It's Sad to Belong

It's Sad to Belong || Regrets

"If you know she's too good for you. If she makes you think about the universe. If you look into her eyes and see the best version of yourself  reflected back - why do you hesitate? " - Lang Leav (smoke&mirrors)

Let's feel James pain as well.

Chapter Seventeen

It's getting late and half of the people at the office have already left.

For days, James has been staying in late.

He spends most of his time at work. He is always the first one in, and the last one out.

He figures that if he kept himself busy, he'll be able to forget about Ericka, Sibelle and most importantly, Nadine.

He sits in his office, reviewing hundreds of documents when someone knocks on the door.

"Come in," he says, eyes fixed on the paper.

"Hey, man. Aren't you going home yet?" asks Henz.

"No, I have to finish this," he answers, not looking.

"Look, the guys and I are going to a bar for a drink. You should come."

"No, thanks. I'll just stay here."

"Come on. It'll be fun. It'll help get your mind off things," he says, convincing James.

James thinks about it for a minute. He puts his pen down and wipes his forehead with the back of his hand.

"Okay. What the hell, right?"

"Alright, man. Let's go!"

***

James, Henz and three of their colleagues arrive at the bar.

The five of them sit at the bar and order their drinks. James orders several shots of vodka and a couple of bottles of beers.

Henz may not be friends with James but he knows very well why he has been in such a terrible mood lately, and why Nadine hasn't shown up for work for a week.

Henz sips his beer and looks at James.

"Do you want to talk about it?"

James takes another shot of vodka and avoids Henz stare.

"Talk about what?"

"Come on, James. I know about you and Nadine. And I know that your current mood has something to do with her absence from work," he says, taking a shot.

James stays quiet and takes another shot.

By now he is already feeling a little buzzed, and oddly, he is feeling a little chatty, too.

"How did you know about me and Nadine?"

"I saw you two slow-dancing in Palawan," he says playfully.

James couldn't help but chuckle.

He takes another shot as memories of that night flash in his mind; the way Nadine danced with him; the way she smelled; the way she looked; Palawan brings back bittersweet memories.

Henz watches him intently and he realizes that what he saw back in Palawan was more than just a fling; it is something much more deeper and serious.

"Do you love her?" he asks.

"Yes, I do," he answers without hesitation.

"What about your wife? What are you going to do when she finds out?"

"She has already found out," he replies, speech is now a little slurred.

"What?" he exclaims.

"She found out and left me. She left me and took my kid," he explains, taking yet another shot of vodka.