Falling for the player

KCITY

It was a sunny afternoon. Heckny stared blankly at her laptop screen. She had just finished some pressing designs, but her face was void of emotion. You couldn't tell if she was relieved or happy. Her shoulders stood high and proud, yet slumped in defeat, and her hands rested on the table as if she were daydreaming. The truth was she suspected Jason had been cheating, but she waved it off.

She wasn't ready to be lonely again. Love had been mean to her all these years, and she was fed up. She sighed, sat up straight, and tucked her hair behind her ears. She took her phone from the desk and noticed a new message. She sneered as she read who it was from.

"Speaking of the devil," she muttered, looking blankly at the text which said, "Busy?"

Now she was confused. What exactly did he want? To take her out for lunch, apologize? She thought, her forehead marred in confusion.

"Extremely!" she replied. She wasn't ready to face him right now, not in this state. Her assistant Leah came in and kicked her out of her thoughts.

"Ma'am, it's lunchtime. Want me to get you anything?" Leah asked with a bright smile. Heckny liked this girl; she was hardworking and sweet.

"It's alright, Leah. I think I'll eat out today."

Leah was shocked. "Really?!"

Heckny never really ate out; she was always busy at work. Today, she decided to eat out, shocking and amusing Leah. Heckny wasn't surprised at her reaction. She closed her laptop, stood up, and took her purse. She needed a break; she couldn't work in this state. Leah held the door open for her. Heckny grinned and nodded. "Thank you." She smiled before Leah shut the door and followed her.

They got to a restaurant across the street that was always packed. The chef was good; she enjoyed his meals anytime she visited. As the waitress showed them to their table, Heckny scanned the faces and froze, dumbstruck. She saw Jason eating with a lady, feeding her, like a happy couple. Heckny's heart broke. So this was what he was doing when he asked if she was busy. He knew she never came out for lunch, so he brought his girl to their favorite spot.

She couldn't walk up to them and cause a scene; she was too classy for that. She smiled bitterly and followed the waiter and her colleagues to their seats. They were all discussing what to have; everything was so good. Leah was the only one talking; the others were embarrassed to speak.

"You guys take anything on me," Heckny finally said. The others weren't surprised; they knew she was kind but acted surprised anyway.

"Thank you so much, ma'am!" they said in unison.

Heckny waved her hand and smiled. "It's alright, enjoy," she added.

James looked at her. "Ma'am, what about you? What are you having?" Heckny picked up the menu, contemplating.

James seemed mesmerized by her looks. He had a crush on her since the first day he set eyes on her. She was perfect, but all he could do was keep the feeling inside and admire from afar.

Heckny finally decided. "Let's go with chicken and noodles." She put the menu back on the table and looked at the waitress.

James quickly added, "I'll have that too," looking at the waitress as she wrote it down. He felt his heart skip a beat.

Heckny was calm and reserved while her so-called boyfriend was in the same restaurant with another girl. It was crazy, she thought, as she looked at his table. He was happy, laughing with the lady. She wiped something from the side of his lips. Taking in the girl's features, Heckny thought she wasn't that bad, but compared to herself, she wouldn't be able to compete.

"What do men really want?" she sighed. Their orders came; they ate, had dessert, and went back to work.

She called her best friend and told her everything.

Later that evening, after soaking herself in a bath, Heckny felt relaxed. The hot water soothed her bones and muscles. She loved these kinds of baths. A few minutes later, Jason walked in for his usual routine of having dinner with his another girl and catching up before going home or sometimes sleeping over.

Meanwhile, Heckny had just come out of the shower. Her delicate skin was pink. Jason admired her lustfully; maybe he was only attracted to her sexually. She was perfect with the right curves, making her complete and perfect. She wasn't wearing a bra, but her breasts stood under the bathrobe. He felt himself getting aroused.

Heckny purposely let him take it all in. It would be for the last time, and it would haunt him forever. They finally spoke.

"Babe, you are beautiful," Jason said. Her face remained void of emotion as she sat at her vanity mirror, applying her skin products. "I saw you this afternoon with a lady. You both were happy, eating at our spot."

Blood drained from Jason's face, and a glint of panic passed his eyes. He didn't know what to say. He was dumbstruck. She stood up and faced him. He regained consciousness.

"No, it's not what you think. It was just a colleague. We were only eating out. Besides, I asked if you were busy..."

"So you could be sure I wouldn't come out and catch you cheating!" she finished.

"No, no, that's not it, babe. I would have loved to let you join us. You were extremely busy, babe!"

She gasped as if she believed him. His eyes were red now. She was shocked. "Oh, drop the act. There's nothing more to say. It's over." That was like a bomb to Jason. He looked at her, worried, pained, angry, and afraid. He blamed himself for being careless. He didn't think there was anything left to say. His shoulders, which always stood tall, slumped in defeat.

He couldn't explain what he was feeling inside. He was scared to lose her. Her face was void of emotion. What string could he pull now to save himself?

He always knew her to be smart and always having the upper hand in everything, but not today. He decided to come back another time and talk to her. He turned to leave. She stopped him in his tracks, pointing to the bedside. "Those are the rest of your things that were lingering around the place. This isn't a fight-and-make-up situation where you are back in my life." He turned back, and his eyes widened. He knew she was adamant and meant every word. He was rendered speechless.

"We are done, Jason. Have a lovely life ahead." He spoke, hoping she would soften a little.

"I really feel bad about myself right now..." Heckny said calmly, not shouting or raising her voice. He continued.

"I really need you in my life, Heckny. Please forgive me. I want to be a better person for you." She scoffed.

"Thank you. That's all for today. Have a lovely life. Please take your things and shut the door behind you."

She sat back at her vanity, applying products to her face and neck. He was dumbfounded. His shoulders slumped in defeat as he walked out of her apartment, carrying his things. He looked around as if taking it in for the last time, then left.

Those shoulders that always stood tall and proud slumped. Heckny looked in the mirror, thinking about her life. She was twenty-nine and hadn't experienced real love. It was very depressing. She wasn't unattractive; she was a beautiful woman. But why did men not take her seriously and always seem to be only sexually attracted to her? Fed up with these thoughts, she went to her bed and cried herself to sleep.