Heather's POV
"I can't live if living is without you. I can't live. I can't live anymooorrreee," sang Trudy on the microphone. Her voice suddenly cracked at the end as a little sob came out.
We were doing karaoke after we had lunch with Jane and Elisse. They had already left and we were left alone in our living room.
She clutched the bottle of wine in her hand and collapsed on the sofa.
"I hate you, James! I hate you... You pig! You!" She screamed. "And you, Eunice, I curse you!" Then she started to sob. "What's wrong with me? Why does he choose her over me? I gave everything to him. Everything!!!!"
Yeah, including your virginity, I thought and sighed.
I guess James wanted something else. Something more exciting. That a-hole would never think twice about getting into any woman's pants! Trudy was just blinded by love in which I fully understand, but crying over him since morning is just beyond me. I understand she loves him since college and the pain she is feeling now is not far from what I have gone through before. I guess the only difference is that, I learned it early on in my relationship with Tom.
I know the feeling of being in love and I am still hoping I would find the right guy as well someday. But, unlike Trudy, I never cried for so long when Tom and I broke up. For me, it's not worth it. He cheated on me with my childhood friend and later on getting married. They even invited me to their wedding like nothing happened. The nerve! Of course, I didn't go, not that I still have feelings for Tom, which I don't, but I would never become a martyr to let myself be pitied by the people especially his mom. His mom showed her disapproval of me the moment we became a couple.
I still thank my lucky stars for not going further with him otherwise I will be like Trudy, now eyes all swollen up like a raccoon's from all of that crying. As much I loved her, I just wanted her to just get over it and moved on. Maybe find a guy for her, not just any guy, but someone much worthy of her and show James what he missed. She is a successful business woman after all and she can even buy a guy if she wanted to but of course, knowing her, she wouldn't do such a thing. It was against her morals.
Trudy might be the best student, an A-lister in college, but she is stupid when it comes to love. How I wish she could be a fighter like me! Maybe that's why we clicked. We're complete opposites. We've been the best of friends since freshman in college. First time being away from our families, we both lived in a dorm and the funny thing was we were also roommates. It was fun to have her around and as we went on to our second year in college, we met Jane and Ellis, who was a transfer that time.
Our bond became stronger as the years passed by. Trudy met James in our third year in college. She actually had a crush on him. A business student himself, he and Trudy clicked and even became seat mates in all of their classes. Ever since then, we would often see them together. I like James for her at first until I saw him one time checking out Elisse.
Being the tallest and had the longest flawless legs in our group, most men liked her. Her long ginger straight hair, seductive green eyes and perfect wide smile with red as blood lipstick, made every guy on campus turn their heads whenever we walked together. Add a perfect body, fair skin with slightly round breasts, I definitely envy her.
Trudy as studious as she is, wore her round black-rimmed eyeglasses, long straight black hair tied into a high ponytail and a few strands framed on the sides of her face. Her attractive chocolate brown eyes, slightly tanned skin and wide pink lips are some of the assets that perhaps made James liked about her aside from being smart. She was also a student body president.
Jane is the simplest and most quiet person I've ever met. She is the richest in our group, too. Her parents owned several properties and their company is one of the renowned construction companies in New York City. But despite growing up in a very rich family, she was very kind to us. Her small black eyes, fair skin, ebony hair and small lips could make any guy fall for her, but then, unfortunately, she hasn't had a boyfriend since college. Somehow, it became my mission to find her one as well.
I remember the first time Trudy and I met. It was a few days before school and my brothers helped me bring my things from our house in Rockland, New York. I got accepted to one of the prestigious universities in New York City, and I am so excited since it is my first time in Manhattan. Finally, away from my overly protective brothers, I have a dorm and can have some peace and quiet from all their bickering.
My dad left my mom when we were only ten and my mom passed away with a brain tumor when I was sixteen. Since then, my three older brothers were the only ones I ever had. They made sure I get into New York University and probably find a way to get a really nice roommate, which they could have done since they got connections. I loved them so much, but everyone needs to breathe sometimes.
After college, I decided to stay in the city and work. Since publishing my first ever short story in the student paper, I got noticed by some publishers and got offered to write for the Lover's Digest, a weekly e-magazine featuring short stories and advises on love. Since then, my life has changed and I started writing short stories weekly for the magazine.
I guess I am a dreamer. I believed so many fairy tales to the point I imagine myself as the female character in some of my stories and waiting for my prince charming to come. He could be a gallant, a warrior or a king making his way towards the castle trying to save me. Unfortunately, it only happens in stories and in reality, men can be so cruel. But I am not losing hope and Trudy should, too. There are so many fishes in the sea. We just need the right bait to get the right fish or something like that.
Trudy is finally asleep on the couch and tired herself out from all the drama she had since this morning. This morning, I was given the task to call Mr. and Mrs. Goodwin. We wanted to let them know that the wedding is off, but it turned out they knew it already.
"We knew already, Heather. Her Aunt Sandra told us about Eunice and James. They have been hiding their relationship and..." Mrs. Goodwin trailed off, her voice sounded hesitant.
"Tell me, Mom," Trudy shouted at the speaker.
"I'm sorry, Honey, but Eunice is.... two weeks pregnant."
"What?! You mean all this time, while she was helping me prepare for my wedding, she has been seeing James, too? That b*tch!" and she started walking around the room hysterically.
"Trudy, language."
"I'm sorry, Mom, but I can't help it. I wanted to curse her to hell. From now on, she is not part of our family. I don't want to see her face ever!"
Eunice, only twenty-one years old, four years younger than Trudy, will spend her entire life with that James. I bet he will also leave her once the baby is born. He will look for another victim and just become a "baby daddy" to many women. I truly believe it with my whole heart.
"Trudy, please. Stay calm. You know how much we love you and we wished to be there now, but we have to wait a bit before we can take the flight to get there. Heather, Jane and Elisse, thank you so much. Thank you for taking care of our baby."
"No worries, Mrs. Goodwin. We'll make sure she's safe," I promised.
I would never let anyone get hurt like that again, I almost added.
That is a promise I made for myself. If there's one thing my friends can count on me is that I will never leave them in times of difficulty especially when they are broken-hearted.
I took the bottle of wine from her hand. I know it might be too early for all the drinking since it was just past two o'clock in the afternoon, but I felt like she needed it so she can sleep better. Last night, I had to give her a sleeping pill to calm her down as she knocked on my door around eleven pm, crying hysterically while clutching the love note.
I decided not to tell Jane and Elisse as they just left an hour before and having them to come back will just be ridiculous. So I tried to handle it myself and let her cry on my shoulders until she felt tired. She was probably crying for about an hour, then I led her back to her bedroom and gave her a sleeping pill, and she conked out.
I decided to read the note after I left her bedroom. I sat in the sofa and opened it.
My dearest Trudy,
Hello baby! I know this might be a shock to you as we will be getting married in a few days. I hope you will be able to understand why I have to do this.
First of all, I wanted to let you know how I love you so much and the years we spent together as a couple are one of the best things I ever have. But, lately, there was something missing. When I proposed to you, I wasn't really sure if I wanted to get married. But because I saw how happy you are I went on with it until I met your cousin, Eunice. She filled the void I have been looking for all my life and made me rethink my relationship with you.
Sorry. But I love Eunice. She is the one for me and by the time you finished reading this, we will be on our way to Chicago, away from everyone else. I'm sorry for all the pain I caused you. I hope you could forgive us someday.
Love,
James
I crumpled the paper and took the perfectly arranged bouquet of flowers in the trash shoot. There was no need for Trudy to see that stupid roses on a vase by morning. It was garbage just like James. I vowed to protect Trudy from men like him and revenge would be sweeter when she finds the right guy. Just like the cupcakes she baked everyday in the bakery, we just need to find the right flavor. Something that would equally match to her taste and something more, and I think I just know the guy.
So now, here I am, opening my Facebook page while she is snoring in the couch. I looked for Frederick "Red" Navarro. She told me about him before when we were in college. She said he was his only guy friend in California and they have been classmates since elementary. She grew up together and their parents were friends. She said after she moved to New York to pursue her studies, they lost contact and she forgot all about him when he met James.
I hated the fact that she placed her whole life on hold just for James. Her bakery just happened because of her parents' encouragement and ours, too. If she didn't listen to us, she could have stayed unemployed as she was just waiting for James to propose to her for almost a year. Last year, we put in all our savings and her parents hard-earned money to get a place in Chelsea Market and put up a bakery. It became one of the best bakeries in Downtown Manhattan, and she gained so many clients including celebrities like Robert De Niro and Emily Blunt.
Her wedding was supposed to be extravagant as many looked forward to it. But now, what? I just hope the media would be nice to her somehow as I started adding Red as my new Facebook friend.