Teenage Romance - Or More Than That? (PAUSED)

32: The Doctor's Appointment

It's been a few weeks since Harumi and Lloyd's lives suddenly changed, but their situation hasn't changed.
He was avoiding her, and she was desperate.
Harumi was now 2 months pregnant. Today was her first appointment with the doctor to check how the baby was doing.
She was sure: this is HER baby, and she will have and love HER baby.

"Sky? I'm nervous. I'm really not sure..."
Harumi and Skylor stood in front of the gynecologist's front door.
"Rumi. Everything will be fine. The doctor isn't judging you. Her job is to check on the baby and give you advice."

"OK." That was the only thing she got in response. Skylor wanted to go in but noticed that Harumi stopped.
Harumi closed her eyes and took a deep breath.
"I think we can start now..."
She said after a sigh.

Skylor smiled at her, nodded, and took her best friend by the hand. They announced they were there and went into the waiting room. There, Skylor held her friend's sweaty hand and stroked it reassuringly.

"Ms. Harumi Yuki?"
A doctor called her. Harumi looked at Skylor uncertainly.
She smiled, comforting her, and took her by the hand into the treatment room.

When she arrived there, she was greeted by a nice young doctor with brown hair.
"Hello. My name is Summer. Mary Summer. You can call me Mary. I don't like that formal stuff."
She laughed lightly and motioned for the two of them to sit down.

"So. On the phone, it was asked for a consultation? Because of an unexpected pregnancy?"
Both girls nodded at that.
"Who is -"
"I am..." Harumi said very quietly and became nervous.

"Ok. Don't worry. Firstly, there is medical confidentiality, and secondly, you are in good hands with me. I became a mother early myself. I am currently 30 and have a 13-year-old daughter. I know how you feel. Guess why I am doing that job? To help young women who are in the same situation in which I was back then and hemp them to make a decision for their lifes."
She looked at Harumi kindly. Harumi nodded and looked down, where she had been looking the whole time.

"First, I have a few questions. Some might be a little more uncomfortable. But unfortunately it has to be done. After that, I'd like to do an ultrasound scan. All right?" Again, just a nod in response.

And so it happened. She was asked questions. Many questions. More pleasant and more unpleasant. But they had to be answered. Once they had done this, the doctor accompanied them to a couch next to a large device with a screen.
The ultrasound machine...

All the while, Skylor held Harumi's hand and stroked her reassuringly. It helped, a little anyway. Only Harumi wished that Lloyd was in her place. How much she would love to have him by her side now...

The doctor brought her out of her thoughts as she spread a cold gel on her stomach. She then ran a small scanner over Harumi's stomach. Both girls looked intently at the screen.
But seriously: how could the doctor recognize anything? Everything is just black and white.
She stopped with the device.
Harumi caught her breath.
"Did she find anything, or is something wrong?"

The doctor smiled lovingly and turned to Harumi and Skylor.
"Do you know what this is? This is your baby, Harumi."
The doctor pointed at a small bean-shaped spot on the screen.

"My... baby? This little bean will grow into a baby in size of bread? Wow... that's... amazing."
Beside her, Skylor began to squeal. "RUMI! THERE IS YOUR BABY! AWWWWW!"
Harumi laughed lightly. Wow. Her friend was more excited than she was. To be honest, she was more nervous than excited.

"Shall I print it out for you? It's a wonderful memory."
The doctor said.
"Yes, please."
Harumi said, and Skylor was nodding very fast.
The doctor printed out the picture she made and gave it to Harumi.
She took it with shaking hands and moved her fingers over the little printed out bean-baby.

After they finished the check, they went back to the other room.
There, Harumi received advice and instructions. No alcohol, no cigarettes, not this, not that.
The doctor also prescribed medication to maintain her vitamin and protein levels, as the baby was now getting a lot of it.

"Since you are still very young, I would like to see you monthly to check the baby's development and your health. Okay?"
Mary smiled at her, and Harumi nodded.
"Your friend is welcome to come with you again."
Mary looked at Skylor questioningly.
Skylor recognized the look.
"She wonders why the babies father wasn't there."

Although Skylor knew Mary suspected something, she subtly shook her head, knowing Harumi wouldn't see it as she continued to look down. Only this time, it wasn't out of nervousness. She looked at her baby's ultrasound picture. Mary looked sad for a moment but quickly changed her gaze.

"If you need support, just contact me. I was let down by everyone back then. You have a great friend by your side. Be grateful. See you next time and good luck with everything!"
The doctor said goodbye, and the girls walked down the hallways towards the exit.

Skylor had to be careful that Harumi doesnt run into anything because she was so focused on the picture.
Skylor smiled at her friend. She hadn't heard from her in a long time.

"Isn't that wonderful, Rumi? This little bean is your child! Wow. This is so... incredible! What are you thinking?"
Harumi was silent, but then she answered bitterly.

"What do I think? Huh. I think that Lloyd is a creep. How can he reject this sweet little thing? It's his too! Wait, NO. That's MY child. He doesn't want it!"
She sounded angry, disappointed, and sad at the same time.

"Don't let this get you down now. You have the first picture of your baby! Don't think about him. Think about that sweet little thing in your stomach. At least that's worth it!"

"You're right. I should think less about the idiot and more about my child. The thing is, he's the FATHER, and it's hard to forget that. Besides..."
She suddenly ended her sentence. But Skylor ended it for her.

"You still love him. Don't you? C'mon, hey. Heads up.
But I don't want to be in your shoes."
She put an arm around her friend and walked with her down the streets back home.

The first thing Harumi wanted to do was frame the photo and hide it. She didn't want to know what her parents would think if they found out...