His bestie

BRENDA'S POV

All this while, I thought I was the problem. I thought I wasn’t good enough. That maybe, just maybe, if I loved Michael harder, held on tighter, he would see me the way I saw him. But I was wrong. Michael never loved me—I can feel it, even though he keeps saying otherwise.

Five long years of dating him, yet I can’t even tell who he truly is. I’ve asked him countless times if he was in love with his best friend, Maria, but he keeps denying it, brushing off my concerns as paranoia.

I can’t take my eyes off them. Their presence irritates and disgust me.

Who brings their best friend on a date? Who whispers and giggles like lovers while their girlfriend sits in silence?

If not my Italian, 6'5, fair boyfriend with his short ugly bestie. Michael is sitting directly opposite me, while Maria is beside him, her hands wrapped around him like he’s her possession, her face so close that I can feel the heat of their closeness from where I sat. They keep making eye contact, lost in their own world, as if I’m just a ghost watching from the sidelines. His gap-toothed smile gleams under the dim lighting, glowing in admiration for her jokes.

She must be hilarious. Perhaps, a comedian.

And me? Well, just a drained puppet, strings cut loose, waiting to collapse.

It’s been over an hour, and we haven’t exchanged a single word. My presence here feels suffocating, like an unwanted shadow. I remember all the times I confronted him. And yet, he always twisted it around, making me believe I was overthinking. He said I was being insecure. That Maria was just a friend. That I needed to trust him.

But how do you trust someone who makes you feel invisible?

And yet, here he is—his "best friend" wrapped around him, almost resting on his chest.

“Babe,” I call out with annoyance, my voice cutting through their bubble.

They lowered their phones and gave me glance. Their expressions blank, like I just interrupted something sacred.

“Hey, babe, you haven’t even placed an order yet. Should I call the waitress?” Michael asks, reaching for my hand like a rehearsed habit, but I pulled away immediately.

I see it—the flicker of irritation in his eyes before he masks it with indifference.

“I’m not hungry,” I mutter, my voice tight with unspoken words. “I feel dizzy. I need to go home and get some rest.”

I grabbed my bag and stood up, hoping—praying—that he will stop me, that he will fight for me. That he will at least pretend to care.

But my heart shattered even more at the sound of his voice.

“Don’t worry, she’ll be fine. What do you want to eat?”

Maria giggled, her fingers stroking his arm as she murmurs something into his ear.

Tears threaten to spill, but I refused to let them see me break. I push through the doors, my heels clicking against the marbled floor as I went to the restroom.

Inside, I collapse against the sink, sobbing silently.

Until a deep, unfamiliar voice broke through my pain.

“Hi, I’m Stefan—”

I looked up with clouded eyes.

“Stefan Andres?!!! CEO of The Wealth Club?!”. I widened my eyes in shock, with my lips parted and looking lost at him.

“Hi, Brenda. Brenda Poker.” I finally said, wiping my tears and extend my hand for a handshake.

“I suppose you know me,” he says, chuckling. “But why are you suddenly smiling? You were just crying a moment ago. Do you want to go somewhere? Maybe to relax or something?”

“Who doesn’t know you, sir? Your face is all over the billboards,” I muttered, then hesitated over his offer. “But—I’m engaged. Sorry, I can’t go anywhere with you.”

I stuttered, but he simply smiled, shaking his head like someone enjoying a private joke.

“Thanks for the recognition, I appreciate it. But I’m not asking you to be my girlfriend. It’s just coffee. Or are you here with your boyfriend?”

I paused, thought about Michael and Maria. About their laughter. Her hands on him.

Then, with a deep breath, I flashed a smile at him.

“Grabbing a coffee wouldn’t be a bad idea. Besides, it’s an honor, sir.”

“Just call me Stefan,” he let out, extending his hand toward me.

As we stepped out, I stole a glance back at Michael’s table. Maria was now sitting on his lap, feeding him. I stared at them with irritation, hoping to grab a chilled or even a hot coffee to splash on their dirty body.

“It’s okay if you don’t want to come with me,” Stefan cut in, while following my gaze.

“I’m so sorry. Just got a little distracted. Let’s get going.”

For the first time meeting a stranger, we walked in silence. But it’s not uncomfortable. Stefan keeps smiling at me like I’m an old friend, and strangely, I don’t feel the need to fill the silence with words. Maybe I’m enjoying it too.

His driver took us to his favourite coffee shop, as he claimed. The coffee shop was so alive with laughter. The emcee is exceptionally funny, cracking jokes that made my stomach hurt from laughing. I can’t remember the last time I felt this happy.

I took a quick glance at Stefan, but he was not watching the emcee. He was watching me.

“Thank you,” I muttered softly, trying to shy away from his gaze, before the emcee's voice echoed in the room

"IT'S TIME FOR THE COUPLES' DANCE!!!" The emcee let out with a scream, sending the entire room into excited chatter.

“WELL, WELL, WELL—I'M GOING TO BE CHOOSING THE BEST COUPLE FOR TONIGHT’S SHOW TO COME GIVE US SOME SMOOOOTH MOVES.”

This.

This is what life outside Michael’s world feels like. I feel like I’ve been in chains for years. Even though I’m not completely free yet, nothing compares to this sense of liberation.

“I SEE THEM! EVERYONE, MAKE WAY FOR THE MOST BEAUTIFUL DAMSEL IN L.A, THE LADY IN THE SHINY RED DRESS AND HER MAN IN A BLACK SUIT!!!”

I turned around in search of the couple, but immediately froze the moment the light dropped on us.

My face flushed as I glanced at Stefan, who winked at me. The crowd erupts in cheers.

“DANCE! DANCE!!” They kept chanting.

Embarrassed, I was hesitate, but Stefan extends his hand, before I finally stood up.

As we step onto the stage, I couldn't help but stare at him. His blue eyes were hypnotic, almost pulling me in. A shiver ran down my spine as he placed his hand on my waist, pulling me slightly closer. I’ve only felt this way once—when I first fell for Michael.

But not anymore, that love faded. And this? This feels like something else. Something new.

The air was quickly filled with Waltz performance "Faults" by Marika Hackman. We moved slowly, enjoying every step. He didn't get his eyes off me, and that made me even want to rest my head on his chest. But no! I dare not. This is the almighty Stefan Andres and I don't want to be the talk of town.

People didn't stop cheering us, especially the part when Stefan bent my body a little while having me grab his neck and staring none stop at him. The cheers from the crowd grew louder. Then suddenly, a voice came from the crowd, almost in a silence, as if they were all waiting for something.

“Kiss! Kiss! Kiss!”

I widenee my eyes in shock. Glanced at Stefan, who was as shocked as me. He gradually let go, we stood confused, while staring at the crowd. He took a quick glance at me and then to the crowd, his expression was unreadable.

My heart pounded so fast as he directed his gaze at me again and smiled.

Confused, I slowly closed my eyes as he leaned closer, until a sudden, cold kiss landed on my forehead.

“Gosh! He didn’t. Thank God”. I whispered relieved and gave him a tight hug. I could swear my heart was about to jump out of me.

“Nooooo!” The crowd groaned in disappointment. But we simply smiled, thanked the emcee, and walked off the stage.

“Thank you,” I whispered, as my heart raced.

“It’s late. I should drive you home,” he let out, while glancing at his wrist watch.

I was completely drawn into his world.

I had never met a man as gentle as him. Maybe... I was already falling for him.

No, I can't do that. I already have a boyfriend.

I snapped off the thought. Before grabbing his hands as he accompanied me to his car.

Just as we came, we drove back in silence. When I got down, I thanked him before heading inside. I wasn't surprised when he didn't ask for my number. He didn't act like one that needed it.

I decided to go check on Michael before heading home, since our houses were just opposite to each other. Getting to his apartment, I noticed he was already back. But I was hearing whispers from his room.

“Did she also follow him home?” I didn't want to conclude yet, so I kept going, even though the noise got louder. Tears immediately formed in my eyes as I heard her voice.

It was Maria.

“Slut!”. I let out with annoyance, but just while I leaned my ear on his door, I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms as their laughter echoed from inside Michael’s apartment.

“You were too nice, that’s all. She wasn’t the right one for you.”

Maria’s voice was sweet, like honey dripping with venom.

Michael chuckled, his voice lower.

“Yeah… I guess I should’ve ended things sooner.”

Something inside me snapped.

My breath hitched. My vision blurred—not with tears, but with a sudden, sharp clarity.

I was standing in the cold night air, frozen in place, but deep down, I felt it. This was the moment everything changed.

I reached for the door handle, my heart pounding.

Should I storm in and confront them? Should I walk away? Should I—

Just then, the door creaked open from the inside before I could decide. And there stood Michael.

His eyes widened in shock, his lips slightly parted—caught in the act, but not yet sure of what to say.

Behind him, Maria’s figure loomed, wrapped in nothing but his shirt, a smug smirk curling on her lips.

For a second, none of us moved. The air between us was thick—too thick, just tears flooding down my eyes.

Then, finally, Michael spoke.

“Brenda… what are you doing here?”