Midnight Rendezvous: A SandRay Story

Chapter 17: The Messes of the Past

RAY'S POV

I couldn't help but notice Sand standing up from his position on the billiard table. I knew he was watching us, and a part of me felt guilty about the entire situation, but another part wanted to make him hurt, even just a fraction of how much he'd hurt me by ending things so abruptly. How could he decide to end our relationship without considering my feelings? The immature side of me wanted to lash out, and I knew that being with Mew would do just that. I'm not proud to admit it, but I can be quite petty at times. I had been silently dealing with my broken heart while taking care of Mew, and the sight of Sand looking so unfazed and handsome only fueled my frustration.

It took so much of me to attempt to move past my long time feelings for Mew and I did for Sand. It hurt me so much that he threw that effort back into my face in the slightest test. I really only wanted to comfort Mew as his longtime best friend and I wasn't expecting that a night apart already ruined everything that we shared. I felt his distrust in my feelings for him as the ultimate betrayal of what we had and it hurts so much because I did my best to show him how precious he is to me.

After dancing for a while, I tapped Mew and signaled that I needed a break. He nodded and continued dancing with abandon. I intended to follow Sand, knowing he'd likely be outside taking a smoke break. What I didn't expect was to find him in a close conversation with Top of all people. I stopped, curious about what they could be discussing.

The original conversation was lost in the loud club's music, but I heard the last part crystal clear: "So when did you stop pretending not to know me? You're actually talking to me right now. Are you no longer afraid that Mew will find out that you also slept with me?" I froze in place, my grip on my whiskey glass loosened, and it crashed to the ground, drawing everyone's attention, especially Sand and Top.

My eyes blazed with fury, and I saw nothing but red. Without conscious control, I found myself throwing a vicious punch at Top's face. Sand instinctively tried to hold me back from causing more harm. There was a mix of shock and fear in his eyes, a fire I hadn't seen in them before. Top clutched his bloody nose, his face contorted with pain, and he was gearing up to retaliate.

"Stop it, Top!" Sand shouted, managing to push Top away but not without receiving a grazing punch on his left cheek. The altercation had caught the attention of onlookers, and the atmosphere was thick with tension.

Sand turned his furious gaze toward me, while Top was nursing his injuries. "What the hell is wrong with you, Ray?" he yelled, his patience clearly running thin. "Who are you to be throwing punches around like this?"

"Tell me I heard wrong, Sand! Did you really sleep with that m**********r?" I couldn't contain the anger in my voice.

"You didn't hear wrong, and it's none of your business who I slept with, Ray! I told you we are done! Besides, whatever happened between Top and me was before we met any of you!" Sand shouted back, his own temper flaring.

"Is this why you broke up with me? Because Top is now single and you want to mess around with him again?" I spat, the words tasting bitter in my mouth.

A sarcastic smirk appeared on Sand's face, one that I despised. "It's none of your business if I want to 'mess around' with Top. Aren't you doing the same? Did you think Top and I were blind and didn't notice the show you were putting on with Mew on the dance floor? If we had stayed longer, I'm pretty sure we'd see you having sex on the dance floor."

The accusation hit me like a punch to the gut, leaving me speechless. I had no retort, no excuse for my actions. Sand's words were like a blade, cutting through the last remnants of my pride.

SAND's POV

My head was spinning, not from the punch I'd taken for Ray but from the chaos of emotions swirling within me. I was beyond irritated with Ray for his audacity to confront me about my past with Top after he'd just been entangled in a love fest with Mew. It felt like I was being held responsible for something I had long moved on from.

The words that tumbled out of my mouth were laden with bitterness. "What is this, Ray? You want to have your cake and eat it too? You've been nothing but a menace to me from the moment I met you. Sleeping with me when you want and going back to Mew every time. What? Does it hurt that your second option doesn't want to be involved in your mess anymore?"

I knew I was exaggerating by calling Ray a menace, and I had willingly entered this arrangement with my eyes open, but I couldn't help myself. My ego was still smarting from the realization that I'd been right all along. As soon as Mew was single, Ray ran back to him. My heart ached not just from the breakup but also from the blow to my pride. Knowing you're a second option is never a great feeling.

The shock in Ray's eyes confirmed that I'd hit a sensitive spot, but I couldn't stop myself. I glanced to see that Mew, Boston, Nick, and Cheum had left the club to see what the commotion was all about. Their expressions of shock would have been comical if I weren't so angry and hurt.

Mew approached Ray, who was still seething with tension, his fist clenched at his side. I wanted to rip Mew's hand away, but I knew it wasn't my place. I had no right.

"Ray, what's going on here?" Mew asked, placing a calming hand on Ray's arm. It took all of my self-control not to lunge at the sight of their contact.

"Ask Top and Sand!" Ray spat out in anger, like the petulant, spoiled prince that he is who had his favorite toy stolen from him.

Mew looked at me, confusion evident on his face, but I had no desire to explain my past to him. Whatever Top and I did was no one else's business. We hadn't cheated on anyone.

Boston, always the instigator, sauntered over, his eyes glinting with mischief. "Well, well... looks like Ray found out that Top has also dipped into his other pond or did he manage to stop you guys from dipping again?" he said, glancing at me and Top, making the situation clearer to the others.

It was so difficult to control my anger, and I wanted to wipe that smug grin off Boston's malicious face. I saw the betrayal and pain in Mew's eyes, the shock on Cheum and Nick's faces.

This time, Top spoke up to clarify the situation. "Mew, it happened before any of us met. Sand and I crossed paths months ago, and it was a one-time thing. We didn't think much of it until we meet again. We decided not to complicate things, so we kept it to ourselves," he explained, his tone more humble than usual. I couldn't help but be surprised to hear him speak that way. This pleading look does not fit the usually arrogant face.

Rather than responding to Top, Mew looked at me, still very distrustful of his ex lover's words. I nodded, giving my silent confirmation to Top's words. He sighed, appearing more sober and crushed than I'd ever seen him. I could sympathize with him on this but I am also angry because he is clearly just using Ray as his band aid, temporarily fixing what Top broke. I don't know if I should be throwing Ray a pity party for his stupidity or call this karma for choosing a man whose heart belongs to someone else, when he clearly has mine to keep for free.

This whole complicated sh*t is blowing up in our faces. How can we all remain cool in face of this insane nonsensical love quadrangle. Oh wait, it's six people involved if you want to put Nick and Boston in this ultra chaotic equation. Who by the way, still surprises me because weren't these two basically over a few days ago?

I looked over to Nick who had that sorry but not sorry look on his face as he looked at me. I'd laugh at our mutual stupidity in love but everyone here would probably think I've really lost my marbles.

The entire situation was spiraling out of control, and I'd had enough. I decided to walk away from the chaotic scene. I didn't want to be part of this drama any longer. I made my way to my motorcycle, feeling aimless, alone, and once again, heartbroken. That short moment before I had completely walked out, I saw Ray taking a step to go after me, but Mew's hands on his arms prevented him. It was another moment of heartache, and I rode away, seeking solace in the darkness of the night, the chilly wind and the speed acting like a balm for my bleeding heart.