1: Seven Years

•Maya•

Seven years.

I’d given seven years of my life to the man across from me who was fucking my ‘sister’ on the same bed where he’d proposed love to me.

On the same bed where we shared our most intimate moments, in the apartment where we built memories.

“Harder, Tom,” she moaned as he drove in and out of her. I blinked, and pinched myself.

Oh well, this was reality.

The bunch of flowers I had, left my hands and fell on the floor with a soft thud. He pulled out of her and whipped around to see me. He ran his hands through his hair.

“Maya?” he called and glanced at her as she lazily sat on the bed putting her arm around him and staring at me right in the eyes. The audacity.

“What are you doing here?” he asked, running his fingers through his hair. He glanced at the woman behind him.

“We did not mean for you to find out this way...” he said and I blinked again. My eyes felt dry and I couldn’t even formulate words at the moment.

“You just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time,” he said before pulling his pants up his waist and tossed her a blanket to cover herself up.

“It’s our seven-year anniversary, son of a bitch,” I said dryly. I had no idea if I was supposed to feel some sort of betrayal and anger or why I wasn’t feeling it yet.

He tsked.

“Right,” he smirked and gave a shrug. “Unfortunate, that you ran into things like this,” he said.

“She’s my sister,” I whispered and he glanced at her again.

“Oh, Jenny? We’ve been dating for almost two years now. She’s the right one for me and I’m thinking of proposing soon. What do you think?” he asked and my mouth tasted bitter. He’s been cheating on me for two years? With my sister?!

Jenny flashed me a smile. I stared at the both of them, how could they?

“I’ve no problem with you, Maya. You’re cool and I honestly which we ended on a more better terms and not for you to find out like this…” he trailed off and I stared at my sister.

“Really? You couldn’t get any other man and decided to go for the one I love?” I asked and she huffed.

“Oh please, Maya. Spare me the nonsense. We both know Tom is too good for you, he deserves someone like me,” she said, rolling her eyes.

Ofcourse, it should be her.

She was the bitchy older sister who took away everything from me.

Friends, gifts, parents…and now? My boyfriend. I should have known she’d go the extra mile, she was good looking, hot and in good shape.

What I never expected was for Tom to fall for her.

I took a step back.

“Maya…” he called out and I glared at him.

“Don’t you ever say my name again,” I bit out and he pressed his lips together. I bit my lower lip, before taking a deep breath.

I could feel it now, the pain ripping through my heart. It felt like my heart was being extracted out of my chest.

But I won’t give them the satisfaction of breaking down. I would just turn around and walk away. They can continue fucking themselves for all I care.

“I loved you Tom, and this is how you repay me? By fucking my sister?” I asked, even as tears welled up in my eyes.

I blinked.

Don’t break in front of them.

“Don’t act all emotional right now,” Jenny hissed but I didn’t even spare her a glance. I was used to her taking everything away, but God, this one hurts the most.

I closed my eyes for a split second. Once I reopened them, I had my mind made up.

“If you would be happier with her. Why not? Go ahead.” I said and grabbed the bouquet I’d come with. Pathetic me.

“She brought you roses, Tom,” Jenny sneered and I glared at her.

“Oh, you’ll pay for this. Trust me,” I muttered before turning around and storming out of the room. Ignoring Tom who called out to me.

I’d always been the unlucky one both in relationships and in real life.

While, Jenny?

She got favoured because of her looks and while I wasn’t as half as pretty as she was, I knew I had my perks.

But they were all ignored when it came to her. As always.

I had no idea when tears streamed down my cheeks as I crossed the street and waved a cab. I got in immediately slamming the door shut.

I managed to call out my address to the driver before breaking down in the back seat of his cab.

It hurts. God, it fucking hurts.

Being betrayed by a man that I’d thought loved me and a woman I’d thought was family.

It hurts. So fucking much.

I caught the cab driver glancing at me through the mirror. He looked away when our eyes met and I curled into myself shielding my face from his view.

Tom had told me, I ugly cried and it wasn’t good for a woman like me.

He said my face always had this blotchy look and it made my eyes looked smaller. He’d said my crying face annoyed him.

Jenny had announced to the whole school back then on how ugly I looked on a normal day and I was worst if I cried.

So crying wasn’t my strong suit. Especially, in public or where someone could see me. I’ve always been ridiculed and bullied my whole life and family wasn’t exception.

I sniffed and wiped my eyes. I needed a break. From life. From the harsh reality. From everything.

And I know just the perfect place to go.