Lucas decided to reconsider his decision from earlier. Perhaps asking Velia to accompany him to work was not the right thing to do. In reality, Lucas found his concentration easily distracted by Velia’s presence, just like what was happening now.
For the umpteenth time, Lucas glanced across the room, specifically at the sofa where Velia was lying comfortably. With a plate of fruits and a magazine, she looked so relaxed, in stark contrast to Lucas who had to work.
Lucas took off his glasses and stood up with a thought in mind.
Saturday is part of the weekend, right? So, it’s only fair for me to join in the relaxation.
Velia’s concentration was disrupted as the sofa sank. Lucas sat beside her and glanced at the magazine. “What have you been reading all this time? You look serious.”
Velia smiled. “Just reading an article about color coordination in clothing.”
The article immediately caught Velia’s attention when she saw the H&H magazine lying on the table. The title on the cover implied the latest fashion information that should be known currently. Especially since Lucas always asked her to prepare outfits for every occasion, including going to the office, meetings outside working hours, or simply meeting his friends.
“What about your work?” Velia asked, looking at the desk. “Is it finished?”
“Finished?” There was a mischievous tone in Lucas’ repetition of that word. He took the magazine from Velia’s hand and placed it on the table. Leaning closer, he whispered above Velia’s lips, “I’ve decided to make an exception for this weekend.”
Velia’s eyes closed with rhythm. Lucas’ brief kiss made her shiver. “You’re making it hard for me to focus,” Lucas said, making Velia open her eyes. The shiver in her body disappeared instantly and was replaced by an unusual tension. When Lucas wanted to kiss her again, Velia held her hand against his chest.
Lucas blinked. He saw Velia’s hand on her chest, her forehead furrowing.
Is she rejecting me?
Velia’s hand was not just restraining, it was pushing Lucas away. She created distance to speak.
“I-I’m sorry, Luc. I can’t right now.”
It took a moment for Lucas to process Velia’s meaning. “Are you on your period?”
Velia nodded sadly. “Maybe you’ll have to be patient for the next four or five days. I’m sorry.”
Lucas took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. He had to extinguish the sparks that were starting to ignite. It was difficult, but he let go of Velia.
Rising from his relaxed position, Velia noticed that Lucas seemed tormented, albeit briefly. He immediately regained control of himself.
“It seems like I’m destined to work on weekends.”
Indeed, it was the weekend.
Saturday and Sunday passed no differently than regular working days. Velia, who could not be touched, left Lucas with only one choice left: to spend the two days off working diligently.
Lucas only rested as much as necessary. After all, what kind of rest could he expect when being with Velia became a double-edged sword?
Monday morning brought a fresh breath to Lucas. He got ready and noticed the impact of the article Velia had read on his appearance.
After getting ready, Lucas headed straight to the kitchen. He was curious about what menu would be served for breakfast and was met with an unexpected situation.
“Are you feeling sick?” Lucas asked.
Velia looked weary. Her eyes lacked the usual enthusiasm.
“No,” Velia shook her head. “I’m just a bit weak. It’s normal. It comes with menstruation.”
“Maybe you should see a doctor.”
“No. It’s usually like this, and I’m fine.”
Lucas cupped Velia’s cheek. “Usually, it’s without me by your side. Now things are different. I don’t want you to be sick.”
Annoyance surfaced. Velia blinked and smiled shyly.
“I might just need some iron supplements.”
“I’ll prepare them for you later.”
Lucas’s attention made Velia uncomfortable. She needed to get out of that situation. Unstable hormones and Lucas’s gaze were already enough to make her flustered. There was no need for anything else.
“W-We should have breakfast now. We might be late for work.”
Lucas nodded. “You’re right.”
“If you’re late, maybe no one will scold you,” Velia added as she sat down. “Unlike me. Our positions are not the same.”
“Who would dare scold you at the office?”
Velia’s intention to immediately start eating was momentarily halted. She looked at Lucas with amusement. “You’re not planning to scold them back, are you?”
“Who knows? I might find reasons to make someone else scold them.”
Velia began her breakfast while shaking her head in disbelief. “You must be joking.”
“Believe me, Ve. Finding faults in others is easy.”
“Is that so?”
“Of course,” Lucas confidently affirmed. “I can assure you that I know the people who make mistakes around me. No matter how small.”
The smile and amusement on Velia’s face gradually faded. Her body tensed for a moment, feeling a sudden unease. She wondered if Lucas knew the meaning behind her approach. Did he know the reason why she needed money? Or were his words completely unrelated to her?
Velia felt that Lucas was hinting at her. However, Lucas’ next statement made that thought disappear instantly.
“You may not know, but I often catch some employees cheating. It’s…,” Lucas stared at Velia with a meaningful gaze, emphasizing his seriousness, “… very dangerous for the company.”
“Oh,” Velia let out a long breath. She felt relieved, and her tension immediately vanished, replaced by her relaxed demeanor. She continued her breakfast without knowing that Lucas was grinning behind his spoon.
*
It was not just Lucas who felt anxious about Velia’s condition that day. Mecca, too, was concerned. Seeing Velia feeling weak in the morning showed her worry.
“It’s normal. You know how it is when I’m menstruating. Fatigue, cramps, and body aches. It’s all exhausting,” Velia said, rubbing her neck. She assessed her body and then smiled faintly. “But other than that, I’m fine.”
“Oh, thank goodness,” Mecca breathed a sigh of relief. Her worry dissipated and was replaced by relief. Unconsciously, she blurted out, “That’s good if you’re menstruating.”
That sounded like an unusual sentence. It was understandable that Velia was a bit confused.
“Doesn’t that mean you’re not pregnant?”
Velia’s confusion was resolved. Now she felt slightly embarrassed, while Mecca felt the opposite.
“Your life is already very difficult now. I don’t want you to suffer even more, especially with the presence of an unwanted child,” Mecca murmured sympathetically. “I just don’t want you to suffer more.”
Velia understood Mecca’s intention. “Thank you for your concern. You don’t need to worry, I won’t get pregnant.”
Velia’s statement conveyed confidence. Mecca looked at her with suspicion.
“Is she using protection?” Mecca guessed, quite surprised. “I didn’t expect that.”
“No, but…” Velia sighed and smiled wistfully. “… I’m taking birth control pills.”
Mecca’s eyes widened instantly. The reality seemed to surprise her even more.
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. Like you said, we shouldn’t have an unwanted baby in a relationship like this.”
Velia’s gaze lowered. Briefly, she looked at her stomach, and her smile turned melancholic.
Children are always a beacon. A light. They bring happiness to everyone. Unfortunately, that was not what Velia imagined would happen if she ended up giving birth to a child from her relationship with Lucas.
Without marriage. A relationship without feelings. A union for the benefit of both parties.
There are many reasons why a child is not right for Velia. One of the most important is the realization that they can never be together forever.
“Is there any child who wants to be born from a relationship like this? No, Mecca. No child wants to be born from the relationship I have now. I don’t want any child to be ashamed of their existence in this world because of this relationship.”
Velia let out a sigh, and her face lifted again. She looked at Mecca with a painful conviction in her heart.
“I don’t want it.”
Mecca could not say anything. She could only curse silently in her heart. She shouldn’t have brought up that sensitive topic. She felt guilty, but Velia showed a different attitude.
Velia managed to calm her turmoil and smiled, as if wanting to reassure Mecca that she was fine. She had reached a point where she would not hope for much anymore. Being able to live, have a decent livelihood, and take care of Harry were reminders that there were still good things in her life.
Unfortunately, that did not include the increasingly intense menstrual pain as the evening approached. Velia felt her legs ache so much that her steps faltered.
Carter, who was waiting in the parking lot, immediately took action. He helped Velia and made sure she was comfortable sitting in the car.
“Do we need to go to the hospital?”
Velia shook her head. All she needed right now was rest. “I just want to go home and rest immediately.”
“Alright.”
Carter captured the implied command given by Velia well. He quickly drove the car and tried to arrive at the apartment as quickly as possible.
Velia arrived in a pitiful state. The cramps and weakness rendered her helpless. She immediately lay down on the bed. It did not take long for her to fall asleep while enduring the pain.
An hour passed. Now, it was not just Velia in the room. Lucas was also there.
He decided to come home after his messages and calls went unanswered. He felt uneasy remembering Velia’s condition in the morning. It turned out his suspicion was correct.
Velia curled up, hugging a pillow. Her face showed discomfort. Even her breath sounded heavy.
“Ve.”
Lucas’ call received no response. Velia was truly asleep, and that sparked an idea in Lucas’ mind. About an opportunity he could take advantage of.
Lucas got up and approached Velia’s dressing table, examining some makeup items there.
Everything was neatly arranged. That made it easy for Lucas to search for something. He did not take long to find it in one of the table’s drawers.
It was slightly hidden, precisely in the back corner of the drawer. Lucas had a little difficulty reaching it, but he managed to get it. A white-colored bottle with words that made Lucas hold his breath.
Lucas took one birth control pill and kept it in his pants pocket. He made sure to put the bottle back exactly where it was, ensuring that there were no changes that could raise Velia’s suspicion.
Everything was safe. It looked completely normal.
Lucas returned to Velia’s side. He sat with a smile on his face. As he stroked Velia’s hair and enjoyed her sleeping face, he murmured.
“Why should we avoid the presence of a baby, my dear?”
*