Chapter 16: Happiness

When I spotted Lance kissing a female in a coffee shop, I became really unhappy. I was so depressed that I sought help from Alex, my male best friend. I needed someone to talk to and who could console me.

Alex and I haven't spoken in over a year. I went to his house. He welcomed me inside his house. I sobbed and explained why I was weeping. He gave me a hug and told me I could find a better guy than Lance. I knew it wouldn't be easy, but Alex said the loveliest things to me. He told me that I was lovely and sweet, that I deserved more, and that I could find a better boyfriend.

Someone who would never deceive me. Someone who would adore me unconditionally and treat me as a queen. That's exactly what Alex did for me that day.

He got us sweets from the 711-convenience store, which we devoured. We kissed, snuggled, and made out on the sofa after that.

I did not break up with Lance. I simply stopped speaking to him. It's because I was aware of myself. I was aware of my flaw. When Lance would plead, I knew my heart would soften, I would forgive him, we would reconcile. I did what we now refer to as "ghosting."

Yeah, I ghosted Lance. I knew it was heartless, but he was the one who had done the heartless thing to begin with. He deserved to be ghosted.

Fuck him and the gorgeous girl in the coffee shop who he kissed. Fuck him and his narcissism. He believed he was superior to every guy on the planet. Fuck him for always instructing me what stuff to eat and how to maintain my weight. Fuck him for comparing me to other girls all the time. Fuck him and his arrogance, as well as his paranoia and jealousy. Fuck him and his treacherous heart. Fuck him for shattering my heart into a million pieces!

I cried in bed while listening to Skunk Anansie's Secretly, Rihanna's Take A Bow, Madonna's Take A Bow, Mariah Carey's Breakdown, Toni Braxton's How Could An Angel Break My Heart, Toni Braxton's Unbreak My Heart, Marilyn Manson's Tainted Love, and A Perfect Circle's Three Libras. Three Libras was on loop in my phone, and I sang along with my trembling voice.

I watched the movie 500 Days of Summer twice and I cried and cried. I memorized the “shower sex, friends my balls” lines of Tom to Summer and yelled those lines while that scene was playing on my phone.

I watched the 1998 film Great Expectations twice. I even memorized Finn’s iconic monologue. While that scenario was playing, I screamed, "Don't you see that everything I do, I do it for you? Anything that might be special in me is you" to Estella on her window. I was even drunk when screaming those lines because I was impersonating Finn.

I saw Easy A twice and shrieked Olive’s monologue that says, “Whatever happened to chivalry?" at the top of my lungs.

I was very angry and hurt since I had given Lance everything! But he cheated on me.

Alex and I started dating. What am I supposed to say about Alex? He was the sweetest, most caring, and most loving partner someone could possibly have! He could be even great than Lance.

Fuck Lance! His arrogance and cheating heart could go where the sun doesn't shine! At the very least, I have a loyal boyfriend, and his name was Alex! Alex and I referred to each other as "love." And our pet name is simply right: love. It's because we really loved each other.

Alex courted me several times before we became a couple. He presented me with adorable and lovely things. I had previously rejected him because I didn't want to date him because he was a best friend. I hadn't entirely moved on from Lance, to be honest.

I finally told him I wanted to be his girlfriend after a year of courtship. I was ready. I didn't feel bad about dating my best friend at the time. Alexander Pierce was now my boyfriend.

We had a great time as a couple. We visited many places and had numerous enjoyable and romantic occasions. We visited places we hadn't been before as pals.

In a beautiful candlelit dinner, we enjoyed eating while listening to a romantic song. We walked through lovely parks holding hands. We went to see local and international rock bands perform live, and we visited interesting and beautiful museums and libraries. In those lovely libraries, we even read our favorite books. Books were bought from bookstores. In coffee shops, we drank coffee and ate pastries.

We played video games at Alex's house on regular days. We watched movies on his flatscreen TV and occasionally on my modest TV at his house. We cooked meals for each other. We taught each other skills. We kissed and made love. I let Alex draw me and my naked body. At first, I was shy to pose naked for him. But then Alex encouraged me to calm down, breathe deeply, and be confident. I gained confidence and posed for him. His drawings were fantastic.

I was the first lady to pose nude for him. Because when he entered college as an art student, there were male and female models that posed naked in the classroom for pupils to draw and paint.

We did these things in his house because I was his girlfriend and I loved him so much that I wanted to kiss him hungrily, touch every inch of his body, and make love to him.

Alex had put scented candles on the tables and tossed petals of pink roses into his dark room one night. "Wow, this guy is really into me!" I thought. “He truly adores me!”

I was filled with amorous elation. "Oh, my darling, this is excessive!" I told Alex this. But I was grateful for what he done for me.

"Don’t you like it?" He asked.

"I love it! Thank you so much!" We exchanged kisses.

Alex smiled and responded, "Anything for you, my love." He kissed my forehead, my nose, and my lips.

We got into bed and had three hours of passionate love.

After high school, my romantic relationship with Alex continued. Our relationship stayed strong and stable till college. We exchanged visits at our respective universities. He showed me off to his new college friends. We visited several great places. Alex and I were together even on ordinary and gloomy days, whether for joy or sorrow. And I have the impression that he went out of his way to make me happy.

Alex assisted me with my challenges in addition to taking me to lovely sights. I couldn't afford to pay my university's tuition price since I didn't have enough money. He provided me with more funds so that I could pay my tuition in full. I was so ashamed that I told Alex that the money he gave me was my debt, and that I would pay it back.

But Alex insisted that I stop paying him because we were dating. That which was his was mine. He stated that he would always provide me money if I needed it and that I should not pay him. As a result, I never paid him back.

Diabetes was discovered in my mother. We did not have sufficient funds to purchase her diabetes meds. Alex gave me money to buy medication for my mother's diabetes.

Hypertension was discovered in my father. We couldn't afford the charges, so Alex offered me money to pay for my father's hypertension medications.

My younger brother Enoch was skating when he had an accident. He fell after failing to land on the ground after a stunt and hitting his body and damaging his limbs. Enoch, thankfully, was able to walk. Alex was the one who provided me extra money to cover all of my hospital fees.

My grandmother Lillian came to see us during the Christmas season. She requested to sleep in our home. I was initially perplexed as to why she preferred our home to that of my father's other relatives. My middle-class and upper-class relatives had much finer homes. However, she later stated that it was because we were a lot nicer.

My grandmother had a stroke one sad night. Alex just happened to be nearby. He took my Nana and me to the hospital in his car. Nana Lillian was looked after by the doctor and nurses. Alex and I paid the hospital and prescription bills. He and I took care of my grandma after we returned home from the hospital until she was fully recovered.

Despite her accident, Nana Lillian came to visit us from time to time. To express her gratitude, she presented Alex with a crocheted bag and dark chocolates.

"You are very considerate and sweet, Grandma Lillian," Alex said, "thank you so much for these nice gifts!" He embraced my grandmother.

"Alex, you don't have to thank me," my grandmother said. "I owe you my life."

"Oh, by the way, when are you getting married?" she said.

Her question made my parents laugh. That was a pleasant surprise.

"Mother, Alex, and Daphne are still studying," my father replied.

"That's right," my mother said. They must first concentrate on their studies before deciding to marry."

"Well, hurry up!" My grandmother insisted. We all laughed.

I'll never forget the star Alex named for me out of all the gifts he gave me. Yes! I had no idea people could do such things. A certificate with my name, the date, and the map and the coordinates were included. A black sky with a full moon and stars was depicted on the certificate. Of course, we couldn't hold or obtain a star, but having a star named after you was flattering. I guess, it’s really the thought that counts.

I enjoyed how we walked to a lovely beach to admire the star Alex had purchased for me. It was a beautiful experience. We drank wine and kissed.

Alex was a fantastic lover when it came to making love. On the night of my sixteenth birthday, I literally lost my virginity to him. This occurred prior to our making love on the day he drew my naked body. At the time, we were both sixteen years old. We were head over heels in love. "Please, put it inside me," I said as we were making out on my bed.

"Are you sure?" "Alex asked.

I nodded.

"However, what about our pledge to make love to each other on our wedding night?" Just to be sure, he asked me again.

"Why should I wait for that?" I assured him that we were going to get married anyway. When I stated that, he reddened.

"Daphne, I love you with all of my heart," Alex said, his voice rich and beautiful.

I said, "I love you, too, Alex."

He whispered, "You are a goddess."

I demanded naughtily, "Just shut up and kiss me."

We kissed each other fervently on the lips. I opened my mouth and allowed his tongue to brush against mine. We had a torrid kiss. We kissed for quite some time.

He gave me a longing look. "God, you're so beautiful," he said softly as he caressed my cheek. I gave him a smile. "You're so handsome, my knight," I replied softly.

He gradually stripped off my clothes. My black sleeveless tank top, my chain belt, and ripped jeans shorts.

He kissed my breasts after removing my black lacy bra. We kissed again, this time more passionately. We couldn't seem to get enough of each other.

He brushed his lips against the back of my neck. It felt amazing! He pressed his hands against my breasts. He stroked my breasts. He kissed my left breast first, then my right.

He kissed me down there while caressing me. As he fingered me, I moaned. I was extremely hot. He kissed my core while fingering me, and then he kissed my neck again. He was absolutely delicious.

He entered me. I moaned in pleasure and pain as he went inside and out of me.

He penetrated me from behind. My breasts bounced and my butt cheeks jiggled as he rammed me.

He spread my legs and penetrated me once more. I wrapped my legs around his waist. He was holding my legs. I moaned and moaned as he gave pleasure to my essence.

"Please go down on me," Alex said. He lowered my head and guided him to his manhood. It was quite large. I gave him head. It was my first time delivering a fellatio. He moaned with delight.

I licked his balls. "Oh, my God, that feels amazing!" He said quietly. My hands moved up and down against his organ.

We had hours of passionate love. We cuddled in my bed when we were exhausted.

"Did it make you feel good?" He asked.

"Yes," I said.

"Good," he replied, smiling.

One night six years later, Alex and I celebrated our anniversary in a hotel We were dressed up when we entered the hotel. It was a five-star facility. The food, service, and ambiance were all outstanding. We had a great time at the hotel, eating, swimming, and relaxing. Alex and I made love in a suite while listening to romantic music. The room had a view of a mountain. It felt like I was in heaven. It was nearly too perfect.

After we made love, I told Alex that I was going to get some coffee.

"Love, you could just order by phone," Alex explained. His voice sounded tired.

"But they have this wonderful café," I replied. “I'd like to go there and get a cup of coffee. I won't be gone long."

"All right, love," Alex said. He allowed me to go to the café.

I was at a cafe. "I'll have an affogato coffee," I said to the barista after looking over the menu.

"All right, ma'am. One affogato coffee for?" The barista said cheerfully.

I looked at the barista. She was slim, with fair skin and blue eyes. Her blonde locks were pulled back into a high ponytail. She was beautiful. I swallowed, “Daphne.”

"One affogato for Daphne," said the lovely barista. I handed over my money to the plain-looking dark-haired cashier.

When the barista had finished making my affogato coffee, she handed it to me. I took a look at her nametag. It stated Ash.

"Thank you, Ash," I said, smiling. "You're welcome," she said with a smile.

She grinned and winked. She handed me a small piece of paper. It had her phone number on it.

I realized I had found the person who would complete my life.