breakup

Waking up with a pounding headache this morning, I remembered that I was supposed to be at my boyfriend's place to celebrate his birthday. That's when reality hit me—I had caught him cheating on me with my best friend, the one who was supposed to be in Australia.

Devastated, I called Sophie and begged her to take me to a bar. I wanted to forget everything that had happened, even if just for a night. More than that, I had made up my mind—I was going to lose my virginity tonight.

When we arrived, Sophie led me to the bar and ordered her drink while I asked for vodka, hoping to drown out the pain. But no matter how much I drank, the betrayal played on repeat in my mind. The more I drank, the clearer the memories became. I kept ordering, glass after glass, until I was so drunk that I didn't even notice when Sophie left.

That's when a guy walked up to me and said, "Hi."

As I turned to see who had greeted me, I froze. My breath caught in my throat, and for a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. He looked so perfect—almost unreal. If angels walked the earth, he would be one. But then again, I had no idea what an angel actually looked like.

He coughed slightly, snapping me out of my daze. Embarrassed, I quickly greeted him back.

"What's your name?" he asked, his voice smooth and deep.

I hesitated. Something about the way he spoke sent shivers through my body, making me feel things I wasn't used to. But I shook it off and answered, "My name is Ariella."

He smiled. "Ariella. That's a beautiful name."

His compliment made my cheeks flush red, but before I could say anything, memories of the night came rushing back. The pain, the betrayal—it all hit me again, and my mood instantly darkened. Krist—he had introduced himself by then—noticed the shift in my expression.

"What's wrong?" he asked gently.

"I caught my boyfriend cheating on me," I admitted, my voice barely above a whisper.

For a moment, something flickered in his eyes—a glint of something unreadable—but before I could analyze it, it was gone.

"Do you want revenge?" he asked.

I shook my head. "No," I said firmly. "I didn't come here for revenge. I came here for something else."

He raised an eyebrow. "And what's that?"

I looked him straight in the eye, my decision already made. "I want a one-night stand."

His expression shifted to one of surprise, but he didn't look away. Instead, he studied me carefully, as if trying to figure out if I was serious.

And I was. He smirked, swirling the drink in his glass before taking a slow sip. "A one-night stand, huh?" His voice was deep, smooth, and sent a shiver down my spine.

I nodded, determined. "Yeah, I just want to forget everything—just for tonight."

Krist leaned in slightly, his eyes searching mine. "Are you sure about that? No regrets in the morning?"

I took another gulp of vodka, feeling the burn in my throat. "No regrets," I said firmly, though a part of me wasn't sure if I was lying.

He studied me for a moment before standing up and extending his hand. "Then let's get out of here."

I hesitated only for a second before placing my hand in his. His grip was warm, firm, and reassuring. As he led me out of the bar, the cool night air hit my skin, making me shiver—not just from the cold but from anticipation.

We barely spoke as we walked down the street. There was an unspoken understanding between us. This was temporary. This was just for tonight.

At his place, the air was thick with tension. The moment the door shut, Krist turned to me, his gaze dark and unreadable. "Last chance to back out," he murmured.

Instead of answering, I stepped closer, placing my hands on his chest, feeling his heartbeat beneath my palms. He exhaled sharply before closing the distance between us.

The night was a blur of heat, touch, and whispered names.