Ex-boyfriend, New Beginning

With dark circles under my eyes, I arrived at the bar my best friend had reserved.

It was a pre-wedding party, and she had invited a lot of friends, most of whom I didn't know.

When she saw me, she waved excitedly.

"You look sick, are you okay?"

She asked me.

I nodded and pulled my coat tighter.

She squeezed my hand and then nodded towards someone in the distance.

Following her gaze, my heart skipped a beat.

It was Eric.

"Looks like a business party. Have you contacted him since you got back?"

She asked. I shook my head.

Sensing my lack of interest, she dropped the subject.

As the music shifted, the bar's atmosphere hit its peak.

The already dim lights grew even darker, leaving only a few beams focused on the stage.

I finally mustered the courage to glance at Eric, but once I did, I couldn't look away.

He was sitting alone in a shadowy corner, with a few flirtatious women occasionally leaning in to whisper to him.

He didn't push them away, letting them rest their hands on his chest.

He swirled his drink with one hand, the other holding a cigarette with a glowing tip.

I tried to calm the storm brewing inside me.

He never used to smoke or drink. When did he pick up those habits?

He used to hate strangers touching him, saying it was dirty.

I bit my lip.

People really do change after all this time.

Suddenly, I remembered the woman who was with him at the hotel yesterday.

I knew I shouldn't feel anything for Eric anymore. After all, we broke up, and that's all there was to it.

Just as I was lost in thought, my best friend pulled me back.

"Sofia, if you keep zoning out, you'll end up drinking all the booze yourself."

It must have been Eric's presence, but I was having a streak of bad luck tonight.

I kept losing at games and kept drinking as a result.

During a break, I stumbled to the bathroom, my stomach in knots. I barely made it to the toilet before throwing up. I knew I looked a mess.

All the while, I had felt a pair of eyes on me, burning into my back.

But I couldn't bring myself to look.

For the first time in over two years, I had allowed myself to get drunk.

My eyes were sore and I blinked, tears falling drop by drop on the cold floor tiles.

Suddenly, a warm hand patted my back gently.

Then, a familiar yet distant voice spoke.

"Two years without seeing each other, and you've become quite the drinker."

Eric's voice was cold.

I looked up at him in panic, but quickly lowered my head again, embarrassed by how pitiful I must have looked.

"Are you drinking while you're sick? You've really learned a lot."

He continued, his tone biting.

"None of your business."

I snapped, lowering my head even more.

"Like I care," he muttered darkly.

His words seemed to shatter the fragile calm I had built around myself.

I struggled to stand up and leave, but he grabbed me, holding me close.

Through my hazy mind, I felt something warm and soft on my face.

Somehow, he had found a warm towel, and was gently wiping away the tears I hadn’t even realized were streaming down.

"Mr. Brown, please, control yourself."

I bit my tongue, stepping back to clear my head.

I was terrified that the overwhelming flood of memories would drown the last bit of self-control I had.

He chuckled darkly.

"Control myself? Why don't you teach me how, Miss Smith?"