New Life: A Second Chance

"Of course we are," Sayuri assured him with a smile.

Kyle slumped over on the sofa, happy beyond belief at that.

Though he was feeling like a douchebag at that moment for even asking that question, he had to ask. The thought of losing her as a friend scared him beyond belief. He had gotten used to her presence, and it wasn't just for the sex. He valued her opinion and she was fun to have around.

That was one of the reasons he was so grumpy upon coming back.

It was like, something he had been so used to, was suddenly gone. A part of him was missing.

He never realised how big his bed was, or how bland it was not having her around to tease at the dining table. The funny thing was, it wasn't like he was alone for he was staying with his parents. He didn't have a reason to move out, even though he very well could. 

It just wasn't the same.

He couldn't quite put his finger on it, and it drove him crazy.

Seeing her today, everything just clicked and everything felt right again.

So, when she confessed ... he panicked. He really could not return her feelings and he'd rather be honest about it; but he knew, it would most likely mean that she would leave him then. Yet, despite that, he didn't want to create false hope for her and she should go and put her love on someone that truly deserved her.

He had been prepared for her ending it when she fell in love with someone else, but he didn't expect that 'someone else' to be him. It would only be natural that she would break all contacts with him because of it, right?

What woman can stay with a man that she slept with, when he has no feelings for her?

He knew he was being selfish when he asked the question, but it wasn't like he was going to force her to stay if she said no. Even though it was an unfair question. 

"Actually, it would be best if we really did break off all ties, considering my feelings for you," Sayuri said, making Kyle freeze, "Unfortunately, I do not have that luxury of choice."

Kyle looked at her puzzledly, "Why? What do you mean by that?"

Though Kyle was glad she was not cutting ties, it appalled him to know that she wasn't doing so willingly. She actually DID want to leave him. So what was it that is forcing her to stay? 

"I'm pregnant," Sayuri told him.

Kyle stared at her.

Three seconds passed before he finally exploded, "You're pregnant?!"

"I just entered my second trimester," Sayuri said, "So I'm about 11 weeks. Turns out this is our mile-high club baby."

Kyle's eyes went towards her and he stared at Sayuri's still flat stomach. 

In the first pregnancy, the baby bump would normally start showing from weeks 12 to 16, so it might be some time before Sayuri starts showing.

He was going to be a father.

Well, he was already a parent but he really didn't think he would feel differently at being a father. He was so wrong.

He wasn't the one carrying the baby this time and the thought that there was this precious life of his inside someone else made him feel both fear and awe. And a sense of overwhelming protectiveness arose within him - for the mother of his child, and for the child that she was carrying.

He rushed over to Sayuri, taking her hands in his. 

"How are you feeling? Are you okay? Did you have morning sickness? Wait, the latte isn't really good for you right now. No, wait. You can have one cup a day but you need to take care of your caffeine intake from now on," Kyle started babbling.

"We … we should …" Kyle started when Sayuri shushed him.

"Kyle, calm down," she said, her heart feeling both pain and warmth at the same time, "I'm fine. I've done my check-up and the doctor said that the fetus is developing well."

Kyle took several deep breaths and started thinking hard, "Okay. You're in your 11th week so we have approximately 6 months before you give birth. There's a lot to do before then. We should get married …"

"No," Sayuri said firmly, cutting him off.

Kyle blinked and looked up at her, "No? What do you mean, 'no'?"

Sayuri took a deep breath, "No marriage."

Kyle glared at her, "What do you mean?"

Sayuri glared back, "It means exactly that. We are not getting married."

"This is my baby, too," Kyle growled.

"Why do you think I told you about it then?" Sayuri growled back, "We don't have to get married just because you're the father."

This time, it was Sayuri took several deep breaths to calm herself, "All you need to do is go to court with the DNA test results and make the declaration that you're the father. You will be granted full rights over our baby as their father."

"It is not the same!" Kyle protested angrily, "I don't want to be the type of father that only sees his child once in a while. I will not be an absentee father or a part-time father! I want to be a part of our child's life! Not just the one who provides for him!"

"And I refuse to marry just for the sake of the baby!!" Sayuri yelled, "What sort of life would that be for me?"

"Are you saying that I won't treat you well?!" Kyle demanded.

"I know you will, but it's not enough!" Sayuri said exasperatingly and to her dismay, she couldn't help the tears from falling.

"I don't want a life where I will be with a man I love, who doesn't love me back. Even if you treat me well, what sort of marriage is that?! What sort of life is that?!"

Kyle's heart twisted in pain.