92
*May 2018*
Melanie’s p. o. v
It was the night my favourite K-pop boy band had their first concert in NYC. I have been a fan of theirs since their debut and I’ve always been waiting for a day I’d finally get to meet them.
It was during my final year in school, a time when students used to get serious with their studies. I couldn’t just stay at the hostel knowing my favourite idol was having a concert in my vicinity.
No fangirl would do such a thing!
I packed up my bag, filled it with my merch and dragged Kayla with me as we made our way to the arena. Kayla wasn’t a fan of them she knew nothing about these guys. But because she was an overprotective friend, she decided to accompany me to the arena.
We got there right on time and I watched the guys walk up to the stage in their glory; it was a beautiful sight to behold.
The audience roared in excitement, waving their merch in the air as the boys started to sing. I sang along with them as I felt their songs ease my stressed soul. I thought it would be the best night of my life, not knowing it would be the opposite later.
It was a long night and we were served soju after the concert ended. I couldn’t say no since it was a token of ‘thank you’ from the idols.
Kayla was against it, saying we should heed back to the hostel since it was already late. I jerked off my shoulder from her grip and went up to a group of girls that were drinking by their table.
Nothing beat having a drink with a crazy fan like yourself.
Kayla left me and heed back to the hostel on her own since she was feeling like an outcast and she was also having an early morning class the following day. I drank with the girls, not noticing the absence of my dear friend until I felt my eyes giving up on me. I stood up from the seat and left for the restroom.
It’s funny but I don’t know anything around there.
I have no idea where my legs took me. Initially, I wanted to get to the restroom, do my business and go back to the girls but I couldn’t find my way around there. I was too drunk and I found myself in front of a room that didn’t look anything like a restroom. At first, I felt like turning around and heading back outside, but I couldn’t hold back the pee. Instead, I decided to go in and let it out.
I found the handle, twist the doorknob and went inside the room. I was too drunk to notice I was inside someone’s room. I dragged my feet inside the room and I stumbled upon a stack of loads on the floor, I fell flat on the floor and felt my head collide with a hard object.
Not just any object but a man’s chest.
The first thing that welcome me was an audible grunt of a man; his breath tells him he has been drinking throughout the day. At first, I was scared and didn’t know what to do. My mind said I should get off the guy and get the hell out of the room, but I shook my head and tried to get off him.
I was just too weak that I couldn’t move my body, so I just remain in his chest and pretend like it was nothing.
I felt the guy’s grip on each side of my waist followed by a name I couldn’t remember. He called me that name again, I know he wasn’t referring to me and I felt like slapping him and then telling him he got my name wrong.
I was too tired that I could not bring myself to open my mouth and address him. I nodded my head in response to the strange name he was calling me. I’d do anything to make him shut up and let me have my beauty sleep on his chest.
The guy felt so happy and the next thing I noticed was his lips on mine, he taste nothing but alcohol and strangely, I love the taste.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.
I have been drinking too but the taste of the one tasted different. No doubt, he took an expensive drink.
One thing leads to another and we made out right there on the floor in his room. Just then, his phone started to ring, and since the phone was beside me, I took a peek at his phone and I saw a blurry picture of a lady on his phone screen. I groaned and rolled away from his side and I watched the call get ignored by him. I couldn’t recall what happened next that night because I slept off afterwards.
When I woke up in the morning I found myself lying on the bed of a strange room. I recall what happened the previous night and I searched the suite for the guy but he was nowhere to be found. I felt bitter that he left without saying goodbye. I dragged my feet to the restroom and had a long bath. When I got back to the room I was feeling a little better compared to the previous night.
I made to grab my phone on the floor and I found a half-moon pendant on the floor, I picked it up and left to ask the receptionist about the guy. Perhaps I could at least return the pendant to him. But I felt bad that I couldn’t get information from the receptionist, saying the guy was an important person in the state and she couldn’t disclose his identity to just anyone.
Just anyone?!
I went back to my hostel and filled Kayla in about what happened. She was so disappointed in me that I lost my virginity to a stranger. I felt ashamed of myself but the deed has been done.
I moved on with my life, acting like none of it ever happened until I was feeling sick and I went to the hospital for a check-up. I found out at the hospital that I was pregnant, with the stranger. I was confused and didn’t know what to do. I went back to the arena and feed the receptionist about the thing going on in my pitiable life. Again, she wouldn’t tell me who the guy was.
I went back to the hostel and picked up my life after getting tired of searching for the guy. I decided to abort the baby because to be honest, I didn’t need a child at that moment, all I want is to graduate from the University, get a job and take care of my single mother and myself. But Kayla wouldn’t let me abort the baby.
Life was beginning to get hard for me, (not like life was better for me in the past, but it got extremely difficult) I couldn’t concentrate on my studies anymore, and I was criticised for being pregnant for someone I didn’t know. Kayla was the only friend that kept assuring me that everything will be fine, but that wasn’t enough.
I gave birth months after and I left my baby with my mother. I couldn’t bring myself to call her my daughter because I never wanted to have her in the first place.
I went back to school to do my final year exam but I wasn’t my old self anymore, the old Melanie that could solve any difficult task with her eyes closed became someone that would read for hours and won’t remember anything she has read. The exam came and I did badly in my exam which left me with a poor diploma. I blamed my daughter for what happened and I abandoned her with my mother. I only sent money for her upkeep only when necessary.
Just a few days ago, I found a picture of a lady in your father’s room, guess the lady was his dead wife, Selena. She had a full-moon necklace on and I could swear I’d seen that picture before.
Brought out the necklace your father gave to me on my first day at Gordon’s firm and the one I found in this room in other night, the two pieces formed a full moon, the same thing as the one your mother was wearing in the picture.
After a series of research with the help of Andy, your father’s ex-friend, the pendant happened to be the only piece on earth. And it belonged to Alfred’s dead mother.
Supposedly, I found out that Alfred Gordon was the man that I had a one-night stand with, he turned out to be the father of my daughter, Skye.
Present
“What makes you think he’s the one?” Archie arches his brows at me, the look on his face is sceptical and I move uncomfortably on my seat. “You can’t jump to a conclusion because of some pendant, it could be anyone.”
What, is he doubting me? Does he think I cooked this up?
“Because I know!” I close my eyes, washing down my fear. I slide my hands under the table and nervously fondle my dress.
Archie scoffs and gets up from the seat. He crosses his arms over his chest and rests his back against the wall. I flap my eyes open to have a look at what he’s doing.
We are the only ones in the living room, Skye is with my mom in the kitchen, making dinner while I stay behind with Archie to clear his curiosity.
“Did he know?” Archie breaks the silence, he walks back to the couch and plunges beside me. I stare at him for a while, wondering what he’s trying to prove. “Does my father know that you had a child for him?” he sighed, clenching his teeth angrily.
“No, he didn’t get to know about it, not even sure if he remembers any of these.” I sigh sadly. One thing is finding out the truth, being able to make the truth acceptable is another thing.
“How the hell did you even know that he’s the one? My father is not the type to believe such a thing without a piece of valid evidence.” Archie groans, he drops his head in his hands, panting heavily as he speaks.
I scoffed angrily. “Because I ran a DNA and the result is 98 percent positive,” I yelled, tears finding their way out of my eyes. I feel miserable that I’m having this conversation with a boy of the man that happened to be my baby-daddy.
I felt Archie’s arms on each side of my shoulders, he was now standing in front of my seat with his eyes on mine. “I would love it if you keep her away from my father, that man is a beast and I would do anything to keep Skye away from him. She deserves better,” he said amidst his gritted teeth.
I felt a little calm knowing Archie is on my side. I know he loves Skye but I think keeping her away from Alfred is the best choice. But thinking about how he sent me out and how he would never want to set his eyes on me ever again made me rethink.
Since he doesn’t know anything about Skye, I think keeping her a secret from him is not a bad idea.
I never knew I was in tears until I felt Archie’s thumbs on my cheeks, wiping away my tears. “I’m sorry,” Archie says, he hugs me tightly to himself and I burst into tears as I recall the happy moments I had in the mansion.
I never knew I could get attached to them this much.
“As long as I’m here, I’ll treat Skye more than a half-sister, you’re my mother now, and it’s my responsibility to take care of my mother’s daughter.” He sniffs and I could swear he’s also crying.
I ran my hand through his back, I would be sad if he should cry for a long time. “Thank you, Archie. You’re a lovely child and I’d never let you go.” I smile, I wipe my tears with my free hand and I hear him muffled cries.
I have two kids to protect now. I hope I don’t fail even before I try.