Chapter 8- Telling Everyone

Amaija

“Are you sure about this?” Brin asks. I nod as we scan through pages of information about sperm donation. Krystel emailed me a couple of days ago. It’s been two weeks since I’ve decided I wanted to have a baby. So far, I’ve only told Brin.

“I’m positive, Brin; stop asking.” She sighs.

  “And what if you meet Mr. Right, but you’re pregnant by some stranger?” she prompts.

“If he’s Mr. Right, he won’t care,” I respond.

“What man wouldn’t... Frederico!” Brin calls her fiance, who pops his head out of the kitchen.

“Si Belleza (yes beauty)” He comes in and kisses her long, passionate kiss. Why did I even come here? I should have told Zara we could wallow with ice cream and N*****x in our singleness.

  “Miele (honey), would you care if I was pregnant by another man when you met me?”

“Of course not, Belleza. You are my soulmate. Even if you were pregnant, you were mine.”

“ahh,” Brin says before they kiss again.

I roll my eye; ugh, they go again. I should have told Zara. “Can you two stop that!”

“Stop what?” Brin pulls away, confused.

“Sucking face. I’m here for your help.”

“Sweetie, are you sure you wouldn’t prefer if we set you up? I know a lot of hot actors.”

“I am positive I do not want one of those narcissists you work with.”

“Just because they are attractive does not make them narcissists.”

“Have you forgotten? I met them when we were shooting the video game. I call them narcissists because they are, plus they aren’t my type.” She frowns and rolls her eyes as Frederico sits beside me.

“Have you started looking for an umm.. specimen yet?” he asks me.

“It’s sperm Frederico, and no, I should start this week,”

“Aren’t you going to tell mom and dad first? Or Jaden?” Brin asks again.

“Mom will try to talk me out of it. She’ll want me to wait for the one. She doesn’t understand that everyone doesn’t meet the love of their lives at 18 years old,” I tell them. Mom believes in true love because she found it with dad, so she won’t agree to me having a baby by a stranger. “I won’t tell her until I’m at least a month along.”

“Okay, I get that logic, but Oni Chan,”

“He’s in Ireland with dad; I’ll tell him once he’s back. Are you coming to the sperm bank with me?”

 “It’s like going shopping for a kid. It feels so impersonal. Are you sure?”

“Yes, for the hundredth time, I’m sure. I have thought this through, and I have wanted nothing more than this baby. I would love your support, but you don’t have to come if you don’t want to.”

“No, no, I’ll come.”

   “Great, if all goes well, I’ll be pregnant in a couple of months. I’m so excited,” I do a little shimmy. I can’t wait to watch my stomach grow and the new baby smell. I know it will be hard alone, but holding my little one will be worth it.

  “Aren’t you afraid of losing this one, too?” Frederico asks me, sucking the air out of my lungs.

“Frederico!” Brin stops him

“Uh, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean it like that; it’s just you lost the last…” he tries to explain, but it only makes it worst.

“Honey, shut up. I’m sorry, Onee Chan,” Brin is now apologizing on behalf of him.

“No, it’s fine. I lost a child a year ago. Improper implantation of the egg in my uterine lining caused my miscarriage. It’s rare, so the doctors don’t believe it’s likely to happen again,” I tell them. I’m a little peeved to whoever asks someone that question.

“I’m sorry I wasn’t thinking,” Frederico apologizes again/

“Yet you still spoke.” Brin glares at him. I don’t want to be the reason they are fighting. “I should go,” I tell them.

“No, you shouldn’t, Frederico….” Brin stops me.

“I don’t want to be the reason you guys are fighting,”

“You aren’t. We are fighting because he said something insensitive.”

  “I’m sorry, Ami, I shouldn’t have brought it up,” he apologizes for the third time.

“It’s okay; I accept your apology. Now, will you guys kiss and make up,” I tell them.

Brin huffs and folds her hands as Rico looks at her with puppy dog eyes. “Belleza, I’m sorry, forgive me.”

“I don’t want to.” Brin is defiant. He sits beside her. She shifts away.

“Belleza, I was wrong, please; please me,” Rico begs. He hugs her. She doesn’t pull away. He kisses her neck, and you can see her icy exterior melting. He nibbles on her neck, and I look on; okay, I know where this is going. I stand and gather all my pamphlets and printouts.

“I’m going to go.”

“No, you don’t have to,” Brin as she moans.

“Yup, see yah,” I reply as I hurry to the door and slip out before she can say another word or make another sound.

I make my way to my car, about to go home, but I remember Zara telling me to come over today. It’s her day off. I look at the time on my watch, 2:00 pm; she should be up and functioning. So  I change directions to Brooklyn. Thirty minutes later, I pull up to her brownstone.

I spot two cars parked out front. I recognize Zara’s car. The other looks like Jaden's car, but he should be in Ireland. Did Zara get a new car or a new man? Curious, I grab my baby files and head for the door. I ring the bell. I can hear it ringing through the house, but no one answers. So I ring it again, and it’s the same thing. Maybe she’s sleeping and didn’t hear it. Zara is notorious for being a heavy sleeper. She could probably sleep through explosives going off and not wake.

I walk back to the first plant on the step and feel around the soil. Finally, my hand grabs metal. I pull the key out victoriously and walk back to the door. I enter the house; loud music is playing, so that’s why she couldn’t hear me. I head towards the stairs. I have only been here twice, so the house isn’t too familiar, but I know her bedroom is on the second floor. I go upstairs, listening as the music streams through the house.

That’s odd. Zara isn’t into music. I have only ever seen her play sad songs after breakups. We both weren’t into music growing up. Even now, I only play it if I’m having people over. Zane loves it. He’ll blast it all the time. That is why I lived with mom and dad after the miscarriage. That may have been a misstep. Loud music is undoubtedly better than catching your parents having sex. I groan as the images come to mind.

“Ugh,” I mumble as I approach her door. I push it open.

“Zara...”

I stand frozen as I watch what looks like my brother on top of my best friend. When did this happen? I didn’t even know he liked her? Isn’t he supposed to be in Ireland? They don’t even notice me standing there. I walk to her beat speakers and turn them off. Jaden looks up.

“What...”He flies off her.

“Hi Oni Chan, I see you’ve been busy,” I sarcastically greet him.

“I forgot you were coming today,” Zara tells me.

“Clearly, you had other things on your mind or in your hands,” I chuckle as she covers herself.

“Ami, this isn’t what it looks like...” Jaden begins.

“Looks like you two were having sex. I’ll be downstairs. So you can finish up.” I chuckle as I leave. I’m happy Jaden finally started dating seriously. He’s been a man whore long enough, and now I can finally stop hearing about her crush on him. It’s a win, win, except I no longer have a single girlfriend to hate on all the annoying couples in our families.

Fifteen minutes later, they finally join me in the living room as I sip a glass of wine I found in Zara’s wine cooler. I’m going to be pregnant soon. I’m going to drink as much as I can. They sit on the sofa before nervously eyeing me, not saying a word.

“So, how long has this been going on?” I inquire. I do not have an issue with them getting together, but it would have been nice if they had told me.

“Nine months. Jaden came over one night, and one thing led to another, and we….” Zara says.

 “He ended up on top; I get it. But, Oni Chan, aren’t you supposed to be in Ireland with dad?”

“We came back this morning,” he responds.

“Oh, and the first thing you do is find Zara’s bed. Aren’t you just like dad? I bet he and mom are. Okay, let’s not think about those two. So you’ve been hiding this from me for nine months, Oni Chan?” I scold him.

“I’m sorry we didn’t tell you; you’ve been in a f**k relationships kind of mood lately,” he tells me. But, I mean, what can they expect? My last one ended terribly.

“It’s fine. I am happy for you two. Just make sure I’m the maid of honor at the wedding.”

“Wedding? Woah, Woad, wedding? We are just having fun,” Zara exclaims.

   “Yeah, we’re just having fun, no commitment, no promises of love, just hot, passionate sex.” Jaden agrees. What, just sex? She couldn’t possibly want just sex. She has had a crush on him. Is she being honest with herself about what she wants? Well, she looks happy, so I guess I am too if she's okay.

“Okay, it’s your life.”

“Ami, please don’t tell anyone,” Zara tells me.

“Yeah, you know them, especially mom. She’ll be planning the wedding and grandbabies by tomorrow.”’ Jaden adds.

“I can’t believe a momma’s boy is keeping things from his mother.”

“I’ll tell her if it gets serious, but for now.”

“Fine, if that is what you want... speaking of babies, I’m going to have one,” I announce to them.

  “What?”

“What?” they both shout at the same time.

“You’re pregnant? Who’s the asshole this time? I didn’t get to punch Xoi in his face. I promise it won’t happen again. Who is it?” Jaden demands to know. He has always been super protective of me. Especially since I always fall for assholes.

“Oni Chan, calm down. There is no asshole, and I’m not pregnant.”

“But you just..”

“I’m going to have a baby, yes, meaning I intend to,” I explain. They both furrow their brows, confused.

“I’m going to get a sperm donor.”

That’s...” Zara seems to be at a loss for words.

“No, no, no... hell no,” Jaden shouts as if he is putting his foot down.

“I’m a grown woman Zane; I can make my own decisions. So who are you to tell me no?”

“But, Imoto... “he objects.

“No buts, I’m doing it, and I need your support,” I tell him.

He comes over and wraps his arms around me. “I love you, and I support your decision if you are certain.”

“I am.”

“Are you sure you’re not doing this because you’re afraid of committing again?” he asks me.

“I am afraid of commitment and getting hurt again. I trusted Xoi, and he shattered that trust, maybe my ability to trust any man again. But I wanted that baby Zane, I wanted it badly, and I lost it. I want this baby more than anything.” My eyes tear up a bit. Zara sits beside me and hugs me as well.

“We’re here for you, Ami, and we’ll support you,” she tells me.

“We love you, sis, so if this is what you want, then I’m ready to be the best uncle ever,” I smile, pulling away.

“Thank you, guys,” I tell them.

“No problem, anything we can do to help?” Zara asks. I wipe my eyes and nod, so happy for their support.

“I’m going, uh... sperm shopping, this week with Brin. Can you come?”

“Sure, sweetie, just tell me the time and the place, and I’ll help you pick out the best jizz they got in the place.” I smile as they both hug me.

"I'm going to be a mommy."

"You'll be a great one," Jaden affirms me.

"I know. I can't wait."