The 99 Seconds

“Mason?” Cassandra’s voice cracked, freezing her in the doorway. Her stomach sank as her eyes landed on the scene, her boyfriend tangled in bed with her best friend.

The betrayal hit her like a punch to the chest. Her breaths came in ragged gasps, and hot tears blurred her vision. She pressed a trembling hand to her heart, trying to steady the chaos inside her, but it only thumped louder, echoing in her ears.

A strangled sob escaped her lips.

Mason scrambled out of the bed, panic and guilt flashing across his face. “Cass, I-"

She shook her head violently, speechless, stumbling backward. Without looking again, she fled the room, her footsteps echoing through the hall.

Arial remained seated in bed, arms crossed, jaw tight, eyes cold. “Let her go, Mason,” she said quietly, but every word carried a sharp edge.

Mason spun toward her, voice rising. “Let her go? She’s your best friend! How can you just-"

“She trusted you,” Arial interrupted, her voice low but fierce. “She trusted us but well..., she shrugged her shoulder feeling unbothered”

Mason’s fists clenched at his sides. “I didn’t mean for this to happen!”

“For her to find out about us? ” Arial snapped.

"That's not what I meant, but-"

"But what?, She snared. Then she got out of bed picked her clothes and got dressed quickly.

Arial exhaled sharply, then faced him, “I am the only one you love, got it?. When you are back to your senses come look for me" and then she left.

---

Outside, Cassandra stood at the bus stop as she began to remember all that she saw earlier, soon her eyes began to tear up again uncontrollably.

Just as if heaven smiled at her rain began to pour as people hurried past, umbrellas snapping open, buses roaring by but she didn’t move.

It looked like she was the only one that didn't looked at the weather forecast today to prepare herself. It wasn't just the forecast, she didn't noticed the betrayal that went under her nose for a while.

Stares didn’t matter. Embarrassment didn’t matter. The betrayal from the two people she had trusted most cut far deeper.

The rain soaked her clothes, clinging to her skin, yet she remained rooted in place, detached from the chaos around her as she soon clutched down bracing herself from the wind or rather the heart ache that stab at her heart. One by one, the crowd thinned, leaving only her beneath the storm.

Her phone vibrated in her bag. She wanted to retrieve it, but her legs gave way, and she collapsed onto the slick pavement. Sharp pain shot through her knees as she pushed herself into cover before fumbling for the device.

She sat on the chair and the screen lit up, five missed calls, one urgent text.

Inez: Cass, where are you? Please pick up.

Her fingers hovered over the screen. Vision blurred, tears mixing with rain. She swallowed hard, forcing herself to focus, refusing to crumble completely.

She slipped the phone back into her bag and pushed herself to her feet. Water dripped down her face, mixing with her tears. Step by heavy step, she walked through the rain, aimless but determined.

Each movement felt burdensome, yet one thought anchored her heart:

She would endure. She would survive. She would stay strong.