Hidden pains

Episode ten

Pammy: gem, I think you are behaving like a pregnant woman you should go for a check-up. (sitting on the bed)

Four: are you alright can a man get pregnant?

Pammy: I am not sure, but he is been having pregnancy symptoms. I don't get it. (Worried)

Gem: Stop it, Pam! You are frightening me. (Angrily)

Pammy: I am sorry, Gem.

Gem: All right, (he walked to his bed and yawned)

Four: Are you feeling sleepy again? (Being surprised)

Gem: Yes, I am. Is anything wrong? (acting cute)

Four: Yes, I believe we should follow Pam's advice and have you checked out.

Gem: shut up!! And leave me alone!! (He shut him up before he could finish his sentence.)

Four: look at what just happened. This is what we mean when we say you constantly change your mood and become angry for no apparent reason.

Pammy: And I saw you in the dining room feeling nauseous at the smell of eggs, and you did not even touch any of the eggs.

Four: To join this, you constantly crave different kinds of foods. (Looking at Gem, listening to their complaints)

Gem: Are you suggesting that I go for a checkup? (Terrified)

Pammy: Yes, Gem.

Four: I do not know what to say, gem. You know Pammy is not smart, but I think we should listen to her advice to figure out what is wrong with you. (Pats his back)

Pammy: Gem, (She stands up from the couch and moves closer to him on the bed) You are my best friend, but I do not understand all of your symptoms; you continue to glow even when you are sick. I think you should get a checkup. (Frankly)

Gem: I am not going to the hospital. (Faced Pammy) Could you get me a pregnancy test or two?

Pammy: Are you sure, Gem? (Looking at him).

Gem: Yes, I am. (nods)

Pammy: Okay then.

Four: Do not worry, Gem; everything will be fine.

Gem: I think so. Pammy, are you going back today? Did you find a house yet?

Pammy: Not yet, but I will be sleeping over here tonight.

Gem: OK, thanks.

Four: I am leaving now, Gem. Take care of yourself and do not worry too much about it; I will always be there for you. Okay?

Gem: All right, you can leave now. Thanks

Four: Pammy, take care of him. (Faced Pammy)

Pammy: Sure thing. Bye bye. (Waves her hand)

Gem: goodbye (waves his hand).

Four: OK, see you tomorrow. (He left.)

Gem: I am feeling sleepy. (yawning)

Pammy: Okay, you can sleep now. I will go downstairs to check on Mrs Minnie and the others.

Gem: (nods) You can go, let me sleep a little, and please lock the door.

Pammy: okay (she left and locked the door as he said).

(It was almost dinnertime, and Gem had not come down yet. His parents were concerned, so they decided to check on him. When they opened his door, they saw him crying in his sleep, having nightmares, and they rushed to him.

Mrs. Kim: wake up, gem. (she touches him and notices how he is sweating)

Mr. Kim: I believe he is having trouble breathing! (Looking at him struggling to breathe)

Gem: Please... It hurts.... (cries).

Mr Kim: Gem, wake up!

Gem: Don't....no, no, no (cries).

Mrs Kim: wake up, baby. Open your eyes, gem. (shakes him until he wakes up)

Gem: (he wakes up and hugs his mother, crying) Mom, Dad, you are here. (In a terrified expression)

Mrs. Kim, we are and will always be here for you (patting his head).

Mr Kim: Son, could you tell me and your mom what happened to you? You have never had nightmares before, so why now?

Mrs Kim: Yes, son, did someone bully you at school? You look sick and scared...

(Pammy noticed that Gem's room had been opened, so she entered and found Gem's parent on the bed on the bed with him. (She rushed to them)

Pammy: Uncle, aunt, you are here, what happened?

Mrs. Kim: Yes, we came to check on him and found him having nightmares.

Pammy: Oh, not again.

Mr. Kim, do you know he is been having nightmares?

Pammy: no....I.....I (unsure what to say).

Gem: (gem looks at her) Yes, she knew, and she has always been there for me whenever I needed her.

Mr Kim: We are very sorry we are not here with you, son. Can you tell us what happened?

Pammy: Aunt, uncle, it is nothing. Do not stress about it.

Mrs Kim: You were aware of what had happened to him?

Mr. Kim: If he is not going to say anything to us, you should.

Mrs Kim: please tell us about it.

Pammy: Nothing... he is fine....I

Gem: Leave her alone! Let her be!! Do you want to know what happened to me? Fine, I will tell you. (Looking furious)

Pammy: Gem.....

Gem: Pammy, do not worry, I will tell them.

Mr Kim: (looking at the two of them) Stop keeping us waiting. Say it.

Gem: I was r***d!! I was r***d, do you get it now?!

Mr. Kim: What!? What do you mean, r***d?

Mrs Kim: Yes, son, what do you mean by "being r***d?"

Gem: Yes, I was r***d! (While crying, he told them everything that had happened to him.)

Mrs Kim: I am sorry son, we are not here when you need us (cries).

Mr Kim: I am sorry, son (hugging him).

Mrs. Kim, do you go for a checkup?

Mr Kim: He can't! (He shouts out.)

Mrs. Kim: Why not?

Mr Kim: Do you want them to know our son was r***d?

Mrs. Kim: No, but...

Mr Kim: But what?

Mrs. Kim: Nothing.

Mr Kim: Pammy, thank you very much for looking after our son. I appreciate it.

Mrs Kim: Thank you, Pammy (she hugged her while crying).

Pammy: It is okay, aunt, uncle. I am willing to go to any length for my friend.

Gem: You should go back now. I need to sleep now. (lying down to sleep)

Mrs Kim: sleeping again, I think you should come down to eat or ask someone to bring you food (drying her tears)

Gem: No, I am not hungry.

Pammy: Do not worry, aunt, I will bring him something to eat.

Mr Kim: Okay, thank you, Pammy.

Pammy: No problem. Please, aunt, keep the light on at all times; he is afraid of the dark, and it has triggered his trauma.

Mrs. Kim: Okay, thanks. Good night, my dear.

Pammy: Good night, aunt, uncle.

(They both left for their rooms, unable to sleep. Thinking about what happened to Gem, blaming themselves for not being there for him when he needed them.)

*Next morning*

Four: Good morning, gem.

Gem: There is nothing good about this morning.

Four: Okay, I get it. Where is Pammy? (Looks around the room)

Gem: Not here; she went to get a pregnancy test.

Four: Okay.

Gem: I told them last night.

Four: What do you mean...wait, you told your parents? How did they take it? (Shocked)

Gem: Yes, I did, and they apologized for not being available when I needed them.

Four: They should be because you needed them the most back then (nodding).

Pammy: (knocks on the door) May I come in?

Gem: Sure.

Pammy: I am already in. Hi there, four.

Four: Is that how you greet in the morning?

Pammy: This is how I will greet you.

Gem: Did you get the test?

Pammy: Oh, yeah. (She brings it out of her bag and gives it to him.)

Gem: (taking it from her, nervously) How to use it.

Pammy: Just pee on it and bring it out; I will lay it down here to see the outcome. Do not be nervous, okay? Do you want to do this?

Gem: Sure. (He went to the bathroom.)

(A few minutes later, he brings it out and hands it to Pammy, who places it straight on the table to see the result.)

Pammy: what! is this the result? Wait a few minutes and complete the task exactly as I instructed before returning it to me.

Gem: What exactly do you mean?

Pammy: Leave this for a minute to check on. (Looking at four.)

Gem: Just wait a few more minutes?

(A few minutes later, he went in to do the same thing as she instructed and gave it to her, the results were the same.)

Pammy: What! The results are the same.

Four: what happened, Pammy?

Pammy: He is pregnant.

Gem: What!?

Pammy: You are pregnant.

(His parent was about to knock on the door when they heard what Pammy said. They both rushed in.

Mrs Kim: What did you just say, Pammy? (shocked)

(They all appear surprised and scared to see them standing at the door.)