Chapter Fourteen

That was not possible. No. She could and would not believe this. How in the world had this occurred? Was it from space? Had she woken from a terrible dream?

Is she on another planet or in another dimension like the manga's, novels, and webtoons she invested most of her free time in real? But, with continually pinching the soft part of her wrist that had already turned red from the constant abuse, Sharlene knew she was very much on earth and not dreaming. She was in reality.

___________

It was another wonderful and sunny day, and the Cunning-ham family was blissfully joyful. Her sister and brother-in-law had returned two weeks later with happy smiles and surprise presents, their presence for the remaining two weeks made the house feel nostalgic and homey. Everyone was in the drawing-room enjoying a movie, except Lily, who found playing games on Sharlene's phone far more entertaining.

It was a Saturday, so there was no work, no school, and no distractions. The family was able to enjoy a fun day between themselves. The following day set for visiting the park or any other recreational site in the district.

AJ was not paying attention since he was engrossed in a new game he had downloaded on his phone with his head leaning on top of a comfortable flow pillow on the three-piece sofa arm and his legs laying on top of Helena and Clarice lap, who both sat next to him.

Once again, the immature, lazy, and laid back 17 years old teenager had gotten into trouble at school and got ten days suspension. He was currently five days into his holiday, and yet, was still able to have straight A's but a suffering reputation.

Helena had shouted from January-to-December to this laidback fellow on changing his attitude, but he dismissed her warning. After all, he was going to graduate in a few months. His disinterest in school showed that he was nowhere near looking forward to attending College.

Clarice and Helena were speaking, more like gossiping, their heads close to each other. Tristan was lulled asleep in a one-piece sofa separated by an end table. The voices of the people in the movie and his tired body tired had prompted this drossiness.

His soft snores gained the attention of Clarice, who coaxed him to leave the room to sleep more comfortably in the guest room, they currently occupied, but he stubbornly denied for he was comfortable. He fell back asleep.

Sharlene paid utmost attention to the television screen with a container of tissue paper near her legs. Since there was no space for her on the three and one-piece sofa, she sat in between Clarice's legs on a warm bed sheet with Lily on her lap.

Tears fell like water down her cheeks as the heartbreaking scene broke her heart. Sniffling, she wiped her red-eyes for the hundredth time, her emotional senses becoming mush as the characters came alive in her dramatic brain. When the movie was about to reach the climax, the house phone suddenly ringed.

That caused Tristan to shoot from his seat like the bodyguard he was. AJ raised an eyebrow, and Helena and Clarice paused in the juiciest part of their gossip. Lily was not bothered, her new attention shifting to AJ when she had witnessed the moving objects on the screen of his phone.

Pausing the movie with a frown, but tears still falling down her cheeks, Sharlene slowly stood from the floor.

"I got it!"

Shouting, she rushed towards the phone, plastered to the wall in the kitchen. She wanted to quickly end the call so that she could return to the movie.

"Hello."

She hurriedly spoke as soon as she answered the call.

With a few shuffling sounds, the person responded with a question.

"Is this Sharlene Cunning-ham?"

Frowning while forming circles with her finger on her lap, Sharlene cryptically answered.

"Yes, this is she."

She was growing impatient, her feet tapping on the ground.

"Who is this? "

"Hi, Miss. Cunning-ham. I am the assistant of the doctor you saw three weeks ago from Peace and Hope hospital."

Nodding her head as she formed an 'O' with her mouth, Sharlene was convinced but wary.

"And how can I help you?"

She asked this question, for she had already gone and received her results, which indicated she was as healthy as a horse.

"Well, this will sound very weird, but something unexpected occurred with your examination."

Sharlene's eyebrows scrunched up further up her forehead.

"What do you mean?"

The loud noise of shuffling penetrated through her ears before the assistant answered her question. She rambled incoherently that Sharlene almost missed the main point of her words.

"Um, well, uh, I am sorry to tell you this, but you did not receive a Pap smear, but insemination. You see, there was a mix-up. The nurse who did your examination mistook your information for another patient and vice versa. We are sorry, Miss. Cunning-ham for our lack of credibility."

A pin-drop silence erupted.

"Wha...What?"

Sputtering, Sharlene grew pale.

"The director sincerely apologizes for this mishap. We contacted the other young lady, but she was not answering her phone. Can you please come to the hospital so we can investigate this further?"

Feeling her hands shaking, she bit her lip.

"I...I..."

She could only stutter.

"Miss. Cunning-ham, are you still there?"

Hearing the woman's confused voice, Sharlene bit her lip until it bled.

The most debased way to tell someone shocking news was over the phone. It was maddening that Sharlene quickly abandoned the phone when a sudden thought flew through her mind. She quickly rushed back into the living room.

"Who was that?"

Her mother inquired, but the question was reflecting through everyone's eyes. With a small smile, she dismissed their curiosity with a general answer.

"A false number."

Moving to walk away, her sister raised an eyebrow.

"Where are you going? Do you not like this movie?"

The movie was far from her thoughts, for she had gotten the worse news any woman would like to hear; Sharlene shook her head.

"I forgot there was something I had to do. I will watch it later."

Understandably nodding, yet not convinced Helena, and Clarice returned to their talking, as well as AJ back into his phone. Tristan was now out like a light. Happy her family were not pushers, Sharlene walked out of sight. Upon reaching her bedroom, she leaned against her closed door. Placing a hand on her racing heart, she closed her eyes.

For the past two weeks, she had been feeling out of place, queasy and upset. Everything had become unbearable for her to keep down. She had blamed it on getting the flu, but a deep part of her brain had cautioned her about something else. However, she had brushed it aside with a determined mind of paranoia. For how could she when she was not married?

But hearing this news from the lips of the assistant, she was going crazy with worry. An insemination examination was serious business. An absurd thought came to mind.

Grabbing her purse from the wardrobe, she shoved her wallet into it. Adorning her pajama that consisted of a knee-length jumper and a Hello kitty loose crop top with a coat that fell to her waist, Sharlene placed on her comfy sandals and left the room. Patiently walking down the steps to not alert the family of her apparent nervousness, Sharlene was happily bypassing the living room with no distractions. However, her mother's curious shout caused her to pause.

"Where are you going, sweetie?!"

Hiding her nervousness behind a full-blown smile as she swiftly turned around, Sharlene looked constipated, at least that was what AJ commented, as he desperately tried to make Lily leave him alone.

"I am going to buy something in the nearest supermarket."

"Most likely constipated medication."

Snickering AJ had finally gotten rid of the annoying pest called his niece, as she crawled towards Sharlene while crying, 'I want to come too.'

Rolling her eyes at her brother while desperately trying to ignore Lily, for she did not want to discover her real reason for going to the supermarket. The three-year-old was too smart for her good. Sharlene's eyes widened when Clarice suddenly proposed.

"Bring her with you, Shar. She needs some fresh air."

Gazing down at her lovable niece, Sharlene inwardly groaned.

'Why now? Why today?'

Nodding her head, she lifted Lily off the ground. Dressed for the unexpected outing, which was surprising, Lily was excited. It seemed the little girl had suspected her aunt was going somewhere special.

It was because she wanted to go wherever her aunt went. Her twinkling eyes won over her heart.

Waving them goodbye, she hightailed out of the house.