LOCKED

ONE MONTH GONE

"You're getting married? To Sera? And I'm just getting to know about it?" Frank asked as he stared at Richard in shock.

"Yeah. it's next week." He replied.

"Next week?! The f**k is wrong with you! Isn't that too fast? I mean she's seventeen and you're like twenty, isn't that too much. And she's Jame's girlfriend, fatherless and all." Frank listed.

"I know all of that. Dad insist I marry her and she'll be staying in their house so that's their business. She'll have to learn to stay alone." He said nonchalantly.

"Whoa. How will it be? The wedding I mean... indoor or outdoor?" He asked.

"I don't care." Richard uttered as he drank.

"You have a crazy ass girlfriend that's coming back, I hope you know that." Frank reminded.

"I totally forgot. But that's going to be a long time. She has been busy." He defended.

"Fine. Married man." Frank joked laughing.

"That ain't funny." Richard said as he left Frank behind.

* * * * * *

"She's one month pregnant." The doctor said to both Seraphina and her mother.

"One month?" Janet whispered.

"Yes, you should not stress yourself at this point." The doctor advised as Seraphina remained muted lost in her own thoughts.

"What about abortion?" She heard Janet said to doctor which bring her back to face her mother in fear.

"I won't advise so." The doctor said calmly.

"Mom, what are you saying?" Seraphina asked in tears, her heart aching in pains.

"You have to get rid of that bastard child down there!" Janet snapped.

"She's too young for that ma'am. She might die along the line." The doctor butt in.

"Doctor..."

"No. Don't come close to me or my baby. I'm not aborting." She said running out of the office and hospital. She ruffled her hair in frustration.

"How will I get home now?" She muttered as she cried more.

"Phina?" She recognized the voice... immediately anger overwhelmed her.

"Phina! It's you. Oh my God. How have you been?" The person asked getting close to her.

"Phina?" He called in shock when she slapped him hard on the face.

"What do you want, James? To ruin my life over again?! Why are you hellbent on destroying my life and happiness?!" She screamed at his face crying more, her catarrh drowling out her nostrils. Yuck! Passerbys looked their way but she didn't seem to care. What's there to protect again? A gone reputation?

"I...I... don't understand."

"You will never...."

"Seraphina! Get in the car! We're going home!" Janet said angrily as she entered the driver's seat.

"Phina...we need to talk." James begged.

"Don't touch me. I have to go." She sniffles walking backwards before turning around to the car, her hair stick to her face because of her sweat. Fastening their seatbelt, Janet drove off.

"I'm sorry mother."

"Don't speak till I ask you to." Janet snapped at her then hit the horn with force as it blared loudly.

"Who was he?" She asked.

"My classmate." Seraphina replied. Janet stepped on the gass, as the car drove really fast on the highway.

"Mother! Stop the car! You're driving too fast! You're gonna kill us both.". Seraphina cried as fear gripped her. Fear of dead.

"We die then." Janet said between gritted teeth.

"The baby! It's either Richard's or Jame's!" Seraphina yelled in tears, Janet screech the car to a stop, Seraphina head hit the head rest then she got out immediately vomiting while her mother waited. She went back in, the drive was quiet until they got home.

"Mom..."

"Please not now." Janet whispered as she strolled slowly to her room.

'Not just one person but two.' She thought.

'Why Seraphina? What have I not done as a mother?' She cried in her room.

"One month."

* * * * * *

MARRIAGE MAGISTRATE COURT

"Do you take Richard Micheal as your lawfully wedded husband?" The lawyer asked.

"I do." Seraphina answered.

"Do you take Seraphina David as your lawfully wedded wife?" He asked facing Richard, who rolled his eyes.

"I do."

'Like I have a choice.' He thought.

"With the power vest on me, I now announce to you all witnesses that they are wedded by law." The lawyer said as everyone clapped with smiles. Fake smiles.

"Well, sign here and there." He said as the couples signed.

"You may kiss the bride." The lawyer laughed as Seraphina frowned suspiciously.

"What about the rings?" Frank asked aloud. The lawyer cleared his throat.

"Oh yes! Exchange the rings! If you have any special vows, you may say as you insert the rings." The lawyer said.

"None that I know of." Richard muttered.

"Same here." They wore the rings.

"You may kiss the bride." The court marriage or wedding ceremony was cranky. The priest or lawyer was too. The worst ceremony ever. It was like Jack Sparrow was the wedding planner and he was the priest. Jack Sparrow would have even done a better job than this, I believe. 'Richard just stared at me like I bore him or something, his mother don't approve of me. I was going to cope for father's sake not my mom. None of my friends came because I have none. Just some of Richard's friends and families.' Seraphina thought was interrupted when she heard a loud applaud. I did not realize Richard's closeness.

"Just wanted to say again, welcome to my world Mrs Seraphina William." His breathe on my neck made me closed my eyes tighter, I heard him chuckle on my neck. Like I have brought doom upon myself or something.

'Creepy. Why does he keep saying that.' I thought as I blinked my eyes, he brought out his neck, smiling at me, forcing out a smile, we faced the witnesses as the photographer took a picture of us. My eyes met with mother, she nodded with a 'be a good girl's look. Then his mother grinned making me shrink back in fear, my tears fell. Richard's dad gave me a thumbs up.

'Like I want to be here.'