|| VALENTINA's POV ||
It was the least expected guy that I happened to see here. LUKA!! He stood there, dumbfounded. It seemed like he dashed here anxiously. His clothes were slightly disheveled, sweat dripping from his skin. He looked like in pain so much. I ignored his existence like a curse, refocused on the doctor who was informing us about Emily's condition,
" Tell me, doctor! How is the condition of my friend?"
Even Lorenzo said nothing upon his unexpected arrival. He held me tight, knowing how much it was affecting me too. When you are close to your best friend, you can literally feel her emotions as well. I never thought that she would go this far to prove her love for Luka. The doctor let out a heavy sigh, explained the matter in a pitiful tone,
" She is stable now but her future..I am afraid that she will never fall pregnant again..You should take care of her medical condition now."
Weeping like a child, I promised in a broken voice, feeling sorry for the unborn baby,
" I will, doctor..I won't let any scam get closer to her..noy anymore.. Can I see her now?"
The doctor nodded his head off, patted Lorenzo's shoulder to remind him,
" Take care of her. She is pregnant too. Don't give her too much stress."
Turning my face to Lorenzo, I told him, my heart tightened painfully,
" Let me visit her once. You stay here."
Before I could take a step forward, Luka's repulsive tone stopped me in my track,
" I..I want to go too.."
" FOR WHAT?? TO CELEBRATE??", I shouted back furiously, not caring whoever heard my voice. Tears poured down from my eyes to think that my best friend had actually sacrificed her entire life for this man.
What was the worth of a woman if she can't give birth to a child?
Luka stayed there in shock,his eyes moistened slowly. I didn't know whether he felt sorry or not but all I knew was that he didn't deserve to stay near my friend. Blurting my words out, I cursed him from the pain of my heart,
" You don't deserve, Emily. You don't deserve to be a father."
But Luka seemed persistent to follow me inside. When he raised his leg to follow my step, I warned Lorenzo who acted like a silent audience,
" If you let him come inside, it will be over between us, Lorenzo."
His lips were tightly pressed together after what I told her. Trotting on my slippers, I headed inside the ward to find Emily in that white bed.
Her eyes were seeming blank. Unblinking, she stared at the space ahead. Her usual white skin had turned pale now, looking dry and lifeless. As I moved closer to her bed unusually, she smiled up at me surprisingly,
" Hey baby girl!"
I choked on my tears, failing to control my emotions in front of her. When I sat down on her bed, she assured me with a forced smile,
" I am fine.. like really..Look at me..I can talk to you.."
I shook my head vigorously. Choking in my tears, I muttered weakly,
" You...how can you do this to yourself? Why did you hurt yourself because of a jerk, Emily? Didn't you trust me when I said that I will take care of your child?"
Emily had no severe reaction. However, her smile hid the deepest pain of her heart. It was more like she had matured overnight. Her calm and composed behavior confused me whether it was the same cheerful enemy that I knew or not.
My words had no effect on her emotions. It was more like she didn't feel anything. Rubbing on my back has to comfort me, she said something in a deep voice, leaving me speechless,
" Sometimes giving up is more peaceful than holding on."
__________
|| LORENZO KING's POV ||
" I can't let you enter, Luka. Go back!!", I warned Luka who was begging to see Emily. Whatever he felt at the end, it was too late. That's why, the elders always told us that do your work on time.
Luka asked again in a vulnerable voice,
" Lo..I just want to see her once...I really.."
I retorted back sharply, not knowing why the hell he showed up here all of sudden,
" Why?? Everything went according to your wish, Luka. She risked her life for you. Now, the child is also gone. Thanks to you, she is half dead. What more do you want from her?"
Luka took a step back numbly, his hands shaking on both sides. It was evident in his eyes that he was in pain. Perhaps, he wanted the child subconsciously. To defend his action, he began to mutter incoherently, tears welled up his eyes,
" You know why I said that, Lo. I didn't want the child to feel like an abandoned, unexpected child like me. Besides, I still love Stella. How can I.."
" Shut up!! I know nothing, Luka!", I cut him off midway, taking a step forward. Once we were close enough, I continued emphasizing each one of my words,
" I know nothing. All I know that the child needed his father to support him. But you failed yourself as a man. Now, do you know what I think? I am happy that Stella decided to leave you because she would have never accepted this monster like personality of yours."
Luka staggered a few steps back, fell on his knees before started sobbing openly. Some actions in life are never repairable. Maybe, Luka had realized today that he lost the moon while counting the stars.
________
|| VALENTINA'S POV||
Two months had already passed since the incident happened. Emily said on the phone that Luka had been following her everywhere. But she had lost the mood of talking to him. Emily had been taking therapies for a month. She got nightmares too often about the baby. That day was the only time that I had seen her smiling.
" You look great, girl! What's up?", I asked, laying comfortably on her couch. The smile on her face broadened, giving a positive vibe to tell,
" Guess? I got my job finally!!"
I jumped up to hug her, smiling big,
" That's fucking awesome! Congratulations!"
We hugged each others tightly, separated after a while. Looking down at my baby bump, she asked excitedly,
" Your stomach is so big now. I read on the news that Lorenzo is having his birthday soon. What did you plan? Don't tell me that you don't know about it?"
I chuckled at her words, sighed before moving on the couch to sit back,
" That's why I am here. I have gotten a few ideas but I don't know which one will work. I mean, he has everything. I don't know what to give him more."
Emily chuckled at my words, came forward to sit next to me. After giving it a deep thought, she said in a serious voice,
" Since he has everything, you can prepare something special for him. I mean, like no one else can give it to him."
I gave her a puzzled look, not understanding what could be it was since there was nothing that Lorenzo king couldn't have. Emily rolled her eyes, poked at my baby bump to tell,
" There!! Your little human! He is the most precious gift to him. Why don't you check on the doctor to know the sex of this baby? You can add something like sonogram of this baby..."
My eyes widened in surprise to hear her thoughts. An idea popped in my mind and I ended up kissing on her cheeks before making my way out,
" Thanks, Em! You are really my best friend."