“Jose? What are আপনি doing here?” Alejandro asked in surprise.


Jose stepped অগ্রবর্তী and I had to admit: He was handsome, but no Alejandro; Alejandro was the only man for me.


“Didn’t Mom tell you? I was sent প্রথমপাতা while the campus is getting cleaned from a flu outbreak,” I guess he noticed me, “This must be your girlfriend. I never thought that আপনি would have done this well, Al. She’s beautiful,” He stepped over to me, pulling my right hand up and স্নেহ চুম্বন it, “Pleasure to—“


He didn’t have time to finish; I used my hand to slap him before he could. He must’ve been too shocked to continue on.


Jose laughed, “She’s feisty, isn’t she?”


“Damn right I’m going to be feisty,” I snapped.


“You could do so much better than Al, maybe someone like me.”


“Fuck you,” I growled under my breather, but I don’t think he heard me.


“Just leave her alone, Jose,” Alejandro stepped in.


“Oh, I’m just getting started, Al.”


“Don’t call me that!”


“Oh, Alejandro,” Mrs. Burromuerto came out of the kitchen, drying her hands on a towel, “You’re home, and আপনি brought Heather with you. How are আপনি dear?”


“Fine,” I replied.


“Can আপনি come here for a minute, Heather?”


I nodded and followed her into the kitchen. She motioned for me to sit down at the table, which I did. She sat down across from me after she laid the towel that she had been holding onto the counter, “I’ve seen how you’ve been অভিনয় recently.”


“I don’t understand what আপনি mean.”


“I can tell that you’re pregnant, dear, and you’re showing, which added to my suspicions.”


I was speechless. She knew? So many other প্রশ্ন swarmed around my mind.


She reached across the টেবিল and put a hand on my upper arm, “I’m glad that it was আপনি that Alejandro got pregnant and not one of the পূর্ববর্তি girlfriends he’s had.”


“Um…”


“I’m not angry, either. I’m disappointed that he went and did something like that, but we can’t change what’s happened, can we?”


“No.”


“I just want to let আপনি know, if আপনি need anything, don’t be afraid to ask.”


I nodded. I didn’t know what else to say. I was speechless still. I couldn’t believe that she had figured out. Was it that obvious? And if it was, how many other people knew?


I had so many things on my mind as I stood up from the chair I was sitting in. I must have stood up too quickly because before I knew it, everything went black and I couldn’t feel anything. I just felt so limp.