1. Sorrow

[ Oindrila ]

The bartender placed the glass on the counter. "Your drink, miss."

I mouthed a quiet thank you before picking up the glass and taking a sip of the alcohol. The sharp taste burned pleasantly down my throat. The bartender flashed me a flirtatious smile before turning away to attend to other customers.

Turning on the stool, I looked at the dance floor where men and women were dancing, forgetting everything in the world. I had also come here to forget everything... all the painful things that were happening in my life. I wanted to drown my sorrow in alcohol.

Just one month ago, I had been content with my life. I had just joined our family business after completing my graduation. My boyfriend had just taken over the position of CEO in his father’s company. I had even decided to tell Granny about him, as I was ready to go public with our relationship. I was ready even to marry him if he had asked. Life was good. But one blow, and everything was destroyed.

It was a normal day when he called me and told me the news. His parents had arranged his marriage to someone else. And the most ironic part? The woman was none other than my cousin, Nicole. When I asked him why he didn't tell his parents about us, he said that his parents would never accept me as their daughter-in-law because I was the bastard child of two criminals. Moreover, the marriage was already fixed. They would never upset my uncle for me. And if he went against his parents, he would lose his CEO position and all his inheritance as the son of the Wales family. And according to him, I wasn’t worthy enough for him to lose all those things.

My eyes moistened as his words echoed in my mind.

"I can't lose all of this for you, Ony. I have worked hard all my life to get this CEO position. I have so many dreams to fulfill. I can't give up on them for you."

I felt betrayed. Yes, maybe he was right not to give up his dreams for me. But had he even fought once for our relationship? It hurt more knowing that he gave up on us, on me, so easily … as if I was never important to him. I was just a pastime for him as long as there were no problems. The moment a problem arose, he discarded me like I was nothing. Even my cousin Nicole… how could she do this to me? She was the only one who knew about our relationship, yet she agreed to this marriage happily. Uncle Matthew was never going to listen to me... I knew that. But if Nicole wanted, she could not only refuse the marriage, she could even convince Uncle to accept my relationship with Brandon. But I was a fool to trust her. It turned out she had always had her eyes on him. I took long to see her real face.

In the end, I was left alone… as always, discarded after I had served my purpose.

I didn’t create a scene and accepted my fate helplessly. I spent the last month crying, with no one knowing about my heartbreak except two people. But they chose to ignore me and my feelings. While I drowned in sorrow, my entire family was happy, busy preparing for their engagement. I kept my distance and tried to move on, but it was easier said than done.

This morning, they told me the engagement was next week, and it shattered me all over again. I couldn’t bear the pain clawing at my chest, so I came here to drink myself senseless. Maybe then this ache would finally fade.

"Hi, beautiful."

I jolted out of my miserable thoughts when someone whispered in my ear. Startled, I looked up at the man standing beside me. He was far too close for my comfort.

"Are you alone? Can I join you, sweetheart?"

"No. I’m fine.," I replied.

"Think again. I can be good company."

"I said no. Leave me alone." I shouted, releasing all the frustration that had been building inside me.

"Okay, okay." He raised his hands and walked away.

But as he moved away, my eyes met two familiar pairs of eyes, and my face paled. I couldn’t be this unlucky. God, no. After thinking so much, I had chosen this bar, believing I wouldn’t run into anyone familiar. And these two were the last people I wanted to see right now. But here they were.

"Oindrila! What a pleasant surprise," Nicole said in her overly sweet voice.

My grip tightened around the glass in my hand as my gaze shifted between her and the man standing beside her. The very man I had spent the last month trying and failing to forget. His eyes were already on me. Cold. Unreadable.

My throat went dry when I saw their joined hands. They looked like a loving couple… but it only tore my heart apart. I averted my gaze and took a deep breath.

Why did it hurt so much?

No one should have to go through what I was feeling right now... watching the man you love with someone else.

In the last month, I had seen them together a few times, despite my efforts to avoid it. He didn’t look like a heartbroken person like I did. It seemed as if he had moved on perfectly fine in just a few days.

"We didn’t expect to see you here." Nicole said as they walked towards me, ignoring my obvious lack of enthusiasm at seeing them here.

"Hey." I forced a smile onto my face, but my voice came out hoarse. After our breakup, I had put on a mask of indifference, at least I tried to in front of them. Arguing with them and blaming them wouldn’t fix anything, so I chose to save my dignity.

"Have you come alone?" She asked, faking a concerned expression.

"I wanted some alone time,"

I forced myself to keep a straight face. I refused to let them see how badly they had broken me.

"Hey, Brandon. Congratulations on your engagement."

A man came from behind, slapping him on the shoulder, and to my relief, their attention shifted to the newcomer.

"Oh, hey, Jack. Sorry we’re late," Brandon said, hugging his friend.

"It’s okay, man. I understand," Jack replied with a smirk, glancing at Nicole. "Hey, nice to meet you."

I averted my eyes, focusing on my drink as they talked among themselves. I waited for them to leave so I could get out of here. But that was too much to ask. Brandon went off somewhere with his friend, and Nicole sat down beside me.

"So... you came here to drown your sorrows." All the sweetness from earlier vanished as she smirked at me.

"So sad... there’s not even anyone here to keep you company while you cry your heart out."

I swallowed, unable to form any words. Right at that moment, I realized what it felt like when someone rubbed salt into your wounds. It was suffocating, but I was helpless. What could I possibly do? So I kept my gaze fixed on the dance floor, trying hard to hold back my tears. I couldn’t give her the satisfaction.

"I expected much better from you, but you really are a loser. It must be so painful that Brandon left you for me," she continued.

"Well, congratulations," I finally said. "It’s not like there are no men in the world. I can always find a better one."

She laughed as if I had just cracked a joke, and I clenched my jaw.

"A better one? Haha...Are you serious?" she said through her laughter. "Nice consolation for yourself, but let me remind you... you can never get a man like Brandon, let alone a better one. No one will choose you, Ony. You’re a loser."

"Oh, really? You’re too confident for your own good... Let’s see."

"Of course. We’ll see, just like I’m seeing you right now." She smirked. "It was a good decision to come here. I even brought Brandon with me."

My eyes widened. She knew I was here?

"How did you...?"

"I have my ways," she replied with a sinister grinn.

"Can I get my bill?" I asked the bartender, placing my glass on the counter. I had enough of her nonsense. It was time to leave. The bartender nodded and went to prepare my bill.

"So, you’re running away like a coward because you can’t stand seeing us together?" she leaned forward and whispered in my ear.

I didn’t know why she hated me so much, but all I wanted was to get away from her. I stood up, paid my bill, and walked away. Now, I regretted turning down the man from earlier. I looked back to see Nicole still seated on the bar stool, sipping from her glass while smirking at me. I needed to get out of here now.

I turned around and headed towards the exit, but in my haste, I bumped straight into someone. I was about to fall backward, but he caught me by the waist, steadying me. I looked up at the person and immediately recognized him.

My childhood crush.