The Prince And His Pauper

Chapter 17: What Lies Beneath

Disclaimer:
This is purely a work of fiction. The names of persons, places, and organizations used in this chapter are for creative purposes only and in no way reflect real-life interactions and connections. All characters in this chapter are fictional, and any similarities to anyone living or otherwise are coincidental. Everything written in this chapter is just a product of the author's penchant for the dramatic and the creative.

"I'm sorry, Prim," Chimon walked up to Prim the moment the girl parted with her friends.

"Would your apology change anything?" Prim whispered rudely under her breath as she tried to keep a safe distance from her schoolmate.

"I won't leave you, I will own up to my responsibility to you and our child," Chimon mumbled with such confidence that Prim knew right away that there was no use lying to him about her condition.

"It's partly my fault, too. I already know about your feelings for me but I failed to establish boundaries," Prim muttered apologetically as she lowered her head and chose to focus on her feet while slowly walking home. She was able to convince the school nurse that she fainted earlier because she was feeling nauseous and lethargic from having stayed up late and skipping breakfast.

"We could still make this work, Prim," Chimon lowered his head uneasily as he struggled to push down the guilt that kept bubbling up inside of him because of that one time he let his emotions get the better of him without any strong resistance from Prim.

"But I don't love you. I was just depressed and feeling lonely when that happened between us," Prim sighed harshly, inwardly questioning herself why she let things go too far between her and her schoolmate when she claimed to have no feelings for the guy.

"How sure are you that you would never love me back? We were getting along just fine, Prim. I almost believed that we actually enjoy each other's company," Chimon spat out bitterly and Prim stopped walking at that to look into the former's eyes.

"I'm sorry for leading you on, Chimon," Prim mouthed but Chimon understood enough to almost fly into a rage.

"It's too late to apologize, Prim. It is what it is. Do you mean to say you have no intention of keeping our child?" Chimon asked in an edgy voice laced with betrayal and disappointment.

"I don't know! I didn't ask for this! I never expected this after that one time," Prim admitted listlessly, bowing her head in a fit of self-reproach.

"We can't be selfish here, Prim. Even if you don't love me, you need a father for that child and I am willing to give our child my surname," Chimon declared with such bravado he never actually felt.

"Bryce would never..." Prim began but couldn't find the words to continue. Would Bryce think of her as a whore for sleeping with someone she never loved while he is away? She thought absently.

"You're 18 already, Prim! You do not need your guardian to decide for you in this aspect," Chimon rolled his eyes in annoyance at how Prim continues to pine after an adult who never even gave her any reason to lead her on.

"This is a mess! Can we keep this a secret first, Chimon? I need time to organize my thoughts and feelings before coming up with a decision," Prim looked at Chimon with such desperation in her eyes that the latter couldn't find it within himself to refuse her request.

"Alright, but please don't run away. Let's fix this together, huh?" Chimon said with palpable hesitation that Prim felt like she had to lie just to keep him at bay.

"As if I have anywhere else to go," Prim said evasively in a last-ditch attempt to remain honest with her schoolmate.

"Promise me!" Chimon demanded loudly earning them curious looks from people around them.