Chapter 27：•I SEE RED

Did you really think

I'd just forgive and forget, no

After catching you with her

Your blood should run cold, so cold

You, you two timing, cheap lying, wannabe

You're a fool

If you thought that I'd just let this go

I never saw Ace so uncomfortable like he did now. His face was beet red. Sweat formed on his temples inside the air-conditioned coffee shop. I even caught him swallowing hard several times which was far beyond normal. His eyes darted away from mine as he tried to evade the eyes trying to read his thoughts. I wonder what was going on inside his mind now.

The coffee shop was small and cozy, and that's the reason why I love this place. It wasn't crowded, and the tranquility that shrouded the place brings comfort to my soul. The scent of wood mingled with a whiff of ground coffee brings me a wave of nostalgia.

Today, the place had a few customers since it's Monday. The coffeeshop becomes crowded with students and office workers during weekends. Ace and I frequented this place before when we are still on good terms—when he hasn't changed yet and he was the sweet loving man I used to know.

"Nice song isn't it." I smiled at him, it was cold, and it barely reached my eyes. I lowered the cup on the table and observed how he would react.

Ace lifted his gaze to me. Puzzled. My unexpected remark shocked him. His fingers uneasily shifted to the cup of coffee on the table which he hasn't yet touched. The moment the song played on the stereo, he became edgy and landed a frequent glance in my direction as if he too was trying to read my thoughts.

"Yeah, it was good but I don't like it." He replied without filters. I saw his Adam's apple move as he swallowed hard again as if my gaze made him restless.

"I know you won't," I replied and brought the cup to my mouth for another sip. "That's the reason why I love it more," I added, my lips stretched to a cold smile, cold enough to freeze the burning fires of hell.

Ace made no move to touch his coffee. He stared at the cup as if it were some kind of foreign object. He appeared to be wrapped in his private thoughts. If he was annoyed by my words, he gave me no clue to find out.

"Everyone thinks it's a sexual song." I began, he was forced to shift his attention back to me when I spoke. When his gaze met mine, the melancholic gleam of his eyes almost struck me speechless. I fought the urge to lift my fingers and erase the emotions that tainted his handsome face. Instead, I swallowed hard and continued with my litany.

"Everyone thinks that the song thinks was about romance and s*x. In reality, this is about a woman killing her boyfriend for cheating."

Ace continues to stare at me without saying a word. We just fought each other's gaze as the deafening silence lapsed between us. For a moment, we drift away from the coffee shop as light noise from our environment dissolves into the distance.

"Phoenix." He broke the silence finally. His voice was achingly soft. It reminds me how he treated me like a gem before when our love used to be greater than the tests of time.

I shook my head as I broke free from his ocean blue eyes that kept me in trance. I remind myself that the situations have changed and we now drift apart after deceit, betrayal, and unfaithfulness built a huge wall between us.

"Why did you change Ace?" After all what I've been through it was all which I could ask him. I was so damn calm while asking him that question and I inwardly applauded myself. I don't want hatred and rage to take over my heart and eat out all the sanity left in me.

"I don't even know Phoenix." He said, tears now gleamed upon his eyes. My vision became blurry as I looked at him. "I'm sorry I was the one to drift away. My only regret was ripping your heart into two. My judgments clouded all my reasons. I became desperate for revenge. I know you will never forgive me. I deserve that. You're too good for me, you deserve better than this bastard in front of you."

He carefully placed the divorce papers in front of me. Then handed me the pen and when I made no move to take it, he placed it on the top of the paper and looked away to prevent me from seeing the tears that had drifted down his cheeks.