Chapter 6

Unwanted Child!

    Coming around again, loud noises in the OB/GYN ward spilled into Doctor Aun’s ears. Although the doctor didn't know how he got here, he only knew that he felt dizzy and feverish, like he would have a cold. The young man rose from the chair in front of the examination room and went straight to the station. However, he was taken aback when he saw Nurse Pia standing up to greet him.

    “Hello... Petch and Traithip, right? Professor Kawee is waiting for you now. Please come in.” Then the young nurse led them to the professor’s examination room. Turning to look behind his back, Doctor Aun saw a woman named Petch and her husband named Traithip following Nurse Pia. Then the doctor knew right away that the young ghost wanted to tell him her past story again. So, he chased the three to the examination room, where he might as well find out how the killed victims were involved in the ghost's death.

    Professor Kawee was sitting at his desk reading some documents when there was a knock on the door. So, he folded and put the paper down to let people behind the door enter his room.

    “Come in.”

    "Excuse me, Professor Kawee... Mrs. Petch and Mr. Traithip are here." After speaking, Nurse Pia opened the door for the patients who the professor had scheduled to enter. Then the nurse excused herself to proceed with her task.

    “Sit first, bro… and Petch.” Professor Kawee stood up and invited his friend to sit down. After being seated, Traithip stumbled out to ask about the results of the check-up.

    “So how was it, Kawee?... How were the results? Petch and I are fine, right?”

    “Petch’s is fine. But yours has a bit of a problem.” Professor Kawee stammered to tell his friend's semen test results.

    “Problem… what’s the problem?”

    “The result of your semen test turned out to be Azoospermia (1), also known as a condition in which semen does not contain sperm, or you basically are barren.” Professor Kawee didn't address much in detail because he knew that his friend would be too shocked to process anything at this time.

    “You’re saying that… I can’t have children in my entire life, right?” Traithip's tone was disappointed. He turned to look at his wife, who had an utterly shocked expression on her face as well.

    “It wasn't that bad. In the medical field, there are many other ways in which you can have children. But you might need to further check-up and it might take time. So, I don't want you to proceed now because your mental state also affects your body. I want you to take it easy first. Then you can come to test the chromosomes to find out the spermatogenesis of the testicles. Let's just say you go home and relax for now. When you're ready, you come back for the test again.” Professor Kawee suggested, which Traithip nodded as if he understood what the professor said. But inside, he still felt disappointed… disappointed with himself for his inability to have children… disappointed and afraid that his wife would regret knowing that he was barren. The words 'perfect family' were drifting away further and further from him.

    After that day, the couple unconsciously created an invisible wall between themselves. Traithip became depressed and down in the dumps. His physical health deteriorated steadily as he drank to drown his sorrow. On the other hand, Petch always tried to cheer him up by saying that there was still a medical way to allow them to have children together. Or if there were no other ways, an orphan was still their choice. However, it was not what her husband wanted at all. A child who was not his bloodline... No matter how much one loved the child, it was impossible to love someone else’s child wholeheartedly. Most importantly...if any man knew that he was impotent to have an heir, none would be able to put a smile on their faces... Traithip thought so.

    Petch was sitting in front of the house waiting for her husband. It was almost midnight now, and he had not returned yet. In the past few weeks, practically every day, the husband came home right before dawn in a drunken and almost unconscious state. Even though she tried to comfort him, he would complain about his inability to have children. Her words seemed to be aborted. People like Traithip had always believed in their thoughts. So, it was difficult for anyone to convince him otherwise.

    As the sound of the engine accelerating approached the house, Petch immediately rose. The husband's beautiful sedan was parked in place. Before Traithip stumbled out with a drunken expression again, as usual, his wife hurriedly rushed to support him. However, she was flung off by her husband until she collapsed on the cement floor.

    “Get off… I’m worthless. I’m a living embarrassment.”

    “That’s enough, Trai. I’ve never regretted not having children. But what I’m regretting now is that you’ve changed.” Petch reduced into tears. Hearing that, Traithip stopped dead in his tracks. He turned to look at his wife and grinned.

    "Liar! I saw you cried, you were regretting this, and one day you will leave me. Because I’m not worth it. Because I can't have children for you, Petch!"

    “Stop this bullshit!” Petch got up and slapped him so hard that it turned his face. “The reason I cried is because you are acting like this! If you won’t change, I will file for divorce!” The wife wiped away her tears after finishing her sentence. While she was storming into the house, Traithip was left standing stunned at what he had heard.

    Was it over?... The happy family he had dreamed of...

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    Petch ran into the bedroom crying. As she was about to lay down on the bed, she felt unbearably nauseous. The wife rushed to the bathroom to vomit. She thought she must have been very stressed, so nausea symptoms appeared. But this nausea was not the same as before; it was so severe that her world was spinning. Most importantly, her period didn’t come ...or did it?

    Impossible...how could she get pregnant...when Traithip was barren!

    To make sure, Petch went to buy a pregnancy kit from a drugstore in front of the alley to check on the next day. She almost lost her mind after seeing the result.

    The result came out that...she was pregnant!

    Was she really pregnant? It was not true... there must be some mistake. So, she went to the clinic for a thorough examination again to be sure. And the result was...

    “Congratulations! You are two months pregnant.”

    It was as if her whole world collapsed. What on earth... She had never slept with any man besides her husband. Or it was that day...

    The day that she would remember until the day she died...

    Petch felt uneasy at her husband's attitude after finding out the results of the test last month. The young woman decided to call Professor Kawee to make an appointment for a consultation. The professor accepted, and he asked the young woman to meet him at his condo one evening...

    In fact, Petch did not want to meet the doctor alone. That was because they had a 'skeleton in the cupboard' from when the doctor was only a medical student, and Petch was a junior at the same institution. She secretly fell head over heels for Kawee. Everything was a secret until she met Traithip, a senior and Kawee’s friend in the club for community development. Traithip declared his love for her and kept courting her. Even though she didn’t initially accept his feeling, she agreed to be with him to use Traithip as a bridge to Kawee.

    On the night of Traithip's graduation party, Petch took an opportunity when Traithip was drunk to be alone with Kawee privately and confessed her love for him. However, the answer she got from the senior had disappointed the young woman. It was not that Kawee denied her confession. However, he responded that he wanted 'something more.’

    “I have known all along that you have a crush on me. Your friend was the one who told me.” He smiled slightly as he drank up the intoxicating drink. Petch's face turned red, and she felt an irresistible hot flash on her face.

    “I just wanted to tell you, that's all. I don't want anything in return.”

    “But I want…" he said before turning to look at the bustling restaurant where no one paid attention to them. So, he placed his palm on Petch's lap. His hand slowly slid down under Petch’s short skirt while his gaze conveyed his desire. Pulling herself together before falling into the abyss, Petch swiped off the senior's hand and stared at his face in disappointment.

    “Why are you doing this?”

    “Oh… well, a woman confesses her love to a man like this. Anyone will think that you want something.” Upon hearing her senior’s accusation, she slapped him hard on his face. Tears of disappointment flowed down her face.

    “Damn! I shouldn't have fallen in love with an asshole like you!" saying that she ran out of the restaurant and left her senior, who still had a smile at the corners of his mouth. He couldn’t care less about her feelings.

    And that was why Petch decided to get over Professor Kawee and only paid attention to Traithip’s love until the couple ended up getting married. Her wedding day was the last day she met Professor Kawee. After three years, she saw him again for the first time at the hospital for a check-up.

    Petch secretly hoped that time would make him forget about that night, similar to her, who was trying to forget. So, she could genuinely see him as her senior like before...

    “Hey Petch, you are here. Come in.” The doctor invited Petch into his room. The woman walked in with uncertainness before sitting down on the long sofa in the living room of his condo. The doctor served water to his junior and sat down on the opposite side. His smile was so charming that she couldn't help but be moved by his smile.

    “I'm sorry, Petch, that you had to come to the condo. Just today I...I don't have any shifts, so I don't want to go out. About the important thing that you want to consult with me, I suspect that we need to talk for a long time. Talking in a private place like this would be more comfortable. If we talk at the ward, the talkative nurses might gossip about us,” he reasoned. Petch nodded her understanding and went straight to the point.

    “What should I do? No matter what I say, Trai doesn't listen to me at all. He is just giving it all up."

    "My friend, Trai, is acting like this again. He is making a mountain out of a molehill. I’d already said that there was a way to make you pregnant, but he didn't believe me at all. He has been like this ever since... You know that, right?" The doctor asked and the girl nodded. “Let’s do this. I'll call him to discuss the details again. If he still doesn't listen again, I'll kick him in the ass. This idiot is still acting like a child. How can he be a father? Right, Little one?"

    Petch did not answer but only smiled.

    “Petch, do you have anything else to ask me?”

    “I would like to ask about the method that you said can make me pregnant. Is there any way? What's the feasibility of getting pregnant?”

    “Well, that's going to be a long discussion. Let's talk together with Trai. I'll explain to you at the same time,” said the doctor and went to sit up next to Petch, who immediately felt insecure. “Little one, you really want to have children, right?”

    “Yes…I do,” Petch replied but did not meet the interlocutor's eyes. She felt him move closer and closer until the girl couldn't move away from him anymore.

    “Do you know that you are still as beautiful as when you were in university, Little one?” The young man looked at her chest. Petch pulled her shirt to cover herself and said thank you.

    "Thank you very much. I will get going now. I've been bothering you for too long." Finished speaking, Petch got up immediately. She was about to exit the room; however, the professor’s hand grabbed Petch’s arm and pulled her back to sit on the sofa like before. The girl tried to struggle as hard as she could.

    “Why are you in such a hurry, Little one? We are having fun here.”

    “Let go of me now, doctor. If you don't let go, I will cry for help, don't make others lose faith in your profession like I do.” The young woman scolded her senior while struggling to get out of his arms. The professor burst into laughter as he eagerly kissed the girl.

    “I love you, Little one. I’ve loved you for a long time and I know that you love me too. I can see it in your eyes... I’m saying correctly, ain’t I?"

    “Don’t, doctor. I’m married and my husband is your friend.” The girl tried to reason. Strangely... her heart melted, like a powerless person. She felt hot flashes like she had never felt with her husband before.

    "Petch...I love you, Little one." The last sentence made her heart flutter...until she finally surrendered herself to him!

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    Petch hated herself every time she recalled what happened that day. Though no one knew, she knew in her heart. Was she still in love with Professor Kawee? It had been a long time. But why these feelings had not faded even though she tried to forget...forget about the love she had for him and thought she could move on. But the truth was...she had been fooling herself all this time. She had never been able to do it even once.

    Petch knew she was at fault...No one knew but herself who found herself repulsive every time she looked in the mirror.

    Such a slut!

    Traithip was not guilty of anything. The wrong person was herself. Therefore, she had no right to hurt her husband. She had to put an end to it all by stopping seeing the professor because she didn't know when the desire inside her would erupt again.

    The story she assumed she could let go of was now leaving a mark on her... The mark would stigmatize her until the day of her death. No one could ever erase the scars as it was gradually resurfacing more and more every single day.

    She was pregnant with Professor Kawee!

    Petch made up her mind to see the professor at the ward to tell him what happened to her. When the doctor found out, he had a slightly shocked expression. He wouldn't have thought that sleeping with her just once would get the woman pregnant.

    “You’re pregnant? ... Are you serious, Little one?!” It was hard to predict whether he was bewildered or delighted. The professor hurriedly moved his work chair closer to Petch and embraced her. "I'm thrilled... that we’ll have a child together."

    “Yes, I’m pregnant. At first, I wasn’t sure. So, I went to buy a pregnancy test at Muay's shop in front of the alley to check it out. It turned out that I’m really pregnant. But I wanted to make sure, so I went to have a test at the clinic. The doctor confirmed that I’m pregnant. I didn't sleep with anyone except Trai and you. Because Trai is barren; hence, the child must be yours!”

    “Do you know that... I’m so glad?... I’m about to become a dad!”

    “Doctor... It's not good news. I’m married and have a husband. If he knew, what would happen? Trai is hot-headed. He must take this matter to the Medical Council for sure. If that’s the case, you will have to lose your job. I would be ashamed to be known as a woman who cheated on her husband!" Petch's voice was hoarse. Big tears flowed from those dull eyes.

    “I know… and I want you to keep this a secret, about us and our children too.”

    “How long can we keep it, doctor? My belly is growing every single day.” The woman was still worried while the professor gently patted her head sympathetically.

    “I will take care of this. Let me handle my work first and we will run away together. We will go to a place where no one can find us. Leave and start a small family that has a father, mother, and child. Do you still want to have a family with me?” It was a question that would shatter people's hearts. Even though she had promised herself that she would never hurt Traithip again, being the 'lover' of the 'person we love' was the ultimate dream of every woman...which included herself.

    “I... I want to have a family with you.” Finally, the voice of her heart dictated her to choose what she felt rather than morality. The professor smiled and asked the young lady for a week.

    “Okay, that’s our deal, Little one… You must keep this a secret for our future.”

    "Yes... I promise"

    “Then you would go back first. I think we talked for too long. Others will suspect."

    “I got it, doctor. Give me a call," the woman reminded him once again before walking out of Professor Kawee’s examination room.

    “We’re here, madam.” The young taxi driver roused her from her reverie. Petch took the money from her pocket and handed it to the driver before entering the house.

    The house was illuminated with lights, which told her that her husband was home. So, she had to keep her composure. Shredding her anxiety outside the fence, she put on a smile and walked into the house.

    Traithip was drinking in the living room. It looked like he was probably intoxicated. He gave her a sharp look as soon as the girl arrived.

    “Where have you been?”

    "Um...shopping."

    “Shopping? Where are the things you bought... I don't see any."

    Her husband's question struck her dumb; however, she still kept her poker face on.

    “The shop doesn’t have what I want. Have you eaten? I will cook for you." Petch tried to change the subject. As she was about to proceed to the kitchen to cook for her husband, he had called her first.

    "Wait a minute..."

    "Yes ?"

    “Today, I went to buy medicine at Muay’s shop in front of the alley.”

    "Are you sick? What’s wrong?" The girl asked worriedly. But when she saw her husband's eyes, she was taken aback. That look was a sign of distrust… A bad omen began to appear.

    “Muay said you went to buy a pregnancy test. Why did you buy it... when I’m barren? Or you are pregnant with someone else!?” Traithip's tone changed as he thundered out.

    “No… Nothing. Muay is all the talk.” The young wife avoided eye contact. Her trembling hands were so shaky that they were out of her control.

    "Liar! I can see it in your eyes that you are lying to me now!”

    "Uh... It’s..." The girl stuttered. Her husband stood up to face her and immediately shook her shoulders aggressively.

    “You’re pregnant, aren’t you? ...With who? tell me now that you want to leave me, right...right?"

    “I'm sorry… I didn't want it to turn out like this either.”

    “Slut!” Traithip slapped his beloved wife in the face with a broken heart, his knees weak, and fell to the ground. His tears flowed, similar to Petch’s cry.

    The last words he said that night was...

    “If you still want to be together… You must have an abortion!”

    That was how the story continued...before Doctor Aun felt like the world was spinning. At the same time, the smell of the operating room hit his nose once again with the image in front of him becoming clearer... the one that made the doctor stunned and could hardly believe his own eyes.

    He was standing in the delivery room!

    On the maternity bed was Petch, who was lying with her leg on the stirrup. She looked drowsy and was in a half-asleep state. At the foot of the bed… Doctor Aun saw a man standing with his back turned alongside Nurse Ae and Nurse Pia preparing the equipment on the other side. The man was not wearing a medical uniform but wearing an extern student's shirt.

    Who was it?

    At the end of the question in his mind, the man turned around. Doctor Aun opened his eyes wide in shock because that man was his classmate, Doctor Pop, whose face was pale. His friend was a bundle of nerves.

    “Hurry up and put on your coat, Doctor Pop, so that we can finish it quickly.” Nurse Ae's voice rang out. Doctor Pop nodded and turned to put on the sterile robe that Nurse Pia was holding. Before sitting down between Petch's legs to prepare for some procedure...something Doctor Aun had never thought someone like Doctor Pop would do!

    "Give me a curette," said Doctor Pop. Nurse Pia then sent the scraper to Doctor Pop.

    "Hey! Don't do it, Pop." Doctor Aun accidentally yelled out, even though he knew it had all passed and Doctor Pop wouldn't have heard his voice. But still, the young doctor's shock could not be kept at bay. His friend was committing a terrible and sinful crime. Damn, Doctor Pop... He shouldn't have done it!

    Doctor Pop broke into a sweat, even though it was as cold as the North Pole in the delivery room. The hand holding a curette trembled with fear of doing something immoral. He eventually took a deep breath to gain focus and confidence. When his mind became clear, he slowly inserted a curette into Petch’s vagina. As he was going to scrape out the uterus, Petch cried out softly. Her voice startled the young doctor.

    “Don’t hurt my baby, please. Don’t harm him. I’m forced into this abortion.” She gathered all her energy to plead with the doctor before her. Doctor Pop suddenly lost himself. He stepped back amid the shock of Nurse Ae and Nurse Pia.

    “How can she be conscious? Didn’t you say she was sedated?”

    "She was really sedated but I think it's not strong enough. It’s alright, I'll inject another dose of anesthetic," said Nurse Ae, turning around to prepare an anesthetic for another injection that she put in Petch’s arm with no delay. The girl struggled with all her might. But in the end, she couldn't escape. Petch broke down as her tears flowed down her cheeks.

    It was all over... She was going to lose her child, wasn’t she?

    The light gradually darkened; her eyelids felt so heavy that she needed to succumb to the drug. Eventually, it was soundless… as silent as the grave, without any sound, even the sound of a beating heart!

    Doctor Pop stood still until Nurse Pia gave him a warning...so he quickly retook his seat.

    “Hurry up, Doctor Pop… we don’t have much time.”

    Then Doctor Pop killed the child in Petch's stomach with his own hands...

    Without ever knowing that...it would not cause ‘one’ death, but 'two!'

    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

    (1) Azoospermia is a condition of semen without sperm, mainly caused by the testicles to produce sperm but clogged inside and unable to come out, or caused by lost sperm production.