Pregnant at 18

Ricardo's Temper

After I got off the phone with my mother I headed to my next round of college classes. I didn't expect to see Alex again today, but I just had to run into him. I was in the cafeteria getting something to eat when he called my name from across the hall. I didn't know what to say or think at first, but I agreed to him taking me for coffee around the corner from the campus. I honestly do not know why I had agreed to that, but the words my mother told me this morning was screaming in my head, "You need to tell him." At the coffee shop Alex, had offered to buy me something to eat, so I don't turn down anything free I said okay. While we sat down at the booth we talked and talked, and I just couldn't believe how much we still had so much in common. We talked and laughed, and before I knew it was almost time for my next class. We were about to get up and leave when Ricardo walked through the door. At first I had no idea what he was doing there, but then I remembered that the doctor office where Ricardo worked was right down the street from the college. Ricardo had an angry look in his eyes when he looked over and spotted me and Alex sitting at the table together. He walked over to us, and as he got closer I could see how mad he was. I got up and introduced Alex to Ricardo, and Ricardo did not say anything. I could tell that this was not going to be good. After introducing them I think that Alex could feel the tension and he said he would see me tomorrow in our Humanities class. After he left Ricardo started with the thousands of questions; Who was he? How do you know him? What was he talking about that he would see you in Humanities tomorrow? I told Ricardo everything about Alex and I, but I didn't tell him the secret. I needed to keep that secret hiding, that was one time in my life that I regretted and he didn't have to know about it. That night when I finally got home after my classes Ricardo was in the living room on the computer. As soon as I stepped foot through the door he started. "Where the hell have you been?" Like he was my freaking dad or something. Not even my dad treated me that way when I was late. He never raised his voice to me before, and I could tell he was upset. "What do you mean? I have been at the college all day. I have classes all day on Tuesday's and Thursday's." He looked at me with an angry look in his eyes. He got up from the computer and walked over to me. I backed up as he walked toward me, because I could see how angry he looked. I could feel that something was about to happen. I could not back up anymore, as I had reached the edge of the couch already. He raised his hand, and all I could see was his hands coming towards my face. I couldn't believe it he had slapped me, and boy did it hurt. My face felt so heavy like I had been hit by a brick. "Why did you do that?" I blurted out. "I know that you weren't in classes. You were with him again. Just admit it." By that time, he was screaming and pointing his finger at me. I didn't even know if I should speak. I was so scared that he would hit me again, but I was telling the truth. I hadn't seen Alex again the rest of the day. "I didn't see him I swear. I had been in my classes for the rest of the day." I had never seen this side of Ricardo before, and the realization sat in. I do not know this man! I guess that can be expected since the first day I met him I slept with him. Then in the span of a few months I had moved in with him, because I was pregnant with his child. I didn't even think I just took off running to the guest bedroom that Ricardo wanted to turn into the babies' room. When I got there I just sat down on the bed and begun to bawl my eyes out. I didn't even eat anything that night, and Ricardo didn't even bother coming to check on me. I felt so alone, and my face hurt so bad. I just wanted to sleep. That night I went to sleep with my eyes puffy and my stomach aching, because I was so hungry.

When I woke up that morning I didn't want to see Ricardo, so I was determined to avoid him as much as possible. When I got out of the shower again I could smell a delicious smell coming from the kitchen. I put on my clothes and looked in the mirror. I couldn't believe at the site that I saw. There was a huge black and blue mark on the side of my cheek. I couldn't go to school with this mark on my face. I didn't know what to do, but I knew that I didn't want to stay home and deal with Alex temper this morning. I wished that Alex had left for work already, but as I entered the kitchen I saw Ricardo again cooking for me. This time he had the table set out with romantic flowers, daisies to be exact, on the middle of the table. There was fine china and glasses set out for two. I didn't know what was going on, but my plan was to get through the front door avoiding Ricardo as much as I can. However, as I stood there at the edge of the corner of the kitchen he saw me. "Cassandra, babe, you finally decided to join me for breakfast. I have made your favorite, bacon and eggs again. Please come and eat. The baby needs to get some nutrition, especially since you went to bed last night without eating a thing." O really you care about the baby?" I couldn't help, but blurted that out. After all he had hit me last night without even thinking twice about it. However, as I blurted it out I couldn't help but regret, because I was afraid that he would hit me again. "Of course, I care about my baby what is wrong with you?" "Look Ricardo I really don't want to be around you right now." I could tell that those words had hurt him, but I didn't care. He had left this huge mark on my face, and I couldn't go out in public where everyone could see what he had done to me. My parents had warned me about men like this, but I never imagined that I would end up with one. I hated the stories that my parents, and siblings had told me about domestic violence. I even despised the way the woman was treated in most of those Life-time movies they showed on television about battered woman, yet I couldn't believe that I had become those women. "Cassandra where did you go? I was trying to apologize." O yeah, sorry about that. I kind of zoned out for a moment." I was so lost in my thought that I didn't hear his apology, but I didn't want him to know that, so I just simply said that I accepted his apology. After we ate breakfast together, Ricardo, got ready and headed to work. I was not about to be seen in public today, so that day I didn't go to my classes. Jessica had called to check on, because that day was our humanities class together. When she called, she could hear the stress in my voice, that she said she would be over when class had finished. I didn't want her to come, but I was glad that she would come. I needed someone to talk to about what happened, and it couldn't be one of my siblings, my brothers would probably kill Ricardo, and my sisters would tell my brothers and parents what happened to me. I didn't want anyone to know, and I knew that Jessica would keep my secret.

It was lunch time when Jessica arrived. I knew that she was coming, so I made us some lunch, so that we can talk and eat. I was on the computer typing my essay for history when the doorbell rang. I knew that Jessica was coming so I turned and yelled at her to come in. When I turned around Jessica was standing by the front door with Alex. I couldn't believe it. Why did she bring him here? This is not good they were both going to see my face, but I didn't want anyone but Jessica to know what happened. I had to find an excuse, and I had to find one right now. "Cassandra what happened to your face?" As Alex asked the question I could feel my mind going blank. I didn't know what to do or say at his point. They both saw it, so there was no point in pretending that it was not there. "I tripped yesterday on my way up the stairs, and fell onto the ground." "Are you ok? How is the baby?" I knew that Jessica had known about the baby because I was the one that told her, but Alex had no idea that I was pregnant. "Wow, you are pregnant. I guess congratulations are in order." I could tell that he genuinely meant that, but I wasn't so sure that he was happy about it. Well since Alex was here I guess I didn't make enough lunch for all of us, so I just suggested that we order some food. Jessica wanted Chinese and since she said that she would pay I didn't turn it down. Besides that, is what I had made for lunch for us, rice and chicken. While we waited for the food to arrive Alex and Jessica began to tell me what went on in class today, and they also gave me their notes to copy, so that I didn't miss anything. When the food arrived, Jessica, Alex, and I talked and laughed for a few more hours. We talked about the past, as we were as children, and what we wanted to do after college. It was getting dark outside when I finally realized what time it was. I needed to get Alex out of here, because Ricardo would be home from work soon. After what happened last night I knew that it would be worse if Ricardo saw Alex in his home. I told Jessica and Alex that I was tired, and the baby needed to rest, so that I can get them out of there before Ricardo got home. I was excited to see that they bought that, and the two of them decided to leave. However, just as they were leaving Ricardo opened the door. O no, this is not going to do well! "Cassandra, what the hell is he doing in my home?" I froze I didn't know what to say or what to think. I had no excuses, because I saw his temper the day before, and Alex should never had been there. "Ricardo, please calm down." The way Ricardo was talking Jessica turned to me, and it was obvious that she could tell that I lied about what happened to my face. "Is that how you got that bruise on your cheek, or did you really fall walking up the stairs." I couldn't believe Jessica had blurted that out in front of Alex, but hey Jessica was never a stupid person. Ever since we were little Jessica always saw through my lies, but this one was plainly obvious. "Jessica please I think you and Alex should be going now." "No, I see how much Ricardo is upset, and I am not leaving you with him like this." I knew Jessica had cared about me, but I could see the rage on Ricardo boiling up. "Jessica please just take Alex and head out. I promise that I will call you later." "Fine, but you better call me later." On that note Jessica and Alex headed out the door. I was so scared to be left alone with Ricardo, but I knew that I had nowhere to go. After they left Ricardo began to scream some more. I just tuned him out, because I couldn't help but pray that he didn't hit me again. Surprisingly, all he did was scream. I was behind excited that he did not hit me again, but at the end of his loud screaming he warned me to stay away from Alex. I agreed to do just that. I didn't want to see that side of Ricardo ever again. He promised that if I stay away from Alex that he would cool his temper, and not blow up anymore, and I was determined to do just that.

After that horrible day I managed to keep my distance from Alex. I didn't even see him in class, because I had decided to switch classes, and Jessica came along with me. A few months went by, and Ricardo went back to the man I met at the club when we first met. He took me out on dates, and he doted over me. I began to get bigger and bigger until I was unable to put my shoes on. I looked like a giant elephant with horns. I say with horns because my temper and moods were all over the place, but Ricardo and I, sex life couldn't be much better. I think it was the raging hormones though. Life was perfect, and I wanted to keep it that way. My family and siblings never found out what happened, and I was determined to keep it that way. I didn't want any of them to know, because I know what would have happened. I want to be with Ricardo, and I love him. No one was going to change my mind about that, and I know that my family would not have been happy about me staying with him after he had hit me. I love him, and I refuse to let my baby grow up without a father, so this is where I know that I needed to be. The months had flown by, and by the time I knew it was time for the baby to be born.

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