Lost and Found

Desperation

It was Wednesday, two days before the end of New's finals, and Tay was on the verge of losing his mind. New had left his house without saying a word about eleven days ago, and since then, Tay had been searching for him nonstop. He had even tried the address New had given him, only to embarrass himself by confidently walking up to a house and demanding to see New, only to be met with confused stares. He felt like he was going insane. His life was a mess, and he had put everything on hold just to find New. Even his assistant and employees were growing worried. He'd ordered his most trusted people to help him in the search, but they'd turned up nothing.

New had mentioned having no money and had planned to stay with his Aunt Vera. Tay was anxious, not only because he wasn't sure New had made it there safely but also because he had no idea where Aunt Vera lived. He hadn't bothered asking, assuming he'd be the one to drive New himself—just to make sure he was safe. But things had unraveled quickly after he learned about the pregnancy, and now he regretted not paying more attention to the details.

He also couldn't remember the name of the school on New's ID, where he'd discovered New's real age. His anger back then had blinded him to any details beyond that shocking number. Now, he was desperate. He knew that by Saturday, New would likely be leaving for his grandparents' place in the province, and if that happened, he might never get a chance to see him again. He couldn't let that happen. In the past week, Tay had come to realize that he was ready—truly ready—to take responsibility for both New and the baby. He genuinely liked New, which was why he'd sought him out after their first encounter. Yes, New was still a minor, but Tay couldn't help how he felt. He blamed the misunderstanding on the lie about New's age. But he was willing to put that behind them, take accountability for his actions, and wait until New was officially an adult before making any decisions.

Tay was ready, more than ready, to be a safe place for them—a family. That's how he thought of them now. After all, the child New was carrying was also his, sharing his DNA. He found himself daydreaming about the baby inheriting New's beautiful eyes and soft smile. The child would undoubtedly be beautiful or handsome, given the good looks of both parents. Maybe being a father wouldn't be so bad after all. But he needed to find New—his Newwiee—as soon as possible and give him the reassurance and support he needed. After all, New was still so young, a teenager who needed all the care he could get.

But by the weekend, his hopes had begun to crumble. Saturday came and went, and now it was Sunday. Tay hadn't managed to find New, and the realization hit him hard. He sat at his front door, crouched over in despair, letting the weight of his regret wash over him. This was no time to hold back his tears. Maybe he should have been more supportive when New was still around. Perhaps this was his karma, a sign he wasn't fit to be a father. The thought of never seeing his child, never knowing their gender, never getting to live the family life he had started to envision, broke him. He couldn't imagine leading a good life without knowing where New and the baby were. He was facing a future that felt empty, marked by longing and dread.

He just knew it—his life would never be the same.