Lost and Found

Truth

"Why does it say seventeen?" Tay asked, his voice tightly controlled as he tried to suppress his anger. He had practically dragged New to the living room, barely keeping himself from going physical. As much as he wanted to avoid lashing out, he felt his anger was justified.

"I'm... I'm sorry," New managed, his voice barely above a whisper. He was scared, tired, and truly sorry, but his fluctuating emotions weren't helping.

"You're sorry?" Tay repeated, his tone a blend of disbelief and fury. "Sorry doesn't cut it, New! I could be arrested, everything I've worked for could go down the drain. This isn't some child's game! Do you even realize what you've done?" He raised a hand, unable to process that he had unknowingly slept with someone underage—a crime he couldn't stomach, a breach of his beliefs.

"I'm sorry... I really have no excuse. I knew if I told you the truth, you'd lose interest and get me kicked out of the club," New replied, his words laced with regret.

Tay shook his head, incredulous. "Good thinking, New! Did you even consider what this would mean for me? How reckless can you be?"

"I know I was stupid and made the worst decision of my life, but could you stop screaming at me? Nothing is going to change. I wish I could turn back the hands of time, but I can't, so don't keep beating me up for it," New said, his own voice rising in frustration. He knew Tay wasn't aware of his pregnancy, but that didn't mean Tay had the right to drag him around like this. New instinctively covered his stomach, afraid of being hurt, and he hated being yelled at.

make it harder."

"You don't have the right to get angry," Tay snapped. "Just... just leave! Go home!" Without another word, he pushed New towards the door. Once New was gone, Tay immediately called his assistant, instructing them to look into the potential consequences and assess how his career and image might be impacted.

Hours later, unable to shake the turmoil, Tay decided to go out and drown his frustrations in alcohol. But as he opened his door, he froze. There, huddled on the ground, was New, looking exhausted and famished.

"Why are you still here?" Tay demanded, feeling his anger flare up again.

"I... I don't have anywhere else to go," New whispered, his voice fragile. "My parents closed all my accounts. I have no money... nothing."

Tay sighed in exasperation. "Don't you have friends? Like the ones you went clubbing with? Those bad influences?"

New winced, knowing that if anyone in his friend group was the "bad influence," it was him.He was the first in his group to have sex and had even convinced them how good it was. Growing up around people much older than him—his sister was eight years older, his brother six—he often listened to their adult conversations and learned from them, even trying things out himself. This likely explained why he behaved and acted beyond his years.

"I... I can't go to their houses," he admitted. "Their parents would call mine."

years.

"So what do—" Tay started, but stopped mid-sentence. His anger had prevented him from noticing New's complexion. The boy's fair skin was now flushed red. Alarmed, Tay immediately bent down to check New's temperature, and just as he suspected, New was burning up. His first instinct was to carry him to the car.

As they made their way to the hospital, New's condition deteriorated. He looked nearly lifeless, mumbling incoherently. Tay wished he had taken him to the hospital first instead of kicking him out. He had already crossed a line by being with an underage person; was he also going to let him die right outside his home? How many mistakes was he willing to make?

Upon arrival at the hospital, the doctors immediately admitted New into the emergency ward and gave him treatments to reduce his fever, then conducted a series of tests to find the underlying cause. After about eight hours, a doctor finally called Tay, who had been watching over the sleeping New, into her office.

"Are you his guardian?" the doctor asked.

"Something close to that," Tay replied.

"Oh... okay. Well, I just wanted to inform you, in case you don't already know, that he's seven weeks pregnant. He's been neglecting his health, starving both himself and the baby, which is what led to the fever," the doctor explained. But Tay had stopped listening the moment she mentioned New was pregnant.

A fear like he'd never known gripped him. He vividly remembered how, overcome by alcohol and desire, they hadn't bothered with protection. Am I the father? he wondered, his heart pounding. The timing lined up perfectly, but he wasn't ready for this... not now.

"Are you... are you sure?" he stammered, voice shaky.

The doctor gave him a steady look. "I wouldn't say it if I wasn't sure."