Star steeled herself for the inevitable storm. She knew what was coming: the yelling, the anger, the cruel words that would cut deep. But she was prepared. She had to be.
After texting her cousin, Leila, and urging her to meet at the junction, Star waited anxiously. Leila arrived in a hurry, concern written across her face.
Leila: "Why the urgent call? What's going on?"
Star: (without a second thought) "I'm pregnant."
Leila: "Wait…what? How? I've never even seen you with a boyfriend! Who's the father?"
Star: "That's exactly what I asked myself when I found out. I didn't even know until I missed my period and started feeling sick. I went to the doctor, and she confirmed it... I'm pregnant."
Leila: "Who's the father? Are you saying you've never had sex? How is this even possible, Star?"
Star: "You sound just like my mom will when I tell her… Look, let me explain. A few weeks ago, I met a guy. We hung out, and he invited me over to watch movies. But when I got there, he locked the door. Then, he started touching me, kissing me everywhere. I tried to fight him off, but he overpowered me. I blanked out, and when I woke up, I was alone. I felt pain down there... but I didn't care. I should've cared more. I'm an idiot."
Leila: "Star... You were raped. And now you're pregnant with his child. You need to report this, right away."
Star: "I thought about it... but where's the proof? It's been more than three days. The police won't believe me without any evidence. What's the point?"
Leila: "So, what are you going to do? You know your father won't hesitate to kick you out, right?"
Star: "Yeah. I know. I'm ready for the yelling and the insults. And as for being kicked out... I was thinking maybe I could stay with you for a while. Please?"
Leila: "After what happened between our moms last year? You know my mom made it clear she doesn't want anything to do with you or your family. And now, with this pregnancy... you know how it'll go."
Star: "I thought she might've forgotten."
Leila: "Star, you really messed up. Do you realize how everyone in the family looks up to you? If they find out about this... I don't know what'll happen."
Star: "I know. I messed up, but I'll fix it. I'm not going to throw my life away."
Leila: "And who's the jerk who did this to you? What kind of animal does that? Just takes what he wants and leaves?"
Star: "Leila, calm down. I don't need you to attack a man I don't even know. I need you to be there for me, not make things worse. I went to his place today... but no one was there. I left him a letter under the door."
Leila: "A letter? What did you write?"
Star: "I told him. Told him I'm pregnant with his child, even though he probably doesn't care. He needs to know that his semen is growing inside me."
Leila: "We need to find him. We should go back tomorrow morning. But have you told your mom? I don't think you should tell her yet."
Star: "What do you mean? I can't keep this from her. She'll see it soon enough."
Leila: "Listen, Star, if you tell her now, it'll reach your dad. And you'll be out of the house before you know it. I have a friend who lives near your college. Maybe she can let you stay with her for a few days while you figure things out. I'll bring you food. And you need to find a job. You can't just live off snacks now that you're pregnant."
Star: "That's not a bad idea... The recess ends in three days. I'll tell her the day after tomorrow."
Leila: "I've got your back. Always. Don't let your star dim, girl."
They shared a brief laugh, hugged, and parted ways.
The next day, Star and Leila met again. Star had written a letter to Steffy, reading:
"Hi Steffy, every action has a reaction, right? Well, the consequence of yours is that I'm four weeks pregnant with your child. You may not care, but you should know, your semen is growing inside me. – Star"
They went to Steffy's place again, but as expected, he wasn't there. Star slid the letter under the door before they left.
At home, Star tried to distract her mother with chores, hoping to buy some time. But her mother was suspicious, watching her closely. As they cleaned her room, her mother broke the silence.
"Star, you've got a glow about you. Everything okay?"
Star froze. "What? Oh, nothing's changed. I've just been taking better care of my skin."
Her mother didn't seem convinced. "Are you sure? That glow... it says more than you think."
Before Star could respond, her phone rang. "It's your friend, Frieda. She wants to talk to you. Take the phone."
Star's heart raced with relief. Her mother took the phone, and the conversation lasted long enough to keep her distracted.
The day finally came when Star had to confront her mother. She gathered her courage, took a deep breath, and walked into the living room, clutching her medical report close to her chest.
She muttered to herself, "When someone holds something close to their chest, it's either an achievement or a success. But this? This is an uninvited joy. One that wasn't planned, wasn't expected. One that brings no happiness."
Her mother walked into the room, and Star couldn't hold back any longer.
"What's that? Why are you holding your medical report?" her mother asked, her voice sharp with suspicion.
Star handed it over, and her mother's eyes widened as she read the words: One month pregnant. The shock hit her like a freight train. She staggered, as if the news had knocked the breath out of her.
She was devastated. And Star? She was ready for the fallout.