Chapter 5

• BLYTHE
• Days had passed after my boyfriend and I reconciled, and I couldn't be happier that my boyfriend had been very consistent lately. Almost everyday, he would pick me up from work, and he had been frequenting my apartment too.
• I had also let go of the guilt that I had when I had a one night stand with the man at the club. It was a good thing that he didn't show up at the shop again, and it made me feel that what happened between us was nothing more than a casual encounter.
• Finnian and I made a plan for that night, it was our 16th month together, and as cheesy as it may sound, I kind of like celebrating that milestone of our relationship monthly. But I was too impatient to wait until night time, so I decided to go to his apartment. There was a bake shop beside my shop, so I thought of getting Finnian's favorite strawberry cheesecake. I even asked the staff to add more strawberries on it, which they did and refused to charge me extra for.
• When I got in the building, I noticed that his door was not properly closed. I didn't feel anything bad at that time, I was more excited to surprise him. Just when I entered, I noticed a very familiar scent, and I was sure that it wasn't my boyfriend. The door of his room was not totally closed too, so I slowly walked towards it. I didn't know what got in my mind that I was consciously controlling my footsteps to not create a sound. I knew at that moment that I was about to see something that would break my heart again.
• I silently positioned myself behind the door, and gently moved my head close to the tiny gap. What I saw made me want to throw up, and the voice inside my head was instructing me to confront them.
• I froze there for a few more seconds before I could gather enough courage to compose myself. I didn't think of confronting them right away even if it was making my heart feel heavy. I started turning my back and headed to the main door.
• I told myself that I would not cry, I would not shed even a single tear for someone who wasn't even worthy of my time. That was way too much for me already and if I would let it pass again, then I would have to declare myself as the dumbest person that ever walked the earth.
• When I entered the elevator, there was a couple inside who seemed to be smooching. I felt jealous, I could see how the man was madly in love with the woman. I overhead the woman telling her man to stop because I was there.
• “No, worries, I don't mind at all,” I told them and gave them a smile while I was dying inside already.
• I rushed back to my shop, and Ellis was wondering why I had returned so quickly. I just told her that I had a change of heart. I instructed her to prepare some flower arrangements and balloon garlands too.
• “Black. Everything black.” I said to her when she asked me about the colors that I wanted.
• “Is everything okay?” She asked.
• “Everything is not okay, so please help me feel better by doing what I asked,” I replied monotonously.
• Ellis just nodded, she instructed her friend to get the spray paint. They started spraying black paint on the roses. After they had prepared everything, I asked them to help me load everything on my car's trunk.
• “You guys can leave now. Thanks for the help.” I thanked them as I was sending them away.
• “I don't feel good about all these, Blythe, and whatever you are trying to scheme, I won't let you do it alone.” She was firm when she said that, I knew that I could not convince her to do otherwise so I just let them stay.
• I called up Cleo too, and she agreed to be there by seven, which was about an hour and a half away.
• “Aren't you planning to at least give me a hint of what's happening?” Ellis asked me after we had set everything in place.
• Her friend, Lucy, was also showing concern now, and she told me that she was a Taekwondo champion, so she can use her skill to defend me.
• I laughed at her and assured her that it would not go that far. I excused myself from them so I could change into something more appropriate for what was about to happen.
• After getting myself ready, my staff were shocked to see me sporting an all black ensemble, dark lipstick, and I intently put on a thicker jet black eyeliner.
• “Happy Halloween!” Ellis sarcastically greeted me.”
• We were still in the middle of our exchanges of sarcasms when I heard the knock on the door. Lucy took it and it was Cleo. She was in awe when she saw the decorations in my living area.
• “Is it Halloween yet?” She asked, feeling confused.
• It didn't take long before Finnian showed up. He was laughing and was accusing me of pulling a prank on him. I smiled at him, while I was trying to control myself. I could also see the exchanges of looks between him and Cleo.
• “I think everyone is here already, so we should be start.” I said.
• “Don't tell me you are going to propose to me?” Finnian's look was neither surprised nor confused when he said that.
• “Does it look like it?” I asked him in return.
• “What are these dramas all about, I am not liking it,” he uttered.
• I asked Cleo to come closer and when she was near, I pulled her beside me. I took the strawberry cheesecake from the table and asked Cleo to hold it for me.
• “Oh, sweetie, you got me my favorite cake. How sweet of you,” he commented.
• “I actually got two of your favorites. I believe the other one is your current craving.”
• Ellis started to realize what was happening, she moved closer to me as well, standing behind Cleo.
• “What are you trying to say?” Finnian curiously asked.
• “I just want us to celebrate. Let us celebrate my stupidity for allowing you to keep hurting me.” I released a very strong punch that hit Finnian's face. It was so hard that I felt my fingers got broken.
• Finnian screamed as he fell on the floor. Then I turned to Cleo. “As for you, my ever supportive best friend who has been very consistent in advising me to leave my boyfriend, let us celebrate your betrayal.” Cleo's face was shocked and her lips started to shake.
• She was about to say something when I pushed the cake upward straight to her face. Ellis pulled me, and she asked the two to leave.
• Before they could leave, I screamed at them, I cursed them, and I wanted to hurt them. I was trying to get myself free from Ellis, but she was too strong.
• Lucy closed the door the moment the two had gone out of our sight. They seated me on the couch as they were trying to calm me down.
• “The nerve of her to even present herself as my ultimate confidant every time my boyfriend and I had a fight. She makes me sick “ I blunted.
• “Thank God you fought back, finally” Ellis said.
• “I just can't take it anymore, Elle, I can easily get over the fact that Finnian is cheating, but I can't take the betrayal from my very own best friend.”
• Ellis hugged me, Lucy also came to us and joined.
• “You know I have been wanting to eat that strawberry cake since we came here, I hate your bestfriend too now. If it weren't for her, I would have enjoyed a slice or two already.” Lucy cracked that joke that made us all burst into laughter.