Nine weeks later

Kaycee was chatting with her friend during lunch at a coffee shop across from their store when the thought entered her head. “Hey, is it normal if I do not see my period for two months if I am not seeing anyone since we left high school?”

Kaycee stirred at her iced coffee with her straw, giving Mina an expectant look.

“Are you really asking me? Stop joking,” Mina brushed off her question with a snot.

“I am serious here, Mina! I have not seen my period. It is almost three months! I am not lying to you here. I feel a bit nauseous and tired. You know I do not take breakfast, but I have been craving toast for a while now. I find myself chewing on ice!”

An uneasy feeling settled at the bottom of Mina’s stomach. “Kaycee, you need to get a pregnancy test kit. I know it sounds insane. You have to trust me on this.”

Mina’s hands trembled as she held her glass of coffee; unconsciously, she averted her eyes from Kaycee as she could not bear to look her friend in the eye.

“You cannot be serious! A pregnancy test? You think I’m pregnant?”

Kaycee did not know when her voice rose up. It drew the attention of other customers in the coffee shop; some seemed to cast knowing looks her way.

—----------

20 minutes later Haerin Floral's Restroom

Kaycee stared at the two lines on the pregnancy stick and compared them with the instruction at the back of the packaging box.

________: Not pregnant

________

________ : Pregnant

Kaycee’s lips trembled her hands shook with pent-up emotion that bordered on dismay and anger. Her mind became blank as she stared at the pregnancy stick in her hand. Little by little, her thought started to take shape in her head. 

“What do I tell Mom and Dad? How did this happen? I cannot be pregnant, can I?”

White in the face from shock. Kaycee silently stood alone in the restroom, but a knock at the door disrupted her thoughts.

“Kaycee? Are you alright? How did the test go?”

“M-M-Mina...I think. I may be pregnant.” The floodgate opened, and Kaycee cried until her voice became hoarse.

Mina silently stood behind the door as she kept her friend company during one of the worst times of her life. Prior to checking on Kaycee, Mina placed a sign that displayed 'Temporarily closed due to personal reasons' at the door.