Chapter -6

Casey P.O.V

“Thank you” . After paying the cab I entered the restaurant. The restaurant’s entrance bell chimed above me , a welcoming smile from the attendant greeted me. The warm ambiance of the place, with its soft lighting and murmured conversations, momentarily eased my nerves. "Reservation for Deniz," I said, my voice steady. The attendant checked the list and nodded, "Right this way.”

As we weaved through the maze of tables, I glanced around, half expecting my friends to come on time for once.But no, they were fashionably late as always. The attendant led me to a table with a perfect view of the entire restaurant.As I settled into my seat, I let out a small sigh of relief, allowing myself a moment of relaxation.

Then, as if the universe had decided I was far too comfortable, I saw him. My heart dropped like a stone in my chest. There he was, my ex-boyfriend walking into the restaurant, his hand resting possessively on the lower back of the girl he had cheated on me with. Panic surged through my body like an electric shock, and before I could think, I instinctively shrank into my chair, my fingers clenching around the menu as if it were a shield that could somehow render me invisible. I peeked over the top edge of the menu, watching their every move, wishing desperately that I had a Harry Potter invisibility cloak to disappear into. My pulse pounded in my ears, a mix of disbelief, anger, and the sharp sting of betrayal hitting me all over again. How was it fair? I had spent three years of my life with him, three years thinking we were building something real only for him to throw it all away for a cheap fling. And now, they were here, flaunting their happiness in the same space I had chosen to reclaim my own sense of peace.

I swallowed hard, forcing myself to breathe as they were shown to a table. Of course, just my luck, it was only a few feet away from mine. Close enough that I could hear their conversation as clearly as if they were sitting with me. I slid even lower in my seat, my spine curving as I tried to merge with the chair, willing myself to become invisible. Minutes dragged on like hours, each second stretching painfully as I debated whether I should just abandon my dinner and walk out before this situation became unbearable. But before I could make a decision, I saw him stand up abruptly. My breath caught in my throat as the room around me seemed to slow.

And then, as if the world was playing some cruel joke on me, he dropped to one knee.

For a moment, I thought I was hallucinating. My ex-boyfriend, the same man who had evaded every conversation about marriage, who had made it clear he wasn’t “the settling down type” was kneeling in front of the woman he had cheated on me with. A small, velvet box appeared in his hands as he opened it, revealing a glittering engagement ring. His girlfriend, no, his soon-to-be fiancéé gasped dramatically, covering her mouth with her hands. The entire restaurant took notice, the background noise shifting as patrons turned their attention to the unfolding proposal.

My mind reeled. Was this really happening? Here? Now? After only nine months? My hands tightened into fists as I struggled to comprehend the injustice of it all. Three years. We had been together for three years, and not once had he ever hinted at the idea of marriage. He had always had excuses, always brushed it off, always said he was not ready. And yet, here he was, down on one knee, asking another woman to be his wife as if it were the easiest thing in the world. As if my time, my love, my patience had meant absolutely nothing. What had he gotten out of stringing me along? Out of lying to me? Out of cheating on me? Did he ever even love me, or was I just some convenient placeholder until he found something he deemed better?

And then something inside me snapped.

Without thinking, I slammed my menu down onto the table, the sound echoing louder than I intended. I stood up so abruptly that my chair toppled over with a sharp clatter, drawing every pair of eyes in the room toward me. The air grew thick with stunned silence as I stormed toward their table, my vision blurring with the sheer force of my emotions. My ex-boyfriend’s face turned pale the second he saw me, his entire body stiffening as if he knew the storm that was about to hit. His fiancée, Susan, I now knew her name blinked at me in confusion, clearly unaware of who I was or why I had just made such a dramatic entrance.

"Are you fucking kidding me?" I shouted, my voice shaking with barely restrained fury. A murmur spread through the restaurant as whispers and exchanged glances rippled across the other diners. But I didn’t care. I had been silent for too long. "You proposed to the girl you cheated on me with? You had the audacity to get down on one knee after everything you put me through? You think you can just rewrite history and pretend I never existed?"

He swallowed thickly, his eyes darting around as if looking for an escape. "Casey, calm down," he stammered, his voice low and cautious, but I was having none of it.

"Calm down?" I let out a bitter laugh, my anger flaring hotter. "Oh, I will show you calm!" Without hesitation, I grabbed a glass of water from the nearest table and tossed it straight into his face. The satisfying splash echoed in the silent restaurant as water dripped from his hair, soaking his expensive shirt. He sputtered, eyes wide with disbelief, but before he could recover, I turned my attention to his fiancée, who still sat frozen like a deer caught in headlights.

"And you," I said, my voice cutting like a blade, "congratulations on your new life with this two-timing slimeball. I hope you enjoy playing house with a man who will probably cheat on you the second you turn your back." Her lips parted, but whatever response she had died in her throat.

Fueled by righteous fury, I reached for the tablecloth and yanked it with all my strength. Dishes, silverware, and glasses crashed to the floor in a spectacular mess, shattering and spilling in every direction. Gasps and shocked exclamations filled the room as the weight of my actions sank in.

"You know what?" I spat, taking one last look at my dripping, stunned ex. "You deserve each other. Good luck with your miserable lives."

And then just like that reality snapped back into place.

I blinked rapidly, my heart hammering in my chest. My hands were still gripping the menu, my body still firmly seated at my table. The restaurant remained calm, untouched by my imagined rampage. The clinking of silverware and the murmur of polite conversation drifted around me, oblivious to the war I had just fought in my mind.

Across the room, my ex-boyfriend was still kneeling, holding out the ring. Susan was still gasping, still nodding enthusiastically, still saying yes as the restaurant erupted into applause. But I had done nothing. I had not thrown water in his face. I had not ruined their night. I had sat still, invisible, a silent observer to their happiness.

A heavy sigh escaped my lips as the anger drained from my body, replaced by something else, something hollow. The fantasy had felt so real, so cathartic, and yet, in reality, I had done nothing. I was just a woman sitting alone, watching a man who had betrayed her promise himself to another woman.

Just then, my phone buzzed on the table, the vibration startling me out of my thoughts. I glanced at the screen. It was Sarah, my best friend.

Without hesitation, I picked up the call, desperate for the distraction. It was my friend and Zazu whose voice came through the speaker.

“Hey, Zazu," I said, trying to sound cheerful.

"Hey, Casey," she replied, sounding a bit hesitant. "Listen, I’m really sorry, but I have to cancel dinner tonight. Something came up with work, and I can’t get away.”

I closed my eyes, taking a deep breath. "It's okay Zazu. Thanks for letting me know.”

"I feel terrible about this. Let’s reschedule soon, okay?”

“Absolutely," I said, forcing a smile even though she couldn’t see it. "Take care” .I hung up and sighed, glancing around the restaurant. My friends were going to be late or not come at all. I was stuck here, alone, in a place where my ex-boyfriend had just proposed to the girl he cheated on me with.

Deciding not to give up yet, I immediately dialled my other friend, Deniz. She picked up after a few rings, her voice rushed. "Hey, Casey! What's up?”

"Hey, Deniz. Are you on your way? Zazu just cancelled on me.”There was a brief silence.

“Were we scheduled to meet today?” then she gasped. "Oh my God Casey, I am so sorry. I completely forgot! I got caught up with a case at work and lost track of time. I’m still at the office.”

I pinched the bridge of my nose, feeling the weight of the evening settle on my shoulders. "It's okay, Deniz. Work happens. We will catch up another time.”

"I'm really, really sorry. I'll make it up to you, I promise."

"Don't worry about it. Just handle your case. We will talk later.”

After hanging up, I sat there for a moment, absorbing the turn of events. The restaurant buzzed with happy conversations, none of which included me. I flagged down a waiter, feeling a mixture of frustration and resignation. I did not want to go home just yet so I moved to the bar of the restaurant.

It's just me and my loneliness now.