Under A Dark Cloud

Chapter 8

My eyes fluttered open as my vision slowly adjusts to my environment. My  brain pounding inside my head after what happened last night. Wait- what just happened last night? I can't seem to remember after that alcohol going on with my system and all that dancing in the dance floor.

I was jumped when a hand crept up my waist as I realized I was being held down by a strong set of muscular arms and pinned to a hard chest as I looked up to see a sleeping face of a man. It was hard to see at first because of the darkness of the room but when I look closely, I could see the outline of the man's features. Then, I realized it was the man I met that morning.

I was slightly horrified to find him here with me until I realized what happened last time. Him asking me to dance for him, then everything next was a blur until it dawned on me : I did the deed with a man I barely knew and I screwed up. Just on the second or third day here in California and I've already virginity lost by just one night.

I managed to gently lift his arm off me as i quietly slid out of the man's embrace without waking him up. I sat on the edge of the bed and covered my face with my hands as I took deep breaths, inhaling and exhaling, while telling myself that this is not a place where you would be seen, crying.

With all the strength I could muster up to keep my tears at bay, I tried my best to locate my scattered clothes in the dark. Piece after piece, I wore them with a sense of self-disgust in myself. I'm sure the dress is crumpled and wrinkled but I'm sure I could fix it but right now, I have to get out of here.

I managed to find the door in the darkness of the room and I did it miraculously since I didn't bump into any furniture while wearing these accursed heels of hell.

But right now, the only thing I have to face is that I will never be the same again and this will scar me to never do something like this again. That experience alone is mind blowing yet at the same time, stupid.

As I slowly opened the door and stepped out to close it in a gentle push, I have my back straight, chin held up high, kept my face voidless of any expression even though I am so close to breaking down and proceeded to do the walk of shame.

~~~~

" Do you know who the father is? " Ashlyn asked as she handed me another tissue.

" I don't know, " I managed as I took the tissue from her and blew my nose in it and threw it in the garbage can, which is now half full of tissue paper. " How could I've been so stupid to get laid then end up as this? "

It was two weeks from that time I woke up with not much recollection in how I got laid by a man in just one night.

The moment I returned back to my hotel, I walked passed the lady in the counter as I heard her called me a whore. It broke a piece of my mask but I kept holding on till the moment I saw my room plate number, tears started to spill as I struggled to insert my key in to the knob in my blurry vision. And after that, you know what's going to happen then.

But just yesterday, during my morning shift, when I was still working in the cafe, I started to feel dizzy and I immediately ran at the back of the kitchen to the toilet and heaved the last of my small breakfast.

I got a sick leave because of that, even though I just started a 3 days ago. Ashlyn begged our boss to accompany me and promised to work for the late afternoon shift. Our boss didn't seem too happy but he looked at me worriedly and took up Ashlyn's offer to work in the late afternoon shift.

When we reached to the hotel and in my room, Ashlyn ran out for a minute and came back with a plastic bag in her hand. I didn't know what it was until she gave it to me and told me to check. My eyes widened as she bit her lip as I shook my head ' no ' in disbelief. Ashlyn pointed the bathroom and told me to check to see if I was pregnant or not.

Two sticks.

" How could I've been so stupid to get pregnant? I thought he used protection, " I sobbed out as I let my tears flow down continuously as Ashlyn handed me another tissue to wipe my tears away.

Ashlyn didn't say anything as she rubbed my back in comfort. She gave me some time to collect myself as she comforted me. After that, she asked me, " So what are you going to do with the baby? "

" I don't know, " I whispered as the last tear fell slid down my face as I looked at my stomach. " I didn't know I would become a single mother at such a young age. "

Ashlyn looked at me worriedly then gave me a small smile. She gestured to the tv and offered,

" How about we watch some tv and keep your mind off things for a bit? That'll give you some time to decide and my shift is still hours away so I have time. "

I pursed my lips to a small wobbly smile and nodded as she smiled at me as she grabbed the remote control and turned on the television. She flicked through different shows until something caught my interests.

" Wait. Go back to channel 61. "

Ashlyn flicked to the channel as I watched as the woman reported happy about what's next.

" Here we have in live with one of the famous multi billionaire balchelor men with a worldfamous top model as his new lover, Ms. Jennifer Carducci. "

My eyes widened in utter shock as he came into view but with his arm in another woman. He looked as perfect as he did that day and he looked so carefree as if that night didn't make him think of me at all.

" So, Mr. Cloud Valentino. How long has it been with you and Ms. Jennifer? " The reporter asked.

" That's the father. He's the father, Ash, " I spoke as I continued to watch the news.

" Wait, that's him? The guy who knocked you up? Are you sure you're not confusing him for someone else? "

I didn't reply to her as my eyes and ears were glued to the news in front of me.

" I can't say but it felt like it's been so long, " He chuckled as the woman in his arms giggled and slapped his chest and intervened with a smile, " We only met just 2 weeks ago. "

" 2 weeks ago? It looks like you've met eachother for a really long time since you two looked so in love with eachother, " The reporter mused with a smile.

" That conniving son of a b***h. Wait until I see your pretty boy face and I swear I'm going slam a shovel in that face of yours repeatedly, " Ashlyn cursed at him.

The reported asked, " So tell me. Do you two have any plans on having kids? Not today but maybe sometime in the future? "

" I don't know but if I managed to get my future woman pregnant, she'd be running to me for help her support our kid together, " He said with a laugh.

That angered me. His face angered me. I took the remote from Ashlyn's hands as I turned off the television.

" I'm going to raise this baby by myself, " I decided.

" Wait, by yourself, don't you want him to help you support you and his kid? " Ashlyn asked in confusion.

" No. He's mocking me. He thinks that I'll come running to him for his money because I carry his child and he doesn't think that I can support myself. Well, two can play it that way. You'll see I'm tough enough to take care of me and my child without your rich faced self. "

Ashlyn looked at me with a smile and gave me a cheerful salute,

" The Independent Momma. Nice, I like your optimism. To hell with rich good looking snobby husbands. I'll help support you too because I want to be that kid's cool aunt. "

I smiled at her and thanked God for an awesome friend like her. Something popped into my mind as I asked her,

" Do you know any cheap but good apartment or room to stay in? Because I really do need one to move out of this old cromny's hotel. "