TODAY IS THE DAY.

Finally! The day I've been waiting for is here! The person I had been waiting for for the last five years, the love of my life, has finally returned. I could almost hear the crumbling of my stomach, not because I am hungry, it’s because I am excited and I am yearning for his presence. I guess I have jitters—butterflies in my stomach.

At long last, he lived up to his commitments, to his promises to me. He didn't leave me hanging here and waiting for nothing.

He came back for me…

For the nth time, I’ve been glazing to the mirror, fixing my hair and pouting my lips to assure the red lipstick on my lips looked neat. At that moment, I was just thinking that I had to look pretty for him.

But then, I didn't waste any time and raced down the stairs to get to him. I didn't care if I trip—I nearly did. But that didn’t matter to me. I can hardly wait ‘til I can give him a big embrace, feel his lips against mine once again, shower him kisses, and express to him how much I have missed him and how much I adore him.

I can't wait to look into his eyes and see his face. I can't wait to be in his arms and to clasp his arms on my own. I yearned for him to call out my name and tell me how much he loves me while also assuring me that he would not leave me.

Finally, we will be together again.

‘We will be together again.’ That’s the voice inside my head that keeps on repeating.

As I strolled around the halls, I had the most genuine smile on my face, slightly hiding the excitement and the nervousness. ‘Gosh! Why am I acting like this?’ At that moment, I couldn't wait to say hello to him and catch up with him again.

However…

I thought I was prepared, but then I heard his mother speak the words that would break my whole world. The words that shattered me into pieces.

“Son, please accept my love and support at your wedding. You and Melissa make a terrific match! Congratulations on your wedding!” Mrs. Williams commented on the happy couple while gazing at them with awe and affection.

What I have been told just can't be real. He told me that he loves me, and he told me that he was going to marry me.

‘No! This is not true!’ I kept on convincing myself but deep down I started to be frantic. I believed in him. He told me that I am the one. He assured me, and I choose to have faith in it up to this very moment. He made a promise and I believed, until right now—despite the words that I have heard—I, I chose to believe.

I was so exhausted that I slumped against the wall next to it. I could feel the muscles throughout my whole body wasting away. I have lost all sensation in my body. This has the potential to kill me. This might be the death of me.

‘He can't be married. There’s no fucking way!’

I was overcome with an overwhelming feeling of betrayal and grief as I gazed at him as uncontrolled tears streamed down my face. As his eyes connected with mine, it caused my heart to stop beating. I can tell that he was in anguish by the way that he was staring at me. ‘I don’t get it. How can he do this to me after the times we shared together?’ But then, he pulled away his gaze, he made the decision to turn his head away from me while maintaining a blank face and an unwavering coldness, as if he didn't care how I was feeling.

‘He can't be married. There’s no fucking way!’

I still tried to convince myself as I continued repeating those words. But even if I pinch myself or slap my face… nothing changes.

Nothing.

I had to wait for a whole five years. Imagine, a whole fucking five years! I continued to stay true to you and devoted to him, pouring all my love and attention to him. In the expectation that one day we would be together. It's impossible for me to understand this. It is impossible for him to be married... especially not to my closest friend.

To Melissa… my dearest friend.

I then gave her a look that was equal parts betrayal and loathing. In response, she smirked at me in a devilish way as if she was really pleased with what she had accomplished.

‘Why Melissa? What have I done to you that is wrong?’ As the tears continued to pour, I thought, my mascara was smeared all over my face.

Never in a million years did I imagine that today would turn out to be like this. I really ought to be joyful right now. How did I get to the point where I was sobbing and trying to hide from their sight?

“I'm quite angry that you chose not to inform me about it. How was it possible for you to be married without telling us?” Mr. Williams mumbled something in a displeased tone.

“Right. And didn't the two of you, Faith and you, have a thing going on? You have completely taken us by surprise,” Mrs. Williams said while wearing a broad grin on her face. It was clear that they had affection for Melissa. It was clear as broad daylight, she liked Melissa.

I stood in the shadows behind the walls, crying uncontrollably, eavesdropping to their conversation. Even though the sight of him caused my eyes to water and blur again, I still looked at him and realized how I am still in love with him. I was still able to see him quite clearly—and only him.

'Was my love a joke to you?' I heaved a sigh of relief.

Was my love merely a game that you finished playing when it was over? I made a fist with both hands.

"Atlas, how could you do this to me after everything?" I whispered to myself and wiped my eyes with a tissue.

'Why, when all I did was to love you?'

Finally, I walked away.

Faith's POV

“Get the hell out of here as soon as possible! Your filthy face is the last thing I want to look at for the rest of the day!”

In a fit of wrath, I screamed at the assistant I was working with. I watched as she jerked her shoulder as she dashed out the door.

“Fucking bitch! How dare she make me feel this way!” I mumbled something under my breath as I roughly reorganized the papers on the table in front of me.

I was in the middle of being angry when I heard a knock on the door. I heaved a sigh before inviting the person to come inside with a cold voice. “Come in,” I said. The door was then opened by Alex, who seemed to be completely bewildered as he approached it.

With his customary low tone, he informed her, “You have a meeting at 2:00 o'clock.”

“Alright,” I responded, maintaining my gaze on the papers that were spread out on the table in front of me. After I realized that he wasn't going to leave the house, I gave him a puzzled look and my eyebrows wrinkled. “Do you have anything else?” I asked.

I could hear him sigh as his eyes fixed themselves on mine. A trace of skepticism may be detected in it. “When do you plan to make this stop?” He started by throwing that question on my face. That made my heart pound. “Faith, it has been three years since we last spoke. Why don't you simply let him go?” He proceeded with his line of questioning.

After hearing those words, I felt a tightening across my whole body.

In the midst of giving Alex a menacing look, I accidentally rumpled the papers that were sitting on my table. I cried, "Get out!" and he bolted out the door the second I finished speaking.

I took a few slow, deep breaths, sat back in my chair, and closed my eyes as I did so. I allowed the pictures of my past to come back to me like a kaleidoscope of unpleasant recollections, despite the fact that I didn't want to do so.

**

ELEVEN YEARS AGO…

“I love you so very much, my darling. Now, give me a peck on the cheek.” This was a gesture I could never say no to, Atlas stated as he puckered his lips for a kiss on the cheek.

After that, I laughed, caressed his face, and reacted by saying, “I love you too.” After that, I gave him a long and passionate kiss.

At that time, I felt like the luckiest girl in the world. Nothing is more important to me than my relationship with Atlas. Me and him, that's enough for me.

Then, all of a sudden…

As Melissa broke into our little private time, things were just beginning to heat up. She welcomed us with “Hello guys,” which caused us to break the kiss short. Both of us were staring at her inappropriately.

“Damn, Melissa. You really enjoyed pulling us apart when we were making out, didn't you?” I whimpered, making her roll her eyes. After that, she smirked cheekily at Atlas and said, "Looking handsome, Atlas." She gave him a teasing wink in jest.

He said, “I know,” as he tightened his grip on my shoulder and put his arms around it. After that, he planted a kiss on my left cheek.

“Jerk,” I mumbled, making him chuckle.

We were the best of friends, the three of us, but particularly me and Atlas due to the fact that we had essentially known each other from the moment we were both born. Even before we were aware of what was going on in the outside world, we were inseparable from each other. We spent all of our time together, and despite how silly it may seem, both of us would sob when it was finally time to go home after spending so much time playing together. At least, that's what our parents had told us when we were younger.

Because of the strength of our connection, we have a great bond like an invisible string between the two of us. I was able to give him my whole trust and my heart when he told me about his feelings for me. I discovered in him not just a lover but also a friend—a genuine one.

As we began our first year of high school together, Melissa became a part of our life. Since that time, I have always interacted with her as if she were my own sister, and she has done the same with me. Since I care so deeply for this smart and lovely girl, I would risk my life to shield her from any danger that could come her way. I would agree with the many people who claimed that our personalities couldn't be more different from one another. I was a badass. However, certainly not the sort of blonde cheerleader with a snarky demeanor. Simply put, I was a rough girl—more accurately, a ruffian. Yet despite our differences, our mentalities were a perfect match for one other.

Atlas, too, acted more like a brother toward her in his protectiveness toward her. But I'll tell you what, he was absolutely, one hundred percent, head over heels protective of me, and, if I'm being honest, a little possessive as well. It was anathema to him whenever other men made an attempt to talk to me.

However, the quality that impressed me most about him was the respect he showed others. Even though he had a reputation as one of the school's more troublesome students, he never once tried to coerce me into engaging in ‘that thing’ with him. He was not in a hurry and could wait.

Oh, how much I love this devil!

“College is a rather dull experience. I despise it!” Melissa moaned as she rested her head on my shoulder and pressed her body on me.

“Well, you're right, but at least we were in it together. I have no doubt that we can make this enjoyable,” I reacted to her while stroking the top of her head.

“You mean having fun by making fun of the professors and other kids, or should I say getting into problems with them?” Atlas sneered and gave me a cheeky grin as he turned to me.

I responded with a smile and said, "Maybe."

“I believe it is time for us to go. It is so late already,” Melissa said as she glanced at the watch on her wrist.

After that, she got up from her seat and continued. Melissa was a resident in her own apartment. She was an only child, and when she was eighteen years old, both of her parents passed away in a car accident. She grew up without a sibling.

“Well, come on, Melissa. You live on your own. It's not like everyone is holding their breath for you to get back there. Relax and hang out with us for a little bit longer,” I urged as I assisted her in getting back on the ground.

As she fled from us, she yelled behind us, "I have quite a few school assignments to accomplish." I just chuckled. She actually is a school girl, the kind of person who would be terrified of not completing her assignments.

I immediately yelled out, "Watch out!" After that, she bade us farewell with a sweep of her hand.

On the way back to the house, Atlas and I chose to stroll. To state the obvious, our families lived in the same neighborhood, and our parents were very close friends.

When I turned around to unlock our front door, Atlas grabbed my arm and pulled me closer to him. He leaned in close to my ear and whispered, "Don't leave me," which caused chills to run down my spine. I cherished the sensation of his hot breath passing over my body. After that, he began to kiss me all the way down my neck, which caused me to gasp as I pulled on his hair.

"My parents may catch us," I whispered in between muffled laughs, thinking that they might. But without any prior warning, he pressed his lips against mine, forced his tongue into my mouth, and drank in the flavor of my saliva. I let out a groan as he tickled my buttocks in a fun manner.

I said a friendly "Bye!" before I left. He returned my grin and kissed me quickly three times, not once or twice, but freaking three times! When he was leaving, he said, “Bye, my sweetie,” and then walked away. As we were still somewhat close, he blew me a kiss, which I was able to catch.

I yelled out to them, “Love you!”

“Love you too!” He responded with a yell.

**

PRESENT…

I forced myself to open my eyes and force myself to stop the fucktard thoughts that had been going through my head. I despise it because it irritates me.

But all of it is now in the past where it belongs. Memories that I really ought to just put out of my mind. Remembering those past events isn't going to benefit me in any way.

I did a quick comb-through with my fingertips. “I cannot believe how much I despise this... I despise these recollections! Fucking hate these memories…”

There is no way for the three of us to get back together. After a piece of glass has been shattered, it cannot be reassembled into its original whole state by any means. And so did the nature of our friendship.

I shouted at him and said, “I fucking hate you, Atlas Williams!”

“Today, all of the work has to be completed by five o'clock. Understood?”

I glared icily at my personal assistant, who was trembling under my watch, and gave her an order. After that, I gave all of the necessary files to her in a very dangerous manner.

“There was a delay till five o'one. Get moving and get started right away.” I proceeded while giving her a menacing look in her direction. I was aware that she would submit her resignation any moment now, but I couldn't care less about that fact.

When she exited the room, she responded with a trembling voice, “Y-yes, Ma'am,” and she came dangerously close to falling due to her anxiety and the pile of paperwork she was carrying.

I let out a sigh, sat back in my chair, and began massaging my temples as soon as I realized that she had already left my office. I really cannot stand it when my head begins to hurt. After that, the phone in my workplace rang, which jolted me out of my trance. I responded with exhaustion to your question.

“M-Madam, so someone is coming to see you…” That was my assistant calling me once again. I just despise the fact that she stuttered.

“Are you unable to communicate clearly? Jesus! Talk properly!” I stated, to let her know that I am irritated with her talking like that.

She repeated, “Madam, someone is coming to see you,” as she approached the door. I rolled my eyes in response to her voice, and then I hung up the phone without giving her another chance to speak.

As I was just ready to leave the office, its door abruptly opened, allowing me to exit the building. “Mommy! Mommy!” he yelled. I answered when I heard a soft voice. As I glanced down at my legs, I saw a little child holding onto my skirt. He was only three years old. “I miss you!” He went on as he was holding onto one of my legs.

“Get off me, kid!” I yelled as I violently wrenched my body away from him and shouted the words.

For fuck sake! How on earth was this kid ever able to make it here?

As I heard footsteps approaching into my office, the first thing that went through my thoughts was, ‘Damn it!’ When some time had passed, I was able to see his face. "Damn it," I muttered once again, really wanting to utter the phrase out loud.

“My apologies to you, Faith. As I parked the car in front of the building, he bolted out of the car. He couldn't express how much he was missing you.” A well-known low and gruff voice spoke out next. As I glanced at him, I saw that he was wearing a grin on his face.

I stared at him in confusion before turning my anger at the child. “Mr. Williams, what are you doing in this building?” I inquired in a manner that was very formal—cold and rigid. The grin that had been on his face vanished all of a sudden. It seemed as if he was suffering from... agony and pain.

The idea made me laugh out loud. ‘Agony? Pain? Fucking ridiculous!’ Pain and him are not a very good match for one another. Putting them together in one sentence doesn’t make sense.

“Come on, Faith. Do you still not remember that I own fifty percent of this company?” Atlas said, and in response to that, I rolled my eyes and settled back into my seat in the room.

Again, the little kid yelled out, “Mommy...”

After giving him some attention, I saw that the tears were welling up in his beautiful eyes. In addition to that, both of his arms are raised over his head. He requested that I carry him, but it is something I will never do. I diverted my gaze and pretended not to see him.

“Daddy,” he began sobbing, “I need you.” I watched as the tears slid down his rounder face and landed on his blue eyes.

“Honey, please come over here. It's alright, your mommy was just so busy at the time,” Atlas said in a low voice. I can't stand the way his voice makes the word ‘mommy’ sound.

I snapped at him in exasperation, “I am not his mom.” After hearing these comments, Atlas's expression towards me became harsh.

“Faith—” he started, but I stopped him off.

“Would you just be quiet? Therefore, see to it that your child does not return to this place under any circumstances.” I told him right in front of his face. “This is not a damned nursery or a playground where you can bring your child whenever you want to,” I continued.

“He is your son.”

It made me laugh. That was freaking hilarious and I gave him that.

“My son? What makes this child my son? To be very honest with you, Mr. Williams, I had no idea that I was even his mother.” I spit it out.

“But he—”

Once again, I severed communication with him.

“I said shut up. He isn't my son so stop brainwashing the kid's mind!” I loudly said. He did nothing except stand there and stare at my face, which caused me to tighten my fists in complete and utter rage.

‘Why the heck he’s insisting that this kid is my son?’

I made a solemn vow that the rage, hate, and contempt that I felt against this man would never go away. It had been three fucking years, and although I believed that I could finally move on after such a lengthy period of time, the reality is that I would never be able to do so.

I can’t fucking move on. The wounds were still here and were left unhealed.

Never in a million years, especially considering the fact that I am the Chief Executive Officer of this firm and he just showed up out of the blue and identified himself as the other owner. Never, especially considering that I was aware that we were working in the same place and we would be sharing the same air.

I repeated it with a little more composure this time as I returned to reviewing my files: “Go out, you're wasting my time.” I could hear the child choking back his tears and sniffling in an attempt to calm himself down.

“I will never walk away from you, regardless of how much animosity you feel against both me and our kid Leo. Absolutely not, Faith. I will stop at nothing to win your forgiveness, so that you may return to loving me the way you once did and making me once again the center of your life. It was a vow I took to heart and kept with myself.” He spoke it with a firm resolve and an air of assurance. To tell you the truth, it made me want to throw up. As it came from him, those remarks immediately gave off an impression of being a falsehood.

I sat up straight and began to intertwine my fingers with those of the person sitting next to me. “Mr. Williams, you may do anything you want, but I will never forgive you and Melissa for what you both did to me. I don't care what you do to me. My respect for myself is much more essential than your so-called love emotion or any other feeling you claim to have. I will never contact you again, and I will never allow you to reenter my life. You and I just owned this business together, and it will continue to serve as the foundation of our partnership moving forward. Nothing more than that. Now, get out.” I asserted in a loud and clear voice.

He turned his head away, his face conveying regret, hurt, and guilt to no one in particular but himself.

He carried his son with him as he made his way toward the entrance. As he quietly exited the room, he said, “I love you,” and then he was gone, leaving me with sad thoughts.

‘What the fuck? What the hell that I love you mean to me now? Nothing!’

**

FIVE YEARS AGO…

“Faith, you have no idea how much I adore you.” He cried out in pain as he gnawed on my neck. “Oh God! I just can't get enough of you. I just can't. You are mine, all mine.”

He spoke softly in my ear while biting the lobe of my other ear. I used to like the way it made me feel whenever I moaned his name.

I responded in a hushed tone, “I love you too, Atlas—so much.”

The door swung open with a thud all of a sudden. What a great timing! And here it is, it was our wonderful buddy Melissa who was a master at sabotaging our precious times.

Atlas whimpered “Melissa,” which made me grin to myself.

She expressed her regret while rolling her eyes and added, “I'm sorry, it was not my aim to disrupt your make-out session all the time.” She then approached the sofa while carrying a bag of Doritos in her hand.

Melissa switched her position just as Atlas was about to kiss me, interrupting the kiss. She had moved seats and was now seated between Atlas and I.

Atlas groaned and asked, “Mel, what the hell?”

She flashed a wry grin as she switched on the television while saying, “Sorry.” That caused me to giggle once again.

Atlas took a few moments to watch some television before grabbing the remote control and turning the television off. Melissa looked at Atlas and said, “What the heck are you doing? I was just watching that! You just spoiled the suspense!”

I was concerned because of the tone with which he delivered the next statement: "I know, but listen. I forgot to tell you both something.”

I asked Atlas what had occurred as I moved over to his side of the sofa and sat down next to him. “What happened?” After that, I put my hand on top of his, and I can feel him squeezing my hand even more tightly.

He began by saying, “I have some news. One of them is good, and the other is bad.”

After giving one other a glance that conveyed both anxiety and confusion, Melissa and I turned our attention back to Atlas and waited for him to continue.

“I-I have been offered a position in New York's one of the top companies—in fact, top over the globe. It was controlled by Mr. Richard Bailey,” he continued, causing our eyes to widen in shock.

Richard Bailey had a net worth of one billion dollars. Getting a job at one of the numerous businesses he controlled all across the globe was so desirable that people were willing to sacrifice their lives for it. It made Melissa and I shout with joy, and we both gave Atlas a bear hug as we were overcome with delight.

“Oh my God! Congratulations, Atlas! I knew you could do it and I am beyond proud and happy for you,” I said with joy as I kissed his cheek firmly, causing him to expose his charming dimples. “I knew you could do it and I am so pleased and happy for you,” I added with delight.

“Congrats!” Melissa extended her congratulations to Atlas and said that this was very wonderful news.

“But,” Atlas remarked with anguish.

I inquired with a “But what?”

Then he stated that, “Getting that position means I have to remain in New York,” which he made, caused me to grimace. “With that, I will have to leave London... in three days,” he said. My body was instantly overcome by a feeling of sadness.

I shook my head in disbelief and questioned in a trembling voice, “What? Three days?”

As tears began to form in my eyes. Atlas swiftly grabbed my cheeks as soon as he saw that I was crying. He wiped my tears away with a kiss while saying, “No, no. Please, baby, don't cry.” He stated it with such love and sincerity, “I don't want to see tears in your beautiful eyes. If you don't want me to go, then I will happily remain for you. I'm sure I can find another fantastic job here in London. You, nonetheless, were my highest priority.”

I felt guilty.

He wanted it and waited for it.

He really put forth a lot of effort to acquire this position. I can't let myself be the reason he gives up on his goals and ambitions. I wished for him to have the most success that was possible in this life.

“No, you need to go there, and achieve what it is in life that you want, and I... I will gladly watch it. But you gotta promise me to keep in contact, okay? Please don't find any gi—” he interrupts me by passionately kissing my lips.

“I promise to keep in contact. I promise to stay faithful to you as you are my badass angel. Remember? I am the only one who will take your virginity and you will be the only girl who will take mine,” he said, somewhat playfully. After that, he gave me a bear hug and proceeded by saying, “You are my first and last.”

I considered myself quite fortunate to have this guy as my boyfriend... my Atlas.

Our intimate moment was rudely interrupted by a cough. Melissa remarked this with an upset expression on her face, “I suppose you guys are forgetting that I am here.” That gave us reason to chuckle.

I chuckled to myself as I looked at her and said, “Of course not. How could we forget you?” After that, I switched my attention to Atlas as though we were conspiring on something.

In an attempt to defend herself, Melissa said, “Why does that look give me a negative feeling?” as both Atlas and I smiled devilishly at her. After that, we went on top of her and began to tickle Melissa on her collar bones and foot.

She just managed to utter the words “Oh God, please stop!” in between her uncontrolled laughter. Instead of continuing, we decided to stop and give each other a group embrace.

“Nothing's going to change, okay?” Melissa said.

“Nothing,” both Atlas and I said together in unison.

I couldn't have asked for anything better. These two people were everything to me.

**

PRESENT…

Just look at how fast the night changes…

I felt my chest tighten with those memories. Atlas’ presence suddenly triggered these unnecessary memories.

‘I should have forgotten this bullshit!’ That's what I thought.

But, I didn't.

I can't.

So I couldn't do anything whenever the memories of the three of us crossed my mind. It just hurts so bad. the kind of pain as if someone is cutting your skin with a sharp knife. That's how painful it was for me.

As I wiped away the tears that were falling from my eyes, I murmured to myself, “Little did I realize that as the years go by, the same persons who were once my universe, once my lifeline, would become the cause for the broken heart.”