Chapter 3

“WHAT do you want? Beer or whiskey?” Mateo asked as he placed on their table the food that he ordered. “Ah, you can’t drink too much. I’ll give you ladies’ drink.”

Mary Grace couldn’t believe her eyes. Her boyfriend canceled their dinner date because of work, but he was here in the club and having fun with another woman. She clenched her fist as she watched Adrian exchanged murmurs with the woman. She couldn’t believe that Adrian could do this to her.

“Beer,” she suddenly said. “I want a beer.” She glanced back to the table on the other side of the stage where Adrian and his woman were. “Son of a bitch…”

“Are you sure? You have a shift tomorrow, right?” Mateo asked loudly because the music background started to get louder. “Okay, but one bottle only, okay?”

When Mateo left their table, Mary Grace returned her eyes to Adrian’s direction. She heaved a sigh. She doesn’t want to make a scene or even confront him without evidence. Her boyfriend is smart, and she knew that he wouldn’t just admit that he’s cheating on her. He might say that his colleagues just invited him to relax because of their stressful work, and what she saw was only a dare that they made. Adrian is good at making stories, but Mary Grace is good at gathering pieces of evidence.

When Adrian looked in her direction, Mary Grace averted her gaze to the table. Her eyes landed on Mateo’s drink, and before she could change her mind, she drank all its content. The bitterness of the alcohol drink cut in her throat as she swallowed it. She didn’t expect that a beverage like this is made to give addiction. Her vision started to spin after a few moments. Mary Grace shook her head. She should maintain her sanity.

Her eyes caught the woman that clung to Adrian, raised from her seat, and walked towards the comfort room. Without having second thoughts, Mary Grace followed her.

She found the woman retouching her makeup in the powder room. With a fake smile on her lips, she approached her. “Hi,” she greeted and waved her hand.

The woman knotted her forehead and looked at her with an arched brow. “Yes? Do I know you?”

Mary Grace wanted to slap the woman’s thick face, but she controlled herself. “Nope, but I’m Adrian’s sister,” she said and offered her hand. “He’s expecting me to come here, actually.”

The woman gasped. She accepted her hand quickly. “Oh, sorry, I didn’t know you,” she smiled at her apologetically. “I’m Rhea, Adrian’s girlfriend. Oh, by the way, how did you recognize me? Did he show you my picture on his lock screen?”

Mary Grace pressed her lips together. “Ah, yeah…” she said and laughed. “Where’s your table? Can I go with you when you come back?”

“Oh, sure,” the woman said. “I’m done, actually. I just retouch my lipstick because, you know, your brother smudged it.” The woman giggled, and it only added to Mary Grace’s anger.

While they’re walking towards the table, Mary Grace prepared herself. She doesn’t want to make a scene. She repeated it in her head like a mantra.

“Babe!” the woman ran to Adrian and hugged her. “Your sister is here.”

Mary Grace can see Adrian’s reaction clearly. His brows are furrowed as he turned his gaze to her. And, when their eyes met, his jaw fell in surprise.

“Mary Grace!” he roared that nearby tables looked at them. “W-What are you doing here?”

Mary Grace sauntered towards him. “I met your girlfriend,” she said and smiled at the woman who looked confused by Adrian’s reaction. “How about you? I thought you’re busy at work.”

“Babe, you didn’t tell me that you have a strict sister,” the woman said and clung to his arm. “She talked to me in the comfort room, and she’s nice to me.”

“By the way, Rhea…” Mary Grace grabbed Adrian’s hand and pulled him away from her. “I’m not Adrian’s sister—”

“Mary Grace, don’t make a scene here, please?” Adrian warned her.

“Really? You don’t want me to make a scene?” Mary Grace asked him sarcastically. “Then why are you doing this to me?!”

“Hey, who are you?” the woman, who claimed to be his boyfriend’s girlfriend, asked with an arched brow. “How could you lie to me?”

“I’m Adrian’s live-in partner,” she said loud enough to be heard by Adrian’s colleagues. “How about you? Who do you think you are?”

“Mary Grace, let’s go.” Adrian pulled her hand and urged her to get out of the bar, but she refused.

“How could you do this to me, Adrian?” Her voice broke, and tears started to fall from her eyes. “I gave everything to you. I tried to understand you… And this is all you’re going to give me in return?”

“Mary Grace, I’m sorry…” Adrian whispered.

“Sorry? Is that all you’re going to say?” She looked straight into his eyes. “Am I not enough, Adrian?”

He tried to hold her hand, but she pushed him away. “Am I not enough? Answer me!” She covered her face. “I hate you! I hate you, Adrian!”

All the people around the bar were looking at them. The sound has already stopped, and she doesn’t know why. Mary Grace suddenly felt ashamed of herself.

“Mary Grace!” Mateo went to her worriedly. “What happened?” he asked and looked at Adrian. “Bro, I thought you’re busy at work?”

“I caught him cheating on me!” she shouted and started to walk out the bar. She heard Adrian called her name, but she ignored him. She doesn’t want to see him again.

“I’ll take you home, Mary Grace.” Mateo raised his hand to call for a taxi. He opened the door and let her in, but she closed the door when he was about to get in. “I’m going with you. I’ll take you home.”

She shook her head. “I’m fine…” he said. “I can go home alone…”

She told the cab to drive away without waiting for Mateo’s answer. Mary Grace doesn’t have plans on going home to that house where all her memories with Adrian were in. She wanted to breathe and think about all the misfortunes that happened in her life.

She got off by the bay walk; this is the perfect spot for her to release all the heavy emotions. Mary Grace stepped on the barrier of the seaside and let herself be blown by the wind. Her heart ached so much that she felt as if she should die. Her life is useless. No one wanted her, even her parents. And the man that she trusts and loves with all her heart cheated on her. What a life she has?

“I have to end this jinx in me…” she said and took a step forward, but before she could reach the edge, she changed her mind. “No, I shouldn’t be doing this. There are ways to end my bad luck—”

“Miss, don’t jump!” A man shouted from her back loudly.

Startled, Mary Grace lost her balance and missed a step on the edge of the bridge.

***