Patience Heart

Another Love?

I had imagined that breaking up with Adam would be the end of everything that suffocated me—the final move that would set me free from the weight of a relationship I never wanted. I thought it would be simple, clean. But here I am, a week later, drowning in a sea of unanswered texts and relentless calls. Adam, it seemed, couldn't let go.

"Viola, we need to talk. You can't just end things like that. I deserve to know why," every message he sent screamed for attention, each one more desperate than the last.

I sighed, tossing my phone aside. Adam was the last thing I wanted to think about. Breaking up was supposed to mean distance, a way to finally breathe again. Instead, it had turned him into a constant, nagging reminder of the very thing I was trying to escape. But tonight? Tonight, I wasn't going to let him ruin my mood. I deserved a night where I wasn't chained to the past.

Three days ago, I ended up at the Hard Rock Cafe, my usual escape when I needed to drown out the noise in my head. The crowd, the music, the buzz of alcohol—it was a surefire way to lose myself. That night, I was on a mission to do exactly that. I had ordered Long Island Tea, and as the glass emptied, the world around me started to blur just enough for the ache in my chest to dull.

But then I saw him.

It was one of those moments you think only happen in movies, where everything else fades away and the spotlight is suddenly on one person. He had walked in, towering over the crowd, and my eyes were drawn to him immediately. There was something about him—something magnetic. His shaved head gleamed under the neon lights, and those eyes... blue, bright, and piercing, even from across the room.

I couldn't stop staring. And then, when our eyes met, it felt like a current passed between us, something I hadn't felt in a long time. I had come to Hard Rock to forget, but suddenly, I wanted to remember this moment, to hold onto whatever was happening between us.

His name was Damian. I would never forget the way he said it—smooth, confident. There was something dark and intriguing about him, something I couldn't quite place. When he asked if I wanted company on the dance floor, I couldn't say no. Who would?

The moment we started dancing, I knew I was in trouble. Damian moved with a kind of grace that was impossible to resist. His hands were firm on my hips, guiding me in a way that made me feel like we were the only two people on that floor. The rhythm of our bodies, the heat between us—it was all-consuming.

He was a better dancer than I was, no question, but he made me feel like I was leading. Every move felt natural, effortless, and the chemistry between us was undeniable. It was the kind of connection I hadn't realized I was craving, the kind of night I hadn't had in what felt like forever.

But it wasn't just the way he danced. It was everything about him. The way he looked at me, the way he talked, the way he listened. When the music finally ended and the crowd started to thin, we ended up talking. About everything. About nothing. And somehow, I felt like I was talking to someone who saw me, really saw me, for the first time in a long time.

As we walked out to the parking lot, the conversation still buzzing between us, I could feel it—that something was about to happen. I didn't know what, but my heart raced with anticipation.

Then, just as I was about to open my car door, it happened.

Damian grabbed me, his hands firm but gentle, and before I could even catch my breath, his lips were on mine. It wasn't just a kiss—it was a spark, a fire that lit me up from the inside out. His lips were soft, but there was a hunger there, a need that matched my own. The world around us disappeared as I melted into him, into the way he made me feel.

It was a deep, intoxicating kiss that left me breathless. My body pressed against his, my heart pounding so loud I could barely think. I couldn't believe it—couldn't believe how right it felt to be kissing this stranger, this man I had just met. But in that moment, none of it mattered. All that mattered was the electricity between us, the connection that had sparked the second our eyes had met.

We only pulled apart when a couple walked by, heading to their car right next to mine. It was awkward, sure, but I couldn't stop smiling. Neither could Damian. His blue eyes sparkled in the dim light of the parking lot, and I felt something warm and thrilling settle inside me.

"Goodbye, Viola," he said, his voice low, promising. "I'll call you."

And he did.

The next day, my phone rang, and there was his voice again, smooth and confident. We talked for hours, just like we had that night at Hard Rock. By the time we hung up, I couldn't stop thinking about him. Yesterday, he called again. And today. Each call left me wanting more, craving the sound of his voice, the way he made me laugh.

Tonight, he asked me out again. But this time, it wasn't just another night of dancing. Tonight was different. He had made reservations at a fancy restaurant on top of one of the tallest buildings in Jakarta. I could already picture it—the soft candlelight, the twinkling lights of the city below, and Damian sitting across from me, his blue eyes locked on mine.

After dinner, we were going to see a midnight movie—something light, a comedy called Happy-Go-Lucky. It was the perfect way to end what promised to be a perfect night. And after that... who knew? I didn't know what would happen after that. But I was ready to find out.

As I got ready for the evening, my heart raced with excitement. I couldn't stop thinking about that kiss, about the way Damian had made me feel alive again. I had never done anything like that before—never kissed a stranger, never let myself get swept away like that. But with Damian, it felt... different. Right.

Who was he, this man who had walked into my life and turned everything upside down? I didn't know, but I was eager to find out. Tonight, I was going to let myself get lost in the moment again. I was going to let myself feel, to live, to forget everything—even if just for a little while.

And as I slipped into my dress and applied my lipstick, I couldn't help but smile. Oh, Damian... what a whirlwind you've become.