Ryan and Raina

Chapter 1 Reunion

Raina looked out blankly to the sky from her seat in the steps in front of the bank. The security guard eyed her suspiciously, but she had no more energy to care. Her step mother kicked her out of her father's house for being pregnant before she got married, and boy, did she moved fast, cutting her credit card and access to her bank account. She'd only just getting out of the ATM, and the rain came down hard like it's trying to flood them. 

"Raina? What are you doing here with that suitcase? You're not running away, are you? " She looked back and saw Ryan, her senior from school. He had always been kind to her. The sight of him putting a cellphone into his backpack made her burst to tears. Ryan pulled the younger girl to his arm. "Hush, what's wrong?" The question made her cry harder. He sighed and signaled the security guard, asking him to bring his car to the front door. "I'm pregnant, Jeremy wanted me to abort the baby and my stepmom kicked me out" She sobbed "what about your dad? " "He's away on business trip, I can't contact him… Mom took my gadgets and cut me out from my accounts" "Okay, have you had lunch?" She shook her head on his chest. "Let's go eat. Do you want something specific?" "No, I can't eat. Ryan, I'm scared. I only have some change in my wallet, and that's before I took a taxi here." "Don't worry about that. Come on" He took her suitcase and loaded it beside his in the baggage and threw her backpack to his backseat. 

They stopped at a restaurant where Ryan forced her to eat lunch. "Eat what you can. Think about the baby. I'll finish the rest." Raina nodded reluctantly, her appetite was so low with the uncertainty of her future. Ryan had to coax a few mouthful before she pushed her plate to him. "Call your dad. You can use my phone. " He pushed his cellphone to her. She shook her head. "I'm scared. He'd be really angry. He was talking about a marriage arrangement before he went for the business trip two months ago. He doesn't much approve of Jeremy" Her eyes filled up again "I proved him right. I'm going to be a single mother at 18, I can't even afford going to the doctor, let alone think of the baby's future"

Ryan stared at her thoughtful then shook his head. "First of all, your father loves you. He'd be disappointed, hell I'm disappointed, not because of you disrupted his plan, but because he wanted the best for you. But it's your call. You can call him whenever you're ready. Secondly, you're not alone. You have me, and I will help you, starting with taking you to that doctor. Which doctor do you want to see? " 

"I have no idea. I just… got the symptoms and did  a test at home, then I called Jeremy to tell him. But Ryan, I can't impose on you like that… " Raina sniffed. "Sure you can. You're my friend Raina, friends help each other. Or...you can be my family. I'll be your baby's father. " Raina gaped at him. "You would do that? But…why? " Ryan took a deep gulp of his juice and said seriously. "My dad kicked me out today for failing to get to his choice of law school for the third time. I was thinking on how I don't have any family left. He already removed me from our group chat, and I was going to Surabaya, because I have a place there, and I was thinking should I get a dog so I didn't get lonely before I met you. It's up to you though, either way, I'll take care of you. "

He looked at her. "So, how about coming with me to Surabaya?" Raina tilted her head. She really didn't have a better idea. "I'll go, there's nothing left for me here. But about your proposition, can I think about it? " Ryan shrugged "sure. Let's get going. I had a meeting in 4 hours."

Ryan was paying when his phone rang. "Ryan! Where are you? I just heard from mom. No matter what he said you're still our brother" His sister Kate screeched with tearful voice. "I'm on my way to Surabaya, Kate." "No, you can stay with me or Jared." Someone said something in the background. "Kate, I have a place there, don't worry." "Do you need anything? We can transfer you some money. Or I can ask to be transferred to Surabaya. " His sister said in a rush. "No need. I have my savings, I've closed my allowance account anyways. You need to stay there to take care of mom and dad. Though, do you know any good obgyn in Surabaya?" "My friend Santi practiced in Siloam Surabaya. Why?" "Can you send me her contact number? It's for a friend. " "Sure." "I have to go now, got a meeting in Surabaya right after I arrived. Bye Kate, send my love to mom and Jared. " "Bye Ryan, keep in touch. "