People say love is beautiful, but it can also be terrifying. It's like standing on the edge of a cliff, feeling the wind whip around you, knowing you could soar or plunge into the depths below.
Love promises so much but it also carries the weight of fear.
What if he's not who he seems? What if those sweet words are just a mask? Every glance, every touch, every promise feels like a gamble. The thrill of being loved is there, but so is the risk of being hurt, fooled, or taken advantage of.
And I think I'm one of the unlucky ones. Just when I decided to take that leap and trust a man, he chose to break my heart. I let my guard down, and all I got in return was betrayal. Was I blind to the signs or just too hopeful?
My hands were trembling while holding my phone. My friend's voice echoing in my ear as she continued to scold me.
"I still can't believe him, Yue. I did my best to be the perfect girlfriend for him, but why?" Tears blurred my vision while I'm trying to hold back the sobs that kept threatening to break free. "Am I not enough? Am I ugly?"
"Listen to me, Aurora Miller." Her voice softened. "You're the epitome of what everyone aspires to be, so don't ever think that you're ugly or not enough."
"Really?"
"Really. So stop crying over some douchebag. He is not worth your tears."
It's nice to have someone who knows just what to say when life makes you unable to speak. "Thanks, Yue."
"Why don't we go out tonight?" She asked with enthusiasm. "This week has been draining, and we deserve to pamper ourselves."
I immediately agreed. I need to do something, anything, just to get out of this miserable state I'm in. I got up from my bed, took a quick shower and headed to Yue's place.
Yue greeted me with a big smile on her face when I finally arrived. I greeted Yue's mom before we headed to her room. Without wasting a second, she sat me down in front of her vanity mirror.
"First of all, we need to do something about those dark circles."
I sighed. It's all because of those sleepless nights. The endless cycle of overthinking, replaying every little detail of what went wrong. It felt like my mind had become a prison, and my eyes were the only reminder of how long I had trapped in it.ย
Yue spent almost an hour helping me with my make up. She chose an outfit that's both elegant and fierce. After our little makeover, I barely recognized the person staring back at me in the mirror. I looked confident, beautiful... and enough.
"Wow. You're a stunner!" Yue's eyes gleaming with admiration. I couldn't help but hug my friend.
"I really appreciate you, you know that?"
Yue hugged me back. "Hey, don't make me cry! The last thing I want is to go out with smudged makeup."
I laughed and pulled away from the hug. I should've done this sooner rather than wasting my tears over some jerk.
When we arrived at the club, the loud music and flashing light immediately assaulted my senses. I hesitated at the entrance, feeling a wave of anxiety wash over me. The club was crowded, filled with people dancing and having a good time. This was so far from my comfort zone. I felt like an outsider.
Yue squeezed my hand and pulled me inside. "Relax, Auri. I got you! Just stick with me."
I just nodded, swallowing hard as we walk through the crowd. The noise, the lights, the energy of the place- it's too overwhelming. Yue led me to the bar and called the bartender to order our drinks.
"It's not so bad, right? Just take a deep breath and enjoy the music."
I nodded my head. This isn't really my cup of tea, but I'll try to enjoy the night with her.
I followed Yue's advice and took a deep breath before sipping my drink. The drink burned slightly, but it gave me a small boost of confidence. "Thanks, Yue. I don't know what I'd do without you."
She smiled, raising her glass. "You're Aurora Miller. You always know what to do, you just need a little pat on the back sometimes."
I clinked my glass against hers, feeling a flicker of hope. Maybe tonight, I could finally embrace the fact that not everything goes as planned, and that even the relationship we thought would last forever may slip away from our grasp.
As the night progressed, I started to loosen up a bit. The music and the energy of the crowd gradually pulling me out of my shell. Yue and I were laughing over our drinks when my eyes locked onto a familiar figure across the room. Steven, my ex, is here, and he's not alone. A stunning woman clung to his arm, her laughter piercing through the noise of the club. My heart sank, and a small amount of confidence I had mustered began to crumble.
"Yue," I whispered, my voice shaking. "He's here."
Yue followed my gaze. Her eyes narrowed as she spotted Steven. "That bastard. Don't let him ruin your night, Auri."
But it was too late. Steven had seen us. His eyes widened in surprise as he took in my appearance. He started making his way toward us, dragging the woman with him.
"Well, well, well," Steven sneered as he approached us. His voice dripping with sarcasm. "Look who decided to step out of her little perfect world. Surprised to see you here, Auri."
I took a deep breath, trying to steady my emotion. "Get lost. I'm enjoying my night."
"Enjoying your night?" He laughed derisively. "You? In a place like this? Don't make me laugh. A nerd like you doesn't belong here."
His words stung, but before I could respond, Yue stepped forward. "Back off, cheater! She's here to have fun, and your ugly face is ruining our night."
Steven's face twisted in irritation. "Oh, really? And who are you to speak for her? Her little lapdog?"
The woman at Steven's side giggled, clearly enjoying the drama. Steven took a step closer to Yue, his tone turning menacing. "Why don't you stay out of this, Japanese girl? You're just making a fool of yourself."
Yue's eyes flashed with anger. "I'm not the one who has a small weenie but still managed to cheat, then showed up here parading a new fling."
Steven's face reddened in embarrassment. In a flash, he raised his hand, aiming to slap my friend. Without thinking, I shot up from my seat and grabbed his wrist, stopping him mid-motion.
"Don't you dare." My voice trembling with a mix of fear and anger. Before he could react, I slapped him hard across the face, grabbing the attention of the people nearby.
His eyes widened with shock as he stumbled back. "You.. you bitch!" He sputtered while clutching his cheek.ย
I forced myself to look tough, but my hand still tingling from the impact. "You deserve that and so much more. Don't ever think you can hurt my friend or me again."
The room buzzed with shocked whispers. Steven wasn't finished, his face twisted with anger as he sneered at me, loud enough for everyone nearby to hear. "Trying to act all though, huh? You're just a little virgin, playing dress-up in a world you don't belong to, Miller!"
His words hit me like a slap. Shame and anger mixing into a volatile cocktail. I won't let him humiliate me like this. I looked around the room and saw a man by the bar. He's tall, has dark hair, and amazing blue eyes. He looked so mysterious, and his quiet confidence pulled me in. There was something about him, something that made me feel like I could escape this hellhole if only I could get closer to him.ย
I took a deep breath, pushing the knot in my chest aside, and walked toward him. I didn't look back at Steven. I don't want to give him any more power over me.ย
"Hey," the words slipping from my lips with a calmness I didn't expect. "Would you like to sleep with me?"
It was the most reckless thing I'd ever done, and I couldn't believe I said it without hesitation. I didn't even know where this sudden confidence came from. Is this the effect of the cocktail, or am I just that desperate for revenge?
The time seemed to stop. The music, the chatter, everything faded as his eyes locked onto mine. I held my breath, terrified he might laugh or reject me.
He raised an eyebrow while a playful smirk dancing on his lips. "Well, that's quite the bold invitation. How could I possibly refuse?"
I blinked, hardly believing what I'd just heard. He's agreeing? A wave of relief swept over me when he took my hand and we headed toward the exit. I could feel every pair of eyes in the club following us. Yue's shocked face, Steven's gaping mouth, everyone was left dumfounded.
The faint music from the club pulsed softly in the background. I could feel my heart racing, a flutter of nerves swirling in my stomach.
"That was quite entertaining," the man remarked. I could feel a mix of frustration and embarrassment swirling inside me.
"T-thank you. I just needed to do that."
Did I really need to? I should've just walked away after decking my ex. Why had I let myself be pulled into that mess? This wasn't me. What had possessed me to waste my time one someone so unworthy?ย
Still, I couldn't deny the strange, liberating rush that came with standing up for myself, even if it felt foolish.
He nodded as if he understood perfectly. "Sometimes, you have to break free from who people think you are." The moonlight glinted off his features, making him look almost otherworldly.
I couldn't help myself. "I have to say, you're like a knight in shining armor back there."
He laughed softly. "And you're quite the daring lady."
"I'm Aurora Miller, and you are?"
"It's a pleasure to meet you, Aurora," he gave an exaggerated bow, a playful grin tugging at his lips. "You can call me Mr. Knight-in-shining armor."
ย "Well, Mr. Knight, did you bring your white horse?"
"I didn't bring the horse, but I do have an Audi parked out front."
"I'd say that's a pretty good substitute."
"Just wait until you see the interior," he teased, "it's practically a royal carriage on wheels."
We both laughed. I couldn't remember the last time I'd had a conversation this easy, this light- aside from with Yue, of course. He seemed like a nice guy, a stranger, yes, but there was something about him that made me feel surprisingly at ease. Maybe this night wasn't such a disaster after all.ย