69 — Finally seeing the very true

I feel like a punch has hit straight into my chest… Did Tyler just say that he saw Laura with another man in his own bed?
“Up to that point, there were a few clues about it. I thought there was something strange, but she always said that I was being suspicious and hurting her. We were together for four months… And if you're feeling pathetic for missing a shallow title, as you say, believe me, it's much worse to have something established and, at the same time, have none of it.” Tyler says, taking a deep breath. “From the beginning, Laura made me feel like I was overreacting. You know, at that time, I hadn't opened my own restaurant yet, I was working with my parents.”
If I'm not mistaken, Tyler and Laura broke up eight months ago….
“I usually worked late… I didn't have a set schedule. I could be back at midnight or not until at three. And well… this was one of those days that I got stuck with too much work. She had the key to my apartment because always waits for me there… It was a way to see each other more often since our schedules were very incompatible.”
Oh, yes… I understand that… It used to be like this with Eric and me. Our schedules were different, and he tended to work a lot due to his recent promotion….
“So I came home to surprise her, feeling guilty of, you know… *neglecting* her. I bought flowers and even chocolates… I'm not the romantic type, but… I wanted to apologize for being an absent boyfriend.”
Tyler's words have the force of a punch to my stomach again because I can understand him so perfectly well that it's cruel.
“But then, she was having sex with another guy in my bed.” He says it with a scoff, but I can see the sadness in his eyes before he deflects it.
I hold my breath.
*“In my bed.”* He repeats, then smiles sarcastically. “The next scene was kind of funny, now that I think about it… She got off him, while he was desperately searching for his clothes. I've never seen anyone scared as they looked. I wanted to do something stupid because I was blinded by anger, and things could have gotten out of hand. But I just threw them out.”
He runs his hand through his hair, messing it up slightly, and I remain completely speechless, looking on with a mixture of surprise, understanding, and indignation.
“I think the worst part, besides the fact that it was in my bed, is that she was actually sleeping with someone I had my suspicions about. She made me look like a sick, jealous, paranoid person, but in the end, she was doing what I suspected — if not worse.” Tyler makes a dismissive gesture, “It's a friend of hers from college days… Or, as she would say, *a brother…* I've seen them together before, since they work nearby-”
“What?” I slam my hands on the table, making the glass tinkle slightly, drawing his surprised eyes. “Are you telling me she was cheating on you with a college friend?”
Tyler nods, his expression turning slightly confused.
*No… I don't believe it…*
I hunch over in my chair, bringing my hand to my lips… But the words don't come out muffled when I ask, “Black hair, blue eyes… a jawline and a little gap in the chin?” I ask, showing exactly where he has the mark. “A discreet physique… No beard…?”
“Yes.” He nods, thoughtful. “You know him?”
Hah…
I blink a few times while attentively absorb his words… That was eight months ago! They've been stabbing me in the back for at least eight months! How DARE Eric say it was just once?
“Eric.” I finally say, feeling my throat go dry. “It seems, Tyler, that we have more in common than I thought.”
Faced with his confusion, I let out a harsh sigh through the gap between my lips, and let those bitter words slide across my tongue, “The person who was in your bed is my ex-boyfriend. The one that I also caught in bed with Laura.”
“You're kidding.” He says surprised, and then lets out a wow, shutting up when he realizes how this is just… dirty.
Honestly, I'm so angry at this point that even the tears have dried up in my eyes. I was aware that it wasn't just once, but… EIGHT MONTHS? Laura was sleeping with my boyfriend for eight damn months and still had the nerve to say those things to me…?
And, geez! That time, Eric and I still had a good relationship! Is that why she used Tyler's apartment? To leave no trace?
“I want to kill them.” I mutter, letting out a harsh grunt.
This means that not only Laura had no remorse about sleeping with my boyfriend while giving me hugs, but she's clearly trying to take everything away from me. First Eric, now Julian…
*It’s like I'm finally seeing the very true right before my eyes.*
“Look.” Tyler catches my eye again, rousing me from thoughts that were starting to take dangerous turns. “Eric… That's the name of the guy I saw in bed with her, right?”
I nod, looking at him warily.
“He wasn't the only one I had suspicions about. He may have been the only I saw, but there were plenty of others that raised my suspicions. She seemed so innocent, like she was flirting with people without even realizing it.” He says thoughtfully, tapping his fingers on the table. “But after I put her out of my apartment, I found out she was also throwing herself at my best friend, and clearly tried something with him. If I hadn't seen what she did with my own eyes, I might have doubted what he told me.”
I sigh deeply, running my hand through my hair once more, this time combing it back.
“I might be wrong, but if you and the blonde guy are that friendly, do you think he would stay with a girl who stabbed you in the back like that?”
“B- Blonde guy?” I almost choke, feeling my heart beat desperately.
“You were talking about the blond guy who paid for your bill that time, weren't you?” He gives a wide, bright smile.
“H-How?” My voice fails, trembles, and I swallow hard.
He chuckles, shaking his head, “It's pretty obvious.”
My face is burning… Oh, dear, I could die now.
Argh…
“I understand, I thought so too, but… I saw her sitting at his desk, taking off her… *clothes…”* My voice fails, and I feel a sharp pain in my chest, like ripping it open. “But even if they're doing it, it's not like we had anything… Just friends, remember?”
“Just saying… You know him better than I do.”
Tyler is right… Now that my mind is in place, and I'm able to think properly, I'm starting to doubt what I've seen and heard… But that's a dangerous path because I'm afraid of fooling myself and finding excuses just to ease this tearing pain in my heart.
*But yes* — I know Julian very well, and I don't know if he would stay with Laura, of all people…. I'm confused.
My mind is knotting up…
“Give me your phone.” He says, holding out his hand.
I reach into my pocket for my phone and hand it over, not paying much attention to it… My mind is totally focused on Julian and what I should do from now on.
Tyler's quick fingers tap my screen and then, in the next moment, he shows me the new contact saved, saying softly, “If you need someone to talk to, you can call me.”
When I’m cautiously picking up the phone back, he adds, “Now that I know your heart has an owner, and things seems to be *what I really thought,* I don't intend to be an obstacle.”
“Can you stop teasing me, please?” I say with probably very flushed cheeks, looking at the name TYLER on my phone….
“Even though, yes, I'm teasing you…” He points to my phone, “I'm telling the truth, why don't you check your messages?”
Messages?
I feel a strong throb in my chest and, with trembling fingers, I open the messages… But my foolish heart forgets how to beat in the next moment, making me abruptly expel air through a gap between my lips… Because there's a message from Julian,
**[Come to my office when you finish your appointment, Angelee.]**
A shiver runs up my spine and spreads across my skin… I can even feel his seriousness in those few words.
“See?” Tyler gives a smile, “It's all over your face.”
I pout and then smile at him… with my chest warm.
“Thanks, Tyler.” I hold the phone tightly but keep my eyes on his expression. “You've really helped me… I've been able to put my thoughts in order… And fill some gaps with reason.”
“Glad to help you.” He smiles, then looks at the watch on his wrist… “And don't hesitate to call me if you need to vent again.”
“But why?” I blink slowly, looking at his face. “You know how I feel about someone else… And you must have understood by now that I don't intend to repeat the same mistakes again. That would be a never-ending cycle of pain.”
“Yes, I'm aware… And if I can be really honest with you… part of me just wanted to piss Laura off and give back some of what she did to me.” He gives a wicked grin that makes me let out a small laugh. “I'm sorry, you can call me petty.”
“I think you're free to be as petty as you want.” I say with the laugh still on my lips, then sigh and stand up, glancing again at Julian's message, “I should go. Thanks, Tyler… I really needed a friend who was out of this mess of mine.”
He just waves his hand at me while I walk away from the table and past the people who, again, are engrossed in their own lives and problems.
And this time, there are no tears in my eyes when I walk through the door.
The light breeze of New York City fills my lungs and recharges my bravery to finally return to the company and face Julian.
***
When the elevator doors opened onto the office floor, I let out a breath I didn't even notice I was holding. It hasn't been long since I left with tears brimming my eyes, but it's now considerably crowded with employees returning from lunch.
I'm painfully aware of the way my heel hits the floor, but I keep the goal in mind; my eyes are locked on Julian's office door while I make my way there. And maybe I've been walking too fast, with steps that are too long because, the next thing I know, I'm standing in front of it.
I sigh deeply and knock twice, receiving only silence.
But just as I'm about to raise my hand and knock on the door again, it opens, revealing a messy-haired Julian with a really unsatisfied expression.