I No Longer Belong To You

She's Pregnant

I would have believed Nathan's drama if I did not wake up from my comatose state to see him kissing and touching Julie in the hospital. He was careful with the details, but I could see right through him. Every act of pretense did not go unnoticed.

I remembered Nathan at this point, as the man I used to know. Growing up, Nathan genuinely cared for me. When anyone came between us to insist that we must not be together, Nathan will fight and bark at such a person. The act he was currently putting up in front of his mother used to be Nathan’s default state to me, but not anymore.

Now, he was a shadow of the man I used to know, and with every day that passed, he became worse.

While Nathan was putting up his act, I could see him winking at his mother, signaling for her to pretend like him and fall for his antics. Like a professional actress, Mrs. Cane gave me one last disapproving look, then she gracefully walked away.

‘’Jennifer, you mean so much to me. Don’t worry, Julie will soon be completely fine. The doctor said that Julie is getting better and you will stop giving her your blood after five more times.’’

Five more times? I almost let out a bitter laugh but my heart was too surprised to show my feelings. Nathan planned to drain my blood for five more times while I was dying by the second of cancer.

I breath in and then out, weighing what he said. I didn’t feel upset with Nathan even though he was saying all the wrong things. I didn’t feel sad either, all I did was breathe, and then I said; ‘’If Julie means so much to you, then you can have her. I know you want to try to kill me because of Julie.’’

As soon as I said that I could feel Nathan’s blood pressure drop. His face turned white as he stared at me, shocked at what I had just said. But like he was used to doing, Nathan had more sweet words to lie to me with. He opened his mouth to say something but he was interrupted by a loud shrill.

‘’Ahhh!’’Someone screamed from the hallway – someone whose voice we already knew. Julie! As soon as Nathan heard her voice, he came back to life and took heavy strides out of the room. I followed him slowly, already knowing the drama that was unfolding.

Anytime Julie saw that Nathan was getting soft and romantic with me, she would put up an act to distract him from giving me attention. This was just one of those episodes.

‘’Julie!’’ Nathan’s voice cracked as he called Julie’s name when he saw her on the floor, weak and fragile.

‘’Quick, call Dr. Pat! Why is nobody doing anything?’’ Nathan screamed as he held Julie close to him, asking her to hang on. I just watched the drama, smiling secretly at what I knew was a deliberate ploy by Julie.

Dr. Pat arrived quickly, and I heard Nathan asking him; ‘’does she need more blood? I thought you said that she was fine for the next one month? If she needs more blood, I can call Jennifer, she’s in the other room.’’

Dr. Pat checked Julie and shook his head with a smile. ‘’No, she doesn’t need more blood. Congratulations, Julie, Mr. Cane – she's pregnant!’’

After the doctor finished speaking, it was as if an order for silence had been instructed by a superior authority. If a pin dropped on the ground at that time, I was sure I would hear it land o the floor.

Everyone paused. At that point, I waited to see Nathan’s reaction because I could predict it. Like I guessed, he was happy. No, he was over joyed.

Like a kid who just alighted a merry-go-round, Nathan broke into happy wails as he hugged Julie and shook Dr. Pat, thanking him.

He held Julie closely, touching her gently as he anticipated their baby. As if he did not drain me to the extent, I was even afraid to get pregnant because of how weak I had become. As I stood watching Nathan and Julie, the only regret I had was that nothing was new.

Countless times, I had seen Nathan and Julie in different parts of the house, doing it. They thought I had never seen them, but I had. However, instead of me to react to the situation at once, I kept on making excuses for Nathan. I gave him the benefit of doubt that his heart belonged to me, regardless.

What a fool I had been – the more I held on to Nathan, the deeper he cut me. I usually told myself that, ‘Nathan is trying to look out for me. Since I am always giving my blood to Julie, he was afraid that I was weak, so he relieved himself with Julie.’

Without feeling anything, I looked at Nathan and smiled. I had become so numb towards him; I knew that nothing could make me feel anything for Nathan anymore. Absolutely nothing. I was done.

Julie held Nathan as lovingly as he held her, and they exchanged tender kisses while I watched them, saying nothing. With all that had changed at the background, and with what I had planned, there was no need to retaliate or complain. I just took note of everything with a bitter smile.

Dramatically, Mrs. Cane entered, singing Julie’s praises; ‘’Julie, my good luck charm. Congratulations. What a woman you are, already pregnant with a Cane heir. How pleasant. You bring so much joy and luck to the Cane family.’’

While Mrs. Cane said that, she gave me a knowing glance as if to say; ‘’this is the type of woman I want to marry my son. Continue to give her your blood so that she can be healthy enough to give birth to this baby.’