16. Keya

The next few days passed was me staying the hell away from Tyler’s domain, minded my own business and pretended that we don’t share the same roof. The classes in the university has resumed two days ago, and I’m not gonna lie that the commute from Tyler’s house to campus is a total pain in the ass.

I always arrive at my morning classes five minutes late and it’s quite annoying because I have never been late in my whole life. I’m a stickler on being on-time but I haven’t adjusted to my new set up at the moment.

Because aside from the long commute, I kind of love to sleep in. Ever since I got pregnant, I always prefer to sleep more than anything else and I guess that’s also the reason why I gained a lot more weight that clearly makes my pregnancy even more obvious. I’m fourteen weeks along, things are getting obvious by now but thank the heavens that I can still hide my baby bump a little bit.

“Girl, I haven’t seen you for only two weeks and you gained weight like you’ve just quarantined yourself eating only but cheese.” Amanda commented.

After two weeks of not seeing each other, my friends and I decided to reunite during lunch. Our lunch break schedule kind of coincide so it’s really nice to spend it with worthy people.

“Yeah?” I said as I sip my iced tea. “Honestly, all I did the whole two weeks was staying inside my room writing my dissertation, eat and sleep all throughout the day.”

“By the way, you didn’t mentioned your new place. Where are you currently living now?” Lily asked. “I haven’t heard anything from you these past two weeks, how are you Keya?”

“Gaining weight, obviously.” I replied completely trying myself not to stutter because I’m about to lie on their face. “I was able to rent a place uptown, for a cheap price.”

“Oh really? That's quite too far from here?” Lily wonders.

“She’s been arriving late at her classes, you're attendance on biometrics might suck. You'll be fined for arriving late that's for sure. ” Jessy commented, we always arrive at the same time in the office so she noticed my tardiness these days.

“But here’s a good news." She added. "Did you heard about Thomas Underwood?"

"What about him?" I asked completely stunned by the mention of the name.

"He's the new instructor of the Physics department. So you'll be seeing him everyday now." Jessy shrieked obviously mocking me.

Honestly, my friend’s expressions at the moment after hearing Thomas’ name is up in the roof. Everyone is so giddy and pushy in squeezing my reaction out of it.

Well, I kind of feel a bit giddy too, who am I kidding? Thomas and I went on a date during my first years in graduate school several times, but when he graduated he moved to New York and we lost communication right after that. So we didn't actually got the chance to work on our relationship, and now, there's no point in doing so since I am already pregnant.

"How did you know?" I said kind of horrified and afraid that he'll see me like this. Like, pregnant!

"We actually talked right after my class earlier this morning, we bumped into each other in the hall. He was asking about you." Jessy answered.

"Oh my god! I can't wait for you guys to reunite and pick up the pieces." Lily said looking like a five year old.

“Oh please, I don’t really look forward to it.” I said answering everyone’s questions.

“Why?” Amanda said.

“Because I am now pregnant."

“Oh.” Amanda supplied which sends me to give everyone the look of ‘so-just-stop-it’. “Speaking of which, how was the father himself?”

I sighed. “Good. He’s been giving me the things that I need.”

In the past two weeks since the scolding incident happened, I have only seen him once a week when he’s giving me money to go buy some vitamins and all the necessities I needed for my pregnancy and that’s just it.

The money so far just all went through my drawer. I don’t want to spend it, to be honest. Besides, my job can sustain my needs and I still have extra money to send to my family in Edinburgh. My plans on the money that he’s giving me is for the baby, I’ll surely use it once I finally give birth but not yet now.

“Has he been checking up on you all the time?” Lily asked in complete concern.

I nodded although he is not. “But uh—he won’t be visiting me that often starting this week. According to him, he’ll be constantly on the road now for games.”

Tyler didn’t specifically told me that, Jamie did.

The guy is really kind, he keeps on checking up on me unlike the biological dad. He’s the one who keeps updated about Tyler doing during their games. I didn’t ask for it to do that, but I guess Jamie just knows that Tyler just doesn’t care about me so Jamie is trying to fill in the gaps, maybe. I don’t know but I totally appreciate it. Jamie seems like a good friend, Tyler doesn’t deserve him!

“Damn, you’re now experiencing what hockey wives and girlfriends feel when their man are on the road for games.” Lily commented.

“I’m not his wife nor girlfriend.” I reminded her.

“There might be some possibilities.” Amanda inserted.

“Nope. Never!”

“Oh come on, you were all over him.” Amanda mocked.

“That was before I found out that he was a huge asshole.” I quickly answered, because that is the truth.

There’s a zero possibilities of us being a couple based on the way he treats me, and I don’t have plans on jumping from beyond the line because I realized that I don’t like the guy. Right now, the only reason why I am sticking with him is because he’s currently helping me somehow with my situation but I swear once I graduate and done giving birth, I’m out!

-

After my last class of the day, I immediately went straight to the office to rest for like thirty minutes right before I head home.

I removed my blazer first right before settling on the couch inside our department, there are only few instructors left in here so I kind of felt free to chill out like I am just in my own house.

"Your baby bump is starting to get obvious." Our department chairman Steve commented when he saw me.

Everyone in the office already know that I am pregnant, I was keeping it as a secret but since majority of them are already on their forty's they definitely know how to spot pregnant woman when they see one.

"I know," I said chuckling as I rub my belly.

"Have you already filed your leave ahead?"

"Yeah I did filed an idefinite leave. I won't be around for the second semester." I answered Steve he was the one who advised me to file my leave ahead so that I won't have a hard time processing it and struggle to get an approval from the administration.

"That's good to know."

After my little chitchat with Steve, I decided to take off. I have to be early since finding a cab that will send me straight to Tyler's address is really hard. His house is pretty far from downtown and there are only few taxi drivers are kind enough to drive me there.

I can't afford to go for an uber everyday, I am saving up!

"Keya?" Someone called up as I walked out of the office.

I know that voice, and as I turned around it was Thomas.

"Thomas!" I said trying not to sound so surprised but my tone tells otherwise.

"Oh my god, it is so nice to see you again." He said immediately giving me a hug but then stiffed when he felt something.

As he releases the hug, he stared on my belly in complete shock painted on his face. I just chuckled and rubbed it instead to give her the message that what he is thinking is true.

"You're pregnant?" He asked, horrified if I'm not mistaken.

I only managed to nod.

"Oh! Who's the father?" He asked but I brushed the question away.

"It's a long story. How are you?" I asked trying to sound enthusiastic.

"Good." He answered still staring at my belly. "And I guess you're good too?"

I only nodded because I know I am not, and I just have to lie.

"Can we talk? I really needed to catch things up with you." He said. "I have gone MIA and I feel really guitly for--"

"Thomas, there's no need for you to explain things." I started there's no point in doing so, we're already over right before things even started and it's been years and I am already pregnant.

"I just really need to apologize."

"Well then, apology accepted." I said plastering a smile.

"Is your husband picking you up?"

"No. I don't have a husband Thomas." I said chuckling.

"Oh, I mean you're boyfriend." He supplied.

"No." I just said.

"Well, can I drive you home then?"

"Sure."