Chapter Text
Chapter One:
People Who Keep Secrets And People Who Don't:
“What do you mean that Kalim’s pregnant!” Azul yelled when Jamil told him the most shocking news about the Housewarden of Scarabia.
“I mean that he’s going to be expecting a child of his own. What do you think?” Jamil says sarcastically, while rubbing the bridge of his nose.
“And please keep your voice down before you wake up-“
“Azul, why are you being so loud it’s too early — Oh, hi Sea Snake! Watcha doing here so early in the morning?” Floyd walked in the Mostro Lounge with Jade behind him after they were awakened by Azul’s shouting.
“And speak of the devil their up.”
“Oh, who cares! What I care about is how in the world did Kalim even get pregnant in the first place!” Azul disregarded Jamil’s comment and ignored the tweels reaction as their eyes widened at what they just heard from Azul.
“Wasn’t Kalim supposed to take a test to determined if he’s a carrier or not?”
“He was supposed to, but his father was so determined that he wasn’t, but his mother pleaded and begged him to allow him to take the test. But he never let Kalim take the test so here we are.”
“Wait, then who’s the fa-I mean other parent?” Azul is still processing this entire situation, that he doesn’t know if he should refer to Kalim’s supposed lover as the father or the other parent.
“That would be his ex-boyfriend."
“Rufus!” Azul shouted, which made Jamil flinch slightly.
“Wait, Jamil are you sure that Kalim is pregnant? I heard about this “pranking my friends and family with a fake positive pregnancy test” trend that going around on Magicam, maybe his doing the same thing.”Jamil goes into his pocket and pulls out a folded piece of paper and hands it to Jade.
Floyd standing beside him, Jade opens the folded piece of paper and sees that it’s a sonogram picture that clearly resembles a baby.
“I thought the same thing at first, but then he showed this picture to me. Then three hours ago, I called Nurse Yasmine just to be sure and she confirmed it.”
Jade looked at Jamil, then at the photo, then at Jamil again. Floyd who stood next to Jade, looked at the sonogram photo.
“Wow, so that’s why Sea Otter was always ordering food with weird combinations.” And like Jamil predicted, Floyd isn’t affected about this new-found information he had just discovered.
Well, that solves another mystery, but Azul still has more questions of his own regarding Kalim’s predicament.
“So, I assume that was the reason why Kalim and Rufus are no longer together?”
“Yeah, when Kalim told him, Rufus said that he needed space to I guess to think it over. Then after, Kalim told me that Rufus had blocked his number and also on Magicam.” Jamil’s voice was filled with a mixture of anger and concerned for Kalim situation.
“Well, I guess you were right to not trust him.” Jade took a seat next to Jamil.
“I guess….” Azul and Jade exchanged glances at each other and could tell that something else was on Jamil’s mind.
“Jamil, is there something else that Kalim may have told you?” Azul asked, taking the other seat that was next to Jamil.
“Yasmine isn’t the only one who knows about Kalim’s pregnancy.” Azul and Jade are even more curious, but Jamil continues.
“Apparently, the teachers and Leona know except Headmaster Crowley. Kalim also told me that he was planning on leaving the Asim family. He told me he mentioned this to Leona about it and he offered him to live at Sunset Savanna in the Royal Palace.”
“And Kalim agreed to this?”
“Yes he did, and I was skeptical about it and told him that if he tried to run away, his family will found out about the baby and who the father is, and they would force him to marry Rufus.”
Jade’s eyes widened slightly about what Jamil said at that last part. However, Azul wasn’t surprised because Kalim mentioned that his family force one of his cousins to keep a baby that she didn’t even want and marry the man who got her pregnant, who that said man would always sleep with other women behind her back. So he kind of understand why Kalim wanted to run away.
“Kalim then told me that he has a plan incase they do something like that, which really surprised me. But I still had many questions at the time, but before I could say anything else, he ran to the bathroom.” Jamil still remembered how he had to go into the restroom to rub Kalim’s back and comfort him when he was crying again, then lit up when he mentioned making some chocolate chip cookies for him.
“Well, that solves that mystery on why he’s been throwing up too.” Jade said showing his signature smile, then Jamil remembered why he was here.
“Also, that reminds me, don’t tell anyone else about Kalim’s pregnancy!” Jamil pointed his finger to the both of them.
Azul and Jade exchanged glances, like they understood what he was implying.
“I mean it, Kalim doesn’t want anyone else finding out and knowing the three of you and especially you Azul, you guys would use this as some kind of ploy against him.”
“Jamil, why pray tell? Would I ever used this against Kalim as blackmail?”
“I don’t know, maybe because you’re the biggest con-man in all of NRC.”
“Wait?” Jamil, Azul, and Jade turned to Floyd, who still has the sonogram photo.
“If you don’t want anyone else to know, then why are you telling us?” Floyd said as he walked toward Jamil, still holding the photo.
“Because, for whatever reason, Kalim thinks of you guys as his “friends”, and somehow trust you guys to not tell anyone else about this.”
“Aw, that’s actually sweet.” Floyd smiled slightly but stopped when Jamil shot him a glare.
“Yeah, sure whatever you guys want to believe can I have the photo back.”
“Oh, yeah right here.” Floyd handed the photo back to Jamil.
Jamil looks at the photo, then sighs and puts it back in pocket. He gets off the chair and starts walking towards the door, opening it then slamming it shut.
🐍
After leaving Mostro Lounge, Jamil walks to Scarabia and lies down on the cushions that are in the lounge, he looks at the time on his phone and sees that it’s 5:18am. Jamil puts his phone down and is thinking about — well, more like worried about Kalim and the baby.
And Jamil knows that the reason that Kalim plans on running away to Sunset Savanna, is because he doesn’t want his kid to go through the things he went through (which is understandable). However,
knowing Kalim’s family, they would just hire a private investigator and find a way for him to go back home and force him to marry Rufus or somebody else.
He was also wondering, how on earth did Kalim kept his pregnancy from him, his friends, and everyone else for two months? And how did Jamil not notice? Kalim had never been able to keep a secret before in his life, so why would he keep this from him?
But Jamil can’t be sitting here all day thinking about it. He goes to his room and gets ready for the day. He brushes his teeth, gets dressed, and applies on his makeup.
(Just like every morning)
Once he finishes getting ready for school, he heads toward the kitchen to prepare breakfast for everyone as usual, until he stops and hears noises that are coming from Kalim’s room. Jamil opens the door and the first thing he sees when he walks into Kalim’s room is the open door that connects to his private bathroom.
Jamil walks into the bathroom to see Kalim slumped over near the toilet, which can indicate that he was throwing up.
“Guessing terrible morning sickness, huh?” Jamil walked over to Kalim, and sat down beside him.
“Yeah, but it’s fine it’ll go away soon.” Kalim looked at Jamil with a strained smile and could notice how pale his face was.
“Kalim, your face is pale and you look like shit, I don’t think that you should attend class today.”
“But Jamil, I told you I’m—“ Kalim started, but interrupted when he throw up in the toilet again, while Jamil sat beside him, rubbing his back to soothe him just like before.
“Yeah, ”I’m fine” my ass, you’re staying in today I’ll let the teachers know that you won’t be in class today.” When Kalim was done spilling out his guts, Jamil helped Kalim to the bed to rest.
Jamil then went to the kitchen and get him some water. He then goes and tries to make something quick for him that he could at least stomach and help with his morning sickness. When he’s done, he goes into Kalim’s room, with a glass of water and a bowl of rice.
Jamil put the bowl of rice on the nightstand and handed the glass of water to Kalim. “Thank you, Jamil, but you don’t have to do all this.” Kalim said, taking a sip of the water.
“Well, somebody has to be sure that you’re taking care of yourself and the….you know.” Jamil gestures to Kalim’s stomach, which his pajama shirt hides his 8 week bump.
“Oh yeah….” Kalim nervously laughs, while placing the glass of water on the nightstand beside the bowl of rice. “About yesterday, I’m sorry that-“
“If you’re going to apologize for something that was beyond your control, I’m going to smack you.” Jamil interrupted, handing the bowl to Kalim and pulling out a spoon covered in a napkin out of his school jacket pocket.
“Jamil-“
“Look, you can’t blame yourself on how things went with Rufus,” Jamil said as he sat on Kalim’s bed beside him, while Kalim was looking at his food. “Because honestly Kalim, it wasn’t your fault on how he reacted when you told him.”
“But Jamil, it’s my fault for springing this on him and not being able to at least check if I was a carrier or not.”
“And it was your choice whether to keep the baby or not,” Jamil said, placing his hand on his shoulder. “You can’t blame yourself on how he reacted in the first place.”
Kalim and Jamil looked at each other for a moment, before Jamil turned to the side, removed his hand off his shoulder and stood up.
“Look, just try to get some sleep alright,” Jamil said, while a picking up a pillow from the ground and put it behind Kalim so that he was comfortable.
“Alright, I’ll try.” Kalim replied.
Jamil gave Kalim a small smile, before walking out of his room and out of the dorm to go to school.
🦈🐙🍄
After Jamil left the Mostro Lounge, Azul and the tweels went thought their daily morning routine, getting ready for school and going to their respective classes.
Now it’s lunch, and the three of them are in the cafeteria eating their meals. While Jade and Floyd were discussing the preparations for the spring festival, Azul has been looking at his phone, reading the text message that Kalim sent last weekend when him, Kalim, and Riddle were supposed to have their study session, but Kalim had texted saying that he wouldn’t be able to attend because he wasn’t feeling well.
(Which explains a lot now that he thinks about it.)
While he was still looking at his phone, he didn’t hear how Jade and Floyd were calling him and asking about what should they do to contribute for the spring festival. When that didn’t happen work Floyd threw a piece of food at him from his tray, which caught his attention.
“Floyd,” Azul set his phone down on the table. “Why on earth would you do that?”
“Well, duh to get your attention,” Floyd says as he shifts his leftover food around on his tray. “Because it looked like you were spacing out there for second while were looking at your phone.”
“I wasn’t spacing out, I was thinking there’s a difference.” Azul grabbed his sandwich that he was having for lunch, but before he could take a bite, he noticed Jamil taking a seat at one of the cafeteria tables, eating his lunch that he prepared and packed for himself and Kalim whenever they would eat together.
Only Kalim, isn’t here? Kalim isn’t sitting next to Jamil talking his ear off about how his day was or the upcoming spring festival? And given that Azul knows that Kalim is pregnant and the associated symptoms that come with it, the only conclusion he could come up with is that, Kalim had terrible morning sickness and Jamil had suggested for him to stay in his room to rest.
Taking a bite of his sandwich, Azul stood up from where he was sitting at the table. “I’m going to go and have a word with Jamil, don’t follow me.”
“What, Azul!” Despite Jade trying to stop Azul, he was already walking towards Jamil.
“Let him go, Jade. If he wants to yell at sea snake let him-“ Before Floyd could finish what he was about to say, he saw a certain redhead walking towards the exit of the cafeteria.
“On second thought, do whatever you want, I’m gonna go and talk to goldfishie. Bye!” Floyd stood up and ran towards Riddle, leaving Jade alone at the lunch table and cleaning his mess that he left behind.
———————————
Jamil, who was looking at the text he just sent to Kalim asking him if he’s ok. He barely ate some of his lunch that he made for himself cause he was thinking about what the hell was he gonna do if anyone or if anybody finds out about this.
Well, minus the fact he just told on of the most shady people in NRC and seven forbid to know if there were going to keep this a secret. Additionally, if Lilia and Cater found out about this, well there’s like a 50/50 percent chance that they would be cool with it and not freak out about this.
“Jamil!” Jamil looked at the direction to where Azul called out his name, which also drew attention the attention of some students nearby.
“We need to talk.”
🌹🦈🍄🟫
Riddle was walking out of the school to go to the library, to pick up a book that the librarian put aside for him to read for one of his classes.
Riddle opened the front door to the library and first saw the librarian at her desk, typing something on her computer.
“Mm….Oh! Why, hello there, Riddle!” The librarian stopped typing and looked away from her computer after seeing Riddle in front of her desk.
“You here for the book, I’m guessing?” The librarian adjusted her glasses.
“Yes Ms, if it’s not too much trouble? I know you have a busy schedule.”
“Oh Riddle, don’t apologize, it’s no trouble at all. You just stay here, and I’ll go get that book. Feel free to have a look around if you want to get more books to read while I retrieve the one from the back.” She gets up from her seat and goes to the back of the library to retrieve the book Riddle wanted.
Once she’s gone, Riddle turns around and goes to one of the bookshelves to see if he could find other books for his studies. He scanned through each book that was in view of him on the shelf for a while until he found it.
“Hey, Goldfishie, what you doin’?” Riddle was about to grab the book he wanted when he heard a familiar voice behind him. It belonged to a tall, teal-haired man, who had a tendency to call people by nicknames.
“What do you want, Floyd?” Riddle grabbed the book from the shelf, looking at Floyd, who was behind him and not at all fazed that he would follow him to the library or that he had bent down to his level.
“Well, I thought I could hang out with Goldfishie today.” Floyd then looked at the book that Riddle grabbed from the shelf. He couldn’t see the title, but he knew that same book had been in Nurse Yasmine’s office once. “So? What you got there, Goldfishie?”
“That is not your business to know, Floyd.” Riddle said, walking towards the next section of the bookshelf. Floyd followed him but was stopped when someone placed a hand on his shoulder.
“I knew you were here, Floyd.” Jade of course, was the culprit, he had been looking for Floyd after he had left the cafeteria. Luckily, he bumped into Cater, who happened to have saw Floyd go into the library.
“Oh come on, Jade! Why do you always ruin my fun?” Floyd complained, leaning against the bookshelf.
“Well, I’m sorry that I ruined your so-called “fun”, but we need to meet up with Azul in Heartslabyul.” Jade remembered, that yesterday, when the three of them were doing their shift at the Mostro Lounge. Azul said, that they needed to meet everyone in Heartslabyul, who are in the planing committee for the spring festival to discuss and make the decorations for the festival. However, since Azul went to have a talk with Jamil about who knows what, they both now have to meet up with him in Heartslabyul.
Jade walked into the hallway of the library, with Floyd following behind him “Why can’t we just stay here and just skipped it?” Floyd complained, while finding a seat at one of the tables in the library.
“We can’t just skip it, you know that today that Vil is in charge of the planning committee, and you know how he gets, Floyd.” Jade sat down across from him at the table.
“Ok, so? I didn’t ask to be in the planning committee. You and Azul said, that this could be my chance to get extra credit, since my grades are slipping.” Well that is true. When Crewel was picking other people to join the planning committee a month ago, Azul volunteered Floyd to help despite his protests on not wanting to.
(On which Floyd still went.)
While Crewel is actually in charge of planning for the spring festival, he is also a professor at NRC, which means he can’t be planning, teaching classes, and grading papers all at the same time. So, he then appointed Vil as the head of the planning committee in his absence and tasked him with organizing teams for each task related to the spring festival.
Team one is in charge of selecting the games for the activity stalls, while team two is responsible of the decorations. Team three handles the food, and one person is in charge of posting and promoting the festival (which that person is Cater). Additionally, team three is in charge of setup.
Floyd leaned back in his chair with his legs stretched out in front of him, gazing up at the ceiling. “So? What do you think Azul is going to talk about with Sea Snake?”
“Probably about Kalim and the baby I assume.” From the way Jade saw Azul’s expression and how he had dragged him out of the cafeteria, before he was looking for Floyd, that was the only conclusion he could draw.
“Yeah, probably….”
There was silence for about 5 seconds before Floyd put his hands behind his head while still leaning against his chair.
“I mean, I still can’t believe that he would do that to Sea Otter. The moment I see him at our game this weekend in the audience, I’m giving him a big o’l squeeze or purposely throw the ball at his face see how it goes.” Floyd stopped leaning against his chair and rested his chin on his arm, with his head supported by his hands.
“Floyd, as much as I agree with you, I think you would be benched or either disqualified. And if Kalim caught wind of you doing that, I don’t think he would be happy with you. Regardless of what Rufus did, he’s still the father of Kalim’s baby.” Jade’s phone pings in his pocket. He pulls it out and looks at the text that Azul sent.
“I mean, Jade, could we even call Rufus the father? Since well, Rufus is a guy and Kalim is also a guy, but he’s pregnant — it’s just so confusing with the whole parental dynamics.”
“It does, but what else would you suggest we call him?” Jade didn’t look up from his phone, instead he was typing a reply to Azul’s text.
“I don’t know; let me just think of something?” After about a minute of thinking, Floyd then saw Riddle walking past them, carrying three books and walking towards the librarian’s desk to check them out while waiting for her.
“Oh! Hey Goldfishie, over here!” Floyd excitedly exclaimed, waving over to Riddle, who cursed himself, thinking Floyd didn’t notice him.
Defeated, Riddle walked toward to where the tweels were at, and Floyd notice that Riddle is now holding three books. All of these were ones Nurse Yasmine had in her medical room/office at the hospital when he, Jade, and Azul were first-years and went to go to one of their daily check ups for school. Out of the three of them, Floyd was the only one to notice the books that were on her desk.
“Floyd, you do realize that this is the library.” Riddle tried to balance the books he was holding to ensure they won’t fall.
“Yeah, So?”
“So, I shouldn’t have to remind you every time, that you can’t be yelling in here and that you need to be more respectful of the rules when you’re here.” Riddle placed the books on the table, so he could let his arms rest from carrying the three books he had been holding.
Riddle looked at Jade, who was still on his phone reading the text that Azul just sent him. From Riddle’s point of view, Jade’s expression seemed to be quite focused on what he was looking at on his phone.
"And let me guess, Jade; Azul has texted telling you about your task for the planning committee.” Riddle slapped Floyd’s hand away as he tried to grab the books.
“No, he hasn’t texted me about it yet. But I assumed that we’d get our tasks the moment we’re in Heartslabyul.” Jade put his phone back in his pants pocket.
“Well, I hope so, because Professor Crewel informed me that the setup crew will start preparing, since the festival is gonna began after the basketball game at Royal Sword Academy.” Riddle was so distracted talking to Jade, that he didn’t notice Floyd grabbing the book at the top of the other two.
Floyd looked at the title of the book that reads “Real Food For Pregnancy”. Which he remembered that this was the same book that had been in Nurse Yasmine’s office, along with the other titles: “How to Help Morning Sickness” and “Male Carriers and How Pregnancy Affects Them Differently”.
In which Floyd wondered why he would want to check this out of the library or why the library even has this. He then realized that maybe Riddle knows that Kalim is pregnant, and that Jamil told him, or that perhaps he found out on his own.
“Hey, Riddle?” Floyd placed the book he was holding back on top of the other two books without Riddle even knowing that he had taken them in the first.
“What, Floyd.” Riddle answered him a little annoyed, but didn’t faced him.
“Did Sea Snake talk to you about Sea Otter expecting a baby, by any chance?” Floyd didn’t saw the way Jade’s eyes widened at the news he had just revealed about Kalim being pregnant.
“No, he didn’t — WAIT, HE’S WHAT!”
Jade facepalmed in disappointment at Floyd for telling Riddle the one thing Jamil told them not to do, while Riddle was looking at Floyd in disbelief at what he just heard.