Consequences

April had been staying in Camille's apartment for almost two months now. Ever since what happened between her and Vincent in his penthouse on her eighteenth birthday, she had found different excuses to stay in her friend's place. Camille is the only person in school she got along with. However, Camille came from her out-of-town shoot for the advertisement she applied for so she was not there to even greet April for her birthday.

Camille heard all about her steamy night with Vincent as soon as April managed to return to the mansion to give her a call. April woke up and realized her nakedness with only the bedsheets covering her. She recalled what had happened as she hurriedly picked up her abandoned dress on the floor of the penthouse.

April felt relieved that Vincent was in the shower at that moment. So, she made her escape as quickly and as quietly as possible.

Since then, April avoided staying in Johnson's mansion. She only came to visit Amy, the sweet old chef of the Johnson family. She was the only reason why April returned every once in a while, to the mansion. Amy had been more like a mother to April than anybody else when she was adopted by the Johnsons 

Today, Amy made some spring rolls for April. She knew how much April liked them even when she was little.

"Thanks, Amy! I miss your cooking."

April said enthusiastically, as Amy handed her the container with spring rolls.

"If you miss my cooking a lot, you should stay here more often. Vincent had been asking where you sleep these days. Why don't you talk to him?"

Amy suggested with a gentle tone. She was fixing her cooking supplies at the moment. No one else was around that afternoon. The rest of the staff were busy cleaning up the main dining hall. They were getting ready for a dinner party later in the evening.

Upon hearing Vincent's name, April started to panic again. She didn't have the guts to face him after what happened that night. She can not explain to Amy what happened between her and Vincent.

"What's all the other staff busy about? Is there a special event later?"

April asked Amy to change the subject. Also, she had noticed how everyone was busy with preparations.

"Oh, Vincent's friend arrived in the country and they will be joining us for dinner."

Amy replied and was a little surprised that April had not heard about it.

"Oh, ok, I was not aware of that."

April said absentmindedly. Which friend was it? That was her thought at the moment. Maybe that was why Vincent was trying to get to talk to her.

"Will you be joining the dinner party later? I think Vincent would like to see you with them there."

Amy reminded her. But then, she was already doubting that Vincent would need her presence later.

"Oh, Amy, I have been busy with some projects with Camille. I will visit you again, I promise."

April replied and kissed Amy on the cheeks.

"Thanks for the spring rolls! Camille would love these!"

She added, waving goodbye to Amy before finally exiting at the back door for the house staff. She had been using this as her entrance every time she goes to the mansion nowadays. It was not only Vincent she was avoiding but also Mag. She used to be the housekeeper of Vincent's mother but eventually became the head housekeeper of the Johnson family when Vincent's mother passed away. Mag had always disliked April for being poor and adopted. That was why April preferred not to encounter her every time she visits.

April went straight to Camille's apartment afterward. She had picked up most of her clothes already from the mansion. Call it cowardice, she intended to stay at Camille's apartment than face Vincent ever again.

"Hi, April! So, have you talked to Vincent yet? He had been calling me several times in the past weeks. Why are you still avoiding him? It's not as if you've done something wrong. What happened that night was between two consenting adults!"

This was what Camille had to say to her as soon as she entered the apartment. Camille had always been supportive of her infatuation with Vincent. Also, she was very thrilled to find out that she was right about Vincent's attraction to her too. 

"And hi to you too! Camille, can you stop bugging me about it already? So, what did you say to Vincent?"

April was aware that Vincent was attracted to her but she didn't want to dwell on it because she had always felt that she was just like a little pet that Vincent loved to take care of. He had a lot of women around him. So why would he waste his time on her?

"I just gave him several unconvincing reasons like you were busy because you had to take care of stuff before graduation. You had to stay with me so I can help you with them, etcetera, etcetera..."

Camille faded off when she noticed the food container that April placed on the dining table.

"What's that?"

She asked eagerly to April, as she opened the container.

"That's my favorite spring rolls from Amy. Come on, let's eat...ugh!"

April replied but seemed to have gagged on something. She covered her mouth, as well as her nose upon smelling the spring rolls. She rushed to the bathroom to throw up.

"What's wrong with you, girl?"

Camille stared after her best friend; a bit worried.

"Don't eat those spring rolls, Camille. They smell rotten already."

April warned Camille, still throwing up in the bathroom.

"What are you talking about? They smell fine to me. In fact, they smell excellent, still warm. I thought they were your favorite? Why are you so averted to the smell all of a sudden?"

Camille said and covered the container again. She stared blankly, thinking. But she suddenly stood up to check on April in the bathroom.

"April, when was your last period?"

She inquired curiously to her friend.

April was washing her face already. She stared at Camille with a puzzled expression, lost in her thoughts.

"I had it last..."

She slowly walked towards the nearest chair at the dining table. She pushed the container with the spring rolls farther away, to make sure she will not catch the smell again.

"It can't be!"

She exclaimed with a panicked expression upon realizing something.

After an hour, Camille and April were both staring at the pregnancy test on top of the table. There was no denying it. It had two pink lines indicating a positive result. She was definitely pregnant.

Camille sat across April. They were both shocked by the undeniable truth flashing from that tiny tool.

"So, what do you plan to do now?"

Camille asked April in a gentle whisper. Until now, even Camille was not ready for a piece of sound advice for April in this kind of situation.

April stared at her friend for a few seconds. She was hoping she might find an answer by gazing at her friend. But right now, she felt like this situation was not something they could easily get a solution for.

"Well, I found out from Amy that Vincent's special friend has arrived and will be having dinner at the mansion tonight. So, I guess Vincent is truly occupied for the night and the coming days. Maybe he will not bug you to ask where I was."

April narrated to Camille with a hint of sarcasm in her tone. Deep inside, she knew Vincent would never take her seriously. What happened between them was just a one-night stand. Yes, Vincent was attracted to her but that was it. 

"You mean one of her women was able to get Vincent to have dinner with her at the mansion? That was the first! Anyway, that doesn't matter. April, you have to stop avoiding Vincent. You have to talk to him about this. Whether he is serious about you or not, is not what's important right now. He got you pregnant so he has to know."

Camille was now on a roll. She regained her composure, and right this moment, her friend's welfare was of utmost importance more than analyzing the difference between infatuation and love. 

"No, Camille! I was hoping to graduate first! Anyway, graduation will be next month already. After that, I will go abroad so Vincent will not find out about it. I don't want him to pity me or be forced to take care of me because of the baby. I will find a job there, wherever I'm going."

April seemed to have planned things quickly. She was still bent on not talking to Vincent about anything. She can handle this.

"After giving birth there, I will continue working abroad. Vincent doesn't have to know."

She was adamant on this matter.

Camille reached for April's hand and gave it a tight squeeze.

"April, you know how much I love you, right? But then, I know how much you love Vincent as well. You can deny it all you want but I think I am right on this. I know how independent you are too. Despite the fact that you were adopted by a wealthy family, you have never relied on their money or influence to get your way or have an easy life. But please, if you want to raise this baby on your own, you have to be an adult to face Vincent. You cannot hide from him nor hide that you are having a baby. You have to tell him."

Camille advised her friend sternly.

"Can you please give him a call now? It's about time you talk."

April nodded to her friend in defeat. She was aware that Camille was right.

She stood and took her phone from her bag. She saw the numerous missed calls registered on her phone. She pressed the call sign and waited in line.

"Hello, April?"

She heard Vincent's voice at the other end of the line. He sounded extremely surprised to receive a call from her.

"Hi, Vincent! We need to talk. I know you're busy tonight with a dinner party. Maybe tomorrow we can meet?"

April said, tentatively.

"Aren't you joining us tonight?"

Vincent asked, a bit hopeful.

"Why? Who's your guest?"

April inquired curiously.

"Remember Doreen? The younger sister of Leah? She arrived from abroad and her sister Leah insisted on having dinner with us."

Vincent explained.

"With you, not with us!"

April interrupted. Of course, she remembered Doreen, especially Leah. How can she forget those two? The Smiths, like the Johnsons, were rich and influential as well. Leah was the older sibling with the bad attitude, while Doreen was the quiet and reserved one. So, Doreen had arrived. She was the nicer one. In fact, April thought she was very friendly to her.

Their family-owned several establishments in Atlantic City. Even the pharmacy across Camille's apartment was run by Leah. The pharmacy... where April and Camille bought the testing kit from.

"Hey, April! Please don't be like that. Doreen is your friend, right?"

Vincent asked, which made April stop her musings.

"We can talk now if you like? I am free. You can go over to the penthouse. We can meet there. It's now four in the afternoon."

Vincent added.

That penthouse again, what was he thinking?

April wondered what Vincent really planned to do.

"Okay, I will meet you there."

April agreed, still a bit reluctant, then she ended the call.

"So, you're going to talk to him?"

Camille asked.

"Yes, he said to meet him at his penthouse."

April informed Camille.

"Of course, where else?"

Camille commented in an amused tone.

Camille embraced April and pushed her towards the door before April changed her mind.

But on the way to the penthouse, a black-tinted van blocked April's way. Two men wearing dark suits came out and grabbed her in both arms. She didn't even have the chance to scream for help.

Who are these people?