What are reasons for cheating? Isn't it just an excuse? Are you just a bad person? Does the reason actually matter? Would you forgive a cheater?
Sasha's eyes started to water, her heart sank and she felt like she was about to vomit. She held it in, and she decided to scroll through their messages. She knew she was invading his privacy, she knew she should trust him, she tried to convince herself that he wasn't cheating, but she had to know the truth else she would be wondering for the rest of her life.' It could be a mistake', she tried to convince herself, 'it could be a joke'. 'Or he could be cheating on you'. The little voice at the back of her mind said.
2 days ago -
Cassie Baby : Raphy baby, i love you. Thx for the gifts! I love the lingerie
Cassie Baby : It fits perfectly i can't believe im so lucky
Cassie Baby : i'll see you at work. Love ya!
Raphael : I'm already here, meet me at the freezer
Sasha's heart broke even more than she thought it was possible.
He was cheating on her.
Cassie is in love with Raphael.
They work together.
Sasha could hear her heart shattering. She fell on her knees and started sobbing. "Ding" She took her phone, it was a message from Raphael:
Raphael: Yes I'm home, just got out of the shower. See you tonight. XX
As soon as she read that message, she was furious and upset. He was lying to her. Her mind began to wonder, was he ever home? Was he with her? Does she know I exist? Her mind began racing with thousands of possibilities but she was exhausted from her crying to do anything else. She picked up his laptop and decided to read more, she needed to know, how long has this been going on, she needed to know more. She knew that she was causing herself more hurt, but she knew that it would kill her not knowing.
1 week ago
Raphael: I'm here, had to get away from Sash.
Cassie Baby: Im waiting, i've made your favorite dinner too
Raphael: Coming up. Love you baby.
Cassie, knew about Sasha.
Raphael loves Cassie.
Sasha decided that she was done reading the messages, it was obvious that he was cheating, it was obvious that he was having an affair, and it was clear as day Cassie knew and continued the relationship anyways. Sasha picked up her phone and called her best friend, Clayton.
Ring
Ring
Ring
"Hey Sash!"
Sniff, "Err Hey Clay"
Clayton immediately knew Sasha was crying, he immediately began to panic. "What happened Sash? Is everything alright??" Sasha continued sobbing into the phone, while Clayton just listened dumbfounded not sure of what to do or what's going on.
"Hey hey hey, everything will be alright. Tell me what's going on baby?"
Sobbing, Sasha contemplated whether she should tell Clayton, after everything that has happened between them, but yet she needed someone to confide in and she knew that she couldn't call Michela, since she will only be back next week from Tokyo and she couldn't be bothered to turn on her phone.
She decided, "I'm okay, I just needed my best friend" she said with a heavy sigh.
"Cut the bullshit Sash, what's going on? Are you hurt? Did he hurt you? I can murder him, we can cremate him in my uncle's crematorium, no one will find out. Us against the world just like when we were younger"
Sasha chuckled, knowing full well he meant every word. He loved her like a sister that way. She always had a crush on him, and when they were in high school he made it clear that they were just best friends and he will never have any romantic feelings for her, she felt dejected but she kept it to herself, but Michela knew, and Michela would always try to hook Sasha up with any nice guy she knew. When they graduated high school, Michela went to Europe to pursue her dream of becoming a plus size model and she is on major runways now, Sasha and Clayton ended in New York, with her doing culinary and he studied business in NYU.
"It's okay Clay, I'm fine, he did not physically abuse me (he cheated on me- that part she kept to herself). When are you coming back?"
"I know you are trying to change the topic cupcakes, you can always talk to me, you're like my sister, I will always love and protect you. But i'm coming back in 3 days, you're gonna meet my girl Monica" Sasha's heart clenched whenever Clayton called her his sister, she didn't know why but she absolutely hated it, neither has she mentioned it to him.
"Would love to meet Monica, call me when you've settled in, we can hang out together before Michela comes back. Haven't seen you in 3 years, I missed you Clay" she sighed.
"Yes, I missed you too Sash. We need to talk though, about what happened 3 years ago and something else" Sasha's stomach churned, she knew nothing good will come from the conversation.
"Will talk when I'm back ya, look Sash I've gotta go, Monica is calling me. Text me babe. Don't cry, whatever it is, everything will be fine." and with that Clayton hung up.
Sasha realised that she stopped crying by now, she was nervous to see Clayton again, but she had other pressing matters to worry about. Raphael is cheating on her, he is having an affair. She needed to calmly think about what she should do next, should she confront him or break it off?
After some thought, and two shots of tequila, she decided to head to the restaurant to see who Cassie was and how she should deal with the situation. She grabbed her purse, still in her work attire she left for the restaurant. On the way there, she had hopes to catch him in the act, hoping that she did not need to have the confrontational talk and just break it off, she loved Raphael, she adored him, all she wanted was to be loved and adored the same way.
Does he love Cassie? Or does he love her? Or was he just some jackass? Was their entire relationship just a rouse? What could he have gained from cheating on her? Sasha was confused, frustrated and angry by this point.
"Oh hello Sasha" the maitre'd Veronica, or Ronny for short greeted smiling.
"Hey Ron, is he around?"
"Nope, he's taken off" Ronny adjusted, looking uncomfortable
"Where is Cassie?" and with that Ronny's face fell. So she knew, who else knew Sasha wondered fuming.
"Oh Sasha, I'm sorry" Ronny looked down sighing
"It's not your fault Ron. Just tell me where she is, I want to meet her"
"She's taken off too" Sasha knew then they were probably out on a date or in her apartment.
"How long" Sasha asked, without realizing she was crying, Ronny grabbed her arm and escorted her to a nearby table and poured Sasha a glass or water.
With sadness in Ronny's eyes, she said "A year, their anniversary is today"
"Oh" that's the only thing Sasha could muster. All the hurt, all the pain, everything just started to rush in, and Sasha broke down. Ronny couldn't take her eyes off Sasha, and signaled a waiter to attend to the guests while she comforted Sasha.
After what seemed to be like an eternity, Sasha asked "Where does she live?" which stunned Ronny, as Ronny knew Sasha wasn't a confrontational person. Ronny just nodded and wrote down Cassie's address. Sasha thanked her and gathered herself, she needed to leave before she made a bigger fool of herself.
"I'm so sorry Sasha, I wanted to tell you, but from past experience, not everyone is willing to believe their partner is cheating on them, especially from someone else." said with a sad smile
"It's okay Ronny, I know Mrs Cliff will come to her senses soon. Thank you for not lying to me" briefly remembering 2 years ago, Mr Cliff the owner of the restaurant was having an affair with a barely legal girl, and when Ronny found out, Ronny decided to tell Mrs Cliff, and Mrs Cliff threw things at Ronny calling her a liar, and making accusations that Ronny was trying to seduce Mr Cliff.
"You can call me, if you need someone to talk to. I promise to bring you some amazing ice cream" Ronny promised, Sasha just nodded and smiled at her.
Sasha hailed the next available cab, and gave the piece of paper Ronny gave her, it wasn't long till they arrived at Cassie's apartment. Sasha wondered how she was going to enter the building, just as she was thinking of it, someone was walking in and she quickly trailed behind.
She was now standing in front of Cassie's apartment, Sasha could hear shuffling noises in the apartment, it was a sign that Cassie was home. She did not know what possessed her, she brought her hand up to the door and knocked.