Planned Baby

“It was Hadley again?! When will she ever stop?!” I hissed.

I somehow treated her as a friend because of the time we spend in America. But this is too much!

“But why will Nick listen to her?” I suddenly asked.

“Because Nick is in love with her,” Ellie answered.

I was not shocked at all. I knew from the start that Nick has a thing for Hadley. I knew he approached me for a reason. I just let him be because it will be an advantage to me if ever Nick will succeed in winning Hadley’s heart.

I looked at Ellie. She looks like she was waiting for me to react.

“You already knew?” Ellie asked.

I nodded at her. “It was pretty obvious. But I didn’t expect that Nick will do this to us.”

I treated him as a friend. Even though I know his motive, I still treat him as my real friend. I feel so betrayed right now.

“Wait! You knew about it but you still make friends with him?” Ellie asked a bit lost.

“Yes. I don’t see any harm in that. I mean, I will be thankful if Nick can win her heart. Then all our problems will be solved.” I honestly told her.

“Then do you also know that he planned to bring you to that club where you met me again?!” Ellie added.

I sighed and nodded my head again which made Ellie’s eyes widen. “Yes. I thought at that time, he was already desperate to make me fall for someone else, so he can finally get rid of me.”

“He knew about our past when he did that,” Ellie said.

My eyes widen from what she just said. Nick already knew about my past with Ellie? How come? I only knew him when I went to America and we never talked. The only time I had a proper conversation with him was when we had a business meeting which resulted in LHI and Hearst partnership.

“What do you mean?” I asked. I need Ellie to elaborate on it for me.

Ellie told me everything that Nick and her talk about. From her intuition to his confrontation with Nick. She also shared with me Nick’s confession, about his plan and the things he did to make his plan succeed.

“I should thank Nick then.” I blurted out.

“Ulie!”

I chuckled then I kiss her on her temple. “Don’t worry I will make him pay for messing with your company first.”

“What will you do?” Ellie asked a bit in panic.

“Don’t worry Ellie. I’m sure Nick expected this to happen. Just trust me okay?”

***

After I talked to Ellie, I went straight to Nick’s restaurant.Copyright Nôv/el/Dra/ma.Org.

“Welcome, Mr. Escarrer.” The manager welcomed me when he saw me entering the restaurant.

I just nodded at him. “Where is Nick?”

“Mr. Hearst is in his office.”

“Thanks,” I told him then I walked straight to his office.

I open his office without knocking.

“Ulysses,” Nick said when he saw me.

“What the hell is going on Nick?!” I asked even though I already heard it from Ellie.

“You’re a bit late. I’m sure that Ellie explains it to you.” He said.

“Yes, but I want to hear it from you.”

“Oh, you don’t trust her?”

I grab his collar because I didn’t like what he said.

“Enough with you messing up with us. Tell me what the hell happened? I know you like Hadley but I didn’t know that you were this dog willing to do everything she wants just to please your master.” I said in gritted teeth.

“Relax dude. Release your hand. You know that you shouldn’t do this to me. If it wasn’t for me you will never be with Ellie right now.” Nick said still calm.

I removed my hand from his collar but I still looked pissed.

“How did you know about Ellie?” I asked him.

This is the real reason why I went here. How far is his investigation went?

“I investigate your past. Remember the time that you told me that you feel like something is missing in your life? That no matter how hard you try to remember it you just can’t?” Nick asked.

I nodded at him. Since Quen and I haven’t reconciled yet, Nick became a good friend. I always told him about my heart longing for something or someone.

“I remember hearing from Hadley and Enrique about a girl named Penelope. As per Enrique, she is someone you shouldn’t meet.” Nick said.

I frowned. “What the hell are you saying? Why will he say that?”

“I also don’t know I am not close with the guy. All I know is, that Penelope girl is the reason why he is avoiding you.” Nick explained.

I don’t get it. Why Quen didn’t want me to meet Ellie? And why now, he is okay with it? Is Ellie really connected to my suicide attempt? But why? Am I guilty or something?

“When you told me that you feel like something important in your life is missing, I had a hunch that maybe the person you are referring to is the girl named Penelope. I hire someone to look for that Penelope and the rest is history.”

“What did you find out about Ellie?”

“That you were almost a couple when you were in the University but you cheated on her. She left the university and you guys have never met again since then. But you are looking for her. You also hired someone to look for her because you lost communication with her and she did not go to the university that you suggested to her. She also moved out from her house.” Nick added.

I can’t confirm nor deny what he just said. Many things happened in the past but none of those are in my memories.

Why can’t I remember something important as this? My head started to hurt.

“Ulie are you okay?” I can see the worries on his face.

I nodded at him. “Did it trigger your memory? Did you remember something?”

My forehead creased because of the fear I saw in his eyes.

“Why do you look so scared? What’s with my memory for you to act like that? What else do you know?!” I raised my voice.

Then my head starting to hurt. It’s more painful now.

“I should call a doctor or Ellie. We should stop this topic. This is not good for you.” Nick said a bit in panic.

“No! You tell me, Nick! What else do you know?!”

I was not able to hear Nick’s voice because I passed out.

***

“What did you tell him? What do you know?”

“I didn’t know this will happen to Ulie okay?! He already knows those story and it didn’t trigger anything. I didn’t know why the hell he passed out okay?!”

“What do you know Nick?”

“Everything okay?! I know everything that you know! And I know why you kept Ulie in the dark! I understand you that is why I also kept it from him.”

Those are the words I am hearing now. I wanted to open my eyes but my body seems like don’t want to open it yet.

I dreamed about a girl. She kind of looks like the younger Ellie.

I always call the girl my Quinn. She always blushed whenever I call her that.

She was beautiful even in her glasses. She was a typical nerd but it suited her. She’s the most beautiful girl that I have ever seen in my life.

We were happy whenever we’re together. I keep on teasing her. I also love the taste of her lips. It was so soft and sweet.

I saw a girl approaching me. She asked me to meet her on the rooftop. Seems like I know the girl. She started to confess her feelings for me.

I told her that I’m sorry because I can’t like her. Then the girl asks if it’s because of Penelope. I just nodded at her.

She cries and keeps on telling me how much she likes me. Then I was surprised when she suddenly kissed me. I was caught off guard.

Then Ellie saw us kissing. The girl left while we are arguing. I am not yet ready to confess my feelings for her. I am not ready to admit it to myself yet. Instead of confessing my feelings for her. I acted like a jerk.

Ellie looked so hurt. I wanted to punch my face when I saw her leaving.

“Ulie, what’s wrong? Ulie!”

I was awake from a long dream. Then I saw Ellie was crying. I touch her face and wipe her tears. I hate seeing her crying.

“What happens? Where am I? Why are you crying?” I asked her.

“You are in the hospital! Nick brought you here. You passed out after your argument with him. Then I saw you crying in your sleep. I got panic that is why I wake you up.” Ellie said while sobbing.

I grab her to hug her. “Hush now my Quinn. Stop crying. I’m okay.”

“But you were crying!”

“Yes, I am because I hurt you. You saw it wrong my Quinn. I did not cheat on you. I did not kiss the girl.” I told her.

I was happy when I found out that I did not cheat on her. The girl was the one who kissed me and not the other way around.

“I saw it with my own eyes! You two were kissing!”

“She kissed me. That’s different. If you waited more, you will see that I will push her.” I explained.

“Why will I wait for you guys to finish?! W-wait! Do you remember it? Did your memory come back?”

I smile and nodded at her. “I think I did.”