THREE
1122 Words
Ariana woke up in the early hours of the morning and was surprised to find the man next to her still sleeping. He was so close that his breath tickled her neck, making it hard for her to lie still. The room was strange and while she questioned herself in her mind, she racked her brain for answers. Then it occurred to her.
Damn! She’d slept with a stranger?
She tried sitting up on the bed and she lay back almost immediately. She felt a sharp pain in her head and she whimpered. Still disappointed in herself, she thought of what to do next, and then it dawned on her again that she didn’t even know where she was. She knew she had to make a move still, she couldn’t let this guy, whoever he was, wake up to her still in bed. Holding her breath, she carefully got out of the duvet and hurriedly, got dressed. Luckily, this guy had put all her stuff on the dressing table, and without looking back, she picked up her purse and she sneaked out of the room.
*********
As Ariana sat with her friends in her sitting room, her mind was filled with thoughts of what had happened the previous night. She’d managed to find her way home, and her friends, Sarah and Emily, had come over. She mulled over the previous night and couldn’t get her mind off the fact that she had slept with a stranger. She was disappointed in herself for being so careless. If only she hadn’t gone to that pub, she thought. Funnily, she could not remember what his name was— did he even tell her his name?— but she could picture his face. And the s*x? Damn, he was good, he was so good. She knew she’d never felt so pleased in a very very long time. She bit her lower lips as she reminisced.
“So, Ariana, how eager are you to start your new job? You prepared?” Emily asked, facing Ariana. She got no response.
“Ariana!!” Sarah called out, jolting her out of her reverie. “Where have you been?”
“I’m sorry, what were you saying?” Ariana asked, shaking off her thoughts.
“Wait, you mean you’ve not been listening to what we’ve been saying ever since?” Emily asked.
Ariana shook her head. “I didn’t really get everything you guys said. Can you come again?”
Emily and Sarah looked at each other in surprise. “You can’t be serious. What’s on your mind? Is everything okay?”
“Yeah, yeah sure, everything is fine.”
“Nope, I know you more than this, Riana. Talk to us, what’s the matter? Is this still about Ryan and Rachel?” Emily pressed on. “You haven’t gotten over those bastards?”
“I’m trying, trust me. And now, I've made a huge mistake because I want to get over them quickly,” Ariana said and sighed.
“A mistake?” Sarah asked. “What mistake?”
“Well…” Ariana started to say and stopped.
“Well…?” Emily and Sarah chorused.
“I slept with someone, and i don’t even know who he is,” Ariana said, looking away.
Sarah couldn’t believe her ears. “What? You did what?”
“It wasn’t intentional, trust me. I don’t know how it happened, but it did happen.” Ariana said.
“Wait, hold on. You slept with someone you don’t know and worse still, you don’t know how it happened? Make me understand, please,” Emily said, readjusting herself on her chair. “We’re listening.”
“It’s a long story and it’s really complicated.”
“We’ve got time!” Sarah said. Sharply.
“Well, you know yesterday was supposed to be my wedding, right? I was overwhelmed with thoughts of Ryan yesterday and I felt so down and so I needed to clear my head. Then I got dressed and visited the pub downtown.” Ariana said.
“You? You went to the pub?” Emily was laughing. “This is getting interesting.”
“What then happened at the pub?” Sarah asked, eager to hear the rest of the story.
“Well, I got drunk and this guy came to me and he took me home and it happened.” Ariana said. She got up and walked to the window. “I really can’t place what exactly happened at his place, but all I remember was waking by his side this morning and sneaking out. I had to find my way home.”
“Wow! Just wow!!” Emily said, laughing.
“Crazy.” Sarah said. “You don’t remember his name? Anything that could point to him?”
“I don’t. I drove out of his house in a frenzy myself. I don’t even remember the route. And trust me, I don't want to. But I'll recognize him if I see him though, and that scares me. I pray I don't.” Ariana said.
“This is a very funny and interesting story, Ariana. Unfortunately, I've got nothing to say or do but laugh,” Emily said, laughing loudly.
“Emily, will you be serious?” Sarah said while Ariana threw a cushion at her.
“We have to get going, Sarah. We’ve got shopping to do, remember?” Emily said and then turned to Ariana. “Bye, girl. I’ll be expecting you in the office on Monday, yeah” she said with a smirk.
“Yeah, sure. I’ll be there.”
“Alright, new comer, we’ll be expecting you.” Emily said, laughing.
“Whatever!”
**********
Ariana stood in the office hallway, waiting for her friend, Emily to come meet her. She was resuming her new job for the first time and Emily had promised to be there early to take her to the HR and show her around, but she wasn’t here yet. She called her phone numerous times but it wasn’t going through.
“Heyyo!” Emily appeared suddenly behind her, startling her.
“You…” Ariana said. “Silly girl, you scared me. Where have you been?”
“Sorry, love. I had to finish up some tasks at home.” Emily said. “What’s up with you? Why aren’t you in your office?”
“Who asked me to wait for her to show me around?” Ariana asked, eyeing Emily.
Emily laughed. “Okay okay. Oh, here comes the CEO.”
Ariana turned to see a tall man surrounded by a group of people walking up the stairs into the building.
She froze. It was him, and his name came to her now— Greg.
- Writer
