WHAT WILL BE

CHAPTER 2

The cab came to a halt right in front of her house. She stepped out "How much is my fee?" she asked

"That'd be $50 ma'am". She opened her purse and gave him a $100

"Keep the change" she added as she turned her back against the driver, opened the door of the house and walked in.

On arrival, she met her mom and elder sister sitting in the living room. Dropping her handbag on the table, she made her way to the free arm chair besides her mom and crashed into it.

"How did it go?" Cindy, Pearl's elder sister who was 3 years older than her questioned.

The look on her mom's face showed that she too needed answers. Tears began to well up in her eyes again, she couldn't hold it this time and let them all out. That was enough answer for her mom and sister. Without sparing them a glance, she got up and ran up the stairs into her room.

Cindy sighed, picked up her sister's bag and brought out the test results, prescription, and drugs. Looking at the drugs and prescription convinced mother and daughter that Pearl was HIV positive, they didn't bother looking at the results as that would further break them down. This left the both of them feeling sad, but they had to be strong. Pearl was in her weakest state currently, and if they too were weak, who would then comfort Pearl?

Pearl's POV

I couldn't believe this was happening. What about Ken? Would he accept me if he found out I was HIV positive? And even if he does, what about his family? Are they going to accept me? What if during the course of our marriage, I somehow get him infected also? Will he take it lightly with me? Should I break the news to him right now? How will he feel? Will our marriage be called off? What about Mr Martino? He'd think I've been cheating on his son...

These were questions I had no answers to. Wiping my tears, I sat up and looked in the mirror, my make up was now a total mess.

"Whatever happens, I'd accept it as my fate. In as much as I don't and I'm not willing to keep this a secret from Ken, I have to. It is for the best" I said to myself.

Getting up, I walked into my bathroom, turned on the tap, and washed my face in the wash basin. My face, now make up free. I changed from my previous outfit to a floral printed crop top and matching bottoms. I got downstairs, without talking to mom and Cindy, picked up my handbag and walked out the door. I was off to the Martino mansion to see Ken.

Ken's POV

"Today's really hot, don't you think so?" I asked my immediate younger brothers, Berry, 26, and Dave, 25.

Being the first child was in no way a small task at all, I was second to dad in running our companies, I was expected to act all mature when my younger ones were acting childish and all that.

Just amidst our discussion, Pearl walked into the table tennis court, it was more of a surprise visit because she showed up without any prior notice, but nonetheless, I wasn't surprised. I walked up to her, gave her a hug and wanted to kiss her, but she stopped me abruptly, which was surprising, because she had never done so before.

"Just a peck" she had said avoiding eye contact with me.

Something was definitely wrong, but I didn't want to ask her anything in front of my brothers, so I obliged and gave her a peck on the cheeks.

"Berry, Dave, please excuse us. Go meet your babes in the mansion and let me be with mine" I had teased.

It was a way of teasing them, but on a more serious note, they really should be with their girls inside.

"We see what you did there bro" Dave chuckled as they both burst out laughing as they exited the court.

When they were a reasonable distance away from us and out of ear shots, I asked "Pearl, what's the matter with you?" this was met with a stony silence. She couldn't even look me in the eyes...