Chapter 7 A Change Of Heart

Night came crawling fast and the party came to an end. The well wishers kept leaving the party as they pecked Grandma and wished her a blissful year.

Now it was the time for her son and his soon to be divorced wife to return home. Grandma didn't want them to go, but she knew that they had a long trip to go.

Seeing the sight of Percy, Grandma felt irritated and whispered to her son's ears that she doesn't want to hear any bad news concerning Rita. She's all she got.

Jaden, sheepishly smiled as he couldn't tell his mother the next line of action he was about to take. As they bade her goodbye, and hopped in his car. The car was silent, someone would have thought they were mourning the dead. The sound of the car and breeze was the only noise being heard. As he dropped Rita first in his apartment, telling her not to wait for him, because he wants to drop the love of his life Percy.

Once Rita stepped out of the car, she watched Jaden drive away, leaving her standing in front of his apartment building. Confusion and sadness mingled within her as she wondered what the next steps would be for their tangled relationships. She had tried to distance herself from Jaden, convinced that it was for the best, but his actions and words only added to her turmoil.

As Rita walked towards her own apartment, her mind buzzed with unanswered questions. She couldn't understand why Jaden would refer to Percy as the love of his life. It felt like a cruel twist of fate, a painful revelation that shattered any remaining hope she had clung to.

Rita stepped into her empty apartment, the weight of her conflicted emotions pressing down on her. She knew deep down that staying with Jaden wasn't the right choice, especially after what had transpired earlier. The thought of being seen as clingy or dependent on him made her stomach churn with unease.

Taking a deep breath, Rita made her way into her bedroom and glanced at her half-packed suitcase. She had started packing earlier, thinking that perhaps it was time for her to move on, to let go of the fleeting happiness she had found with Jaden. As she continued to gather her belongings, her mind raced with thoughts of their time together and the warmth they shared, now overshadowed by uncertainty and hurt.

Just as Rita was about to give up on packing altogether and collapse onto her bed, her phone buzzed, breaking the silence in the room. She picked it up, her heart skipping a beat when she saw Jaden's friend, David's name flashing on the screen. With a mix of curiosity and worry, she answered the call.

"Hello?" she said, her voice tinged with apprehension.

"Rita, it's David," came the urgent voice from the other end. "I need your help. Jaden's in a really bad state. He's drunk and out of control."

Rita's mind went into overdrive, replaying the image of Jaden leaving with Percy, hand in hand, earlier in the evening. Confusion washed over her, but she quickly pushed it aside. This wasn't about her feelings anymore; it was about Jaden's well-being.

"Oh no, David. Is he okay? What happened?" Rita asked, her voice filled with genuine concern.

"He's been drowning his sorrows ever since he left your place. I tried to stop him, but he wouldn't listen. He's a mess, Rita. I don't know what to do," David replied, his voice heavy with worry.

Rita's heart ached at the thought of Jaden in such a vulnerable state, even though she had resolved to distance herself. Instinctively, she wanted to rush to his side, to make sure he was safe and cared for. But she knew she had to be strong and stick to her decision.

"David, I appreciate you calling me, but you should try reaching out to Percy instead. Jaden left with her earlier, and I think it's best if you talk to her about this," Rita suggested, her voice wavering slightly.

There was a brief pause on the other end of the line before David spoke again, sounding slightly surprised. "Percy? Are you sure?"

"Yes, I saw them leaving together. Percy seemed like the person Jaden needed in that moment. Please, David, call her. I hope she can help," Rita pleaded, her heart feeling heavy with the weight of her choices.

His sarcastic remark about her being the oblivious wife, turning a blind eye to her husband's cheating, stung her deeply. Rita understood that David's perspective was limited, and he couldn't possibly grasp the complexity of her situation. However, his words had pierced through her vulnerable state, awakening a sense of defiance within her.

She responded to his snide comment with indifference, her voice steady and unwavering. "Don't judge others freely if you don't know the truth," she advised, her words laced with a touch of disappointment. She couldn't expect David to understand the depth of her emotions, but she hoped that he would at least refrain from making a*sumptions.

David, sensing the shift in Rita's demeanour, hurriedly cut the conversation short, claiming he had something to attend to. Rita understood that he had his own battles to fight, just as she did. They were all flawed individuals navigating their way through life's complexities.

The taxi arrived at the familiar club, where Rita had sought solace in the past, during her single and stressed-out days. The place now seemed strange and foreign to her. Memories of carefree laughter and lighthearted conversations flooded her mind, reminding her of a time when she didn't have to weigh her heart against her head.

However, since Jaden had entered her world, Rita had willingly let go of her socialising habits. She had immersed herself in their relationship, finding comfort in his presence and relying on his love to fill the void within her. Now, she stood at the entrance of the club, feeling like a stranger in her own skin.

Taking a deep breath, Rita pushed open the door and stepped inside. The lively atmosphere engulfed her, music pulsating through the air, and vibrant lights illuminating the space. It was a stark contrast to the sombre thoughts that weighed on her mind.

As she made her way through the crowd, Rita felt a sense of liberation wash over her. She realised that she didn't have to completely abandon the parts of herself that existed before Jaden. It was possible to find a balance, to indulge in moments of self-care and reclaim her independence.

Finding an empty booth, Rita settled herself, observing the dance floor and the people around her. She was no longer searching for an escape from her own thoughts but rather allowing herself to reconnect with the person she had been before Jaden entered her life.

In the midst of the pulsating music and swirling lights, Rita made a silent promise to herself. She would embark on a journey of self-discovery, rediscovering her pa*sions, and learning to stand strong on her own. It was time to embrace her individuality, to heal the wounds that had been inflicted, and to forge a path towards a brighter future.

With each pa*sing moment, Rita's heart grew lighter, and a newfound determination coursed through her veins. She was ready to let go of the past, to find solace in her own company, and to create a future that was entirely her own.