The Russian Next Door

CHAPTER 14 - The break up

As we were laying on the couch watching the movie, he got a message on his phone. He told me to pass it over, as I was closer to the coffee table. The screen was still lit up. Without really wanting to, but as I couldn't hide my curiosity, my eyes glanced over the screen, seeing the message. It was from someone named Sydney. The message simply said: 'Are you still coming over tonight, baby?'

I didn't say a thing. I gave him the phone, pretending that nothing happened. He didn't realize I read the message. Instead, I asked: 'One of your many secret admirers?' we were often joking about this.

'Ha, ha. No, it's just Eddie. He wants to know if we are still going to that museum tomorrow.'

Wow, such an elaborated lie. But I wasn't impressed. In fact, I was so angry that I wanted to rip his head off. He was lying me to my face. Without any sign of hesitation.

In a moment, I was on my feet, watching him. 'Okay, cut the crap. Tell me the truth.'

'What truth, Rose? What are you talking about, babe?'

'Don't you babe me, Adrian. And stop playing dumb. I saw that damn text, okay?' Now he was on his feet too. And I was starting to feel sick to my stomach.

'Okay, and what do you want now, huh?' His tone turned cold in a matter of seconds.

'An explanation. I guess this is the least I deserve. Tell me who Sydney is.'

'A girl studying Architecture at St. Vladimir's.'

'How long?' He shrugged. 'For how fucking long?' It really was a miracle that I was so calm. In a normal situation I would have already been screaming so loud that the whole neighborhood would be able to hear me.

'Two weeks.' My face literally dropped. He was playing with me for two weeks. So he needed just two weeks to get bored of me and go find some entertainment somewhere else. I could feel my chest starting to ache.

'Why?'

'Why what?'

'Why did you do it, Adrian. Please, just don't play the fool no more; I am not in the mood for that.'

'Because you never want to get further than kissing and a little touching here and there. You always seem to push me away when I try to get further. And if you weren't willing to give me more, I found someone who was willing to.' At this point I was already crying. I felt dizzy. I couldn't watch him anymore. I couldn't listen to him either.

'Get out.'

'What?'

'You heard me. Get out now. Go to that, girl of yours. You disgust me. I don't want to see you anymore. This thing between us, it is over.' I went up to the door and opened it. 'Get the fuck out of my apartment.'

He complied without saying another word. Good. I didn't think I could hear more from him. But after he got out the door, he turned around and told me:

'You are going to come back to me running by tomorrow, Rose, and you know it.' That was it. The last drop. I lifted my hand and slapped him hard. He grabbed my wrist and squeezed. I was now crying uncontrollably.

'Adrian, you are hurting me.' I said as I was moving my hand, trying to get out of his grip.

He made a grimace. 'Don't you dare slap me!'

'Adrian, please just let go of me and leave. Please.' I said between sobs.

I didn't realize it earlier, but we weren't alone on that hallway. Someone took Adrian off me and pushed him hard into the wall, holding him by the shirt.

'She told you to leave. And so help me God, if you ever lay one finger of yours on her again, I am going to rip your head off.' It was Dimitri!

'Get off me! Get out of here, man. This is none of your damn business. Let us deal with our problems alone, would you?'

'If dealing with your problems means you hitting her, then I'm afraid that this is my problem. Now leave, before I do something I might regret. And I want to never ever see you near her again, understood?'

'Go fuck yourself!' he said spitting in Dimitri's direction.

At this, Dimitri punched the wall next to Adrian and a loud thud echoed into the hallway. 'The next thing I am going to hit is your face. So if you don't want to spend your night at the hospital, I suggest you to leave.'

'Go!' Dimitri barked pushing him towards the stairs. And he did. He left. Forever.

When I could no longer see him, I sensed a hand on my shoulder. I pulled away. I couldn't bear to be touched in that moment.

'Rose, are you alright?' his voice was so full of concern. All I could do was to stay there, crying and staring back at him, feeling my heart break piece by piece. Then I felt like I couldn't keep myself on my feet anymore. I stuck my back to the cold wall and fell down on the floor. He sat beside me. And he stood there with me until the tears wouldn't fall from my eyes anymore.