The Rush Decision
1154 Words
Dante held his throbbing forehead, his head feeling like it would burst.
He rested his forehead on the steering wheel, paying no attention to Mary sitting beside him.
"So, Miss McQueen..."
"Your name is Mary McQueen, right?"
Mary nodded awkwardly, the girl biting her lip and wringing her fingers, so nervous that Dante's gaze seemed so deadly.
"Did you already know about your condition? Did you already know you were pregnant before going out with me today?" asked Dante in a low tone, trying to suppress the mixed feelings that made his chest feel like it would explode.
"Yes, I knew..." replied Mary in a trembling voice.
"Then, why didn't you try to find me? Or at least go back to our hotel..." Dante was unable to continue.
"What was your reason?" he asked affirmatively.
"I don't want to trouble you," she replied innocently and without guilt.
"What did you say?" Dante raised his tone again.
"I can raise this child on my own," Mary replied quickly with confidence, even though she wasn't sure. But Mary didn't want to look like a cheap woman using her pregnancy to blackmail the rich man who impregnated her.
"But the baby is my child too!" Dante growled in annoyance.
"You don't have to take responsibility for that night, sir."
"Call me Dante, I don't like you calling me sir,"
"D-Dante?"
"Yes, I'm Dante Domany. If you want to know who I am, you can look up my name in various business magazines." He said with a sharp gaze that had not been distracted since now.
"S-sir... I...I mean Dante, just relax. I won't ask your responsibility for that night. I was the one who invited you that night anyway, so don't worry, okay? I'll keep this a secret from everyone. I'll keep my mouth shut," Mary begged with a pleading face.
Dante didn't understand why the girl in front of him was thinking this way, and he didn't understand what she was thinking about him.
"I don't care, since you're pregnant, then I have to marry you," Dante said matter-of-factly.
"W-what??!"
"Yes, we should get married!" Dante said once again with emphasis.
"B-but, I don't love you, sir, m-I mean Dante..."
Dante sighed long and wished to smash his head against the steering wheel.
"Miss McQueen,"
"Just call me Mary," Mary said quickly.
"I know you don't love me because while making love to me that night, you kept chanting Jerry's name," Dante retorted.
Mary's cheeks instantly flushed, holding back her embarrassment.
"Do you think I love you?" Dante narrowed his eyes, putting on a very unfriendly, fierce face.
"Then what are you asking me to marry you for? We don't love each other?" Mary started the argument.
"You want to know why I want to marry you?"
"Because this..." Dante pointed to Mary's still flat stomach; the fetus in her womb had not grown since she was only eight weeks pregnant.
"I told you I could support this baby on my own."
"You don't seem to have that ability. After all, I want my child to have the best. He's my flesh and blood. And I have a right to him," Dante said.
"B-but..."
"Already, don't argue with me. We're getting married as soon as possible!" Dante screeched, making Mary's guts shrink.
Dante put his seat belt back on and began to drive out of the parking lot.
"Where are you taking me?"
"Go back to your house. Could you show me where you live? I need to talk to your parents. I'll ask their permission to marry you." Dante said without taking his eyes off the asphalt road before him.
"My mom and dad," Mary was silent for a moment.
"They are all resting in peace."
Dante was stunned by Mary's confession.
"Then, your brother or sister, your uncle or aunt, anyone who can give us their blessing."
"No one, I live alone."
"Are you sure?" Dante couldn't believe what he was hearing.
"I'm just living with him right now," Mary said as she stroked her stomach.
"I can't wait to see him born," she chuckled carefreely.
Mary nodded and looked out the car window. Every time she remembered what had brought her to this point, it was very sad.
But Mary refused to mourn the sadness and suffering. Mary always tried to stay strong and optimistic to face whatever obstacles faced her.
Not long after, Dante's car stopped at an old apartment in a slum area.
"I-this is where you live?" Dante was dumbfounded at the state of the apartment building.
"Yes, that's right, why does your face look so surprised? Don't you know that there are many poor people around you?" Mary unbuckled her seat belt.
Dante was still gaping.
"Thanks for the ride," Mary said, then opened the car door and stepped out. But suddenly, Dante grabbed her arm.
"Don't go," he said.
"Give me your cell phone number; we're not done yet," Dante said seriously.
"What for?"
"Give me your cell phone!" Dante ordered.
Mary, though hesitant, finally gave Dante her cell phone. The man typed his number in there and called his cell phone.
"Please keep my number," Dante said.
"Uhm, let's hope I don't forget."
Mary smiled and then left Dante with quick steps. The girl left Dante without looking back at him.
***
"Mom and Dad, starting next week, I want to live in my new apartment," Dante told his mom and dad after dinner.
"Why all of a sudden?" His father, Gabriel Domany, said. The middle-aged man, who still looked dashing, looked at his youngest son intently.
"Yes, do you have a problem? I mean, are you no longer happy living with your mom and dad?" The mother replied.
"It's not that, Mom." Dante looked nervous and tried to gather his courage amid four pairs of eyes staring intently at him.
"So, what's the problem? Why do you suddenly want to part with us?" His father smiled slightly.
"Because I want to get married as soon as possible, Dad..." Dante said.
Gabriel Domany's smile faded as he absorbed Dante's words. The room fell silent, the only sound being the ticking of the old clock in the corner.
Gabriel glanced at his wife, Sophia, who looked shocked as the words left her youngest son's lips. They exchanged glances, their concern for their youngest son etched in their eyes.
"Dante... marriage is a serious commitment, are you sure? I don't want you to marry quickly because Emily has married another man. I don't want you to regret your hasty decision..." Gabriel finally spoke, his voice tinged with caution.
"Have you thought this through?" Sophia said.
Dante nodded, his gaze unwavering.
"Yes, father. I have spent many nights contemplating this decision. I am certain she is the person I want to spend the rest of my life with." Dante said, trying to convince his father and mother, albeit with lies.
- Writer
