Love Wreck

Chapter 4

Arik called in just in time, this time, John wouldn't ignore her, he needed comfort. One could tell, something was up and Arik wouldn't miss such an opportunity. She played nice on call and persuaded John to speak to her about what was bothering him and as usual, he indulged her.

"I love Seyla but I'm concerned about our issues but scared I'm making the biggest error of my life, breaking up with her. She has good qualities but I keep feeling like I'd truly never make her happy. She complains and snaps at the slightest opportunity, will all my words and intentions be questioned? Maybe we just need the courage to break up this time beyond all the lovey dovey moments"

Arik knew this was her best time to shoot, so she played the shoulder to lean on. I'm here if you need to speak John, both of you were good together even when you tried to keep it private, it was beautiful but like you said, it's time to move on and get the love you deserve, not just what you're willing to give out. I'm sure Seyla needs some growing up to do and maybe then she'll find another good man. John couldn't say more words, it was obvious he was in a vulnerable state. He felt better speaking with someone, whether it was Arik or not, he loved the idea of letting it out. They moved on to other conversations and he felt she was cool. The next day, Arik pays a surprise visit to John at the office, makes him comfortable around her and offers to help if he needs assistance with anything. She makes him dance to his favorite song, they have cool conversations and John feels something like butterflies in his stomach plus Arik is stunning. She seemed to have his line of interest and he could tell she likes him too. John is ready for marriage and maybe he should truly move on with his life. He still loves Seyla but there are other factors to consider, Love is not enough. Arik became a necessary distraction and an interesting companion for the past days. One of the days she stopped by, he opted to drop her off at her place. While they drove, she rested her on his chest, his heart raced so fast and it felt fresh loving someone again. After they arrived at her place, he pecked her forehead and said their goodbyes, but had a restless night thinking about Seyla too. Was he really over her? He wanted a fresh start, something away from numerous quarrels and walking on egg shells trying to please her. What he and Arik felt was like magic but why does he still feel drawn to Seyla? Wasn't it because he wasn't taking his time to heal? But he needed to get married and if he's moving on, he needs time to get to know the new person. Arik sent love messages, treated him with so much respect and offered to cook him meals because she had heard Seyla was a good chef, so she needs to raise the bar here. He reciprocated some of this acts and messages, so maybe truly he had moved on.

However, Seyla and John still kept a level of communication Arik wasn't aware of. John never mentioned Arik to Seyla, he didn't need to, they were not together and not serious friends at the moment. Every time he thought about Seyla, he couldn't move past the fact that he might be making a mistake but Arik was a good girl, and she had the same qualities he admired in Seyla. However, he started to come to his senses when he realized Arik seemed hasty. She was always calling to know what he was doing at the moment, if she could come over, offering chef duties, inviting him over to dinner at her place wearing revealing outfits, sending him messages with pet names and even asked to kiss him which he declined to because he wasn't sure he was at that level of commitment with her yet, she was actually checking his boxes quickly. It seemed too rushed and why is she not trying to help him get back to his relationship of two years but insisting he leaves. Everything begins to make sense. Seyla had warned him about Arik and could see the venom through her. He began to withdraw and mentioned that he'll need some time off to process his emotions as he couldn't move on totally from Seyla even though it's been a beautiful seven days with her. Arik was disappointed but maintained a nice disposition. She replied to his plea, I understand you John, and I know how these things can be. I wouldn't want you to make hasty decisions, take your time and I'll be praying for you. However, it might have been a short time but I have come to love you. He appreciated her understanding and got off the call with her.

Friday evening, he asked to speak with Seyla. She agrees to the call and the palpable peace he felt, he had missed her a lot. They spoke for a while and decided to fix up their relationship. Seyla had been down all seven days, the break up just revealed her world truly revolves around him. She spoke freely, admitted she was wrong and decided to work on her shortcomings because she truly wanted them to work. John opened up to the resentment built over time, even though he mentioned sometime in the relationship that the quarrels were not healthy but he didn't know how much distance that had caused. Another struggle returning to his relationship was what had happened in these seven days with Arik, it felt magical but it was wrong. He was just vulnerable and foolish, also, he knew he'd be breaking Arik’s heart, even though, technically, he didn't ask her out. How would Seyla take this? Will she accept him if she found out? He's willing to tell her but does she have the capacity to handle this honesty, she had warned him and it was the same person he fell for. He moved on quickly, yeah, he wanted to because he felt that was good for them, isn't that valid? But hey! Seyla wouldn't have that. It's a fresh start, so maybe he should let the past stay in the past. John reached out to Arik stating he was back to her and he sincerely apologized for the hurt she'd feel because of that. Arik was broken, she cried over the call, pretended it was okay but she'd like it to be their little secret, she wouldn't want to be faced with the shame that he picked Seyla over her. John felt so terrible for what he had done, tried to keep in touch with her to be sure she was fine but she was going to take advantage of that by subtly bringing in what they shared into every conversation.

It was bliss for Seyla and John going forward, they were more intentional about their love, the spark keeps reigniting day after another. One month into their reconciliation, Seyla had thought to surprise John with a basket of a delicious, fresh, sizzling hot three course meal for the weekend. John was so excited to be with her, they were having a great time until John went upstairs to pick up a merch he had thought to share with her, and Arik sent a message. It reads, “right in your heart, where you kept me”. This has to be a joke right? She quickly opens the message, nothing really suspicious, he had just asked where she was? But she thought to scroll a little more and chats unveiled to the seven days break up episode with Arik. Seyla went numb! She almost passed out holding the phone when John returned downstairs. As he came closer, he saw the look on her face, Babe, are you fine ? Seyla didn't say a word. He held her and asked what the problem was and she handed him his phone, it was Arik’s chat. John sat on the couch waiting for a word from Seyla, after a few silent minutes, he was able to mutter, I'm sorry. Lots of questions to ask John, were you looking for a replacement even before you broke up? The very person I warned you about is the one you found solace in your most vulnerable point? Was I that bad for a girlfriend? It was easy to throw it all away, everything we shared for two years? You were a stranger to my chat because of Arik? You know what now, we were never supposed to be. John pleaded for hours, explained he didn't know when things got that serious but he withdrew himself and he chose her. Seyla wasn't having it and whatever they shared wasn't real. She left his house. Maybe she needed to know why she should have left when he broke up.