The Richman - Awake

Christabell moved her hand trying to wake up from her long sleep. There were so many dreams she had, moving and changing, about the Ritz, about Richard, about bad things with Brandon, about Mrs. Norah, and finally about the kidnapping, it all confused her. And when she opened her eyes, Richard sat next to her and held her hand the whole time. As Richard felt the small, faint movement of Christabell's hand, he immediately realized that Christabell was awake.

"Hey..." Richard immediately rose from his seat and bent down to make sure Christabell recognized him. "This is me." Richard brought Christabell's hand to the side of his face, her eyes glazed over to Richard. Her feeble hands rubbed against Richard's face, while her lips trembled against the tears.

"It's ok, you'll be fine." Richard reassured Christabell. "I am here." Richard rubbed Cirstabell's face, the man was so relieved that Christabell finally regained consciousness.

"Am I still alive?" She asked softly.

"Of course, you are all right." Richard kissed Chritsabell on the forehead and made the poor girl cry. Richard rolled it in a hug. "Everything will be alright." Richard assured Christabell.

The nurse came upon realizing that Christabell was awake. She checked Christabell's condition and coordinated with the Police to allow them to ask some questions to complete the case file.

The police came in and asked Sheina some questions and after that they left. Leaving the nurse who changed the infusion as well as Richard who did not move from the room.

"How do you feel?" Asked the nurse named Nichole.

"Better." Christabell replied.

"You have to stay healthy, so that your baby is healthy too." Said the nurse before leaving Christabell's room. The woman froze at the word baby. She looked shocked, and chest rising and falling, trying to control herself from the shock, Christabell turned her head toward Richard. "What did the nurse just say?" She asked softly. "She's talking about babies?" Christabell's brows knit deep.

Richard's jaw tightened briefly, he stared at Christabell deeply, "You're pregnant." Richard replied softly.

Christabell's eyes ran, her lips pressed together. "No way." She muttered softly. She looked at Richard deeply. "Are you leaving me?" She asked terrified.

"No." Shake Richard. "Of course not."

"Really?" Christabell's eyes lit up. "You don't reject this baby?" Christabell asked again, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard.

"I almost lost you, and now I've got you again, plus the bonus. Of course I won't reject you two. Eternity comes to my life Christabell, and our baby." Richard kissed Christabell's forehead and made Christabell's tears fall. She cried full of happiness.

Richard was out of Christabell's ward at midday, when Christabell began falling asleep again. For some reason, she loved falling asleep, Ricahard was worried, but the nurse assured that it was a natural thing for pregnant women to experience, especially in the early trimester of pregnancy.

Richard went out for coffee in the cafeteria. Even though in the room he told Christabell that he would accept the baby and his mother, in fact Richard still did not understand the situation. So far, he has never been interested in commitment, one reason is because he does not want to have children.

Richard never liked children and he did not feel the happiness of his childhood. For Richard, his childhood was the most terrible thing, he did not want to grow up to be like his father who could not pay attention to him. And she doesn't want to raise a child who will become like her when she grows up, a man with a lot of childhood bitterness.

He himself is still confused about how to spend the days with Christabell after today. How many years would he survive being married to Christabell if the marriage really happened between them? It's really terrible because at this time the image of the destruction of his parents' household haunts him. Will he be like his father who is too busy with his work to neglect his mother, until finally his mother dies and that becomes the biggest regret in the rest of his father's life? Or will each of them get tired of the monotonous relationship and end up separating? Making their child a victim?

Richard took a sip of coffee, his jaw clenched once more. He tried to compromise himself, that Christabell's pregnancy did not happen because of the girl's own fault, but the biggest contribution came to him. And Richard should be responsible for caring for their baby. But should there be a marriage between the two? Richard thought hard about it.

***

Inside the room, a nurse comes in and checks Christabell's condition. While doing her job, she took the time to chat with Christabell.

"Your husband is very loyal, he takes care of you all the time, you are very lucky." Said the nurse.

"He's not my husband." Christabell answered with a wry smile.

"Oh, sorry. I thought you were married." Regret the nurse.

Christabell smiled bitterly once again, "I'm carrying the baby, but we may never get married." She replied, and it stunned the nurse for a moment, but then changed her expression.

"You don't want a marriage, especially after you two have kids?" Asked the nurse.

"He does not." Christabell replied sadly. Indeed, Richard promised that they would raise the baby, but Richard did not mention anything about marriage.

The nurse smiled, she squeezed Christabell's hand softly, "May he change his mind. I wish you and your baby all the best."

"Thank you." Christabell answered, she just shed tears at the hope of nurse Nichole.

"Get some rest so you can recover quickly." Said the nurse before leaving Christabell's ward to see the condition of other patients. As Christabell inched on her side, her gaze shot far ahead. Thinking what his fate will be like after this.