Chapter 3 "Problem"
1132 Words
Archie paced back and forth inside Arwena’s hospital room, occasionally glancing at his friend, whose face was still pale.
Earlier, when she passed out, he blamed himself. He had insisted on taking her out. But after hearing what the doctor said, he could no longer stay calm. He didn’t know how Arwena would take the news about another problem in her life.
She had only just begun to forget the painful events that had shattered her.
He stood beside the hospital bed, where his friend was still sound asleep. He watched her, praying she would stay strong and not lose hope in this new challenge.
"Archie..." Arwena called groggily.
"Wena, how are you feeling? Are you still dizzy? Nauseous? Does anything hurt?" Archie asked, his voice filled with concern as he gently stroked her forehead.
Arwena smiled and held his hand. "I’m fine. Maybe I just felt overwhelmed by the noise and the crowd earlier," she replied.
She tightened her grip on his hand. "Sorry for worrying you again, Archie. I ruined our fun. Don’t worry. Next time we go out, I’ll make sure I won’t feel dizzy or nauseous."
Archie forced a smile as he stroked her hand. "You did worry me a lot. I was terrified when you passed out. But you shouldn’t apologize. It wasn’t your fault," he said, though he couldn’t look her in the eyes.
His mind was in chaos.
He wanted to tell her the news, but seeing her smile made him hesitate. It was the first time he had seen her smile like that, a genuine smile, not a forced one.
"Arwena, do you want to talk to the doctor?" Archie asked, unsure how to begin.
"No need." She smiled and let go of his hand.
"Are you sure?" Archie asked again, exhaling softly. "You might want to ask the doctor about your condition, about why you passed out."
"No, I’m fine now. I feel much better. Besides, you’ve already talked to the doctor, right? I don’t have any serious illness, do I?"
Archie let out a nervous laugh, which made Arwena laugh too.
"That’s why you should just let me leave this place. I don’t want to stay in the hospital, Archie. I don’t want my bill to pile up," she said, trying to swing her legs off the bed.
"Wena, don’t move too much yet. The doctor said you can leave tomorrow and advised you to rest," Archie replied.
"Rest? It’s not like you don’t know that resting is all I’ve been doing. That’s why you insisted I go out, right?"
"Just lie down and stop complaining. It’s not just rest you need, Wena. You also need to avoid stress and cut back on coffee," Archie said carefully, trying to hint at what he was struggling to say. But it seemed his approach wasn’t working.
It was as if she didn’t care about what he was saying. All she wanted was to leave the hospital and rest at home.
"Cut back on coffee? That’ll stress me out even more! You know coffee is my stress reliever, like your vape. Didn’t I tell you several times to quit vaping? But you didn’t, because it’s your stress reliever," Arwena said with a laugh.
Archie scratched his brow. "I’m going to quit vaping. I promise I won’t vape again, especially when we’re together. The smoke is bad for your health and mine, too," he said, stumbling over his words.
"Good that you finally realized that. I guess I had to pass out before you stopped," Arwena laughed.
But Archie couldn’t laugh. He fiddled with the blanket, avoiding her gaze like a child hiding something.
Arwena took his hand and shook it lightly. "Archie, what’s wrong? Why do you look so down? You seem more troubled than I am. Do you want to switch places?"
Archie forced a smile but looked down. Arwena began to notice that something was off in his behavior.
Archie was usually lively and always laughing despite his bossy nature. He had a soft heart but could be demanding. He was kind and gentle only with Arwena, though he could be harsh with others. He was also very masculine, something that attracted many women, especially those who didn’t know him well.
"Archie? Are you hiding something from me? Is there something you’re not telling me?"
Archie closed his eyes. This was the moment he had been dreading, but his tongue felt tied. He took a deep breath and sat beside her.
"Arwena, whatever you hear, please don’t be shocked."
"Archie, that depends on what you’re about to say."
"Just keep an open mind and don’t let your emotions take over."
"Why are you beating around the bush, Archie? Am I seriously ill? Am I about to die? Is that why you’re acting like this?" Arwena asked irritably, though deep down she was nervous about what she might hear.
What if she really was sick? What would happen to her dreams? To her parents, who still held a grudge against her?
"Archie, just say it. Don’t make me overthink!" Her voice rose slightly, her anxiety growing with every second of his hesitation.
"Well, Wena, the doctor said..." Archie trailed off again. He rubbed his head and moved toward the window as if he couldn’t bear to see her reaction.
He took another deep breath and turned to face her. "Wena, the doctor said you’re eight weeks pregnant," he finally managed to say.
But the reaction he expected wasn’t what he got. She smiled, an unsettling smile, as she looked at him. Slowly, Archie walked toward her bed.
"You’re joking, right?" Arwena asked with a smile that froze Archie in his tracks.
He watched as the smile on her lips slowly faded. She already knew he wasn’t joking.
"Wena…"
"No!" Arwena shook her head repeatedly. "No, Archie! This isn’t true. You’re joking. This isn’t true, Archie. It isn’t true!"
Tears poured down her face. Her frantic questions and cries echoed through the room as she thrashed like someone losing her grip on reality.
"Wena, please, calm down!" Archie tried to soothe her, but he couldn’t. She threw everything she could reach, and even he wasn’t spared from her blows.
"Archie, I don’t want this! I don’t want this, Archie!" Arwena screamed, hitting her stomach as Archie desperately tried to hold her hands.
"Wena, stop! Nurse!" Archie shouted, unsure whether to call for help or just keep calling her name.
The nurses rushed in and administered a sedative through her IV. After a few moments, she began to calm down.
Archie slumped into the chair beside her bed, his heart heavy as her voice echoed faintly in his mind.
"How can I start a new life now, Archie? How can I ever face my parents again?"
- Writer
