Chapter 1 Worst Break-up

• KAIDA’S POV
• Liam smells like bergamot and lavender. Always. His signature scent.
• I could perceive it from a mile away as I stepped into the restaurant, my hands holding until my bag’s strap.
• A smile stretched on my lips upon seeing him.
• His broad back was unmistakable, a giveaway that he was the one I was looking for. After all, years of hockey had sculpted his athletic build.
• Just a few steps away, I paused, then crept up behind him on tiptoes, intending on a surprise. But before I could lean in and whisper in his ear, he froze and turned around, his senses apparently alerted to my presence.
• Maybe my scent gave me away, just like his had given him away to me earlier when I walked into the restaurant.
• “You’re here,” he smiled softly. Not his usual wide smile, but a forced one, which made my brows arched.
• Was he having a bad day?
• “Yes.” I replied, returning his smile as I sat across him, the table separating us.
• Liam wasn’t his usual self, so I finally asked that had been lingering on my lips. “Is everything okay?”
• He forced another smile. Again. “Yes, I’m good. Just stressed from practice.”
• He wasn’t exactly telling the truth, I could tell, but I didn’t probe deeper into the matter, instead, I chose to relax and enjoy the arts on display, while waiting for the waitress to come attend to us.
• “Is this some kind of secret date?” I joked, trying to ease the sudden tension that overwhelmed the atmosphere.
• My boyfriend was much too quiet. It wasn’t normal, but I couldn’t ask. It was as if my tongue were tied against the wall of my mouth.
• “No, it’s not.” Liam replied blankly and straightened up as soon as the waitress got to our table.
• “What would you like to have?” I asked him, my eyes on the menu, contemplating on what dish to pick.
• All the dishes on the menu looked enticing and probably delicious, but I had to settle for one, which I did. Beef on weck. A popular dish among citizens of Rochester.
• “I’m good,” Liam replied, and I nodded slowly.
• Once the waitress left to get my order ready, I straightened up, meeting Liam’s gaze at eye level, but he avoided my eyes.
• Last I remembered, Liam hadn’t done anything wrong lately that could make him avoid my gaze, which made his behavior all the more confusing.
• “Did you do something wrong?” I asked because from my observation since my arrival, it seemed something was wrong, or he had a lot to say to me.
• When I saw his text last night, inviting me to a well-known restaurant downtown, I thought it was a date, since we’ve not had one in a long time.
• Liam has always been busy with practices, games with different teams, and we rarely have time for dates anymore, so when he invited me to one last night, I was so excited.
• I even wore my favorite summer gown and Ember, my roommate, dolled me up.
• “No.” He cleared his throat and straightened up once more, as if finding courage to speak up after much contemplation.
• “I have something to say, Kaida.” He stated, pausing for a second before continuing. “And I hope you don’t hate me for this.”
• I swallowed hard, eyes on him, as I waited for him to continue.
• “Why would I hate you, Liam?” I asked, a small smile stretched on my lips. “You’re my boyfriend, after all.”
• I watched as he took in a deep, slow and torturous breath before saying three words that I never knew could shatter my world. “Let’s break up.”
• Everything around me stopped and my head spun.
• The laughing couples sitting at the next table, the slow music playing in the background and the waitress taking orders.
• Every sound stopped, and it felt like Liam and I were the only one left in the restaurant and probably the whole world.
• “I don’t understand…” my brows arched, and a painful lump pushed past my throat.
• “Let’s break up, Kaida. I’m tired of this relationship.”
• As those words left his lips, they seemed to push past my chest, piercing my heart and leaving it bleeding.
• I couldn’t come up with a plausible reason why he was breaking up with me. Last I remembered, we didn’t have a fight and neither did I say something wrong.
• So why?
• My lips parted, but no words came out.
• “Did…. Did I do something wrong?” I whispered, my voice trembling with emotions.
• Emotions which were almost impossible to keep at bay.
• He replied, head wagging negatively. “No, you didn’t. It was all my decision.”
• “But why……” my voice trailed off, tears welling up in my eyes.
• As if the universe were against me, the waitress returned and placed my order on the table and as if sensing the tension, she bolted.
• “I’m sorry, Kaida,” Liam rose to his feet and placed a $100 bill on the table. “I thought forever was a deal, I was wrong.”
• With that, he walked away, his cologne wafting past my nose.
• I also thought forever was the deal, but he broke the deal midway.
• By the time he was gone, the tears I did well in holding back broke out, drawing attention from strangers in the restaurant.
• I placed my head against the table and cried my eyes out.
• Liam was my first and only boyfriend, but now, I don’t have a boyfriend anymore, and he didn’t even make mention of the reason we had to break up.
• A few minutes later, I grabbed my bag and headed towards the entrance door, ready to leave, but nothing could have prepared me for whom I saw next.
• Maverick Jensen. Ember’s older brother. The captain of the Phoenix Hockey team at McCall College.
• Our eyes met and he halted.
• He stared at me blankly while I tried to avoid his gaze, but my puffy eyes gave away the fact that I cried.
• “Did you cry?” His jaw tightened, and his eyes darkened as he asked.
• I might be wrong, but I swear, something like anger flickered in his eyes for a millisecond.
• “Hi… no, I didn’t.” I smiled awkwardly, looking away, while holding my bag strap for dear life.
• “Did you cry, Kai?” He probed further, this time, his voice edgier and deep, sending shivers down my spine.
• I would rather let the earth swallow me than let Maverick know I just got my heart broken, hence the tears. Instead, I gave him a witty reply, like a brat that I was.
• “Nah…. I’m saving my tears for when I’m alone with Netflix.”