Dangerous Affair

Tessa Along the dusty driveway, the engine of the old taxi car sputters as the driver pulls over in the parking lot of Jake's apartment. On the top floor, a dim light flickers in his bedroom, casting his shadow at the window. I sigh as I dip my hand inside my purse to sort out the bill and soon, the car is gone. I gripped the package in my hand— Jake's favorite pizza and a pack of cigarettes. He called earlier to drop by his apartment before leaving for work. I hate his smoking habit, but yet, I didn't nag him— it was better that way. I walk slowly, fumbling in the dark. The rusty staircase floods my nose as I make my way to the top floor of his apartment. Slam! I jolt slightly as the neighbors shut their doors at the sight of me. "Not again, people!" I grab my hair, almost feeling frustrated, and click my tongue as some of them glare at me. It has always been this way. I guess that's what I get for loving a nuisance. They hate Jake so much that it makes their skin crawl. He's always partying all night and turning up the music, his apartment reeks of cigarettes and alcohol and sometimes, I get nauseous cleaning up after him, especially when he messes up the entire apartment with his vomit. But today, it feels different. His voice was faint over the phone. Jake hasn't always been like this. He was once a sweet boyfriend but along the line, things became difficult for him, keeping up with his fees in college and handling his expenses. He became somehow bitter towards everyone and I get that feeling. I know exactly how it feels to be left with no support in this cold world and I believe that Jake can still change because we love each other. I pause for a moment as I approach the door, exhaling deeply because I have no idea what I am about to see. Just as I open the door, the stench of stale beer flushes my nostrils and Jake lays drowsy on the couch, stuttering as he sips an empty bottle of alcohol. His face slightly scrunched and his growl rumbling in the room. "Damnit!" He snapped, slamming the bottle against the wall. I swallow, my chest heaving non-stop as he spirals out of control. I place the cigarette and pizza on the table slowly, hoping his eyes don't meet mine. He didn't notice my presence— excellent. I tiptoed inside the bathroom, hoping I could get enough water to clean this mess up. I try not to make a sound, but anxiously, I pause as my eyes catch my neck. I sigh inside his bathroom, lost in my own reflection in the mirror as my bruises glare right at me. Sometimes, I try to take my mind off it. My once-sweet boyfriend suddenly turns bitter when the tides turn on him. All those good memories of our love— all washed down the drain. My best friend Nicole hates him so much and nags me every day to dump his sorry ass, but I can still see the light in him. I think all the abuse started after he lost his scholarship in his second year of college. I still don't know what happened, but he started drinking and partying to suppress his pain, and that was the start of our awkward silence and when the alcohol didn't help, anger took over and, hence, the abuse began. Nothing I do is ever enough for him. Working multiple shifts to pay his bills and being the perfect girlfriend even when he doesn't deserve it. Beep! My alarm rang, and I jolted, fear surging through my body. "s**t! I forgot the alarm. I'm late for work, my boss is going to kill me." I tie my hair and apply slight make-up on my face to cover my shame. I grab my purse and pull out a scarf long enough to cover my bruises. I opened the door and peered slowly to see if he noticed my presence, but he didn't. Good. I ran out and slid into a taxi, as I headed for the bar. I can only imagine how mad Anthony is now. He is always on my case, and sometimes I fear that he might replace me with another. "Oh no!" I screamed, my chest heaving as I ransacked my purse. I forgot my phone. I must have dropped it in the bathroom." I looked ahead of us, the bar flickering in my eyes from a distance. We are almost there. "Ma'am, are you okay?" The driver asked, but I sighed, my lips slightly bitten as I thought about the awkwardness around Jake right now. I barely escaped from one abuse tonight and clearly, I don't need any. "Uhm! You know what, take me back." "Alright," he said. * I pull myself inside the dimly lit apartment reeking of alcohol. Jake is nowhere to be found, but my eyes caught on the package I dropped earlier. The table looks disgusting with crumbs everywhere. "He ate the f*****g pizza!" I roll my eyes, running to the bathroom. I pause when a slight giggle echoes through the apartment. My chest heaved, knowing fully well that it was a girl. This is not the first time Jake has cheated on me. The last time he did it, he promised never to do it again and for a year now, we haven't had any fights over a cheating scandal. I thought to myself maybe his anger would also fade away if he could keep to his words and not cheat on me, so I stayed. But how is there a girl in the house now?! "Stop it, Jake, that tickles. Are you sure she isn't coming back tonight?" The familiar voice asked, giggling her lungs out. I pull close to the door, the noise becomes louder when I reach the bedroom. "You don't have to worry about that lowlife. She's off to work like she always does. She gets the job done and I get taken care of." Jake chuckles, a slight growl escaping his lips, almost like he was moaning to her touch. My heart sank— He did again. I gave him everything. Pushing the open, I step into the most disturbing sight ever and my breath shortens. My head hurts and tears stream down my cheeks. There she was— knees bent on the ground, sucking from his juice. "Really?!" I snap, but stagger as my eyes cast on the b***h he brought to the house. "What the heck?!" I reach for the door, my vision starts to blur, his cigarette flushing my nostrils and I grasp for breath. Our eyes met, he froze, pushing the b***h off his c**k. He stutters, his c**k hardens, glaring at me. It felt mocking. Like my world is coming to an end.