing on the menu of the food that Edith was ordering.

"Eat here or takeaway, miss?" the cashier looked at Edith back.

"Just take it away!"

"Any more extras, drink?"

"No, just burgers."

"Okay, 2 pounds!"

Edith took out a 5-pound sheet from her wallet. She handed the money to the cashier and the cashier deftly processed Edith's order on his monitor screen.

"This is the change, miss. Please wait for the order!" the cashier reviewed the smile on his face.

Edith waited on the front bench of the stand. Her gaze fell on the car directly stopped in front of the stand. She watched carefully the car in front of her. It seemed that she knew the car that had just stopped. From the car came out a handsome brown-haired guy. Edith widened her eyes, she didn't expect that she would meet that guy here.

"Seth?"

The guy just smiled crookedly, he took Edith's hand and pulled her to walk towards his car.

"What are you doing, Seth?"

"Come with me, Edith! Don't refute!"

His voice was full of firmness. He didn't seem to want to be refuted at this time. Edith decided to obey the guy. She didn't want to be the subject of people's spectacle when she argued with Seth in this place. But Edith felt confused and annoyed, what burger she had ordered?

"I'm waiting for my order. I have already paid for it!"

"Go inside! I'll get your order, wait!"

Seth only said briefly. He opened the door for Edith and closed it again. Seth makes a quick move to the stand and picks up Edith's burger. Once the bag containing the burger was in his hand, Seth rushed towards his car. Seth opened the steering door and closed it again. He approached Edith to fasten the seat belt to her.

"I can do it myself!"

Seth pulled his body away from Edith. He released the handbrake and drove the car over. His gaze was already focused on the highway in front of him.

"Where are exactly we going?"

They were already in the car back and there was no meaningful conversation. The atmosphere was so awkward, that Seth opened his voice, "I'll take you home."

"How do you know my home through this way?"

Edith became suspicious. She never told any of the students who attended Abberforth where she lived. Edith felt like she was being stalked at this moment. She stared at Seth fiercely, but the guy remained calm as Edith greeted him like that.

"I just know."

Edith became annoyed at the answer coming out of the guy's mouth. Now she wants to ask for an explanation. While she had the energy to argue with Seth.

"Explain to me everything, Seth!"

Seth pulled his car over on the side of the road. He looked at Edith and said, "I found out about it about a month ago, because I was curious. I once followed you when you came home from school."

"All of the things!"

"Okay, all right. That night, when we did it. The part where I got drunk and went into the room. It was an accidental thing. My friends and I were doing a game and I lost. The losing player had to obey all the wishes of the winner and I became drunk because of it. My friends let me into that room and afterward, I thought you still remember."

Edith clenched her jaw, her hands were already clenched into fists but she still held back. She still wanted to hear an explanation from the man.

“At that time I did see you and although I was drunk I did it consciously. Half of my brain is still working normally, the alcohol just makes me more aggressive."

Seth stopped his remarks. He glanced at Edith briefly, the girl's face was already tense and flushed from holding back anger.

"The next morning when I woke up. I remembered the incident, so I searched for information about you, but my friends shut it down and I finally let it all go. But things were different about a month ago when I saw you running for committee chairman. I saw you go up to the podium and finally, I thought of you and the night we were together. From then on, I followed you silently. I'm sorry, Edith."

Edith just kept silent, she held back her tears from falling. She wanted to hit the man, but she knew it was useless and just wasted her energy. She wanted to talk but his throat choked, unable to make a sound.

"I will be responsible. You are pregnant and the child in your womb is my child. I have confirmed it with Doctor Stanley. He told me all about your pregnancy and the steps that need to be done. So from this moment on I will take care of you two."

"Why me? You're such an asshole, Seth!"

Seth felt awry. Edith was already sobbing because of her. He also knew that he had to take care of Edith's emotions at this time. He took Edith's hand and clasped it, hoping to calm the girl down.

"Do you know? I really hate you, Seth. I feel like a fool at this moment. You always casually play tricks on others. With my circumstances like this, how can I go to school?"

"I know that, but I will try to change. Regarding school, I will discuss it with my parents. I beg you to wait a moment. I will try so that you can still stay in school."

"I'm so pathetic." Edith covered her face with both hands.

"No, Edith! Don't talk like that! I will try my best for both of you."

"With what? With your arrogant, huh?"

Hearing Edith's words just now made Seth feel regretful. He is indeed a hooligan who likes to act as he pleases in the past and Edith is one of them, although he does not directly do it. It was all the work of his friends.

"I regret what I did to you, Edith, and now I'm trying to make up for it."

"And now you're making me really miserable, Seth. I am the only mistake for you, asshole!"

Edith had already unfastened her seat belt and opened the door. She got out of the car and galloped away. Edith didn't realize that she was on an alternative road, they were crossing the forest at this time!