INCESTUOUS MARRIAGE (Blood Marriage)
CHAPTER 03 - INCESTUOUS MARRIAGE

IM.03 I PROMISE TO KEEP EVERYTHING A SECRET

JOSHUA

"Doctor, what about Allura? Is he okay?" I asked the doctor who had just finished examining Allura Gibson in the examination room.

The doctor smiled faintly at me who was looking at him with a worried face. As he moved to the seat in front of me, he replied, "Mister Joshua need not worry. Madam Allura is fine."

"Then why is she so sick and not feeling well, Doc?"

The doctor stretched out his hand before me, leaving me and Allura Gibson confused. Then with a big smile he said, "Congratulations, Mr. Joshua. You'll soon be a father."

I was shocked to hear the doctor's words. And so did Allura Gibson, who was sitting next to me. Shaking her hand, in my heart I asked, pregnant? How did that happen? As long as we stayed together, I never touched Allura, let alone come into contact with her. Why is she suddenly pregnant? Is it possible that she was pregnant before coming with me here?

Allura Gibson and I stared at each other for a while. Not yet had I responded to the doctor's remark, Allura Gibson first said, "Doctor, how old is my womb?"

"About 12 weeks, ma'am. Nausea and no appetite are very reasonable during pregnancy. I'll give you recipes and vitamins to take every day."

"good. Thank you, Doc."

"Together, Madam."

"Then we'll excuse you, Doc."

"Good, Mistress. Please."

Because me and the doctor knew each other, I wanted to have a little chat about some things after the examination. But seeing her who was not excited after learning of her pregnancy and wanted to leave immediately, made me unable to do anything but follow her. And I say goodbye to the doctor I know well. Shaking his hand I said, "I'm sorry too, Doc. Thank you so much for giving your best to Allura."

"Together, Mr. Joshua. It's my job to give my patients the best."

After saying goodbye and shaking hands with the doctor, Allura Gibson and I stepped out of the examination room at a leisurely pace. We walked together, but didn't talk to each other. Making me who was walking beside him, feel something strange on him. While continuing to walk beside him and occasionally looking at him from the side, I wondered inwardly, why does he look glum? Was she not happy with her pregnancy?

We both kept quiet for a long time. From the beginning we left the doctor's examination room to the parking area in the hospital yard. When the two of us had reached the side of the parked car, Allura Gibson turned to me with a flat face without making a sound. Making me who doesn't know what to do, trying to break the rigid atmosphere by asking, "Allura, do you want to go somewhere?"

"No."

"Do you want us to go straight home?"

"No."

"Then?"

"Joshua, can you take me around?"

I smiled faintly at him and replied, "Of course, Allura. Where do you want me to take you?"

"We're just going around town, Joshua. I just want to get some fresh air. After that we go home."

"All right."

After the two of us entered the car, I who was sitting in the driver's seat drove my car out of the hospital area. I drove my car at low speed, splitting the not-so-crowded streets of Thimphu. Back when I was still living in Singapore, I was always faced with the complexity of the road with the vehicle population getting higher and higher. But since living in the capital city of Bhutan, I feel very different. In a city that has not too many residents, not only the size of the streets are much smaller than the highways in Singapore. But there is also no traffic light as a regulator of traffic. There are only traffic signs and traffic police that are guidelines for highway users.

I not only felt calm during my stay in the Bhutanese capital far from the frenzy of big cities in general. But I also felt the uniqueness while living in a country that deeply respects this culture. If in a megapolitan city in a capitalist country the population prioritizes the material, in this country money and wealth are not the main things they pursue. In addition, the government that governs this country always considers the happiness of its people before making a decision. Even some decisions taken by the government, which is considered modern, can make the community stressful. It sounds strange and unique. But the uniqueness of this country is what makes me feel comfortable and decide to settle in this country.

Back when I was living in Singapore, I built my own property business after I finished helping Allura Gibson take care of Ma's Property as long as my best friend Albert Ma was a vegetarian patient. But for several years, my business was not backward and also did not develop aka the road in place. Makes me want to be better, thinking about growing my business in other sectors that might lead me to the gate of success. And one of my uncles, who had long been a permanent residence in this country, encouraged me to come here.

At first I was hesitant to follow his advice telling me to move to Bhutan and open up this country's export business abroad. But the heartbreak of being rejected by the married Allura Gibson, and my dispute with my best friend Albert Ma for loving his wife, made me choose this difficult decision. All I had in mind at the time was to leave Singapore to calm down and start my new life. Because I think staying in Singapore will make it difficult for me to forget Allura Gibson and make peace with Albert Ma who is very angry with me.

When we were both driving around Thimphu city in the car I was driving, Allura Gibson was still speaking a thousand languages. Not only did he not talk to me, but he also looked gloomy. Making me who was used to interacting with him feel even more uncomfortable. Curiously I asked, "Allura, are you okay?"

"Yes, I'm fine." He answered without looking at me.

"But why do you look so moody?"

Allura Gibson paused for a moment and turned to ask, "Did I look moody?"

"Yes. Since we came out of the doctor's examination room until now, you look moody. What was? You can tell me, Allura."

"I don't know what to do, Joshua. I don't know what to do after knowing my pregnancy."

I who did not understand the intention of Allura Gibson again asked, "Allura, I do not understand the purpose of your words. Why don't you know what to do after you figure out your pregnancy?"

Allura Gibson took a deep breath and threw it away violently. In a low voice he replied, "Huffft... I don't know, Joshua. I don't know. I don't know what to do with the baby in my womb."

"Why?"

"The fetus in my womb belongs to Albert. I don't know what to do with this baby. Whether I give birth to her or not." Allura Gibson replied with a flat face.

Although he answered my question with a flat face, he could not lie to me that he was feeling sad. From the side I could see her teary eyes as if she was holding back feelings. And I didn't have a chance to respond, Allura Gibson said again, "For me and Albert are not together anymore. How can I raise this baby alone?"

I was silent for a moment when I heard Allura Gibson's desperate question. While pulling the car to the side of the road I said, "You don't have to worry about that, Allura."

"How am I not worried, Joshua? I'm not with Albert anymore. While I'm not here to work and hang my life on you."

"While you're not with Albert anymore, you should give birth to the baby. The baby is innocent, Allura. If you're worried about your baby's status, I'm willing to be his father." I said with confidence.

There was actually a sense of sadness in my heart hearing of Allura Gibson's pregnancy. I felt sad because she was pregnant with Albert Ma's son who had let her down, not me. From the beginning I brought her with me to Bhutan, I had a lot of hopes for her who had hated her husband. Even I hope our relationship will end beautifully by living together in a country far away from the people closest to us. It may seem very selfish to expect more from the grief and hardship of others. But my love for her never faded, making me wish her relationship with Albert Ma was over and she turned to me. Could it be that the desire in my heart would come true?

Allura Gibson looked at me with a shocked face after hearing my statement. Spontaneously Allura Gibson raised his tone and said, "Joshua, what are you saying? Are you willing to be his father? Whatchu mean?"

"I'm willing to be the father of that baby."

"No, that can't happen. How can you be his father? This is not your baby. This is my baby and Albert."

I took a deep breath and said, "Allura, don't panic like that. You also do not misunderstand my words. Not that I meant to take your baby and make him my son. But I'm willing to take good care of him like a father. That's what you allow."

"Joshua, please answer my question honestly. Are you still thinking of getting my heart? Before you have gone, you better break your intentions and throw your feelings away from me. I only consider you my friend and brother. So don't think more. Together or not with Albert, this baby is still his. No one can replace Albert even if I'm no longer with him."

Disappointed I turned to ask in a low voice, "Do you still love Albert?"

"While I hate him now, my heart cannot turn away from him. So you expect a lot from me, Joshua. I don't want you to be disappointed."

"Now you hate him. Can't you leave a place for me in your heart?"

"Joshua, didn't you hear me? Stop wishing for me!" Allura Gibson said in a higher tone.

Hearing his increasingly high tone and sharp gaze, making me who was too bold to speak, now feel a little guilty. And so that he would not get angry with me, I said, "I'm sorry, if I make you angry with Allura. I will not force you to return my feelings. But everything I do for you is sincere. If indeed our relationship cannot end together, but at least you allow me to take care of the baby later. I can't let you alone endure it all."

After hearing my words, Allura Gibson went silent for quite a while. Not knowing what he was thinking, but I could feel the chaos in his heart. Until he finally returned to his voice, "Joshua, please keep this a secret. Please keep it a secret from anyone that I am in Bhutan and am pregnant with baby Albert. I don't want him to know. I don't want to go back to Singapore either. So let me stay here and raise this baby."

"Good, Allura. I promise I will keep everything a secret from anyone. You don't have to worry. It's just me and you here. You have also kept your identity a secret. So no one will know."