The 99 Seconds

“Mason?” Cassandra exclaimed in pure shock as she saw her boyfriend and her best friend in bed together.

As she stood rooted in place, hot tears began to stream from her eyes as the betrayal hit her like a heavy rock had been placed on her heart. Her breath was inching away bit by bit as she began to struggle to breathe. She placed her hand on her chest, and her heartbeat could be heard in her ears.

Small sobs escaped her lips as Mason removed the blanket off himself and approached her. “I can-,” he said as Cassandra inched away from him and left the room. Arial, her best friend, sat in place, looking less concerned than scared as she faced Madson and said, “ Let her be, she will be okay.”

“ But she is your friend, he exclaimed.”

“ And she is your girlfriend, you know?” she retorted.”

He faced her, putting on his clothes, and spoke again, “ You shouldn't be here when I come back, and he left the room.”

Arial laughed sarcastically and fired back angrily. “She wasn't yours to begin with; she was too good for you.”

Cassandra stood at the bus stop as other passengers walked in and out of the bus; she just stood motionless as tears freely streamed down her face. She didn't care if she was being looked at, and she didn't want to know. Being betrayed by close people was worse than being embarrassed by strangers.

Then, just as if heaven smiled at her to console her, it began to pour down heavily, everybody began to look for a hideout, but she remained still and motionless in place, out of this world. The crowd began to reduce, and soon everybody left the bus stop except her.

It was almost like a century standing, when her phone rang, bringing her back to reality, as she moved, her legs gave up, and she fell to the ground, pain washing over her. As she moved to nurse the pain in her legs, she rummaged through her bag for her phone, and the phone lit up inside her bag. It was a missed call and a text from her friend, Inez.

As she grabbed her phone, it appeared to be that it was the fifth call from Inez. As she stared at the phone, her eyes became blurry again, but she wiped them as they came.

She hesitated a bit before dumping the phone back inside her bag. While the rain was still pouring, she walked home with no intention of what to do next, but she promised inwardly to stay strong, irrespective of anything.

As she walked home under the influence of betrayal, she didn't know what to do tonight, but she didn't want to dwell on this feeling. Still, she was lost in thought. In an Arctic White Rolls-Royce Phantom, a man sat observing her every move as he drove slowly toward her. Though his face showed no emotion, his mind was running with a series of thoughts and confusion.

Nevertheless, he was utterly perplexed by why a woman would brave the heavy downpour at night. As he approached her closely, his headlights cut through the darkness, illuminating the woman's small figure.

He drove toward her and honked, but she seemed oblivious. He drove towards her and cornered her with his car, and then, suddenly, she sprang back, back from her world. As she tried to look closely at who it was, the rain did enough to prevent her from seeing. The confusion on her face became evident as his physique came into full view. The umbrella concealed most of his features, the street light, however, illuminated him, giving her an advantage.

His sudden stride sent her retreating backward as he covered her under his umbrella. A hint of shock and fear plastered her face, replacing the previous emotion she had before as she spoke first, “ Who are you? Her voice, a mixture of panic and fear.”

Her question was met with his question: “ Why are you out alone by this time?”

As he spoke, the sudden urge to listen scared her, as her brain began to accumulate question upon question. “ Who was this man?”

“ Where did he come from?”

“Why did he notice her ?” and more questions upon another.

“Come inside the car, he instructed as her feet involuntarily moved on their own.

They were both inside as he started the car, like he knew her destination. The car was silent as they both paid attention to the road, her eyes secretly gazing at him as his features were visible, then he spoke. “Where are you going?

For a moment, words failed her. His gaze flickered to her, assessing if she was okay, but to her, it meant something else. She averted her eyes from him and spoke, looking straight ahead, “At the white tall building to your left.”

“Is that where you stay?”

“No, I can find my way from there, Sir.”

As she spoke, his eyes stayed fixated on the road. Soon, they were at her destination, and he stopped. His full face view came into display as his long lashes fluttered, lending him an air of contemplation.

“Anything else? His eyes stayed transfixed on her. Her brief pause didn't escape him, and he averted his eyes.

“The umbrella is yours, he offered, sparking a strange blend of gratitude and apprehension. As she opened the car door, the subtle scent of her cologne, caught by the breeze, filled his nostrils as he watched her leave.

It was already fifteen minutes, but he was still there, still in his seat in that same position she had left him. She didn't know his name, and he didn't too. The only thing he can remember is the scent that has stayed stuck in his head now.

This is unlike the man who doesn't believe in fate or love or compassion, but he hoped tonight that fate would bring them together again.