You belong with me

If you could see that I'm the one who understands you

"I don't think it's real," Lando, Carlos said to me, his voice trembling as tears streamed down his face.

Tears welled up in my own eyes as I comforted him. Just then, my phone rang—it was Charles. I answered while continuing to hold Carlos.

"Lando, did Carlos see those pictures?" Charles asked.

"Yes," I replied.

"That bitch! She and that idiot were on a yacht in Monaco," Charles said, anger evident in his voice. "I decided to confront her, but Alex stopped me. How is Carlos?"

"Not well," I said.

"I'll come as soon as possible," Charles assured me before ending the call.

"It's not true, I need to ask her," Carlos said, reaching for his phone to text Rebecca. I gently took it from his hand.

"Carlos, it's not a good idea to text her right now," I said softly.

Carlos started crying again. I hugged him tightly as we sat there, trying to provide as much comfort as I could.

"Let's confront her when she comes back, okay?" I suggested. He nodded, agreeing reluctantly.

"Text her and ask when she's coming back," I said. Carlos did as I asked, and her reply came quickly: she would be back tomorrow evening, ending her message with "I love you."

"See, she's telling me she loves me, Lando. I don't think Rebecca was with that guy. It must be some misunderstanding," Carlos said, a glimmer of hope in his eyes.

"I hope so, Carlos," I replied, though uncertainty lingered in my mind

I didn't sleep that night. I knew Carlos was crying in his room; I could hear his sobs. I wanted so badly to go to him, to hug him, kiss away his tears, and tell him that I would stay with him forever and treat him right. But I couldn't. I don't know when I finally drifted off, but I woke up around 10 in the morning.

The first thing I did was check if Carlos was still sleeping. His room's door was closed, and I assumed he must be exhausted from crying all night. I decided to make him some breakfast to cheer him up. I made some crepes, put them on a tray, and headed to his room.

But when I got there, his door was open, and Carlos was nowhere to be found. Panic surged through me. The tray fell from my hands, crashing to the floor.

While I was calling him, he came through the front door, drenched in sweat.

"Where did you go?" I asked.

"I went for a run to clear my mind," he replied.

He then sat down on the sofa.

"Are you okay?" I asked while sitting next to him.

"I am," he said, taking my hand and holding it on his elbow. "I'm good, Lando. Don't worry about me," he added with a soft smile.

"Good," I smiled softly. "Do you want breakfast? I made some crepes, but I dropped them when I didn't find you on the sofa."

"I'm sorry for scaring you," he said.

"It's okay. I'll make another batch for you," I said, rising from the sofa with a smile.

We didn't do much that morning and afternoon. We ate breakfast and lunch. Carlos watched replays of some football matches while I cooked, cleaned the kitchen, living room, our bookshelf, and shoe rack. Around 5 in the evening, Rebecca unlocked the door. She ran to Carlos, sat next to him, and hugged him.

"I missed you, baby," she said to Carlos.

Carlos looked at her and smiled.

I was cleaning a stain on the floor and felt shocked and hurt seeing Carlos react like that. How could he smile at her like nothing happened, like she didn't cheat on him? Frustration welled up in me as I rolled the washcloth in my hand. I decided to leave for my room, but then Carlos asked Rebecca, "What were you doing in Monaco?"

"We went to a party," she replied.

I stayed to listen to the conversation.

"A party on a yacht?" he asked.

"Yes, how do you know?" she asked with a questioning look.

Carlos picked up his phone from beside him, quickly opened his gallery, and showed her a picture of her hugging another guy.

Rebecca gulped and distanced herself from Carlos. "He's a friend," she replied.

"You are spying on me, Carlos. How fcking cheap..."

Carlos didn't let her finish. He showed her another picture where they were kissing and put it in her face.

"Do you want to explain?" he asked.

A smirk formed on my face.

Rebecca looked at me and said, "Carlos, can we take this to your bedroom?"

"Why? Are you afraid of Lando now? When you kissed that guy in front of everyone..."

"He forced me, Carlos. I didn't kiss him; he forced himself on me," Rebecca said, crying.

Carlos opened Instagram and showed her something. It was a picture of her and the guy. "If he forced you, why did you post a picture of you two together?"

Rebecca started crying and pleading with Carlos. "I'm so sorry, Carlos. I made a mistake. Please forgive me."

Carlos stood up from the sofa and faced her. "You treated me like a loser, embarrassed me in front of your friends. You can't even introduce me to your friends. Charles has been telling me for so long that you're with me for sex? Money? I don't know if you even love me, but I loved you, more than anyone."

"Please, Carlos. I made a mistake. Please give me a chance. I will never repeat it again," Rebecca pleaded.

"If I give you another chance, I would make a fool out of myself."

"You stopped loving me a long time ago, but I was too stupid to recognize that," Carlos chuckled, a tear rolling down his face. "I am a fool, a fool. Thank you so much for cheating on me. If you hadn't, I would've married you, and you could hurt me all over again. Thank you! I hope you are happy with that guy."

"Please, Carlos," she cried.

"Please leave," Carlos said.

"Please," she pleaded.

"You were the love of my life. I can't even throw you out. Please leave on your own and keep your dignity," Carlos said.

She still didn't leave.

"Lanno, I'm going to my room. Please tell me when this woman leaves, or throw her out yourself. I don't care," he said and went to his room.

"You know, Charles is on his way. Carlos and I still respect you after what you did to him, but you know Charles. He won't hesitate to throw you out of here. Please leave before he comes," I said.

She took her purse, gave me a long look, and left the apartment.