THE BREAKUP

Andrea's POV

I hummed a low tune as I neared the door of my boyfriend's apartment. I could hear muffled voices and moans. An unsettling feeling gripped me. I hesitantly pulled open the door to reveal the most unexpected scene. Crouched under my boyfriend on the couch was his supposed bestfriend. He was pummeling in and out of her like a deranged beast moaning her name out loud. I momentarily froze at the sight of their naked bodies intertwined.

"louis !!!", I shrieked. He snapped his attention to me. There was not a look of shame or regret on is face. He huffed and turned his attention back to the brunette under him. I stood there feeling more stupid than I ever had. The lady wore a sheepish grin with a victorious glint in her eye. Our last conversation had been a warning to me. I wanted nothing more than to smack her face and wipe that foolish grin off. Tears were brimming at the corners of my eye, I dashed out of the room. The tears I had been holding back started to flow down my cheeks.

No this could not be happening. I must be daydreaming. I pinched myself hard to wake up from this nightmare. The harder I struggled to open my eyes, they felt glued together. "Damn you Louis!", I breathed out. I raced down the stairs onto the streets of the city. The bright, city night light came into view. I hailed a taxi home. it all felt so surreal. He had cheated on me that too in the eve of 5th anniversary together.

I undid the locks of the two bedroom apartment I shared with my bestfriend Delphina. I flipped the switch by the door. Bright lights seeped into the room from the light bulb. I slumped into the brown two seater sofa in front of the TV set. My hair was dishellved and my gray tank top soaked with tears. I sat motionless on the sofa for several minutes. I heard the clicking of the locks and knew Phina must be home. I picked myself up from the sofa and rushed to my bedroom adjacent the living room.

Her constant words of caution began to seep into my memory. She had told me several times I shouldn't and couldn't trust Louis. A week ago, she had seen him at the cinema with a tall brunette. I had surmised it was his best friend, probably they were out having quality time. It all made sense to me now. The brunette she had seen and the one I just saw were one and the same. To think I had argued with Phina over this issue. In the ten years I had known her, we had never had a major fight like last week. Especially not for a man as unworthy as Louis. My stupidity felt more stupid and painful. He had been dropping lots of signs for the past few months. I was too wrapped up in my undying love to see his obvious intentions.

I couldn't let Phina tell me," I told you so". It would make my stupidity hurt way more. I covered myself with the large quilt and shut my eyes tightly feigning deep sleep. "Guess what", she came in shouting merrily. Her voice full of joy. She stopped speaking realizing my curled up position in the bed. I tried my best to muffle the sobs threatening to come out. Knowing Phina, she would raise the quilt to seee if I was indeed asleep. She seemed to be in a good mood and I would hate to be the bearer of bad news.

"I know you are not asleep, Rea", she said softly lifting the quilt off me. She sat next to me on the bed. I raised my head to gaze my puffy red otherwise honey brown eyes into coppery yellow ones. "You were right about Louis and everything else", I choked out breathing heavily. Her expression changed from surprise to worry. "I am sorry Rea, I never wanted my assumption to be true", she apologized. " I know but I should have seen it coming, I am just so stupid", I cried out slapping myself on the face. She jerked up in anger at my words and action. " Don't call yourself stupid and that too for a jerk like Louis", she warned.

"I am way too gullible, that is why he had the chance to make a fool out of me". I broke into sobs burying my head in my palms. She nudged me gently and wiped my tears. " That asshole is going to get what is coming to him", she sneered. I sat quietly for a while in her arms sobbing. " Will I ever forget what I saw and get over five years?", I asked in a low uncertain tone. She sat in silence as though unsure of what to say next." What exactly happened?", she finally enquired. I narrated the entire episode to her.

Her face was red with visible anger. By the time I had finished my narration, she was seething with rage. " You mean he didn't even have the decency to offer an explanation or an apology?"., I shook my head. " What the fuck!", she exclaimed. The same Louis who had chased me for months before I had agreed to date him five years back now felt deigned to explain himself after I caught him cheating. It is funny how he had changed from that guy to this heartless monster. Thinking of all this, I sobbed louder. " Geez, I am awfully sorry you had to see that. I know I am to say it will get better but I am afraid I don't think so ". She paused to look me in the eye, "I don't know if you will ever forget this". I nodded silently. Trust Delphina Alax to hit the nail to the head.

Over the years, I had come to rely on her better judgement. The one time it was impertinent to listen to her, I didn't . God knows I would have saved myself all this torture. " I know Phina, I am just scared I might never love again", I confessed sadly. She lifted my head to look at her, "No matter what happens or how long it takes, I will be here for you.". I held on to her every word like my life depended on it. She hugged me to her and rubbed my back. " Thank you for always being here", I said laying my head on her laps. " Cry it out", she advised. I shut my eyes and let myself slip into sleep.