***Cindy***

I got off from work early and decided to surprise my boyfriend, Mark, because it was his birthday. I planned on getting the cake I had ordered from Sweet Tooth Pastries and a bottle of wine from the liquor store. I was going to finally let Mark take my virginity since I had starved him of sex the whole six months of dating. 

I made it to Sweet Tooth Pastries in no time and got my order. It was a vanilla cake frosted with buttercream icing, Mark's favorite. Earlier, I had told him I'd be working late, and I was so sorry to miss his birthday, but it was all a decoy to surprise him. Mark had understood. He knew my job was the only source of providing for my mom and my younger sister, Alexa. Mark was very supportive and hardly complained about anything I did. His kind was indeed rare. 

The cab I had used to get myself to Sweet Tooth Pastries was waiting for me to get me to my next stop. I wasted no time as I completed the payment for the cake and headed out. I went to the wine store and picked the cheapest I could lay my hands on. Mark deserved better, but I knew I had other responsibilities I catered to, so I had to manage my little funds. 

I headed to the counter and made payment before leaving for Mark's house. In less than fifteen minutes, I had gotten to Mark's. Using the spare keys Mark had given me, I made my way into his little apartment, closing the door behind me. Everywhere seemed untidy - typical Mark. I picked up a few clothes from the floor, but I noticed that some of them were not man's clothing. 

Among them was a lady's black top, which wasn't mine. I scanned the room and noticed a red bra and underpants lying bare on the floor. What? I moved towards the clothing to be sure I was seeing right. It was then I heard sounds coming from the bedroom. What is going on? I moved over to the bedroom, to be sure that what I was thinking wasn't true. I prayed in my heart that Mark wasn't the one in the bedroom with a woman, maybe he had his friend over who had come with his girlfriend.

As I got to the bedroom, my eyes widened with shock. I saw Mark right on top of a strange woman. My fears were confirmed! "Mark!" I screamed as the bottle of wine dropped from my right hand. The cake would have followed suit, had I not placed it on the table in the living room. Mark jerked, disengaging from the stranger. I dashed out immediately, with Mark calling after me and begging me to wait. I couldn't believe that the man I had praised all these months for being patient with me, had been having sex with another lady. Maybe there were even more that I was not aware of.

I couldn't give him my body yet, and I thought he understood. Just when I had decided to, I realized he had been cheating on me. Why did Mark give me the impression that he was fine with my decision to keep my virginity a little longer? If he knew he couldn't hold on anymore, why didn't he tell me? Why cheat on me instead? I asked myself these questions as tears flowed freely from my eyes. 

I was never going to be enough for any man unless I gave them sex! That was what it meant. I was done, done with keeping myself for the right person. Having dated Mark for a little over six months, I thought he was worth my body. I thought I had found the one for me, my Mr. Right. I loved Mark even though I knew he was still struggling. I was willing to make it work, make us work, and put in extra effort to make more money. 

I got out of Mark's building and waved for a taxi. "Take me to a bar, any bar," I said to the driver, almost in a whisper. I had been crying so much and did not mind the prying eyes that fell on me. My phone started to ring and I checked. It was Mark. "Bastard!" I muttered. I noticed the driver turning in my direction to be sure I wasn't calling him a bastard. I hissed. 

I had had enough for today and the last thing I needed was to have someone pry into my business. The drive to the bar was longer than expected. It was taking minutes for the driver to get me to any bar at all, and I was growing impatient. " Do you not know any bars around?" I asked the driver impatiently. "I'm looking for one befitting for a lady, ma'am," he replied. 

"Please get me to a bar, befitting for a lady or not, I don't care!" I was almost screaming at the driver as if he had contributed to my plight. The driver did as instructed. He dropped me in front of a bar shortly after. It read The Tipsy Gypsy. Perfect! I got out of the taxi and paid the driver. He looked at me with pity, as if he had an idea of what I was about to do. It was as if his face was saying 'Just go home instead', but he had no idea how I was feeling at the moment. 

I got inside and went straight to the bar counter, "Give me your strongest drink," I said to the bartender. He looked at me like I had gone crazy. I wondered if my innocent face sold me out. Perhaps he was wondering what a young lady like me, still dressed in office clothes, would be doing in a bar alone, asking for a strong drink. 

I reiterated, "Can I get your strongest liquor?" This time around, he acted upon my request. He asked me to be more specific, but since I wasn't much of a drinker, I told him to work some magic for me, as long as it was strong enough. I downed the glass almost immediately after the bartender dropped it on the counter, requesting another and then another. 

I had planned to drown in my sorrows, with the liquor as my companion. For all the time I had dated Mark, never for once did I think of him as a cheat. He was too decent for that, or, so I thought. I knew that if I got drunk I'd find it hard to locate my way home but, somehow, that thought didn't seem to bother me. What I wanted was to get knocked out and forget about Mark. 

I was still drinking my third glass when I thought I heard a voice behind me. I turned and looked at the man who had spoken. He was neatly dressed and smelled nice. He wore a charming smile, one that was too hard to pass unnoticed. "You're too pretty to be sitting by yourself and trying so hard to get yourself drunk. For starters, you don't look so much like a drinker." 

Shoot! Was it that obvious? Before I could give a reply in my defense, he continued, "Mind if I join you? It would be safer for you to have someone you can depend on if the alcohol kicks in." He waited for me to say something before he would take any line of action. After I had consented to it, he pulled out a chair and placed an order for himself. 

"I'm Kyle," he said afterward, stretching out his hand for a handshake. "Cindy," I responded while shaking hands with him. My eyes traveled round his body from head to toe. Apart from the fact that he was stylishly dressed and smelled nice, he was handsome as hell. His voice was confident, yet warm and inviting. The color of his eyes was rare and striking. They were bi-colored, one was blue and the other brown. 

I was beginning to get lost in the moment and I suddenly remembered how I had met Mark. We met at a supermarket where he worked previously. He was really sweet, and his voice sounded very warm and tender, just like Kyle did. Our relationship kicked off in no time, and it was the best thing that had happened to me in a long while since I had been single for what felt like an eternity. But now, Mark had broken my trust and shattered my heart, leaving me completely helpless.

Kyle's gentle tap on my back brought me back to reality. I realized he had been talking, and I had not been paying any attention to him. "I'm sorry, can you repeat yourself?" I said to him, feeling sorry. "I was saying, I noticed your eyes were a little red and swollen. Mind if I ask what's wrong?" Kyle seemed like he cared, but I didn't know if I could trust him. He went on before I could say anything, "Work stress maybe, or, boyfriend issues?"

"The second one," I replied, letting the cat out of the bag to a total stranger. What if he made me feel worse or judged me for wanting to get drunk because I was heartbroken? I was wrong. Kyle's words were soothing. He encouraged me, telling me that Mark wasn't worth my beauty. 

It wasn't long before we started talking and chatting like two long-lost friends. We went ahead to order more drinks, getting almost drunk. It was time to go and Kyle offered to drop me off, after paying for all the drinks. I got to where he parked his car and he opened the door for me like a proper gentleman. I was impressed, but I quickly reminded myself not to get fooled. 

My tipsy, almost-drunken state, would not allow me to put on my seatbelt properly and Kyle gave me a helping hand. His face came close to mine as he tried inserting the metal end of the seatbelt into the buckle, and I could smell the alcohol in his breath. Delicious! I drew my face closer to him and planted a quick kiss on his lips. Kyle looked at me shocked, but I could see a little smile forming on his face. He wanted me as much as I did. I had never done this before, but I guess there's always a first time for everything. 

In retaliation, Kyle grabbed my face in a daze and kissed me hungrily, sending a quick rush of adrenaline through my entire body. His lips were so soft and demanding and his tongue explored every corner of my mouth. I returned the same energy, kissing Kyle like I had been starved for ages. The kiss deepened and Kyle's hands slipped down from my neck and found my breasts. My nipples hardened almost immediately as they leaped for joy. They longed for Kyle's touch. 

Kyle broke off the kiss and said his hotel was just a few meters away. I agreed to follow him, ditching the plan to get home. It was Friday night after all, and I had no plans to go anywhere the following day, so it was perfect. I got to Kyle's hotel and I couldn't help but notice how lavish-looking the hotel was. It screamed luxury, but that wasn't why I was here. I was determined to make this night an unforgettable one for me, one that would take Mark's name as far as possible. 

I got into Kyle's Presidential Suite and in all my twenty-five years, I had never stepped foot in such opulence. The splendor of the room was second to none, giving me a little sense of belonging. Kyle led me into the bedroom and I followed like a cow ready for slaughter. We entered the room and in one swift motion, Kyle began again, kissing me more passionately than before. My entire body was on fire, it sparked and charged, ready to give in to whatever the demand was. 

His touch gradually became gentle as he scooped me up and onto the bed, gently unbuttoning my blouse, and exposing my bra. He undid all my clothing and I did the same to him. His mouth fed on my pink nipples as I let out a soft moan. He raised his head slightly to take a look into my eyes, wondering if I was enjoying every bit of the pleasure. 

Satisfied by my facial expression, he raised one of my legs, thrusting his hard erection into me. I let out a whispered cry. It was my first time, and it was as if Kyle got a hint of it. The exploration of the bittersweet journey started slowly. Kyle was patient with me. As flames of emotions ignited, he took me to a whole new world of fantasy, leaving me to yearn for more. 

The intimate encounter came to an end, and we drifted to sleep in each other's arms. Not long after, I woke up to the sound of my phone ringing. Who could be calling by this time of the morning? I struggled to locate my phone from where I had dumped it, still feeling sleepy. The call ended before I could pick up. It was my younger sister. What could Alexa want from me this early? 

I checked the time, and it was quarter past five. I was about to return the call when a text popped up,

"Cindy, it's mom. She has just been rushed to St. Michael's hospital. Hurry!"