Chapter 15

Teresa threw up her stomach contents because she couldn't stand the smell of the food constantly wrestling in her olfactory cavity.

"Come on, let's go to the doctor, Dear," said Ruby.

Teresa shook her head, "no need, Mom. I'm fine. I must be just tired," she refused.

"Are you sure you're throwing up like this? You must be sick, Teresa," Ruby denied.

"You don't have to go to parties so late. Just study properly and ignore your friends!" said Raymond.

Ruby turned her head, "Dad, your girl is sick. You even scolded her. You can give her good advice, not so angry, besides, naturally, she wants to have fun with her friends. She's still young," he defended.

"Just keep defending. One day you'll regret your defense," Raymond snapped.

Teresa, who felt that the atmosphere was no longer conducive, chose to leave. "I'll just go to my room, Mom," she said goodbye.

Ruby nodded, "Okay. Don't go to campus first and just rest," she said.

Joana's eyes followed Teresa's footsteps as she walked into the room. Teresa and Joana shared the same room, and their room was the largest in the house.

Even though they are in the same room, Teresa and Joana have their own bed, cupboard, and desk to store their belongings. Even so, the two still share whatever they have.

However, this time Joana felt something was not shared with her. There's been something strange lately with Teresa, and Joana doesn't know it. Too bad the clock pushed her to go to school immediately.

***

After school, Joana quickly went into the room, looking for her sister. When Joana came home, Ruby and Raymond were in the garden so she would be able to freely ask Teresa about what had happened this morning.

When Joana entered the room, Teresa was sleeping on her back in bed with strawberries on her stomach.

"What are you doing?" asked Joana, who felt strange about the strawberries on her sister's stomach.

Teresa turned to Joana, then took the strawberry and ate it. "Nothing. Why?"

Joana, still wearing her uniform, then plopped down on her bed. "What's wrong with you this morning?" she asked curiously.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired," Teresa replied.

"Are you sure?" asked Joana looking doubtful.

"Yeah, I'm fine. Don't worry," Teresa said.

"It's not like that," Joana got out of bed and moved over to Teresa's. She sat beside her sister and said, "you seem to be hiding something."

Teresa frowned, "hiding what?"

Joana shrugged, "how do I know? What are you hiding?" she asked.

Teresa shrugged, "nothing, Joana," she replied, looking away.

"Really, but why do I feel you're hiding something?" Joana became more and more curious.

"That's just how you feel," Teresa replied casually.

Joana narrowed her eyes, looking more and more doubtful about her sister, "I know you very well, sister. I know you are hiding something," she said.

"Never mind. Go over there, change your clothes!" said Teresa while pushing Joana.

"Just tell me if you're afraid to tell mom and dad," Joana pleaded.

"Tell you what?" Teresa got up from her sleeping position and sat down, looking at Joana, "go on. go take a shower or whatever. You stink so bad," she ordered.

"Do I stink?" Joana frowned and then smelled her own body, "no, really, no gym class today. I don't sweat much," she argued.

"Go away, or I'll throw you in the tub!" Teresa insisted.

"What? You're going to throw me in the tub. You're so mean!" Joan protested.

"Hurry up. I can't stand your smell anymore!" Teresa exclaimed, which surprised Joana and made her feel even more strange.

Joana was forced to leave, leaving Teresa in the room. She then cleaned herself and changed her clothes. But whatever Teresa was hiding, maybe she just needed time to share it with Joana.

***

Teresa was in and out of the toilet early in the morning, causing Joana to wake up. She also looked at Teresa with a furrowed brow. "Sister, what's wrong with you?" she asked anxiously.

After Teresa felt relieved, she went back to her room and sat on her bed. She did not answer Joana's question and instead cried there.

Joana became increasingly worried and immediately sat down next to her sister. "Sister, what's wrong? Why are you crying?" she asked again.

Teresa then hugged Joana, "I'm so scared, Joana," she sobbed.

"What are you afraid of?" Joana was even more confused.

Teresa sobbed, "I'm pregnant, Joana. I'm pregnant," she regretted.

Joana was shocked to hear that. "What?!You...."

Teresa nodded, "I didn't think this would happen to me," she regretted it again.

"How come? Why did you do it?" asked Joan.

"I don't know, Joana. I didn't do it on purpose," Teresa replied.

Joana rubbed Teresa's back. "Come on, calm down. Don't cry too loud, then mom and dad can hear you," he said.

"Will they be mad at me?" Teresa asked.

Before Joana could answer, she first saw Ruby in the doorway and looked at Teresa with her blazing eyes.

***

In the end, Teresa was taken to the obstetrician by Ruby and Raymond. Doctors said Teresa was 10 weeks pregnant.

Once at the house, Ruby and Raymond sat in the living room in silence. Meanwhile, Teresa came into the room and cried, regretting her actions. Joana looked at her sister in the room with pity but didn't know what to do.

She then sat down next to Teresa, who was crying. She touched her sister's shoulder and caressed her gently. Teresa then fell into Joana's arms and burst into tears.

Joana couldn't say anything. She could only rub Teresa's back in disappointment. The most beautiful girl she had idolized so far had set her a bad example.

Ruby and Raymond repeatedly sighed as if a ton of weight had suddenly fallen on them. Raymond massaged his head while Ruby began to cry, lamenting her failure as a parent.

"Now, what should we do?" Ruby asked, sobbing.

"Of course, we have to marry her," Raymond replied.

"But the lecture isn't over yet," Ruby objected.

"The problem with college, can't she stay in college or if she quits after she gives birth, she can continue her studies," Raymond replied.

"Then who are we going to marry him to? He doesn't even want to say who his father is?" Ruby asked again.

"Who else, if not Jeremy. He's her boyfriend. After all, he hasn't been seen here lately. He must know Teresa is pregnant and intends to let go," Raymond accused. Then he rose from his seat and met Teresa in the room. He saw his eldest daughter crying in her sister's arms. Raymond then asked, "Dad ask again, Teresa. Who is the father? It must be Jeremy, right?"

Teresa was silent and only sobbed as she lowered her head.

"Who, Teresa?" Raymond asked again in a forced tone, but Teresa remained silent. Raymond sighed in disbelief at his daughter's silence. "Girl, you've embarrassed me. Don't make it difficult for me. This is your own path, for yourself," he complained.

Teresa didn't budge and remained just crying. Joana turned to her sister and touched Teresa's shoulder. Come ask who the father of the baby she is carrying is. But Teresa remained silent.

Raymond took a shaky breath, then decided, "if you keep quiet like this, fine. I'm sure you did it with Jeremy. Tomorrow we'll see him!"

***