Breaking point

Recalling the betrayal

Rheya’s POV

It’s been a little over 24 hours ago since I had surprised my best friend with some flowers and a birthday cake for her birthday. I had it all planned out. We would go to her favorite restaurant for dinner, then go to a bar to celebrate.

On the weekend, we would go to the concert that she always wanted to go to. I had worked my butt off buying raffle tickets so many times till I got two tickets. I had also secretly been designing and making her birthday outfit.

The level of excitement I had felt sneaking around behind her back to get it done fueled me up so much, it was so hard to not blurt it out. I loved every minute of it. Even my boyfriend, Kevin had been kept in the dark about it because I didn’t want to risk the secret coming out by accident.

Cindy and I were childhood best friends. My first sleepover was at her house. She knew me through and through and before yesterday, I could’ve sworn there was nobody knew Cindy better than I did.

I was never much of a city girl but Cindy wanted us to go to college togather and work in the city together. We had binged on Two Broke Girls our entire lives and we wanted to be them, just not as broke. We loved living together. Cindy was more carefree, and I was more grounded so we made sense.

I made sure that we paid our rent on time, didn’t miss classes, that our groceries were stocked…basically the boring adult stuff. Cindy was responsible for the fun activities. I loved going out to have fun with her. Many times I would drag her out of clubs to go home.

She often complained that I should have just brought my car, but trying to drive and take care of her at the same time had almost landed me in an accident too many times.

Bottom line is I loved Cindy down. We were going to get married and be neighbours, our kids would be friends, and we would never part.

Never in my wildest dreams would I have dreamt that she would betray me. I heard intense moaning coming from her bedroom.

Some birthday action! Good for her.

I was about to turn to leave when I heard a familiar voice.

“What time does Rheya come back?” the man asked.

My heart dropped to my stomach, but I convinced myself I was hearing things.

“Why? You’re afraid your girlfriend will walk in on us getting it on? Would you rather be with her right now?”

It really is Kevin.

I peeked through the slightly open door.

“Come on babe, you know you’re the only woman who can make me scream. Rheya is boring, stiff, and moral.”

“Yet you are still with her.” Cindy scoffed.

“Come on. With everything she does for me, I would be stupid to let her go. You’re one to talk, she basically is your handler, taking care of everything,”

Cindy let out a sarcastic laugh.

“Rheya might be boring most of the time, but I have never had to worry about anything since I met her. She’s easily the most organized person I know and the most willing to do things for me,”

“What about your birthday today?”

“Something dull probably. Maybe some stupid handmade candles, dinner, a card and recalling how much she loves me,”

“In that case one more round?”

I was frozen, watching them being intimate while thinking of the way they ridiculed my acts of service.

My emotions were all over the place and I didn’t want to confront them yet. I banged the door as I left, my world shattered…again.

…………………………………………..

“What are you doing here?”

“Rheya, I know you saw us yesterday when you brought the birthday cake. I can explain please.” Kevin pleaded.

“No explanation needed.”

“No please. I love you Rheya.”

He reached his hand into his pocket and took out a little box before going on one knee.

When he opened the box, my heart sank seeing the ring he bought. It was a beautiful diamond ring. It finally dawned on me how stupid I had been.

All this time, I appreciated every gift he had given me. I ignored the fact that the gifts were generic, things that all girls were expected to like but never personal to me.

Yet the gifts to Cindy were genuinely thoughtful. I remembered that I went above and beyond for him while he hid behind his busy schedule.

This ring was a slap in my face. I don’t care for diamonds. I was more of a ruby and sapphire type of girl. Cindy likes diamonds.

“Get up. I won’t marry you,” I said firmly.

“Rheya, this doesn’t have to be the end. You’re perfect for me.”

“Except for the part where I’m stiff and boring right?” I retorted.

His face went pale as he realized I had witnessed more than he thought I did. Then he did something I thought he wouldn’t do. He changed tactics.

“You won’t let me have my way with you. Can you blame me for finding relief elsewhere?”

“This is not elsewhere. It’s in the apartment I live in with my childhood best friend. How dare you?”

“You’re just jealous.”

“Jealous?”

“Yes, jealous. You’ve played this goodie two shoes Virgin Mary act because you wanted to play hard to get. Now you’re upset because Cindy is enjoying what we should have had.”

Those words cut deeper than any knife ever could. The same man who had vowed to never pressure me and to always understand and respect my need to wait for intimacy lied.

“I don’t have time for this. Get out,”

He pulled my hand and pushed me onto the couch.

His eyes looked hungry and menacing.

“Admit it Rheya, you want it.” he said in a confident yet aggressive tone.

You want it

The same words, all over again. A different person but the same words.

My mind went blank and the adrenaline kicked in as he pinned my left arm while he pulled down his joggers. He kissed my neck forcefully. I reached out for the flowers vase beside the couch and smashed it on his head.

There was blood everywhere. He cussed at me as he touched his head. I jumped off the couch and bolted for the door but was held back.

He pulled me by the leg and I screamed as loud as I could for help. I managed to kick him. I took my baseball bat and whacked him so hard, he fell back down.

I backed against the wall, my hands shaking while holding the bat to fend him off.

Suddenly I heard the door burst open. Mr Raygan came in. His eyes scanned me up and down then at Kevin.

He came towards me.

“Put the bat down, Rheya.”

“No! He,he,he…” I stammered unable to get the words out.

He held my shoulders.

“Look at me.”

He looked me in the eyes. There was so much assurance in his eyes in that moment, assurance of safety.

“You got him good. He can’t get up and if he does, I can handle it,”

I let go, and the bat fell loudly on ground.

“Good girl.”

I felt weak and in the next moment his hands caught me as I blacked out.