Chapter 78: Chapter 78

JUNE

To say I was nervous would be an understatement. Kristin didn't say anything last night. He just nodded slowly, turned and entered the kitchen, then returned with a towel which he silently wiped my face with.

No words were exchanged between us during and after the meal. And when he retired to bed, he only spared me a 'good night.'

This morning, before I woke up, he had already left for work. Though he made breakfast for me and even wrote me a sticky note, I still felt scared.

The anxiety I feel whenever I check my school results isn't up to par with the one I feel at the moment. It feels like I am barely breathing.

“So, how was it?” Mark asked the moment I joined him in the car. It took all my will not to dial the school and call in sick.

Staying at home will only heighten my nervousness. At least I will be too occupied in school to think of his actions.

My hands shook as I threw my bag into the back seat. It was a miracle how I had my bath without crashing to the bathroom floor.

“June?” He waved his left palm in front of me to get my attention.

I blinked, frowning a bit at him, but didn't say a word. I just focused on putting on the seatbelt with shaky hands.

“Here, let me help you,” he offered as he leaned over to help me, getting it in just one go. “There you go,” he smiled at me and leaned into his seat. “So, how did it go? Did you tell him?”

“Yes, I did,” I tightly clutched onto my dress. This morning, I didn't pay any attention to my clothes. I just threw on a green sundress and ran my fingers through my hair, tying it up in a messy bun.

It's just a miracle that my hair isn't as messy as it normally was. I didn't bother with any makeup, not even a chapstick or gloss. I was more concerned about Kristin and what his silence might mean.

“And? What did he say? Was he thrilled with it? Angry or what?” he asked, eager to get an answer out of me.

“None,” I sighed, finally letting go of my dress. “I told him about it last night, but he didn't say a word.”

“What do you mean by that? Why didn't he say anything?” Mark looked shocked. “Are you kidding or telling the truth?”

“That was what he did.”

"Fucking hell he didn't just do that!" He angrily hit his hands on the steering wheel.

And finally, the tears I held to a reasonable extent last night came flooding with released vengeance.

“Oh come on,” Mark brought out a kerchief. “You don't have to cry, June. It makes you ugly… Like a clown,” he tried to make a joke, wiping the tears off my face as gently as he could.

The tears kept on falling even as he cleaned them. I couldn't help it. Last night, I tried to keep everything bottled up, hoping Kristin would at least talk to me. But now, I don't think I can hold it in any more.

“Shh, it's okay," he removed the seatbelt he helped me put on and hugged me, gently patting my back. “It's okay, June. I'm here.”

“What if he doesn't want the baby, Mark? Could his silence mean he's thinking of a way to break it to me?” I sniffed, soaking his shirt with my tears. Snort and all, I must have looked a sight, but Mark was too much of a darling to point that out.

“No, I doubt that's his reason. Let's say, he was too shocked by the revelation that he needed enough time to process it. Just give him some time, June," he patted my back.

I sniffed but didn't say a word, knowing that Mark would always find ways to make me feel better. I don't know how I got such a friend like him.

“It's okay, love. I got you, okay?” He placed both hands on the side of my face, forcing me to look into his eyes.

I slowly nodded.

“That's my June,” he leaned down and pecked me on my forehead before he helped me put on my seatbelt once more, acting like a doting boyfriend.

He started the car and drove out of our property, heading the opposite way to school.

“Where are you taking me?” I sniffed.

“Somewhere to help you cheer up,” he winked. “You didn't think I would take you to school, did you?”

I shrugged but didn't say a word. Instead, I leaned on the window and closed my eyes, feeling safe with him by my side.

Having Mark as a boyfriend wouldn't have been bad. Had it not been for my unholy obsession with my uncle, I wouldn't have thought about it. I might have fallen for him, because what's there not to fall for?

I just hope he meets a girl he loves someday. One who will love him unconditionally. He deserves it for being the best friend any girl can ever ask for.

“Stop looking at me that way. Else I might think you have fallen for me,” he joked.

My snort got a boisterous laugh out of him.

It turned out that the place he had in mind was an ice cream shop.

“To cheer you up,” he said when I gave him a puzzled glare.

And he did as he promised. After the second bowl of ice cream, I was feeling good. Who would have thought having an ice cream can help my mood?

We spent the rest of the day having fun as he tried to do everything in his power to take my mind off my uncle, and he succeeded.

I had forgotten about my pregnancy and my uncle until I got a text from him.

"Meet me at the address I will send to you. We need to talk."

His text read.