PESONA DOKTER SARAH

Aria's POV

I’ve made some mistakes. I don’t mean your everyday run-of-the-mill demeanors.

I’ll openly admit, I still forget some of my friends birthday, I call people by the wrong names and even have a mild pringles addiction. But no, not that.

I’m talking about life mistakes.

The kind that don’t just embarrass you for a moment, but stay with you. The kind that shift something inside you- quietly, permanently before you even realize what’s happening.

My life was so perfect… or so I thought.

I was very happy with Ethan. We were but busy with work but would always find time for each other. Every Friday night , we’d go for different activities such as bowling, karaoke and even skating. That way, we get to have fun together after the week’s stress.

Those nights were my favorite. They felt… safe. Predictable in the best way. Like no matter how stressful life got, there was always something waiting for me at the end of the week. Something certain.

Life was good. I thought I had found the love of my life. I didn’t know I was just delusional.

Ethan had been distant lately. Not in an obvious way. No big fights, no shouting, no clear reason to point at and say this is where everything went wrong.

Just… small things. Late replies. Missed calls. Canceled plans. The kind of changes that make you question yourself before you question them.

“You’re overthinking” I whispered to myself. I said it like a reminder. Like if I repeated it enough times, it would become true.

What was that? Sophia asked. Nothing, I said. She asked again. I told her I was just wondering how boring my life has been getting. Her response was “why won’t it be when you’re dating a boring person”?

Ethan is not boring, I defended. He’s just been busy lately. Even as I said it, I could hear how defensive I sounded. How quick I was to justify him.

For the past 2 months, we haven’t gone on our usual Friday outings. Whenever I asked him what was going on, he’d say he was busy with work.

Work.

It had become his favorite excuse. And my least favorite answer.

Sophia decided to go out with me this day just so I could stop thinking and being sad over “Ethan’s work schedule”. I didn’t want to go but Sophia would not let me.

“Relax, Aria!” Sophia shouted over the music, raising her glass like she was celebrating something monumental instead of just surviving another Friday night. “You look like someone dragged you here against your will.”

“They did,” I muttered, adjusting the strap of my dress for the third time in five minutes.

Everything felt off. The music, the crowd, even my own skin. Like I didn’t belong there.

She rolled her eyes. “Oh please. You need this. You work too much, you think too much, and” she paused dramatically, “—you date a man who is painfully boring.”

I gave her a look. “Ethan is not boring.”

Sophia raised a brow. “Then where is he?”

I opened my mouth.

Then closed it.

Because… that was actually a very good question.

The music was loud. But not too loud to stop me from seeing clearly.

That’s Ethan, I said.

At first, it didn’t register but I recognize my man anywhere, any day, even in the dark.

My eyes fixed on him like they were refusing to look away.

His hands was wrapped over some woman’s waist.

Everything inside me went still.

Ethan leaned closer to her, his head dipping slightly like he was saying something only she was meant to hear.

And he smiled.

That same smile. The one he used on me.

My God.

Like everything inside me just… stopped.

I couldn’t think. I couldn’t speak. I couldn’t even breathe properly.

I just stood there—staring.

My chest tightened so suddenly it felt like something was sitting on it. Heavy. Crushing.

My fingers curled slightly at my sides, like I needed to hold on to something, anything, just to stay standing.

This wasn’t real.

It couldn’t be.

Because the way he was looking at her…

It didn’t feel real. It couldn’t be real.

Sophia grabbed me and took me to a seat. “Hey, don’t make a scene”. She said. Ethan didn’t see me. Not at first.

I wasn’t going to cry there. No, I wouldn’t give him that satisfaction.

I’m going to the restroom, I said.

My voice sounded distant, like it didn’t belong to me.

Went for a few minutes to cry and came back out.

I stared at my reflection before leaving. My eyes were slightly red, but not enough for anyone to notice. Good.

I wasn’t raised to be weak. I know who I am and I didn’t deserve to be lied to.

Ethan finally saw me. I smiled. Not a soft smile. A dangerous one. The kind that meant something was about to happen.

He approached me.

“Aria, please,” Ethan said, lowering his voice, stepping closer like this was something private. “Let’s talk about this somewhere else.”

Like this was something he could control. Like this was something small.

I tilted my head. “No”. I said.

I didn’t want to hear it. Not now. Not after what I just saw. Something in me just… shifted.

I just moved. I stepped away from him. I didn’t even know where I was going until I stopped.

This was crazy. I shouldn’t be here. I should go back. I should leave. I should—