Under His Protection

The outcome was a plain realization that her life would never be thesame from now on, those three test supplies stated loud and clear, ” PREGNANT” Laura eyes could not believe how this could happen to them, she and Michael were just starting this new chapter of their lives, if she tell him about this new sudden development since it is his child she is carrying he would do the right thing and convince her to marry him for the sake of the child, but what is he just felt the need to marry her Because it is the right thing to do since he was going to be a soon-to-be father? What I’d he isn’t ready yet? What is she herself isn’t?

Jesus!

Laura stared at the unsure woman in the mirror with her hand placed on her flat belly, for now she vowed to hide the sudden development firm Michael until she finds a better solution to the problem, she believed she still have few months before people will start noticing her growing belly.

The image of her father crossed her mind lighting fast, how can she tell him about this? Couple with her unresolved issue with japhet, and her secret relationship with Michael, even the stalker who has noticeably been inactive for the time being?

She might as well plan her funeral before her father gets to Know what has been happening.

Laura smiled sadly at the thought, since she learnt about her pregnancy she has been keeping him away from her, “He is running some errands for me” she looked away from the piercing gaze of japhet, since there was no sign of stalker anymore she misses Michael badly beside her, she fear if he stayed beside her he would eventually notice her changing body.

“Did the two of you quarrell…?” Japhet asked, studying her. “… and I hope he is not the reason behind the sadness in your eyes Laura, I hate to think that he has this kind of effect on you and as a man it makes me worry”

She shook her head again, this was the last topic she ever wanted to discuss with japhet, probably this is the best time to iron it out at once since it was the same reason why she has been avoiding her friend, Laura thought the only way to deal with japhet was to be honest here and now.

“Actually japhet…..” She stopped, swallowing hard, ” I lied to you about my association with my bodyguard”

“Lied?”

She nodded with an apologetic smile on her face, “the truth is, Michael is more than just a bodyguard to me, infact he is my boyfriend”. Laura mentally cringed when she saw the shock in japhet eyes, she felt bad not to have told him earlier about her relationship with Michael rather than to keep it a secret, she should have turned japhet down the first time he made his intention clear towards her.

“Aw… wow! That is……”

“Iam really sorry japhet” she informed him with regret in her voice.

She heard him take a deep breath, it seems to her that japhet couldn’t believe what she just told him, ” well… I don’t know what to say, still I think of you, let me…..”Content (C) Nôv/elDra/ma.Org.

Laura debated if she should tell him the rest of the story since the least way for her was to be honest with him, ” Uh, there is more”

The shock in japhet’s face was understable, ” what do you mean?”

She cleared her throat starring at him, ” actually our relationship created a child, I pregnant for Michael, seven weeks”

Poor japhet visibly paled, Laura wished she could think of a better way to tell him her secret, he would be hurt at first but would be fine eventually. She sees japhet as a good man but she doesn’t really see herself being romantically involved with him.

“Iam so sorry if I led you to believe that there was nothing going on with the Michael and I, it is just that we were keeping our relationship a secret since we are still in early stage” Laura told japhet regretfully, she glanced at her interwined hand not finding the courage to look at him straight in the eye.

“What is the next plan?” Japhet asked after a long moment of silence, they just sat on the bench starring at the kids playing around, ” Does he even know that you are carrying his child?”

Laura tried to smile bravely, ” he is not aware of it yet, I…. I don’t know how to tell him since we are still in the early stage of our relationship”

Japhet took her hand in his, ” even with this child you are carrying, iam still serious about you Laura”

She immediately removed her hand from his touch as she stared at him in disbelief, ” you got to be kidding me japhet” Laura scoffed.

“Iam serious Laura, I will marry you with the baby”

*********

“Something is wrong” Michael told himself as he drove back to the city, this was the seventh day Laura asked him to buy items far from the city. Since last week he noticed something had changed about her.

Although they still slept on thesame bed, same daily routine since they came back from France, their life was anything but blissful, but deep inside him he knew she is somewhat distancing herself from him. He had once asked her while they were about to sleep one night if there was something bothering her, she just laughed and told him that she is fine and he was being paranoid.

Michael tightened his grip on the steering wheel, he guess she doesn’t have any plan on telling him what was going on, then he must confront her with it when he arrives her boutique, and he hopes that she doesn’t start having second thoughts about their relationship, Michael doesn’t think he can bear it if she tells him she want to end whatever they have now, his heart constricted at the thought and he hope she doesn’t feel he was ashamed of their relationship, that was why he choosed to hide it for a while and most especially it is just that he doesn’t know how to face his Excellency now.

Michael was aware that he is still unworthy to Laura since he is still nothing compared to her family, but he hoped with time he would be Worthy to be with her. He hoped that she would be patient enough to wait for that time to come, he kne it is still far from now but he is working his way to becoming successful and when that time comes he would have the face to ask her hand in marriage and show the people that he could financially support his wife. He would like to give Laura everything she wants because he want doesn’t want her to give up her lifestyle just to adjust to a simple lif with him.

Michael accelerated the car on the highway, the sooner he arrives the sooner the thoughts inside his hear would rest, today he vowed not to wait anylonger for her to open up to him, he would personally ask her what exactly went wrong.

Half an hour passed, he finally parked the car in front of her shop, he pulled out the shopping bag from the car and went straight insid the boutique. He saw Vanessa busy arranging the dresses on the racks, ” where is miss Laura?”

The woman looked up and smiled at him, ” she is in the work room”

He nodded and wait straightforward to the work room, his heart suddenly went happy at the sight of her leaning down towards the table examining her work.

“Hi” she greeted, her eyes were slightly puffing from lack of sleep probably.

“I need to talk to you” Michael said without preamble, dropping the shopping bag on the nearby table.

“Okay…..” Laura replied gaurdedly, ” what do you want to talk about?”

Michael looked directly in her eyes, seeing her appearance has become tensed, she was pretending to be unaware on what was going on but he knew otherwise, ” I already have enough waiting for you to tell me what is wrong, so iam going to ask you right here”

“What is wrong?” She repeated coyly

“Don’t play games with me Laura, we both know very well what iam talking about here” he took few steps until he was standing few feet away from her.

“Seriously Michael” Laura said, taking few steps backwards creating good amount of distance between them, ” I don’t know what you are talking about, as a matter of fact there is nothing going on”.

Michael closed the distance between them all of a sudden that startled her, ” perhaps you are getting tired of our relationship”

“What?” Laura scoffed as alarm entered her eyes, ” No, where did you get that from?”

Michael shrugged casually, looking at her with sad eyes, ” I just notice that this past few days it seems that you are distancing yourself from me, before you like to hang out with me, but now you keep sending me to long drive almost everyday. I couldn’t help but wonder what went wrong, maybe I did something wrong and you don’t want to tell me”

“Michael….” Laura tried talking but swallowed hard, Michael could see her face that she was debating if she should tell him the truth or not.