MY EX'S BEST FRIEND

Zombie

Days started blurring together. I somehow managed to attend all my classes and pass my exams after I left Rohan’s place three weeks prior. Weekends were weird because I had barely spent time in my room for the last two years, I was either with Rohan or at home. The first weekend was depressing, I cried myself to sleep, like I had done the whole week, but that weekend was different. I did not cook or leave my room. My housemates had tried leaving me food, but I had probably eaten a max of two meals in a spun of three days. On the third week, I resembled a zombie, dark circles under my eyes, which were too visible even with my dark complexion.

My housemates finally got me out of the house where I got stupid drunk. Rohan had not texted me, even though I had not blocked him. I still held on to stupid hope that he would come around. “I loved him, you know,” I tried screaming over the music to one of my friends, Fridah. “And he was so dreamy.” “Now don't be an i***t, I brought you here to drink and have fun, do that.” I gave a loud hoop and turned around to continue dancing.

That was not my first time clubbing, alcohol and shisha were my best friends. Drink, smoke, go home and nurse my hangover, then go to class on Monday. This was a routine that lasted for two months. I kept telling myself to slow down with the alcohol, but I just couldn't stop. It provided relief that I really needed and much welcomed. Final exams for the semester came around, and Fridah asked me to go out again clubbing, this time to the city. I had not been there for three months; I had last set foot there since Rohan and I broke up. Someone picked us up at our house, and some dude called Joseph, who looked at least 15 years older than us. He kept throwing me weird glances. We got to some new club that was being launched that night and immediately lurched on my best friend, alcohol. I had been drinking for a couple of hours and dancing with random people when I heard a familiar voice over my head.

“Hello short spark”. Cole, Rohan’s best friend, was behind me.

COLE’S POV

COLE.

I had watched Rohan go down on a drug induced spiral. My apparent best friend was an i***t that I was ashamed to call my friend. He had let go of the best thing that had ever happened to him, and I had told him as much. “If you would like to date her, then go ahead and do it. Maybe she will be good to you too.” I had almost punched him at that moment but restrained myself. Like I said, he was an i***t and he was also a little shorter than I am. It would have been highly unfair. I had heard of stories of the short girl with an even shorter temper. I had met her a total of two times, and both times, I had wanted her for myself. I had started to leave the house and crash somewhere else on the weekends when she would come over just to avoid her.

She had stopped coming around three months ago when the fool cheated. He had slept in my bed that Weekend they broke up, and I had to listen to him try and justify his cheating disguised as an open relationship. I had not seen her for a while, and now here she was dancing with some dude in a dress that I doubted had any panties underneath. He got a little too close, and I saw a flare of that famous anger as she pushed him away and started dancing by herself after waving a bottle at him. I cut in when he moved again, putting myself between her and the drunken i***t who could not take a hint. “Hello short spark.” She froze for two seconds before turning around, looking very sobber and angry. “Hello Cole,” I smiled. This should be fun.