5 - Bestfriend's Lover

With our chit-chatting, Kendra awakens from dreamland, still trying to sober up, “I can smell you, Nik. What are you doing here?” she said. That’s what she always says every time Nikolai is to pick her up. I pinch her cheek, 

“Wake up princess, your knight is here to snatch you away from me again!” 

She smiled at me while her face is still buried on the counter, “Why don’t you tell that little priest to come and get you!” she suggested, “Or else, I’m going to give you away…” she paused sobbing up, “to other beast fuckers who will feast in that perfect body of yours!”

Nikolai laughed his ass out as I felt a little bit of embarrassment, “Yes, your honor, find me a prince immediately”. I shook my head left to right and let out a smile as I looked at her still tipsy. 

“Okay, chitchat is over ladies, I will now reclaim my princess and punish her for drinking too much. Again!”, with an emphasis at the end of his statement. He then dips his lips towards her forehead down to her lips then gives her a long sensual kiss. I cleared my throat to break up the intense scene. They both smiled at me then glanced at each other once again. He carried Kendra in his strong arms in a matrimonial way, exposing his left ring finger. 

My eyes darkened at the sight of his wedding ring. Yes, he is a married man, with a wife and two young kids. My right hand took a grip at my purse trying to calm myself up. I hate the fact that my best friend is going out with a married man. But what can I do? When I see them together, everything around them sparkles. They don’t care about anything. They are just happily together. If I might say, they are perfect together, for each other. Their relationship is yes complicated, but a lot damn better than mine.

I noticed Kendra’s face buried in his neck, probably sleeping again, so I took the opportunity to have a serious conversation with him, “Nikolai, until when is she going to be the other woman? Do you think she deserves that?”, I said it in the calmest way possible. 

He took a deep breath and looked me straight in the eye, “No, she deserves anything but that. I’m working on it now, Ava. You know I love her more than anything.”

“Until when?”, I questioned him. 

“I don’t question your love for her. But could you please at least remove your fucking wedding ring when you are with her?”, I burst into anger. 

He took another breath, “I know. But you see, this is one of the conditions that my wife gave me before she signs the divorce paper. I need to wear this until she signs that damn paper.” His voice remained calm but his grip on Kendra's body tightened. I remained silent and just had a contest of stare with him.

He first broke and then said, “You know I would do anything for Kendra. But I just can’t leave my kids. And Kendra doesn’t want it, too. She loves them dearly.” 

His eyes are full of determination and sincerity, “Just give me six more months. I promise I will fix everything in six months.” He looks at Kendra’s sleeping image and brings her closer to him.  I sighed in surrender, 

“I see. I’m sorry I butt in. I just want the best for her. She deserves the best man, you know.”

He looks at me firmly and breaks a smile, “Then she deserves me. You know I am the best man for her.”

This is what I like about him the most. His personality is anything but ordinary.  

“Thank you for a wonderful chat and for taking care of her.”

“No worries. Now, go, lovebirds.”

“Miss Anderson.”

“Mister Murrow.”

Then they disappeared, and I am left alone. Without them by my side, I suddenly felt the shivers. I buttoned my coat and ordered another shot of liquor to heat up my system.  The longer I stay here alone, the lonelier I feel. I suddenly remembered Kendra’s suggestion about sending my boyfriend a message. So I took my smartphone out and stared at it.  

I don’t know why I don’t have the courage to send him a message. Do I miss him? I miss him badly! Do I want to see him? Of course, I do. So what’s stopping me? Well the fact that he might again turn me down, leaves me no choice but to think over whether to send him a message or not. I won’t be able to stand two consecutive rejections and disappointment in a row. 

So I took four more shots then finally, started typing a message for my boyfriend.

Message sent. All I have to do is wait for his reply. A few seconds after, my smartphone vibrates. The smile on my face disappears because I know what to expect from this fast response.

I opened the message and read it, “I’m sorry I can’t. Work hours. I love you.” Sometimes, I think maybe this phrase has been set as one of his message templates. 

Damn! I wanted to tell myself I told you so, but then again, why didn’t I feel surprised or disappointed anyway? Well, maybe it is because I’m already used to it. I learned how not to expect anything from him. 

So I just decided to visit a club afterward. One of my favorite hobbies is club hopping. Since I couldn’t get drunk that easily. I could visit an entire street of clubs in this area of Seattle. It is still mid-week, only a couple of people and lovers were around the places I visited. After the fourth club, I checked the time and it is already three in the morning. I think I have to get home now. So I took a cab and went to my apartment.

***

I got off the cab and entered the apartment building. The guard greeted me as I entered. I yawned out of sleepiness and saw that it is already 3:30 in the morning. I hurried to the elevator and pressed the button with “13” carved in it. Then I lean at the elevator. 

The melancholic feeling returned when I realized that I am again alone in this claustrophobic box of loneliness. 

“How I wish I could have a boyfriend who also picks me up!” I thought to myself. 

I closed my eyes as it started to get heavy. Half-asleep, I heard the sound in the elevator after a minute or so. 

“Finally!” So I stepped out of the elevator. I looked into my purse while walking down the hallway of the thirteenth floor. I was looking for my key card so I wasn’t paying too much attention to my surroundings. My feet already know where to go so it stopped automatically in front of my unit. I held out the key card, tapped it on the door, and encoded my pin. The door lock clicked and I entered. 

I remove my heels and put them on the shoe rack beside the doorway. Then I throw my purse on the couch and go to the kitchen to get some bottled water.  After the refreshment, I went to my room and started taking my clothes off. Not being a fan of anything bright, I didn’t open the light. The only thing that illuminates my room is the moonlight that passes through the glass wall of my apartment inside my bedroom. 

I looked and stared at it for a while, Oh what a beautiful scene!  

I walked towards my closet half-naked, only wearing my underwear exposing my breast and my upper body. I tried to look for a sleeping gown in the dark, but since the moonlight isn’t enough, I reached for the switch just a few steps away from the closet. Now that the room is bright, I can finally pick a sleeping gown.  To my surprise, a figure of a man sitting on the chair beside the bed appeared. I jumped and screamed out of panic. Half-asleep, the man hurriedly stood up and searched for the source of the scream. Then he scratched his half-opened eyes and called out to me, 

“Ava, are you alright?”