54

54
Betty.

Soft jazz music played in the background, the kind you’d hear in a private lounge filled with rich people sipping expensive drinks like tequila and sex on the beach and pretending to enjoy the music while they sealed business deals.
 But that wasn’t the case for me.
Tonight, I was at the Annual final-year awards night. The celebration was for the students, I mean they were the ones who were supposed to be excited, not me. 
I was just a professor in my mid-thirties making sure no one drank too much or started a fight. 

I poured a mocktail in my glass letting the golden liquids glide down my throat, it was cold,  the only thing that could quench my thirst.

I stared at the mirror. I looked beautiful in the silver gown I wore,my chestnut hair was straightened, for the very first time.  I always curled it or held  it up in a ponytail. 

I let out a sigh as I looked around the hall, it was shiny and filled with chandeliers, 
“All my hard work.” I breathed, I remembered waking up hours earlier to help set up the entire hall along with a few other lecturers. 

Now the place was bubbling with laughter and clinking of glasses. 
I should’ve gotten used to it by now. But I wasn’t. All  I wanted at this point was to go home.

“Hi, Mrs Betty!” A parent greeted me and I bowed curtly acknowledging her.  
I didn’t really have much to say. I was rather too tired to keep up a conversation, after all I’ve always been among the committee planning this every year, the decorations, drinks, well, I was all involved. 
Yet instead of feeling proud, I stood near the drink table quietly observing everyone who had come. It was so much more fun to watch than to participate.
“Hi, BFF!” I heard the familiar high-pitched voice of Maya, she was striding towards me in a turquoise blue satin dress that hugged her hips.  She arrived today and wanted to attend this event. She looked very happy, probably the happiest I’d seen her in years.

Her arms were intertwined with a tall, brown haired man in a suit, from the way he never took his eyes off her one could tell they were in a new relationship.

“What’s up? I’ve been looking for you all over," she says pulling me close in a warm embrace.

“Well, I didn’t want to take you away from the love of your life.”I teased as she pulled away, flushing hard.

She giggled,  “Oh come on, stop being petty, and I’m sorry if I’m oppressing you, it wasn’t my intention.”

“Apology accepted!” I said gulping the juice.
“Your school party is kinda lit! I love the lighting, the food, and lastly the music.” She started dancing, smiling at me.

I rolled my eyes. “Oh please!”

“Meet Tom,” she chortled, pulling him closer. “We met on Facegram, can you imagine? Who knew I'd find love again after that messy divorce?” 
“Well not everyone is Dave, hi Tom, I hope you are enjoying the party?”
“I am, Betty.” He said smiling at me, he whispered something in her ear and they both started to laugh out loud.
Suddenly the music changed into a slow blues music and she grabbed Tom closer. “ Let's dance !” Maya said, she waved at me and left with Tom to the dance floor joining other couples dancing, leaving me alone here once again.
Oh, how I hate this feeling. 
A feeling of being alone even when you are surrounded by people.

It wasn’t long until my eyes caught Adam Lewandowski.

He stood adjacent to where I stood, surrounded by a small circle of people. As always, he was popular, he always gathered attention everywhere he went because people still thought he was trustworthy.
I knew this because I fell into his trap once.
He caught my gaze and winked at me, I looked away immediately, sipping my mocktail immensely. I don’t care about what he does with his life as long as he stays out of my business then we are cool.
But part of me remained angry. One day, I was going to file a lawsuit, making sure he rotted in jail for stealing my copyrights.  One day, he is going to pay.
Before I could pour myself another drink I saw a shadow block my view.
“Hey, B.”

I was startled, how did he do it? How did he appear right in front of him like he just teleported? 

“Adam!” I gasped, dropping my glass to the table swallowing hard.

“It’s good to see you looking your best, you’ve always been a fashionista but this grey dress that sparkles makes you look…. Ravishing.” He says eying me up and down with his eyes filled with lust.

I cleared my throat looking around before landing my gaze on his dark eyes filled with hidden intentions.
“What do you want from me, Adam?”
“ Isn't that obvious? I want you back, Betty, I missed what we had, isn’t there a way we can settle things?”

A dry chuckle rolled off my lips and I crossed my arms. “ I’m not interested.”
“Why?”
“Because  we are done, ten years ago.”

“Don’t I deserve a second chance?”
“No! You don’t.”
“How can I change your mind? How can I make you love me?”
My lips parted slightly to respond but then my eyes caught a figure, Michael. 

He staggered in holding an almost empty bottle of vodka. My heart skipped a beat.
What the hell was he doing here drunk?
I quickly looked away so Adam wouldn't trace my gaze.

“Stay away from me! That’s the best thing you can do for yourself….”

“Or what?”
I smiled, “Or I swear I’d report you to the cops, and this time I’d make sure you rot in jail.”

“Easy white chocolate, I just want us to be cool again.” 
“You should’ve thought about that before stealing my book.” I snarled.

His smile faded off and I walked away brushing his shoulders, I made my way to the DJ Booth, where Michael was embracing himself.

“Give me the mic…. Please… I need to say… I need to profess my love…. I need to tell her I love her, the world needs to know!” Michael screamed leaning close to the DJ.

“Michael!” I bawled, “Let’s talk outside.”

He turned to face me, his blue eyes piercing. “Oh! Professor… there you are, I’ve been looking for you everywhere, I was just going to ….”
“You would do no such thing…. Outside. Now!”

“Yes, boss!” He teased me as I led him out of the hall. I didn't care if anyone noticed;  it was better than the show he was about to pull off.
We stepped into the cold and chilly night. I could hear the thunder rumbling from afar but I didn’t care.
“What’s going on? Why are you drunk?” I scolded him, and he laughed like I’d cracked a joke.
“Why are you drunk at a school event? Do you really want attention that much? Do you wish to get expelled?”
“Calm down….” He slurred. “ I didn’t want the attention…. I just… I just …. Wanted to…”

“What?” I cut him off, my nose scrunching from the putrid smell of alcohol oozing all over him. “You want to make a fool out of yourself? Or disgrace me? Your father is well, why are you still doing this? Are you cursed?” 

“All this wouldn’t have happened if you had given me a chance, you don’t answer my calls Betty, you’ve shut me out of your world.” He barked then he ran a hand through his tousled blonde hair. 

I let out a sigh. “ You know why I refuse you every time? It’s because you are immature, we have been through this again and again, yet you don't just get it,Michael. We cannot be a thing, I’d be sacked…”

“That’s a lie, you want me…”

“I don’t.”

“Then look me in the eye and tell me you don’t want me… that I mean nothing to you.” He said, smirking hard.

I swallowed hard and tried but anytime I met his icy blue eyes, I forgot everything I wanted to say, it was like the words were stuck up in my throat..
“Stop… this… Michael.”
“I’m waiting,” he muttered under his breath, closing the space between us. “ Say you don’t love me.”
Thunder rolled again and so did my heartbeat.

“I….,” I stuttered moving back but he grabbed my waist roughly and cupped my jaw so I could look up at his face. I should be offended by this but instead, my inner thigh throbbed with so much pleasure, I could feel my pants getting moist with my own wetness.

“What’s wrong, professor?” He taunted me and I could feel his breathing on my neck as he pulled me close, grabbing my ass. I let out a soft moan, my cheeks burning with pleasure as I tried to look away.
I should have pushed him away or even hit him across the face but  I couldn’t. 
“Fuck it, you win,” I mumbled instead, grabbing him by the collar and kissing him hard on the lips.