Trouble Love Affair

Abel stood in front of Aaron's desk, his hands clutching a crumpled photograph, evidence of the lies that had been destroying his mind. His breathing was ragged, but his eyes remained fixed on the man he had called husband. Aaron sat casually in his chair, his work shirt slightly rumpled, and the strong smell of alcohol emanating from his body.

"We need to talk," Abel's voice was firm, even though inside his chest, he felt like it was going to collapse.

Aaron looked up lazily. With a drink in hand, he glanced at Abel without enthusiasm. "Now? I just got off work. Can't this wait?"

Abel shook his head, taking a step forward. He placed the photo roughly on the table. "It can't. Look at this."

Aaron raised his eyebrows before taking the photo. His eyes narrowed, then his expression turned flat. "And?" he asked in an overly casual tone.

Abel frowned, his heart sinking at Aaron's nonchalant reaction. "So this means nothing to you? This evidence... this girl... you're in a hotel together! Did you really think I wouldn't find out?"

Aaron chuckled, a low sound that sounded more like mockery than anything sincere. He set his glass down with a loud clunk on the table, then stood up. His height towered over Abel, but the woman didn't budge.

"Listen, Abel," she said, her voice cold. "Our marriage is a deal, not love. You knew that from the start. So stop acting as if I owe you my loyalty."

Abel staggered back at those words. Although he knew their marriage was not based on love, he never expected Aaron to say it so bluntly, so cruelly. "I know it's a deal," he said quietly, trying hard to keep his voice from shaking. "But I'm still your wife, Aaron. I'm trying to love you... trying to understand your life. Is that wrong? Is it wrong for me to expect a little appreciation from you?"

Aaron snorted, picked his glass back up, and downed the rest of his drink in one gulp. "Your problem, Abel, is that you expect too much. I never promised love. You and your family needed money, and I gave it to you. Isn't that enough?"

Abel felt like he'd been hit by a hurricane. Aaron's words cut deeper than he ever imagined. He knew his family wasn't wealthy, but he never thought Aaron would throw that in his face.

"Aaron," Abel whispered, his voice barely audible. "I don't need your money. I need you... as my husband. I need your love."

Aaron chuckled, but this time, his laughter was filled with scorn. He gave Abel a condescending look, then leaned his body against the table. "Love from me? You're kidding, right? You think I married you for love? Don't dream, Abel. You're just a tool. You and your family should be grateful I chose you, with all the debt you're in."

Abel felt tears welling up in the corners of his eyes, but he didn't want Aaron to see him cry. Not again. Breathing heavily, he tried to keep his voice steady. "Aaron... please. At least, respect me as a human being. Don't treat me like this."

Aaron shook his head, his face starting to turn red from the effects of alcohol. "I don't have time for this drama, Abel. If you don't like how I treat you, the door is over there. You're free to leave at any time. But don't expect me to beg."

"Why do you hate me so much?" Abel finally let his emotions break out. Tears were streaming down his cheeks, but Aaron didn't seem to care.

"Hate? I don't hate you," Aaron replied in a hoarse voice, "I don't even care about you. That's much worse, isn't it?"

Those words shattered Abel completely. The whole world around him seemed to collapse. He gripped the table to hold his limp body. Aaron, the husband he had tried to love, had never once considered him important.

Abel finally raised his head, looking at Aaron with wet but determined eyes. "You may not care about me, Aaron. But I won't let you destroy me completely. You'll regret this one day."

Aaron just shrugged, then walked out of the room with unsteady steps. The door closed loudly behind him, leaving Abel alone in a room that felt increasingly silent.

In that moment, Abel realized something. If Aaron was never going to love him, then there was no point in him sticking around and enduring the pain. He deserved a better life, away from a man who only knew how to put him down. With tears still flowing, Abel vowed to himself that this was the end of his suffering-and the beginning of his freedom.

***

That night, the city sky was full of sparkling neon lights. Abel stood in front of a packed nightclub. The sound of thumping bass music rang out onto the street, tempting anyone who passed by to enter. His lips were still trembling from the violent argument that had just taken place. Aaron, the man who had been her world, had cut such a deep hole in her heart.

"Why do I have to keep holding on?" she whispered softly as she stepped inside, leaving the shadow of the fight behind her.

Her steps felt heavy, but she did not stop until she passed through the large doors of the nightclub. Colorful lights swirled in the air, while the smell of alcohol mixed with perfume filled the room. Abel made his way to the bar, heedless of the stares. He ordered a drink, one, then two, then three.

The pain in his chest slowly dissolved with each sip he took. However, all that remained was emptiness.

"Abel?" a heavy, familiar voice woke him up. Reynald, Aaron's cousin, stood nearby. The man's eyes looked worried, though he tried to hide it behind a small smile.

"What are you doing here alone?" he asked, sitting next to Abel.

Abel rolled his eyes, staring at the glass in his hand. "I'm here to forget," he replied simply, voice almost drowned out by the music.

Reynald nodded slowly. He knew, without having to ask further, that something was wrong. Aaron. The name popped into his head. Reynald had always known the relationship between Abel and his cousin wasn't perfect. However, this time, the hurt that appeared in Abel's eyes felt much deeper.

"Then let me accompany you," Reynald said, softly but confidently.

Abel looked at Reynald with eyes that were beginning to blur with alcohol. He knew that Reynald had always been kind to him, even when Aaron was often too busy with his own world.

That night, they talked. Reynald listened to Abel's every complaint, every anger, every tear that was finally shed. He didn't interrupt, didn't judge. Just a listening ear.

When the music began to change to a slower beat, Reynald stood up and held out his hand. "Let's dance," he said.

Abel was silent for a moment, then took the hand. They stepped onto the dance floor, joining the crowd moving to the beat. Reynald pulled Abel closer, guiding his every step. The touch of Reynald's hand on his back felt warm, in contrast to the chill of the night that seeped in from outside.

Their eyes met, and it was as if the world stopped. Reynald looked at Abel in a way Aaron never did-attentively, with a real desire to understand.

The alcohol flowing through Abel's body made him lose control of his mind. He didn't know who started it, but their lips met in a passionate kiss.

"Abel," Reynald whispered between their kisses, "we should go."

Wordlessly, Abel nodded. Reynald took his hand, leading him to a VVIP room at the back of the club. The room was deserted, lit only by a dim lamp.

Inside the room, the boundaries they had been guarding collapsed completely. Reynald touched Abel carefully, as if he was something fragile that could break at any moment. But behind his gentleness, there was a passion that could not be hidden.

Abel let himself dissolve into the moment. There were no thoughts about Aaron, about what would happen later. There was only Reynald-the man who had loved him secretly, the man who tonight made him feel wanted.

The night was getting late, and inside the VVIP room, they were drowning in the passion that had been pent up all along.