Faded smile
Lilly.
The break up with Jake really messed me up. I had placed so much hope in the relationship so I was shattered when it suddenly ended. I had not realised just how much I had grown to love him. I was so used to having him around that life seemed very bleak without him. I could barely sleep that night. By morning, I was feeling better but not good enough. I called in sick at work but the assistant editor threatened to take me off the undercover investigation team.
I was, therefore, forced to get up and go to work. I later realised that it was better that way. Distracting myself with work was better than dealing with all the pain while locked in a room. I wore a disguise and went to look for a job at the construction site. The manager claimed there were no empty positions available. They were probably careful because they knew they were being investigated.
However, that did not stop me. I went to a nearby restaurant and waited for lunch time while I worked suing my laptop. When lunch time reached, I went to the mobile food truck that had been stationed outside the site. I looked for a table with only males. I saw two on a table that was at the extreme end. I went there and sat with them. They started a conversation and by the end of lunch, the three of us were laughing like long lost friends. They gave me their numbers. As I left the place, I knew that my work was as good as done. If I could get closer to them, I would surely find out some information about what went on at the site. The good thing I had given them my number as well.
One of them called me that evening and we talked for a while. He was the cuter one. I was almost swayed by his charms but I reminded myself that dating was a no-go. I needed to stay single for a while to reconnect with my inner self.
The next day we met up again. I found out that the other guy was married. The one who had called me was single and searching. We met in a bar later that day and chatted about a lot of things. After a few drinks, he started blurting out things about the construction project that were not supposed to be known by outsiders. I felt bad for him but I recorder the whole conversation. I would delete it after converting the audio to text. And of course I would make sure that nobody found out that it was him who had spilled the beans.
Towards the end of the night, he kissed me. I felt bad that I would be breaking his heart when I went MIA. He seemed like a nice bloke. He begged to go home with me, but I said no. I told him we needed to get to know each other first which he did not seem to like very much.
It was when we were heading out that I got a surprise I had not been expecting.
“George!” a woman who was just arriving said cheerfully.
George’s face paled, like he had seen a ghost. “Who are you?”
The woman who was wearing a very short blue dress and long black heels laughed. “How dare you ask me that? Wait, is this the wife you say so many bad things about? Look here, wifey, this man and I have been having an affair for three months. He told me he had to take care of you tonight because you were ill. But as I see, he lied to me. I bet he lies to you as well, but then again, what’s it to me, all I wanted was the money.”
She danced her way into the bar while singing along to the song that was playing.
“You’re married!” I turned to George.
“I can explain,” he said.
“I don’t want your explanations,” I said and stormed out. When I was out of his sight, I smiled. What a lucky escape. Now I didn’t feel bad about recording him anymore. The man was already cheating on his wife with one woman, and he wanted to add me to the list. What a bastard.
I went back home and started the transcription. I worked until late at night. When I was about to sleep, my phone rang. It was Jake. I wanted to reach out and answer but I remembered what he had done to me. If he thought he could do whatever he wanted and I would always take him back, he was dead wrong. I no longer wanted anything to do with him. In fact, his call was inconveniencing. I had been trying to forget him and it had been going well until he called to remind me of the heartache.NôvelDrama.Org: owner of this content.
I took the phone in my hands and turned it off. That chapter of my life was done. I had to move on and start loving myself instead of giving too much power over me to other people.
The next morning, Kyle called me. After a short inner debate, I decided to answer.
“Good morning,” I said.
“How are you doing, Lilly?” he said. “It has been a while.”
“I’m aright, thanks for asking. I hope you’re okay, too.”
“I miss you.”
“Okay, thank you.”
“Don’t you miss me?” he asked.
“I’m sorry, I don’t. Have a nice day, Kyle.”
I was not going to fall for the ex-trap again. I had experienced how terrible Kyle could get and I did not want that in my life again. I assumed he called me because the other woman had run off. Yeah, I was not going to be the one girl desperate enough to put up with that bad attitude.
As I got myself ready, I decided to embrace singlehood for a while. It was time to forget about men and focus on myself and my career. As I headed to the door, I shook my head to a nice song that was playing on the Bluetooth device attached to my ear. I was smiling because the lyrics were making me happy.
I unlocked the door and pulled it open. The smile on my face quickly faded when I saw who was standing there. I tried to close the door but it was too late. I resorted to screaming out loud.