Short story: my breakfast story

Alcohol on my breakfast table

“When In pain, the bottle is not supposed to be your companion because alcohol is not man’s best friend.” 

I’ve heard this saying all my life and I’m still yet to gain clarity of that particular statement, ‘Ariel muttered out loud’ 

‘Until two days ago. I didn’t know what hit me’

Flashback to two days ago

“Babe! I can’t continue with this relationship” He said

I looked up at my almost three years boyfriend in awe, with a spoonful of rice hanging in the air a few distances away from my lips. 

Doing the next best thing.

I dropped the meal, and sipped the water

‘I think I need something stronger than water right now’ i thought. I can’t deny not seeing the signs. He’s been acting contrary to his usual self for two weeks now. I ask and he writes it off as stress from his job. So it doesn’t seem like I was pestering him or being a nag, I believed him

“Say, something babe” 

“First of all, you don’t refer to me as a babe when you’re breaking up with me” I exclaimed exasperated. I shouldn’t have said that ‘giving myself a mental slap’ but I was lost for words to say

“This was supposed to be a peaceful and warm dinner, Damien, what do you mean?! You can’t continue with what?!”

“I’m sorry…”

“No, you’re not!” Trying so hard not to raise my voice “you decided to break up with me at the same restaurant we met?! Seriously?!” 

Giving him a deadly stare, while mentally casting spells to make him disappear forever

“Damien, I deserve better! This place has beautiful memories. We’ve been here every time we’ve had something to celebrate. A business deal. A contract. Even when you received your promotions just a few months ago but you couldn’t find somewhere else to… oh my God”

“Babe, hear me out please”

“Tf did you just say?!” I raised my brows right at him with my eyes blazing, I could feel how hot the volcanic stare I threw his way was, 

“I’m gonna be mature and make this easier for both of us” brought out my bag, took my wallet, and dropped 10,000 naira, my share of the bill. I placed the notes under the barely touched meal, got up, and left the restaurant.

‘Never stepping foot in here again’ looked around for a minute, taking in the ambiance and aroma filtering, I got it with the wave of nostalgia and I walked out.

Damien kept calling after me, I’m not interested in listening to his sub-stories. He made the decision, he should stick by it. Ending a relationship is never on a whim, he would have had enough time to think and reflect on his decision before now. 

Got to my baby, Lexus RX 350 metallic black, and I could smell his fragrance.

Turned around to see him right behind me “what else do you want Damien?! What else?! You said you can’t continue with this relationship! Not me! You! What else do you want?!”

“I don’t know but say something” 

“You want out?! You have it, the gate is open, and you’re free to walk away. If you expect some sort of tantrums or me begging you to stay or stuff like, where did I go wrong?!”

“Breaking news, sweetheart. I won’t. I won’t stoop so low, not because of you but because of myself, my self-esteem, my pride! You’re not gonna see me cry, Damien! I will not for the life of me give you that joy” voice shaking and breaking with lumps of tears forming in my throat 

He moved closer to touch me “babe, I’m…”

“Don’t touch me”, I pushed him away “you’ve lost the right to touch me or console me” taking a deep breath and I moved closer to him. Pulled him close by the collar of his shirt and kissed him for the last time.

I didn’t know what prompted me to do that but I did anyway. 

When I realized, the kiss was getting the reaction I wanted from him, I withdrew and looked him in the eyes “lose my number, Damien. It was good while it lasted” 

I got into my car and drove off. 

‘I am so going to get drunk tonight and damn the consequences’ I affirmed.

The aftermath of my breakfast experience

Woke up the next day with the worst hangover, that I’ve ever had ‘God! Just this once, take away this headache and I promise not to drink again’

Got up from my bed to go get some hangover pills and water. All I could feel were pains all over my body especially in between my legs. 

I noticed bloodstains on my bedspread ‘oh not this menstrual thing today’ I exclaimed 

“I got dumped by a man yesterday and am now in pain because of my MENstrual cycle. Menascum” 

Had my bath, made a nice warm meal, and decided to lift off my dying spirit by listening to my favorite YouTuber (Sikiru Odunayo) speak on self-love and a podcast on self-awareness. Exactly what I need right now.

‘I kept reciting the I am a spec mantra! I drip glory! I am no man’s ex’ while feeling much better with every word.

I didn’t just get drunk…

Two days after the most heartbreaking breakfast. I’m staring at the cutest man I’ve seen in a very long time. Wait! More like we’re having a staring contest right inside the mall at Ikeja.

‘Close your silly mouth, Ariel, and stop drooling’ I warned myself mentally’ I tried looking away, then I realized he was approaching me, ‘what the hell…’ I thought, ‘did he catch me drooling?!’

“Hey, beautiful! Nice seeing you again” he said so sexily in his thick baritone voice, I was still fantasizing about the voice when I replayed his words in my head.

I shot my head up immediately. 

“Again?!” Looked at him all confused and lost.

“Have we met before?! I’m not one to forget faces” I asked 

“You don’t remember me?!” He looked perplexed 

“Uhm, I’m lost right now. When, where, and how did you know me please?!”

We were gathering unsolicited stares, so we stepped out for a minute, pending our shopping for now’

“Right! So tell me” I pressed further.

“Two days ago” i took my time looking at him from head to toe in a way that got me feeling shivers down my spine, good shivers tho, “at the bar, you were pretty drunk tho and you kept on cussing at the bar with one Damien being the subject matter, I suppose you were heartbroken, you seemed to be a cute drunk” he snickered

“Oh my God” I exclaimed out loud “Oh my God,” I said again, feeling so embarrassed and ashamed

“I’m so sorry, mister…” looked at him expectantly.

“My name is Micheal. No mister please” he smiled 

‘This smile is too lethal, I scrunched my face in beautiful pain, it’s supposed to be illegal to be this cute’ 

“I’m sorry about that. I promise I’m rarely a drunk. It just happened that way the other night”

“I understand, Ariel”

“What?!” I looked surprised “I told you my name? God, I’m so ashamed of myself right now

He smiled again “we did more than just share names, Ariel” he threw a piercing look my way. 

Then it dawned on me.

I saw blood stains but it wasn’t the time for my period, I only assumed it was preparing to come. I felt sore In between my legs and I only related it to pre-period cramps.

“Did I just have my first sex with a stranger?!”

Did I?

Writer: Sikiru Odunayo