Project Time

Chapter 2 : A New Beginning

After hours of laughter and dancing, they decided to call it a night. As they stepped out into the cool night air, Trisha felt a subtle shift within.

Ela, Sam, and Vin hailed a taxi. Trisha, on the other hand, chose to walk home as she was buying some food at the grocery store near her apartment. Before they parted ways, Trisha turned to her friends, a genuine smile breaking through the remnants of sorrow.

Trisha said to them, "Thank you, guys... all of you. You've made this night memorable."

They hugged as a group for the last time. Tears were falling down Trisha's cheeks. After several seconds, she waved goodbye as their taxi arrived and her friends went inside and drove. She couldn't control her tears as she started walking towards her apartment.

As she was walking, she saw something familiar. A car was parked in front of a restaurant. She got curious as it was the same car as her boyfriend, Ian. The cracked side mirror, the color, the small dent in the front side, and even the chipped license plate were the same. Trisha got even more curious and started to overthink some scenarios. To stop herself from overthinking, she walked rapidly towards the restaurant and went inside.

In the dimly lit restaurant, Trisha's heart immediately sank as she caught sight of her boyfriend, sharing an intimate moment with another younger and more attractive woman. The soft glow of candlelight highlighted the betrayal that unfolded before her eyes. Shocked and hurt, Trisha stood frozen, hidden behind a pillar, as the scene unfolded like a painful tableau.

Ian, oblivious to Trisha's presence, seemed lost in the embrace of the mysterious woman. Their laughter echoed, adding to the cacophony of clinking glass and distant chatter. Trisha's breath caught, her eyes locked onto the scene like a surreal nightmare. She felt a surge of conflicting emotions — anger, heartbreak, and a profound sense of disbelief.

Summoning the strength to confront the painful truth, Trisha stepped forward, her heels clicking against the tiled floor. Ian's eyes widened in guilt as he turned to face her, the color draining from his face. The young woman beside him, sensing the tension, stepped back, casting a nervous glance between the two.

Silence hung in the air, broken only by the distant hum of the restaurant. Trisha's voice, laced with a mix of sorrow and anger, cut through the stillness.

She said, "Ian... how... could you?"

Her words hung heavy, a poignant question that demanded explanation.

Ian stammered, guilt written all over his face. He replied, "Trisha, I can explain—"

He began, but his feeble attempt to justify his actions only fueled Trisha's disappointment. The truth was start, evident in the raw pain etched across her features.

Tears welled in Trisha's eyes, but she refused to let them fall.

Instead, she composed herself, her voice steady as she declared, "Don't explain, Ian... I've seen enough. There won't be another word for you to say to earn my forgiveness. This... t-this journey... our journey... is over, Ian."

The weight of her words echoed in the quiet space, leaving an indelible mark on the shattered remnants of their relationship.

As Trisha turned to leave, Ian reached out, desperation in his eyes.

He said, "Trish, wait, please don't go... give me another chance—"

Trisha turned around immediately and replied, "I'm sorry... I don't believe in second chance."

He tried to implore, but she pulled away, a newfound resolve in her gaze. The restaurant's ambiance, once warm and inviting, now felt cold and unforgiving as Trisha walked away from the painful tableau.