It's Over

TIFFANY

My throat tightened, the saliva on my tongue felt so thick.

It's only Ethan that I'm worried to explain to.

How do I promise the guy that had been by my sides through all ups and downs, to wait for me to fight my way out of an arranged engagement to the man considered the best in all of New York?

“Tiffany, I'm listening," he said, his patience thinning.

“I can explain, babe, it's not the way it looks," I said as I sighed.

“Explain yourself then," Ethan said, trying to be patient but I could hear his silent groan after every word, one that he only makes when he's irritated and on the edge.

“My grandpa arranged this engagement, I wasn't informed about it till yesterday and I've been fighting my way to break out of this engagement," I said, my voice barely audible but I was sure he heard me.

“You were informed yesterday?" He asked and I gave a silent hmm sound. “Why am I just getting informed today and I wasn't even informed, it was being discussed by some gossipers at my workplace,” he continued.

No wonder his voice sounded stern and cold earlier, this is what he was pissed about.

He didn't hear it from me that I'm getting married, he heard it from the gossipers at his workplace that his girlfriend of three years is getting married.

“Ethan, I'm sorry. I didn't think-”

"You didn't think my opinion in this mattered anyway, I'm not a rich guy nor am I as amazing as Oscar. You weighed your options, right? And Oscar is obviously the better choice so you chose to dump me instead?” He seethed, his voice sounded obviously pained.

So deep in jealousy and bitterness.

"No, babe, it's not like that. Why would I compare you to anyone? I love you, babe,” I said hurriedly my words slurred at some point, all I want right now is for Ethan to believe that I'll marry no one except him, I don't care what I have to lose.

“How can you claim to love me when you didn't even consider my opinion in such an important matter? It's fine if you didn't even consider my opinion but you didn't tell me anything!” He quipped angrily, his voice got louder over the call.

"Babe, we've been together for three years, we have our whole future planned out, I won't trade this for some guy I barely know,” I explained, my voice became even more desperate.

"I don't want you to make any choice that you'll end up regretting. Oscar will push your family higher, you have to marry him,” Ethan said as guilt crawled all over my body, clawing tightly around my heart.

I did this to him. I lowered his self-esteem. I made him think his financial background is embarrassing to stand by my side.

But I've never really felt like that. I love the boy I fell I love with in college; the one who didn't have much but buy me my favorite cake every morning before class.

The one who loved me, cherished me, and held my hand through the rain every time I forgot my umbrella at home.

I fell in love with the simple Ethan, not his family background or his financial status.

“Babe, I love you just like this. If my family wants a puppet that'll sacrifice her happiness for them, they can go find someone else,” I said, my voice loud and clear. "I'll only marry you, Ethan Marshal, I am yours and so are you.”

I expected that to give him a little reassurance so I can persuade him to give me some time to break up the engagement but that only worsen things.

"Tiffany, I think we should end this. This is not going to work, I don't want you to go against your grandpa for me. Remember he raised you by himself since you were five? Don't disobey him,” Ethan said but I wasn't having it.

No, I won't lose my happy relationship like this. Ethan has always been home to me, he's the only future I could ever imagine.

I've been doing that for three years, imagining what our home would be like and what our kids would look like: I won't let that be taken away from me.

“Ethan, are you at work right now? I'm coming over," I said as I scrambled through the living room, trying to find my car keys.

“Don't bother, you won't meet me at work. Seeing me physically won't change my choice either, I've said what I want," Ethan said.

“No, you're not the one to decide this. We're two in this relationship, my opinion matters too. Let's sit down and discuss this,” Tension grew under my skin as I grabbed my car keys from the table and ran out of the building.

I didn't bother to inform anyone too, I don't have the time. Ethan matters most.

"You didn't ask for my opinion too when your Grandpa arranged your engagement. So you do know that we're two in this relationship? You've always acted alone, probably because my opinion doesn't carry weight since I'm not wealthy,” Ethan said, chipping down at his own self esteem again.

Sweats filled my forehead, rolling down my cheeks as I instantly went into panic mode.

Paul, our gateman, opened the gate and I drove out of the building as fast as I could.

It took a few minutes of rough driving and I arrived at the Universal Fashion Academy, the place where Ethan has been working as an apprentice for two years.

He has always had a dream to build an entertainment of his own and fashion is something he always forward to.

We've made several plans about our future and I even promised to help him build his entertainment, I don't care if I do it by taking a loan or working my ass off.

As long as he's happy.

I hurried out of the car and ran into the fashion academy.

His co-workers at the academy recognized me

immediately and instead of helping me to find where Ethan is, they began to form to form small circles and whispered among themselves.

I guess this is what Ethan was talking about, this was exactly how he knew about my engagement to Oscar.

I dashed from one place to another, entering one room after the other, searching all the places I knew Ethan could be but I didn't find him anywhere.

Did he really leave the academy because he knew I was coming? He's trying to avoid me that much?

I searched everywhere until I was told by one of the staffs that he left the academy not long ago.

He really avoided me.

I walked out of the academy, taking one step at a time like a hollow soul, unlike the way I rushed in earlier.

Across the fashion academy is a famous hotel Ethan and I used to go to whenever I come to see him. I didn't think twice before I crossed the street and walked into the hotel, the revolving door moving behind me.

The hotel belonged to the Vance family, one of the many businesses controlled by the same Oscar Vance whose existence had just ruined my relationship.

The familiar air of champagne and cocktails hit my nose as soon as I stepped inside. I made my way toward the usual bar at the right corner of the hotel as I settled on a chair before the bartender.

“I need as much champagne as it would take to get me drunk,” I said to the bartender and he left without asking much.

My chest tightened, tears rolled down my cheeks at the reality of what my life has become in a day; I had a fallout with my best friend, my grandpa, and now my boyfriend just broke up with me.

Will I really end up as Oscar Vance's wife? I have no reason to refuse anymore. Ethan's gone.

A shearing pain travelled through my system as I grabbed the wooden table before me tightly, my nails making small scratches on it.

It hurts so much.

The bartender brought two bottles of champagne before me and I didn't bother thinking before I opened one and chugged it down.

Yeah, I didn't bother with a glass either.

The burning sensation travelled down my throat, temporarily making me forget the aching in my chest and ripping pain in my heart.

For a second, it felt as if I hadn't lost anything and was actually at the highest peak of my life.

By the time I was almost done with the second bottle, the whole place had started looking strange.

I could swear there was a cat sitting on the receptionist's head, scratching her hair. I blinked twice, but the cat was still there.

Then I looked at the bartender and frowned. Why did he suddenly have a twin?