You drafted my heart - Nika Mühl (Eng. version)

Chapter 6 - Back to Storrs II

I promise you'll really enjoy this chapter... Let me know what you think!!

xoxo, your writer...

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18:53 pm - December 6th, 2021.

Storrs, Connecticut.

The bar we chose to go to in Storrs was bustling with chaotic energy when we arrived to celebrate the boys' victory. The dim lights and pulsating music created a lively atmosphere, the place filled with college students celebrating the weekend. I was eager to relax and enjoy the moment with my friends, but a sense of apprehension settled in my chest when I realized Nika hadn't responded to my messages yet. 

After the game, I started texting her number. After all, we had spent a good amount of time planning to meet up later, and as soon as the game ended, I hadn't heard from her.As we made our way to a table in the corner of the bar, I couldn't help but repeatedly check my phone, hoping for any sign of a response. 

Each passing minute heightened my concern, and I wondered if I should try calling her. But before I could decide, I spotted Rider and some of the guys from the team entering the bar, and my thoughts were momentarily diverted. 

"Oliviaaaaaaaa!" Rider waved at me, an excited smile lighting up his face. "How about a round of drinks to celebrate?" 

I smiled back, grateful for the distraction. "You know I don't drink..." 

"Please..." The way he looked at me melted me. 

"Alright, today you deserve it, so sure, let's do it!" 

We joined Rider and his friends at the table, and soon we were toasting to the Friars' victory with shots of tequila and cold beer. The conversation flowed freely, filled with laughter and stories about the game. It was invigorating to be surrounded by friends, and for a moment, however brief, I managed to set aside my worries about Nika. 

But as the night progressed and the hours passed, Mühl's absence became more and more evident. I couldn't help but feel the growing unease settling in my chest, and my mind kept returning to the unanswered messages on my phone.Finally, after several failed attempts at contact, I decided I couldn't ignore the situation any longer. I took a deep breath and sent one last message to her, asking where she was and if we could meet to talk. The silence that followed was deafening, and I felt like I was teetering on the edge of a precipice, not knowing what would happen next. 

Then, suddenly, the door of the bar swung open, and my heart skipped a beat when I saw Nika entering alongside Paige, Aaliyah, and Lou. They were laughing and chatting animatedly, completely unaware of the tension hanging in the air. A lump formed in my throat as I noticed Nika avoiding my gaze, her eyes quickly darting away when ours met. 

A mix of disappointment and confusion settled in my chest as I watched Mühl approach a group of friends at a nearby table. She seemed distant, almost indifferent, and a wave of sadness washed over me. I couldn't understand why she was acting this way, and the lack of communication between us only made things more complicated. 

I just wished she was having fun by MY side and not with some random guy's arm draped over her shoulders. I just wished she was laughing that way at something I was saying. Wished she was stealing a drink from MY glass. 

As I sat there, lost in my thoughts, the bar continued to throb with the energy of the celebration around me. But despite all the joy and excitement, I felt isolated, as if I were trapped in a bubble of misunderstanding and hurt. I knew I needed to talk to Nika and sort things out between us, but the fear of confrontation and the dread of losing her friendship paralyzed me.