Niki dazzled in the body-hugging red dress of hers and made heads turn as we walked through the corridors.
Sometimes I felt how incomplete my life would have been without her. She indeed was an indispensable part of me, someone who made me whole. She was the sister I never had.
When we reached the reception area, we met Austin and Jared, and they told us they had texted others to meet us directly at the club as it was just a 5-minute walk from our resort anyway.
We headed to the beach clubhouse. It was a colossal space which had both indoor and outdoor sitting areas. We settled ourselves outdoors next to the sea.
The sun was setting; the shades of yellow-orange and purple were slowly seeping behind the dark clouds of the night sky. The vast ocean was now covered with a blanket of shiny stars, right above the horizon.
The atmosphere was slowly turning musical, and it was slowly getting crowded. Everybody started to order their drinks while my eyes were just searching for Nate. He wasn't down yet. Guilt began dominating my instincts.
Was he not showing up because of me?
I felt responsible for all the mess I had caused ever since we got here. I felt this sudden urge to make things right, and I decided to walk back to his room, to apologise and get him to his own party.
After waiting for another twenty minutes, I excused myself from the rest of the group and headed back to the resort determined to make up with Nate. I reached the 14th floor and slowly walked towards his room.
I knocked lightly and heard no response. I then took my phone and dialed his number, but it went straight to voicemail.2
I paused for a second to look around, just in case I could see any sign of him, but when there was nothing, I turned my back and started to walk out. That was when suddenly I heard a sound, and it appeared to be coming from his room. I went back to knock again but still no response.
Confused I slowly walked down the corridor, the same guy from guest services we met earlier in the day, greeted me humbly.
"Good evening madam, I see you were trying to get in your room. Did you misplace your room keys?"
"Yes, umm right, umm... ya I forgot the key. It would be great if you could help me open the door". I hesitated.
"Sure. I have a master key with me. I can help you." He offered sincerely.
We walked back to the room and using his master key; he opened the door and left with a smile.
As soon as I entered the room, I saw my worst nightmare.
Nate and Jessica were in bed. Naked.
Nate turned around and saw me standing there, dumbfounded. "Oh, Crap! Emma, shit, Emma, listen!" He screamed.
I ran down the corridor. I was breathing frantically with a very heavy heart, an ocean of tears flowed down my burning cheeks.
"Emma! Emma, wait, please stop." He followed me half naked, with a blanket wrapped around his waist. I brisked up my pace through the empty passage; every step dug a deep hole in my aching heart. I had no courage to turn around and look at his face.
How could he?
He tried to catch me, but before he could, I entered an almost closing elevator. As the door closed between us, I stared straight in his eyes with shock and disbelief
He cheated on me with Jessica. One fight and he got into somebody else's pants. Or maybe he was doing it all this time? I remembered how they were both missing on the day we arrived at this place.
I felt shattered, heartbroken.
Every nerve in my body relayed into a thousand piercing spikes; the pain was enduring, and I felt as if I got whacked by a bus. I did not want to hear any explanations; I just never wanted to talk about this ever again.
And just like that, everything we ever had was gone, ruined.
***
I went back to the party to tell Niki that I was returning to our room, having her press me for answers was the last thing I wanted for now. I decided to give her an excuse that I was not feeling well or something.
When I got back, I saw nobody was at the table anymore, except for the drinks we ordered. Everyone was already on the dance floor.
Niki was with some guy who was flirting with her. I saw them from a distance. My sense of control and wisdom was unleashed, and without thinking twice, I took back to back shots of all the four drinks laying on the table.
I realised I couldn't face her at the moment; the loud music was rattling my ears. My eyes were still wet with welled up tears. I turned around and walked out of that place.
I kept walking until I reached a quiet end; there were not many people around. I emitted a deep sigh in an attempt to contain my withered emotions. I sat down at the shore curled up like a ball.
Time stood still.
Every single childhood memory felt tainted, and every minute spent in adorning my first love felt repulsing.
After a while, I heard somebody call me from behind.
"Hey there! Emma, right? Remember me? Umm... I am Jake. I met you yesterday at the other beach?".
Yes, it was Jake from yesterday, the same gorgeous man from my dreams. I was shaken as to how ironical it was to meet him right now.
"Hey, yes, I remember." I gave him a small smile while dodging a direct eye contact. I was a broken mess, and I had no intention to talk to anyone at the moment.
"You look sad, and alone, are you alright?"
