Forever this time around

chapter 11 Everyone Known 111

Xendra’s POV

I open my eyes again, and everything is so bright. There’s no pain—just a strange heaviness weighing down my body. Voices echo around me, distant and muffled, like I’m underwater. My heart feels heavy, burning from the inside out.

I don’t want anyone to hear me, to see me like this. Then, through the blur, I catch a voice I know too well.

“Dr. George…and mom”

My breath catches. I quickly shut my eyes, pretending to still be asleep. If Dr. George is here, that means… they know. My parents know.

“I can not believe Xendra could think of keeping such a thing from me” Mom’s trembling voice says. She’s been crying—I can hear it in every word.

I can’t face them. I’m too afraid—afraid of the disappointment in their eyes, afraid of what I’ve done, and what I’ve become. The shame feels like a fire spreading through my chest. I can’t hold it in anymore. I just lie there, eyes closed, letting the weight of everything burn inside me.

“I know how you must feel,” I heard Dr. George gently voice, “but have you thought about what Xendra is going through right now? He’s a sixteen-year-old boy who somehow became pregnant. That’s something no one would ever expect or understand, especially at his age.”

Mom’s voice trembled as she replied, “I don’t know what to do anymore. Was I not a good mother? My sixteen-year-old son couldn’t tell me what was happening to him. What if he had died? I would never have known…”

She paused, I bet tears slipping down her cheeks, it broke my heart, I made I cried. “Everybody in school already knows. How is he going to live with all this shame?”Dr. George frowned.

What? Everyone already known, Oh my God, what am I going to do now?, my heart pounding even loudly

I heard Dr. George said warmly“If you’re feeling this overwhelmed, imagine how Xendra must feel. You need to calm yourself before he wakes up.”

Mom sniffled and said “You’re right. I just need to breathe. Let me get a drink and try to calm down before I come back.”

I heard Mom’s voice fade as she and Dr. George left the room. Slowly, I opened my eyes. The room was empty now — too quiet, too bright, too clean. The air felt heavy and stuffy, pressing down on my chest. My heart burned like fire, pounding so loudly it drowned out everything else.

I reached for my phone on the bedside table. The screen lit up — dozens of unread messages. I scrolled through them slowly. Most were from school, some from friends… and a few from my best friend, Adrian and Jayden, I ignored. Five messages from Inn. I blinked, surprised.

First massage: Hey Xendra, I’m in Mexico. Wanted to hang out.

Second massage: Xendra, are you busy? When are you free? Please call me back.

Third massage: I’m getting a little worried. Are you okay? Please, just text me.

I sighed, my chest tightening again. Maybe I should stay with Inn for a while — clear my head, get away from everything. I can’t face my parents. I can’t face school. Not yet. Maybe not ever.

I opened a new message and typed:

"Hey, I’m sorry for not replying. I’m fine now. Can I come over to your place for a few days? Just three or four. I know it’s a lot to ask, but… I really need somewhere to stay."

I hit send, staring at the screen, hoping Inn would reply right away.

Truthfully, he texted back almost immediately.

"Hey, Xendra. Long time. Sure — you can stay as long as you want. Don’t even worry about anything. I’ll send you my address."

The message was short but warm, and somehow, it made my chest ache in relief. I watched as his next message came through — the address.

Without thinking twice, I swung my legs off the bed. I didn’t want anyone to see me — not Mom, not Dad, not my sisters, not my friends, not even the doctors. I just wanted to disappear.

I grabbed the few clothes folded on top of the drawer and stuffed them into a small red bag. Then I threw on a simple outfit, found a cap in the next room, and pulled it low over my face. My hands were trembling, but I didn’t stop.

I slipped out of the hospital quietly, heart pounding in my chest, and waved down a taxi outside. As we drove away, I looked back once at the tall white building fading in the distance.

Before I turned off my phone, I sent a quick message to Mom:

Don’t worry about me. I’m safe. I just need some time away.

Then I put the phone in my pocket and whispered to myself, Just breathe, Xendra. You’re free now… at least for a while.