Chapter 8
The next day (Sunday) Aff had an early up. She took a long shower, got dress and ready to leave the house. She grab her purse and left her room and headed her way down the stairs. It’s nearly 11am.
Ann: (saw Aff and stopped her) Aff, where are you going?
Aff: (turns to Ann) I’m going out to meet Rita for lunch and then we’re going to go make prints of the pictures from graduation.
Ann: Alright. Oh and did you put all your dirty laundry in the hamper?
Aff: Yea I did. The hamper is in the bathroom.
Ann: Ok…don’t stay out too late alright? Ken and Aum are going to be over for dinner tonight.
Aff: Ok, I’ll be home before then.
With that said, Aff left. Ann goes into Aff’s room and then went to the bathroom to get the hamper of Aff’s dirty clothes. She look around the bathroom to see if there’s any other dirty clothes items. She came across and saw a “stick” figure on the floor, right next to the trash can. Ann was curious of what it may be. She pick it up and was in shock of what her eyes just saw.
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At Thai Palace Restaurant:
Aff: I like to have som tum (papaya salad) extra spicy, and make sure it’s sweet and sour, along with fried chicken. And also a combination pho bowl please.
Waiter: Ok (turns to Rita) And for you miss?
Rita: Damn, Aff, you must be really hungry…because I’ve never seen you order this much food before.
Aff: Oh you have no idea…order your food. The waiter’s waiting for you.
Rita: Oh sorry.
Waiter: It’s alright. So, what would you like today?
Rita: I’ll have egg rolls for the appetizer.
Aff: Oh, make that 2 orders of egg rolls please.
Waiter: (turns to Aff and smiles at her) Sure thing (turns to Rita again) and what else for you miss?
Rita: And combination ladna.
Waiter: Would that complete your order?
Rita: Yes, that’ll be all.
Waiter: Ok, your food will be ready in about 30 minutes.
Rita: Thank you.
With that said, the waiter left.
Aff: So how was the party after I left last night?
Rita: It was alright. You know just the same old. People getting drunk and acting stupid and all that you know.
Aff: How did Rome do this time?
Rita: Fuck up as always! Worst than ever this time. Ugh, he was getting on my last nerves!
Aff: You always complain and complain, yet still always taking care of him.
Rita: Yet, I don’t know why I do. (Rita, then starts to smile to herself)
Aff: What’s with the smile?
Rita: Um, nothing.
Aff: Don’t lie to me.
Rita: I’m not…
Aff: Sure…don’t tell me…(Aff then changes the subject) well, um I took the test last night.
Rita: And?
Aff: …and…it’s positive…
Rita: (choke on her drink)
Aff: How did I not see that coming…
Rita: Well, what are you going to do now? Did you tell Aum yet? And what about P’Ann, how are you going to tell her? You know she’s not going to be too happy with this.
With all those questions coming to Aff from Rita, Aff was just feeling lost, scare of what’ll happen.
The food came, they ate and went to make prints of the pictures from graduation. After that, they went to walk around the mall for a little bit. After the mall, they split up and went home.
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It’s nearly 5pm when Aff got back home. She got her shopping bags out of the car and went inside the house. Aff went upstairs and enters her room.
Aff: Hey P’Ann (saw Ann sitting in on her bed and set her shopping bags down by the closet) What are you doing in here?
Ann: I just got done putting your clean clothes away.
Aff: Thank you (Aff then notice that Ann look quite upset) P’Ann, are you alright?
Ann reach off her to side and brought out the pregnancy test.
Ann: Got any explanation for this?
Aff: (Aff was shocked of what Ann just brought out to show her) P’Ann, I--(Aff got silence)
Ann: What happen to you? (starts to yell at Aff) I’ve never raised you this way!
Aff: (Aff had no idea of what to say. Except of what’s going through mind at the moment) YOU!! You’d always tell me what to do. I was sick and tired of hearing that from you all the time. That’s why before, half of the time, I never wanted to be home!
Just then Aum and Ken arrived at the house. They heard yelling and shouting from upstairs.
Aff: It’s because of you! For always bossing me around! That’s why I am who I am today!
Ann slap Aff across the face Ann felt hurt by what Aff just said to her. She was mad and angry and upset, all at the same time. Aum and Ken enter the room and saw Aff crying.
Ken: What’s going on in here.
Aff: (Aff was so mad that Ann slapped her) I HATE YOU!
Ann slap Aff across her face again.
Ann: Don’t you dare talk to me like that!
Ken: That’s enough already Ann! (held Ann back before she puts her hand on Aff again)
Aum: Aff, are you alright? (he held Aff by his side and comforts her, who was still crying)
Ann: (Ann didn’t care to listen to Ken. She stare straight at Aff. She soften her tone) Who did this to you?
Aff was silence.
Ann: I asked, who did this to you? (Ann then starts to shout again) Who the heck got you pregnant?!
Aum: (wasn’t sure if he heard Ann correct or not) Who’s pregnant?
Aff was still silence.
Ann: Aff, I’m going to ask you one last time, who got you pregnant?!
All Aff could do was cry and cry. She was so scare to tell Ann. Ann was trying to hold herself back. But it’s to the point where she can’t take it anymore.
Aum: (He was scare that Ann will put her hand on Aff again. He had to say it) I did!…I--I made her pregnant.
Ken&Ann: What?!
Ann: Aff, is this true? (stares at Aff)
Aff: (looks up at Ann) Y-y-e-s.
Ken: (Ken look at Aum and just couldn’t believe what he just heard) You have any idea what you’ve done?!
Aum: Yes, I know. (he look from Aff to Ann to Ken and back at Aff again and to Ann again) P’Ann, I’m very sorry for what happened. I know what I did was wrong. (looks at Aff, who is still crying) I’m willing to take responsibility for what I’ve done.
Ann: (Ann was speechless) I don’t even want to talk to you right now. Neither of you…Just leave…take her away from me right now before I hurt her again…GO!!
Ken: Just go for now. I’ll calm her down.
With that said, Aum took Aff out of the room and went downstairs. Ann broke down to the floor.
Ann: What did I do wrong?! (she cries) Everything I’ve done was for her own good. I just wanted the best for her.
Ken: Ann, sweetie, you didn’t do anything wrong. (pulls Ann in and hug her) It’s my brother that messed this up!
Ann: She hates me! Aff said she hates me!
Ken: Stop saying that! You know she doesn’t hate you! She only said that out of anger! (wipes off Ann’s tears) Stop crying now.
Ann: Mom and Dad are probably mad at me right now for not taking good care of Aff.
Ken: I said stop that now!
Ann: It’s true! I promised them that I will take good care of Aff, and look what happens?! I lead her to the wrong way. If Mom and Dad were still here, Aff wouldn’t be like this.
Ken didn’t want to say anything else because he knows that whatever he says will not stop her from saying what she feels.
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Downstairs:
Aum held Aff close to his side. Aff, who was still crying, let her tears down on Aum’s shoulder.
Aum: (pulls Aff off of his shoulder) Stop crying already (hands Aff a tissue) wipe off your tears. You’re all soaked up!
Aff took the tissue from Aum and wipe off her tears and blew her nose.
Aum: Ok, at least if you’re going to blow your nose, you could of turn away from me. (tease Aff)
Aff: (turns away from Aum)
Aum: I was just kidding.
Aff calm down her crying and turns back to Aum.
Aff: Look, what you said earlier about---
Aum: (he knew what Aff was going to ask him) Yes, I really mean it. I’m a man enough to take responsibility for what I’ve done.