You belong with me

Standing by and waiting at your backdoor

Worst Wednesday ever. I didn't even drink much last night, but still, my head is pounding and I have an early class. I staggered towards the toilet to get ready for class, then went to the kitchen to eat or drink coffee at least.

There she is again, sitting on the couch with her knees touching her face, hair all over the place. Carlos is beside her, patting her back.

"Please drink this, it will help your hangover," Carlos said to her.

"No, it is so bitter," Rebecca replied.

"You should've thought of that before drinking too much," I thought while pouring coffee into my flask, as if I were any better than her.

Carlos smiled at me when he saw me in the kitchen and asked, "Do you have an early class today?"

I nodded.

He returned his attention to Rebecca, insisting she drink the coffee. At that moment, our doorbell rang. I went to see who it was.

It was Charles. I didn't know why he came this early to the apartment. I gave him a way to enter.

"Wow! What luck I have early in the morning," Charles said, making faces. Everyone knew this was directed towards Rebecca. She lifted her head and said, "Likewise."

"Why didn't you come to my party? Carlos waited for hours for you to show up, but guess what? You never disappoint me; you never show up for him."

"Oh, cut the crap, Charles. I am not in the mood for a fight," Rebecca said angrily.

"Charles, please. She has a hangover," Carlos interjected.

"What did she do yesterday evening?" Charles asked.

"She went out with her girlfriends," I said.

"Wow, wow," Charles said, clapping slowly as he approached her. "I knew it. You didn't have time for Carlos, but you went out with your friends?"

"I didn't want to come to your stupid party," Rebecca yelled.

"It's not about me, you stupid bitch. It's about Carlos. He waited for you. He wanted to introduce you to his friends, but guess what? You never fucking showed up."

Silence consumed the living room.

The tension in the room was palpable. Carlos looked torn between the two, his eyes darting from Charles to Rebecca and back again. I could feel my own headache intensifying as I watched the scene unfold.

"Charles, please," Carlos said, his voice strained. "This isn't helping anyone. Rebecca isn't feeling well, and yelling at her won't change what happened."

Charles threw his hands up in frustration. "Fine, whatever. But don't come crying to me when she pulls this crap again." He stormed out of the apartment, slamming the door behind him.

After Charles left, Rebecca stood up from the couch. "You fucking let your friend talk to me like that? I didn't come to your stupid friend's party and you sent your friend after me. Is this how you treat your girlfriend, Carlos?"

"Rebecca, I didn't know Charles was coming to the apartment. He must have come here for something else."

"I don't care," Rebecca yelled at Carlos. "You always treat me like this, like I'm stupid over something simple. You never loved me. I don't even know why I'm with you anymore."

I felt awkward standing there, not knowing what to do or say. My head was still pounding, and the early class was looming over me. "I need to get going," I said quietly.

I closed the door but stood outside, not taking another step towards class. I knew Rebecca would make Carlos cry again. Their fights always end with Carlos in tears.

Carlos stood up from the sofa, his eyes full of tears. "Why are you talking like that, Rebecca? You know how much I love you," he said, crying. Hearing this made my heart pound with pain. I wanted to intervene and stop Rebecca from hurting him more, but I couldn't. My hands were tied by the ropes of the friend zone.

"Your friends wouldn't talk to me like that if you didn't bad-mouth me in front of them." Rebecca said.

"You know what? I think you found someone more beautiful than me. That's why you want to get rid of me!" Rebecca yelled.

"I don't! I'm not like that," Carlos cried.

"All men are the same," Rebecca shouted in his face.

"I fucking hate you. I should have gone to my apartment instead of coming here and being humiliated by your friends. You never loved me, Carlos," Rebecca said, starting to fake cry.

Knowing she was about to storm out of the apartment, I hid.

As she stormed out, I went to check on Carlos, hoping he was okay.

Carlos was on the sofa, struggling to breathe. I rushed to him and sat on the floor beside him. His eyes were streaming with tears as he suffered an asthma attack. I quickly ran to his room to get his inhaler.

I found the inhaler on his reading table and swiftly returned to Carlos. He used it twice, and his breathing began to stabilize.

I placed my hand on his thigh, and he gave me a soft smile.

"Are you okay?" I asked.

He nodded.

"Your class?" he asked in a small voice.

"It got canceled," I lied.

He smiled softly.

"Let's get you to bed," I said.

I helped him lie down and covered him with a blanket. He took my hand and said, "I need to call Rebecca."

Even in this state, he was thinking about her. What a fool you are, Carlos.

"First, sleep. You can call her in the evening."

Carlos nodded and closed his eyes, a tear escaped, my heart ached at the sight. If the universe grants me this man, I'll cherish him each night.

I'll treasure him with all my life, his tears will never flow. I longed to stroke his hair, but stayed my hand, and let the moment go.