No Choice But You

Today was Valentine’s Day, and of course Lucas, my boyfriend, was my valentine. This morning he asked me properly, all sweet and shy: “Will you be my Valentine, Soph?” with that little smile that always makes my heart melt. If he hadn’t asked, I probably would’ve started overthinking and wondering if he had another girl somewhere. But no!! he always tells me I’m the only one in his life, and I believe him. I had just finished my evening shift at the café, and it was already getting dark, streetlights were coming on and the air was so cold. All day I’d been counting down the minutes until I could go to Lucas’s house. He promised pizza and movies ,simple stuff, but with him, it always feels perfect. I was about to cross the road, holding the box of chocolates I bought him, when a black Lamborghini sped past me. It hit a huge puddle, splashing, dirty water all over me. from head to toe. My white top and jeans ruined and soaked , hair dripping brown muck. I stood there in shock. The car stopped ahead of me , then the driver rolled down his window and shouted "Are you blind?!” I frowned slightly, he was the one that splashed dirty water on me , yet he was still the one shouting. I looked at the car, it was a black Lamborghini car, although I didn't know the price , I can tell it was expensive. Good!!. I walked straight to the front of the car and stood there. “Thirty dollars,” I said, stretching out my hand. The driver, a big guy in a suit, scoffed like I was crazy or made a silly joke. “Thirty dollars? Seriously? Move.” I wished I could punch him in the face, but today was supposed to be a good day. I didn’t want trouble with the police. I didn’t move. People started starring at us Just then the back door opened. A tall man stepped out. Saying he was handsome wasn’t enough. He was beautiful. Seriously, the best-looking man I’d ever seen in real life. Sharp face, dark hair, maybe in his early thirties. He moved slowly and calmly, like the world should wait for him. The driver kept quiet immediately. The man walked towards me. Looked me over, not rude, just in an observing manner. His eyes were dark blue, cold and sharp, I felt small under his gaze. “How much?” he asked. his voice deep and chilling. “Thirty dollars,” I said, trying to sound strong. He took out his wallet, pulled out some cash and held it out. “Two thousand,” he said. “For the clothes. And the trouble.” I stared at the money. Two thousand dollars. Money I’d have to work for months or even a year to earn. I took it fast, before he would change his mind. He nodded once, looked at me one last time, then got back in the car and they drove away. I stood there, still wet and cold, but holding two thousand dollars. This money came so easy just because someone splashed water on me. How I wish this could happen to me every day. My phone buzzed, pulling me out of my thoughts. Text from Lucas: “Babe, I won't be coming home tonight, or would come back late. Lisa is kind of unstable right now.” The grip on my phone tightened. I inhaled deeply, then exhaled out slowly. His message made me a little sad and angry at the same time. It’s always Lisa this, Lisa that. If she was unstable, that’s why she’s in the psychiatric hospital. Lisa is Lucas’s childhood friend. I used to wonder if they ever dated, but Lucas said clearly, that they were just friends, nothing more. I believed him. Lucas would never lie to me. He loves me. Last year Lisa went crazy for reasons I still don’t know, and now she’s in the hospital. That’s why Lucas has been giving her so much time and attention lately. I understand. I really do. But sometimes it feels… unsettling. Now I wasn’t sure what to do. Go home? Callie, my step-mom, would start drama the second she saw me wet and late. I’m not ready for that. So I decided to go to Lucas’s house anyway. I know the pass code to his door. I put the two thousand dollars deep in my bag, held the chocolates tighter, and started walking. When I got to his house, I punched in the code 1-4-3-2—and the door opened with its usual soft click. I stepped inside, smiling despite the cold. Lucas’s house always felt like mine too. The warm air hit me, carrying that familiar mix of coffee. I kicked off my wet shoes, set the chocolates on the counter, and sighed in relief. Home. I grabbed a glass of water, drank half, and headed upstairs. I was already picturing the hot shower, his hoodie, curling up on the bed by the time he got back from the hospital. I was halfway up the stairs when I started hearing moans and noises. At first soft and breathless. “Oh… fu*k… yes…” Then louder and filthy. “Go harder, Lucas—please!” The bed slamming against the wall, bang, bang, bang in a brutal rhythm. Her voice cracked into a scream. “Harder! Don’t stop, choke me daddy!” I could hear Lucas growling back, low and animalistic. She screamed his name. My legs suddenly felt stiff. I knew that voice. Lisa. I climbed the last steps slowly. I felt like I was in a nightmare. The bedroom door was wide open. They didn't even bother closing the door. I stepped in and saw everything. Immediately I felt numb. He lied to me, everything was all a lie. Lucas was naked, sweating, hips slamming into her with punishing force. Lisa’s legs spread wide, ankles locked behind his back, nails tearing red lines down his skin. Her head thrown back, mouth open, begging louder with every thrust. He grabbed her throat, pinned her down, and drove deeper. The headboard cracked against the wall. They were lost in it, they didn't even realize I was there, until Lisa’s eyes flicked open and landed on me. She saw me. And instead of stopping, she smiled widely and moaned even louder. “Look who’s here, daddy… your girlfriend’s watching you fu*k me.” Lucas froze mid-thrust. Turned his head. Saw me standing there soaked, shaking, eyes burning. His face drained of color. “Sophia—” He pulled out fast, stumbled off the bed, grabbing for the sheet. Lisa stayed spread open, chest heaving, thighs slick, that same sick smile on her face. I couldn’t breathe. Then something inside me exploded. “YOU LYING PIECE OF s**t!” I screamed. My voice cracked the air. Lucas flinched like I’d hit him. “How long, Lucas?! HOW FU*KING LONG have you been screwing her while telling me you were ‘helping’ her?!” He stepped toward me, hands up, sheet barely covering him. “Baby, please—it’s not—” “NOT WHAT?!” I shouted, tears streaming now, hot and furious. “Not what it looks like? You were balls-deep in her, calling her baby, letting her call you daddy on Valentine’s Day!” Lisa laughed. Low and cruel. “He’s been mine for months, sweetie. You were just the placeholder.” I turned on her. “Shut your fu*king mouth, you psychotic b***h!” She sat up slowly, not even covering herself. " Not like you let him touch you." I lunged at her. Lucas caught me around the waist, pulling me back. “Don’t—Soph, stop!” I fought him —elbows, nails and everything. “Get your hands off me!” I screamed. “Don’t you dare touch me after you’ve been inside her!” He held tighter, his voice breaking. “I’m sor-ry, I messed up—I didn’t mean—” “You didn’t mean?!” I laughed, bitter and broken. “You brought her into your bed! You fu*ked her raw while I was out there getting splashed with water, carrying chocolates for you!” Tears choked me, but the rage kept coming. “I believed you! Every time you said ‘Lisa needs me,’ I swallowed it! I felt guilty for being jealous! And you were f*****g her the whole time!” Lisa smirked from the bed. “He always comes back to me. Always will.” I broke free from Lucas and grabbed the lamp off the nightstand. Threw it at her. It shattered against the headboard inches from her face. She flinched. Lucas shouted my name. I turned on him one last time. “We’re done. Burn in hell, both of you.” I stormed down the stairs. He ran after me naked and desperate. “Sophia, wait—please, let me explain—” I spun at the front door. “There’s nothing left to explain. I saw everything. I heard everything. You’re dead to me,” I said, taking my bag and my chocolate. I yanked the door open, Stepped out into the freezing night. lammed the door behind me . The lock clicked. I turned and walked away. I didn’t slow down. Tears dropped down my face as I moved, my steps were uneven, anger and shock twisting together inside of me. I wiped my eyes with the back of my hand, but more kept coming out. I hated crying, I hated that tonight had reduced me to this.