The Stolen Heart

Chapter 7: The Pitiful man!

“Regina, you really needn’t have bothered. I could have handled the doctor’s visit on my own.”, I said for the third time today.

She looked offended at my suggestion and scoffed out loud, “My dear, how is it a trouble? It’s my first grandchild’s sonogram. Of course, I have to be there and so will his uncle.”

That snapped me from my thoughts immediately…His uncle? Oh my god! Justin is coming? Oh boy!  I have been going out of my way avoiding him for the past few days after the little outburst that day. My position had still not been restored and I was back as working as an account’s manager. Though it hurt my ego like hell, I had still showed up at work every day as usual, with my head held up high and performed my duties in a nonchalant attitude. Though Justin had made Joanna retreat her news and publish an official apology, the Board seemed adamant on their decision, courtesy of Mr Johnson, her billionaire daddy. After knowing about the supposed first love of his, I felt uncomfortable and wrong footed as if I had found out something I wasn't supposed to. I felt as I had invaded his privacy.

This isn’t good. My hands started sweating nervously. Regina immediately held my hands tenderly and whispered softly, “Relax dear, too much tension is not good for the baby. I know about your troubles at work, but don’t let it get to you, dear. Trust Justin. That boy would move heaven and earth for you.”

The last sentence took me by surprise. Justin would move heaven and earth for me, implying that he was willing to do anything for me? Highly unlikely.

To say that Justin and I were even friends was quite a stretch. We were not fond of each other since childhood. He used to bully me in high school , then when Richard and I had started dating, he had created one hindrance after another, disapproving of our relationship and when Richard had refused to break up with me because of his tantrums, he had started giving me the cold shoulder and even cutting off all ties with Richard. I didn’t even know what I ever did to make him hate me that much that he would be willing to freeze off his own little brother. It was only after returning from abroad that we started treating each other politely. He must have finally given up and decided to make an effort to get along with me since I was engaged to his little brother.

Regina must have read the skepticism in my eyes because she sighed resignedly and shook her head. She eyed me curiously and opened her mouth to say something, then thought the better of it and changed her mind the last moment and firmly closed her mouth shut.

Just then Justin walked in.

“I am not late, am I?”, he asked out of breath, his arms on his knees as his struggled to get a breath.

It was obvious that he hadn't taken the elevator, instead he had took the stairs.

I shook my head no. He collapsed right next to Regina and let out a sigh of relief. Throughout the time we waited for the doctor, Regina kept glancing between me and Justin worriedly and she kept looking at Justin with pity.

Why would she look at Justin as if he was a wounded puppy? Justin Malcerk was not a pitiful man at all.

My thought process was interrupted when the nurse asked me to go in. Regina gave me an encouraging nod while Justin just stood there uncomfortably.

Several minutes later, I exited the doctor's room giddy with delight. Regina immediately rushed at me, her eyes wide open with anxiety.

“Don’t worry, everything is alright….the vitals are stable ….the fetus is healthy….My child…your grandchild is healthy.” I said softly and her face erupted in a triumphant smile. She let out the breath she had been holding in and relaxed, her face beaming with happiness.

“Regina, do you want to know the s*x of the baby? I found out quite accidently.”, I asked her and smiled.

She took a step forward excitedly with tears in her eyes.

I smiled and replied, “It’s a boy….I am going to have a baby boy. From the moment I had found out I was pregnant , I had prayed for a boy because then whenever I looked at him, I could see his dad in him….I bet he will be just like Richard….He will be like Richard's miniature version…”, I started rambling on excitedly, being beyond happy, with tears in my eyes.

Regina let out a sob and hugged me tightly. Justin face however changed when I said that I wanted the boy to be just like Richard…..He looked like he was holding himself back….Justin was getting weird day by day. He was normally emotionless….But now whenever I look into his eyes, I see pain and anguish and conflict as if he was fighting with himself over something that was slowly but gradually sucking the life out of him.

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 The Malcerk’s had dropped me on their way home. Regina was reluctant to leave me alone but Justin reminded her that I was still in my early stages of pregnancy and that there will be plenty of time to pamper and annoy me in the coming months, so she let go of me very reluctantly.

“How was the doctor’s check- up?”, an excited Jen asked just as I opened the door to my own apartment.

I frowned at her in response. There she was sitting all comfy in my couch, eating popcorn and watching the latest episode of ‘Jane the Virgin’.

“I gave you the key for emergencies”, I said resignedly and rolled my eyes at her, exasperated.

She immediately switched off the TV and put the bowl of popcorn onto the table and fixed me with an incredulous stare as if she couldn’t believe that I had the audacity to ask her what the hell she was doing in my own home?

“It is an emergency. My husband….uhm…my soon to be ex-husband is back in town and he insisted on staying in our apartment and what else could I do other than to seek refuge in my almighty best friend’s den?”, she said , pouting her mouth and looking at me with innocent eyes.

I groaned and threw my bag on to the counter.

“So, the divorce documents have been finalized? When is the court date?”, I asked her.

“22nd of this month”, she replied cheerfully.

She must be the only girl who was looking forward excitedly for her own divorce. I still couldn’t figure out why she had gotten married to him in the first place. Not that he was a bad guy or anything but just she didn’t seem to have any interest in him from the beginning itself. It had felt like she just wanted to have the experience of marriage while the poor guy had been clearly heads over heels in love with her.

I let out a sigh and collapsed on the plush, white, velvet sofa, right next to her.

“Spit it out….What’s troubling you? All through this week you had been in trouble. Is it because your promotion has been put on hold?”, she asked.

I shook my head. She leaned forward and waited for me to continue.

I fumbled with the long sleeves of my top nervously contemplating for a moment whether to tell her or not. After a few minutes I replied anxiously, “It’s Justin…He is been acting weird…”

Jen sighed and bit her lip, appearing to be in deep thought.

She had the same expression as Regina….pity….This is what confused me the most….Justin Malcerk was not a man that could be deemed pitiful.

“You know something, don’t you?”, I shot at her, narrowing my eyes.

Her nervousness and sudden fidgeting immediately proved me right.

“See, there you go again. Why do you always freeze up and start acting all suspicious whenever I mention Justin?”, I asked her stoically.

She let out a groan and shook her head as she replied sounding embarrassed, “Because it reminds me of how much of a terrible person I was. I did something terrible to you and Justin, way back in high school and I don’t really have the courage to own up to it.”

She stood up suddenly, ready to bolt but I immediately took her right hand, pulling her back.

“What is it?”, I asked anxiously and held my breath waiting for her reply.

She shook her head sadly, then looked at me with tear filled eyes.

“I can’t tell you….Because the moment I do, I will lose the last person I truly cared about….I already lost him, I can’t bear to lose you either.”, she said in between sobs , then shook her hand off me and started running away. By the time I could even make sense of what she had said, she had already slammed the door shut and made her way out of the apartment. I stood still, blinking my eyes rapidly, confused by her sudden declaration. I stood up abruptly and hastily rushed toward my window.

I peered at her through my window, trying to hail a taxi. She looked panicked and flustered. She was still crying her eyes out when she had gotten into the cab.

What terrible thing had she committed that she still feels guilty about after all these years? I can’t believe she would do anything to hurt me. She had been my best friend ever since kindergarten. She wasn’t a person who could bear to hurt others, otherwise she could have fought back against her own abusive father way earlier before I had to get involved.

And who was the ‘him’ she had mentioned? Something told me that she was referring to Justin, which further confused me. They weren’t that close since high school. Their contact was to a bare minimum. Also there doesn’t seem to be any problem between them. They have a smooth office relationship and they get along well too. She had said she had already lost him? What did that entail? They were still on polite terms…nothing was wrong between them as far as I could tell. I racked my brain trying to place what she had said but to no avail.