Can a man and a woman be metely friends?
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Can a man and a woman be merely friends?
(ARIELLE’S POV)
I looked up to stare at the person I had bumped into. It turned out to be a young man, and in the fleeting moment I looked at his face, I couldn’t help but notice how attractive he was. His eyes were a drowning emerald green, and his features, chiseled and rugged, left me momentarily speechless.
I shook my head, snapping out of the spellbound. “I’m so sorry,” I quickly began to apologize.
I
My eyes darted a short–distance away, and I saw a phone lying on the floor. “Is that your phone?” I asked, not waiting for an answer as I scurried towards it, picked it up, and handed it back to him. “Fortunately, no harm was done to the phone. I’m sorry again.”
All this while, the young man had not uttered a word. And when he finally did, he had, an amused smile on. “No need to apologize, really. I should be the one apologizing.
I shook my head, “No, I was the one who wasn’t looking and bumped into you.”
He chuckled. “That makes it both of us, then. I was on my phone and not looking,
either.”
“Still, I’m truly sorry.”
He smiled. “It’s fine, really,” and quickly outstretched his hand, like he recalled something. “Forgive my manners, I’m Dwayne.”
Η
I stretched my hand to accept the handshake, but Ashley appeared, looking worried. Arielle, I have been looking for you. I told you to hold on while I take the call, and the next minute, you were gone.”
I withdrew my hand, cast Dwayne an apologetic look, and hurried off towards Ashley. “I’m sorry, Ashley. I didn’t mean to wander off. Come on, let’s go.”
Ashley followed me, and we walked off. “Who was that?” she asked, after we had walked a few meters away.
“No one,” I said with a dismissive wave. “He’s just someone I bumped into.”
She nodded. “Do you still want to explore the garden?”
I thought of it, but the image of Jared and Sofia conversing flashed in my mind, and I
+25 BONUS
Can a
man and a woman be merely friends?
quickly shook my head. I would rather not bump into them again. “No, I’m tired. I need to rest.”
“That’s right. Let’s head back inside,” she said and led me back to my hospital room. We got inside, and she helped me into bed.
“Try to rest, okay?”
I nodded, but the images of Jared and Sofia in the garden alone kept blocking my vision, making me restless.
The thoughts of what they could be doing or saying wouldn’t leave me, and I didn’t realize I wast
on the bed until Ashley’s voice interrupted my thoughts.
“Are you okay, Arielle. You seem restless, should I get the doctor?”
“I’m fine –”
“No, you’re not. Did something happen in the garden while I was answering the call?”
“No, nothing happened,” I quickly said, trying to brush it off. I can’t tell her I saw Jared and Sofia in the garden.
“Why do I feel like ” Ashley made to say, but the door swung open, and the doctor Wade walked in, an interruption I was grateful for because I didn’t have the strength for Ashley’s interrogation.
“We are back to check on you like I promised, Mrs. Smith,” Doctor Wade said, flashing me her signature smile.
I nodded and braced myself for the examination. She was done in no time and straightened up, signalling the nurse to hand her a file.
Her expression turned serious as the nurse handed her the file. “Mrs. Smith, these results just came in from the lab from the series of tests we ran on you. Congratulations, you’re two weeks pregnant.”
Silence descended upon the room as I couldn’t look up. I felt a knot in my stomach, and my heart raced with anxiety. What was I expecting? This was a hospital, and they were bound to find out. I’m even surprised it took them this long.
Ashley broke the silence, sounding surprised. “Are you sure, Doctor?” She asked, her eyes darting from the doctor to me.
Doctor Wade nodded, “Yes. Very sure.”
Can a man and a woman be metely friends?
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Ashley let out a loud scream and jumped on me, “You’re pregnant, girl! I’m going to be a godmother!” She wrapped her arms around me, and I managed to smile, trying not to give away my unhappiness.
I felt guilty for not telling her sooner. Seeing her this happy made me feel like a devil.
Doctor Wade, now smiling, said, “Congratulations, once again. I will take my leave.
now.”
But I surprised them, and me, by blurting, “Does my husband know?”
The doctor stopped in her tracks, surprised, and I felt Ashley’s arms around me, stiffen. “No, I haven’t seen him to break the news. Why?”
I shocked them further with my next words. “Can you please not tell him?”
Doctor Wade’s face stiffened, “Why, if I may ask?”
“Umm…” It’s our first pregnancy, and I want to break the news to him myself.” I winced inwardly at how easily the lie rolled off my tongue.
Doctor Wade’s face relaxed, and the smile returned to her face. “Alright, I wouldn’t ruin the surprise for you. Congratulations once again,” she said before leaving the
room.
After doctor Wade left with the nurse, Ashley continued squealing about being at prospective godmother, but I wasn’t in the right mindset to respond. She eventually stopped when she noticed I wasn’t as excited as her.
“What’s the matter, Arielle? Aren’t you happy to be pregnant?” she asked, concerned.
I sighed, “I am, Ashley.”
“Then why the gloomy look? And you don’t even look surprised by the news.”
I sighed again. There was no point keeping things from her. “I knew I was pregnant, Ashley. I have known all this while.
Ashley’s expression changed from excitement to shock, as her arms around me loosened. “You don’t mean that, do you?”
“I do,” I responded, and then proceeded to narrate how I discovered about the pregnancy on the eve of my wedding anniversary. Jared’s call that night, to the caller turning out to be Sofia, down to how I have not been able to break the news to Jared because Sofia kept getting in the way.
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“This is bad, and to think you have kept all of these from me. How many more secrets are you hiding from me, Arielle Smith?” Ashley asked,
upset.
“None, I promise. I’m sorry, Ashley. Believe me, I didn’t mean to.”
“Shhh…it’s fine. The past few days have been hectic for you, and I can’t blame you. Just promise you won’t keep things from me again,” Ashley said, taking my hands in
hers.
“Pinky promise. It’s never gonna happen again.”
“Alright. Your little secretive ass is forgiven.”
“Thank you.”
Ashley nodded in acknowledgement, and then her expression turned serious. “On a serious note, I think you should inform Jared. You can’t keep such a secret for long. Pregnancy is not something you hide-”
“I know, and I do want to inform him, but with his attitude lately, and Sofia clinging on to him like a life jacket, it seems impossible. I feel he will not react to the news the way I expect him to because Sofia will butt in and ruin the moment.
“Still, you should tell him. He is probably doting on Sofia because she is pregnant. Realizing his own wife is pregnant too, could do the magic. Don’t you think?”
I shook my head. “I doubt. I don’t think Jared’s sudden nonchalance towards me is because of the pregnancy. I think it’s because of his past with Sofia.”
“I don’t think
“Can I ask a question?” I asked, interrupting her.
Ashley looked surprised, but nodded. “Sure. Shoot.”
“Do you think a man and a woman can be together for a long period of time and be just friends?” 1
Ashley looked thrown off balance, and it was evident on her face. “I… I don’t think I understand your question.”
“Can a man and a woman be merely friends for a long period of time without growing feelings that are not platonic for each other?”
“Umm… I don’t think so. At some point, they should feel something for each other.
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Can a man and a woman be merely friends?
Why?”
I shook
7k my head. “It’s nothing. I was just wondering.”
Ashley gave me a reprimanding look. “No secrets, remember?”
I groaned. “Fine, I will tell you. Jared has been friends with Sofia for twenty years, yet he claims their relationship was strictly platonic. He only admitted to having a huge crush on her which he claimed he was over, and merely sees her as his best friend. Do you think he’s telling the truth, or I’m being paranoid.”
“I can’t say, but that night you two were rushed to the hospital, it was glaring that Jared cared about her. He was genuinely concerned and worried for her safety. On the other hand, you might be wrong, Arielle. His kindness might stem from a place of concern for her, since she is pregnant.”
I nodded, but I had a gut feeling it was more than that. Three years of being Jared’s wife and I have never doubted his intentions. But with Sofia’s arrival, that was beginning to change.
7
Maybe three years was not enough to know everything about a man. Maybe we should have dated for a year or a few months before we got married, like most couples do.
Too many “maybes” filled my head, until my head throbbed with a migraine.
“You should rest,” Ashley said, patting my back.
I nodded, but just as I rested on the pillows, the door went open and Jared stepped
- in.
“Hey,” he called, and gave Ashley a polite nod before walking towards me.
“Hi,” I called back.
“How are you feeling?” He asked, placing a peck on my forehead.
“Better.”
“That’s impressive. The doctor said you are responding to treatment, and you can be discharged tomorrow.”
I nodded.
“Do you want something?”
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Can a man and a woman be metely friends?
“No.” Then locking eyes with him, I asked, “where have you been?”
Jared paused, like he had not expected the question but quickly wore a smile. “I went to the cafe across the road to grab a cup of coffee. Why?”
“Oh, nothing. I was just wondering where you have been all afternoon. I hope you don’t mind, are you coming directly from the cafe?”
Jared gave a nervous laugh. “Of course. Why all this question, Arielle? Is anything the matter?”
Of course, everything is the matter, because you just fucking lied to me, Jared Smith!
But I didn’t say that out, I merely shook my head. “No, nothing’s the matter. I just came back from a walk in the hospital’s garden and I need to rest.”
At the mention of the garden, I saw Jared’s eyelids twitch nervously. I felt satisfied. I had struck a chord; He was lying, and he knew I knew.
