trip

The night was a blur of heat, touch, and whispered names. For the first time in hours, I wasn't thinking about my ex or my so-called best friend.

I was thinking only of Krist.

When morning came, I woke up to the soft rays of sunlight peeking through the curtains. The bed beside me was empty, but the lingering scent of him remained.

I sat up, pulling the sheets around me, realizing that for the first time in a long time, I didn't feel broken. I didn't feel lost.

Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something new.

On reaching my dorm, I dropped my bag on the table and came around to sit down. My girls noticed my mood immediately and started asking how the birthday went. I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to put it into words. Taking a deep breath, I told them, "It didn't go as planned."

Sophie, my closest friend, furrowed her brows. "What happened?" she asked, leaning closer.

I looked down at my hands, trying to steady myself. "We broke up," I finally admitted.

The room went silent. I could feel their eyes on me, waiting for an explanation. My heart pounded in my chest as I tried to find the right words to say. Sophie reached out and held my hand. "Why? What did he do?"

I swallowed hard, my throat tightening with emotion. "He cheated," I whispered. My voice was barely audible, but the weight of those words felt heavier than ever.

Gasps filled the room. The other girls exchanged looks of shock and disbelief, but Sophie wasn't done. "With who?" she asked, her voice low and cautious, as if she already suspected something terrible.

I closed my eyes, willing myself not to cry. When I opened them, I met her gaze directly. "With another girl," I said, then paused before adding, "with my best friend."

The silence that followed was deafening. I could see the anger flicker across Sophie's face before she even spoke. "Are you serious?" she asked, her voice rising. "That... that's disgusting. After everything you've done for him?"

I nodded, feeling a mix of heartbreak and fury swirl inside me. "I walked in on them," I admitted. "In his room. On his birthday. He didn't even bother to look guilty."

Tears threatened to spill, but I held them back. "I didn't say a word," I continued. "I just turned around and left. I wasn't going to give him the satisfaction of seeing me break."

Sophie stood up, pacing. "We need a plan," she muttered.

"A plan for what?" I asked, frowning.

She stopped and looked at me with a determined glint in her eyes. "Revenge."

I exhaled sharply. there's no need, it's not worth my time.

Sophie's expression darkened. "Not worth your time? He humiliated you, betrayed you, and you're just going to let him get away with it?"

I shook my head, feeling exhaustion settle in my bones. "I don't want to waste my energy on someone who clearly never respected me in the first place."

"That's exactly why he doesn't deserve to walk away unscathed!" Sophie argued.

The other girls murmured in agreement, their expressions shifting from shock to indignation. Olivia, who had been sitting quietly on the bed, finally spoke up. "I get that you don't want to dwell on it, but don't you want him to regret it? To feel even a fraction of what you felt?"

I sighed. "Of course, I do. But nothing I do will make him care. He's already moved on."

Sophie narrowed her eyes. "Then let's make sure you move on in style."

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