Keturah's jaw dropped. She stared at me in silence before finally reacting.
"What?! You do not even have a boyfriend or a husband. How are you going to have a child?" she asked, half-whispering but clearly in shock. "You are the one who said you are not ready for love. And honestly, Ath, that reason… it feels so shallow. You cannot just have a child to prove something to your parents. That is a huge responsibility."
Her voice was calm, but I could tell she was completely against the idea.
I blinked, surprised. I thought she would support me. I expected her to be the first person to say, "Let's do it." But she was serious now, almost disappointed.
"Yes, I know," I sighed deeply. "But I really want to have a child. I am fine being single forever, as long as I have my own baby."
That was it. My new life motto. No husband, no boyfriend. Just me and my child.
"So, in short," Keturah said sharply, crossing her arms, "you want to get pregnant by someone you do not even love? Just… by anyone?"
I nodded slowly.
"Yes. And I want it to be with someone I have no real connection with. No commitment. Just pure lust. That way, he will not chase after my child or demand anything."
Her eyes widened like I had just confessed to murder.
"Oh my goodness, are you serious right now?! Are you out of your mind? You want to be a single mom, just like that? Do you know how hard that is?" She shook her head in disbelief. "You must be drunk. Tell me you are drunk. You are saying the most insane things right now!"
"I am not drunk," I answered calmly, smiling as I leaned closer to her. "I really want to have a baby. And I want you to help me find the perfect sperm cell."
Keturah was speechless. She stared at me like I had grown a second head, then ran her fingers through her hair in frustration.
"What the hell, Ath? Why not just go to a fertility clinic? Do it the medical way? It is safer. No drama. No awkward guy chasing you later."
She had a point. But that option? Way too expensive. And honestly… boring.
"No. It costs too much. I would rather save that money for my future baby. Besides…" I pouted. "I also want to feel the pleasure, okay? Do not ruin it."
My cheeks started to burn, but I kept my head high. I could not believe I was actually saying these things out loud. Who even was I right now? Where did the quiet, conservative Ath go?
"Wow. Pleasure? Really? Ath, you are unbelievable right now," she groaned, massaging her temples like I was giving her a migraine.
"I just feel like I am going to grow old alone. So at least, before that happens, I want to experience what people are always talking about, pleasure, intimacy, passion." I bit my lower lip as guilt mixed with excitement. This was so not me, but it also felt freeing.
"You are losing it, I swear," Keturah said with a half-laugh, half-frown.
"Just help me, please," I said, giving her a dramatic look. "Help me find a guy who can get me pregnant. I want someone good-looking, at least. Imagine how pretty or handsome my baby would be!"
I smiled to myself like a crazy person, already picturing a chubby-cheeked little baby with the perfect nose and big round eyes.
Keturah stared at me like I was possessed.
"I do not even know what to say. I never thought I would hear these things from you," she said, clearly disturbed.
"Oh, stop acting like that," I teased, pinching her side. "You are overreacting."
"Let us just go drink. Maybe that will fix whatever weird thoughts are going on in your head," she mumbled, standing up.
"Drama queen," I muttered playfully and rolled my eyes.
Keturah walked back to where Prince and the others were seated. I followed behind her and quickly joined in on the conversation.
A few hours passed, and we all laughed, drank, and told stories. Somehow, the tension inside me started to fade. I was having fun. It was a good escape, even just for tonight.
Though I was already feeling tipsy, Keturah was still bursting with energy like she was not affected by the alcohol at all.
"Hey!" she shouted suddenly. "Let us go to the dance floor! I want to dance!"
Keturah pouted as she stood up, eyes half-lidded from all the drinks we had. I looked around at everyone else in the VIP room, only then did I notice they were all either passed out or barely awake. We really drank too much. The purple hard drinks hit us harder than expected.
"Aren't you tired yet, Kee?" I asked with a hoarse voice, pressing a hand to my stomach. I was seriously dizzy. I wanted nothing more than to sleep.
"No! Let us go dance!" she laughed. She stood from Prince's lap, who was already slumped and clearly asleep. Then she pulled on my arm, but I resisted a little.
"Come on, Ath! Let us go," she begged. "And maybe we will find the perfect guy tonight to get you pregnant, right?" She giggled with that teasing glint in her eye.
I looked at her through my hazy vision, then smiled sweetly and gave in without hesitation. I let her drag me out of the VIP room.
We stepped into the hallway, both of us staggering slightly as we leaned against each other. I could feel the alcohol in my bloodstream, but my mission tonight still stood strong. I was going to find him, the man who would make me a mother.
"Ath! Look over there!" Keturah pointed at a nearby VIP door. "Room 92. When someone comes out from there, and if he is good-looking, that is your baby daddy, deal?"
I chuckled weakly. "Deal," I said with a small smirk, then leaned against the wall beside the door and crossed my arms. We waited.
Five minutes passed. Then another five. Still, no one came out.
"This is taking forever," I muttered, pouting.
Keturah turned to me with a ridiculous grin. "If no one comes out in ten more minutes, just go inside. I do not care who it is. Old man, married guy, whoever!"
"Are you crazy? What if he is a creepy old widower or a father of five?"
"At least someone will get you pregnant!" she burst into laughter.
"You are insane! I said I want a handsome one, remember?"
She rolled her eyes. "You only need the sperm, Ath. You are pretty enough, your genes will save the baby's face."
I just sighed and looked away, annoyed, but my attention was instantly grabbed when I saw someone.
A man was walking toward us. Tall, well-built, wearing a black button-down shirt. His expression was serious, his gaze focused. His aura? Deadly attractive.
"Ath, look at him. What do you think?" Keturah whispered.
"Delicious," I breathed, eyes locked on him.
Without even glancing at us, the guy walked straight into VIP Room 92. I bit my lip.
Keturah turned to me dramatically. "This is it. Tonight is your last night as a virgin, my dear best friend. May you enjoy the pleasure and not regret a single second of it. In the name of Keturah, I now bless your womb. Fill it with sperm!"
Then she gave me a loud kiss on the cheek and walked off, waving with a tipsy laugh.
I stood there frozen for a second, heart pounding. What was I even about to do?
But instead of turning back...I reached for the handle of VIP Room 92.