Chapter 2 – Broken

• Mhia sighed deeply every now and then. She just stared blankly outside the flower shop she owned. She was the only person there at that moment, that’s why she could space out freely.
• The wind chime by the door rang, indicating someone entered, but she remained melancholic, still staring into nothingness. She slouched beside the counter.
• “You’re going to get robbed, did you know that?” a voice interrupted her thoughts.
• She looked up. A smiling face greeted her. It was her friend Tiffany.
• She returned her gaze to nowhere. She sighed again.
• “Oh! Ignoring me now, huh?” Tiffany exclaimed. She even tapped the countertop for emphasis.
• Mhia didn’t pay her any mind. She wasn’t in the mood for banter.
• “Hey, Mhia! Don’t give me silent treatment like that! It’s irritating! Speak up, hey!” Unable to contain herself, Tiffany slapped her arm.
• Mhia let out a surprised whimper. Concern flashed in Tiffany’s eyes.
• “Sorry . . . Did I hit you too hard?” she said in a concerned tone.
• She quickly wiped out the tears that fell on her cheeks and forced a smile. “It’s not you.”
• Tiffany raised her eyebrows. “What do you mean it’s not me? Don’t tell me— Cendrick again?”
• She avoided eye contact with Tifanny. She didn’t want to talk about her boyfriend because she knew it would lead to another round of lectures from her.
• “Don’t bring me into your drama, Mhia,” Tiffany warned, leaning closer. “What has that guy done now, huh? Is he with another girl again?” she probed.
• Mhia didn’t answer. Tiffany already knew Cendrick’s behavior. And that’s what angered her friend. Tifanny said she was too much of a martyr to be in love with him.
• She and Cendrick were in an on-and-off relationship for almost a year now. That’s because of her boyfriend’s only flaw— he was too much of a player.
• But even so, she still managed to forgive him. She didn’t know why, and she didn’t know why she endured all that emotional abuse— something that always infuriated Tiffany. She felt like she would die if she lost her boyfriend. That’s how much she loved him.
• “I don’t know what to do with you, Mhia! It happened repeatedly but you still accept him. If I could just smash your head against the wall, I would’ve done it already. It’s not healthy anymore; his repeated lies to you! And you’re making it a habit. My God! When he makes a mistake, you easily forgive him. That’s why he’s getting used to it because you’re tolerating him!” she lectured.
• “What can I do? I—”
• “You love him?” Tiffany sarcastically cut her off. “Don’t you also love yourself? Because of that man you became stupid, Mhia! So, please . . . break up with him.” It wasn’t a request but a command.
• She sighed. Her tears started to pour again.
• “Oh! Look at you! You’re crying again!” Tiffany exclaimed. “Don't drag me into your crying fits, Mhia, huh! You’re the one refusing to leave that relationship. You’re the one causing yourself pain. So, stop your crying, okay? Tsk! If you weren’t my friend, I would’ve left you to your stupidity a long time ago!” Tiffany’s chest heaved as she spoke.
• Mhia bowed her head. She couldn’t say anything because everything Tiffany said was true. She let herself get hurt. She could break up with Cendrick, but she didn’t want to.
• “You’re wasting your beauty on that a**hole! He never appreciates you. He never cares about what you feel— he’s full of himself! What’s worse is that he never really loves you. You’re the only one head over heels to him— who, frankly, could easily replace you. So, wake up, Mhia! Many men are courting you— men who really appreciates you. And Cendrick? He isn’t the only man in the world, for Christ’s sake! There are too many of them! You just have to choose.”
• Again, Tiffany was right. She had many suitors whom she always turned down because she had a boyfriend. Ironically, she never looked into another man, other than Cendrick.
• Not even once!
• “Just your smile alone can hook anyone. Even a child, you can easily befriend you,” Tiffany continued. She knew she wouldn’t stop until her anger subsided.
• “I’ve been telling you for so long, use your looks to get even with him. If you do that, he’ll surely be the one chasing after you and not the other way around.” Still unsatisfied, Tifanny circled around her and faced her towards herself.
• “You’re smart, Mhia. Use that. Don’t always let your softness win,” Tiffany pointed to her heart. She stared her straight in the eyes. “Please, Mhia . . . I’m begging you, stop this foolishness. Stop tolerating him. Because the more you forgive him, the more emboldened he becomes to hurt you. Don’t you get it? He was just playing on your feelings,” she said.
• Tears finally welled up in her eyes. It hurt when someone else told you the truth. It felt like being stabbed repeatedly in the chest.
• Despite Tiffany’s brash demeanor, she knew her friend only meant well with her words. She hadn’t learned her lesson yet.
• “Hush . . .” Tiffany embraced her gently, stroking her back soothingly.
• “W-what should I do?” Mhia asked in a broken tone.
• Tiffany quickly pulled away from her. She wiped her tears as well.
• “I’ll take care of it,” she winked.
• She simply surrendered as Tiffany gathered her belongings and took her hand. It was already seven o’clock in the evening, and there were no more customers at that time.
• They hailed a taxi. Tiffany herself paid and instructed the driver where to go.
• “Here? Why here?” She raised an eyebrow as they got out of the taxi. She saw the signage of the place. It’s a bar.
• “Oh, come on! Where do fishes live, Mhia? Of course, in the ocean! So, here we are!”
• She gave Tiffany a dirty look.
• “What?” Tiffany shrugged innocently.
• She turned away. Tiffany quickly blocked her path.
• “I don’t need a man, Tiff. I already have one,” she said.
• “Yes. But he’s an as*hole? That’s why we’re here at the Ocean Adventure Club— to forget about him forever. We’ll pick one from the guys here,” Tiffany teased, then playfully grabbed her arm and pulled her inside.
• She didn’t resist anymore. She felt like a leaf being carried away by the wind.
• The loud music greeted her as they entered. She winced, putting a finger to her ear. She followed Tiffany, who seemed determined not to let her go.
• She wasn’t used to this kind of place. She was occasionally dragged there by her friend who loved bars. Tiffany was liberated, while she remained an old-fashioned lady. She wasn’t prudish in her attire; she knew how to keep up with trends, but always with limitations. She wasn’t the type of woman accustomed to one-night stands. She valued her purity most. That was often a point of heated discussion between her and Cendrick. Because no matter how much he insisted, she couldn’t bring herself to give in— which was the right choice.
• Now, you’re saying that? After all the pain you’ve been through, now you’re thinking about that, huh, Mhia? You really are foolish, a loud voice echoed in her mind.
• She had known that for a long time, but she couldn’t understand herself why she couldn’t leave her cheater boyfriend. Maybe she was indeed crazy.
• “There!” Tiffany’s loud voice pulled her out of her thoughts. She pointed to a man sitting alone at the bar counter, in the far corner. “It’s your chance!” She pushed her forward.
• Mhia almost stumbled into the man if she hadn’t balanced herself. She glared at Tiffany, but she was no longer in her previous position.
• “That witch!” she muttered to herself.
• She straightened up and sat on the empty seat next to the man. “One martini, please,” she requested from the bartender.
• While waiting, she discreetly glanced at the man beside her. She furrowed her brows. He looked like he hadn’t taken a bath for a year.
• The man had long hair, even his mustache and beard. He just wore a long-sleeved polo, with its collar not properly ironed. It seemed like it was just pulled out from wherever because the creases were almost impossible to smooth out.
• The man was tall and muscular. He also had a prominent nose, and she assumed he had beautiful eyes which she couldn’t quite discern the color of. He’s on the dark side of the bar counter and she only saw his side view. So, all she could see were his long and curly eyelashes, which seemed longer than hers.
• “Here’s your order, Ma’am,” the bartender said.
• She nodded and took it, but her attention was still on the man beside her.
• Her eyes landed on his hand resting on the counter, particularly on the ring he was wearing. It’s a wedding ring, so, he’s out of her choice.
• She drank her alcohol without thinking. The symbol on his finger screaming that he was not free, and she can’t be with him.
• But if he’s married, why does he look like this? And why is he here in the bar?
• Maybe he had a fight with his wife, one part of her mind answered her own question.
• She shook her head.
• Here she was, drinking while thinking about someone else’s problem. As if she didn’t have her own problem to think about, Tiffany won’t drag her there in the first place.
• She finished her drink quickly and ordered another one. She wasn’t used to drinking, but because of the pain she felt, she suddenly became immune to the taste of alcohol. It was like water to her now.
• Soon enough, she felt dizzy. She also found herself laughing alone while tears falling on her cheeks. When she turned to her side, the man beside her was looking at her too.
• She couldn’t understand herself. She suddenly stood up and kissed him on the lips without saying a word, surprising him. The man didn’t react immediately. It was quick, but thousands of electrifying sensations surged through her body, so she quickly moved away from him.
• But the man quickly grabbed her waist. He suddenly kissed her lips without further a do.
• She let him be. Truth is, she liked the way he kissed her. It was different from Cendricks’ kisses. Gentle at first, but later became passionate. She didn’t hesitate to wrap her arms around his neck.
• The next thing she knew, their bodies were pressed against the soft bed, wherever they were.