A ONE NIGHT STAND EXPERIENCE

"I just don't feel anything for you anymore, Viva.

Nathan's voice was cold, emotionless, as he leaned back in his chair, swirling his drink like he was bored of the conversation. Like she was just another task on his to-do list, something to check off and forget.

Viva felt her stomach tighten. "What... what do you mean?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper. He sighed, exasperated, as if she was the problem. "

You're boring, Viva. There's no spark, No excitement. I need someone who keeps things interesting.

"The words hit like a slap, each syllable tearing through her like a blade. Boring? No spark?

Hadn't she given him everything? Hadn't she stayed up late talking to him, supported him through his struggles, loved him unconditionally? Her fingers clenched around the napkin in her lap.

"Are you serious? " Nathan didn't even look guilty. If anything, he looked relieved.

"Come on, don't act so surprised. You had to feel it too,"

he said, taking another casual sip of his drink. "Things have been off between us for a while." Viva shook her head, feeling the burn of unshed tears. No. That wasn't true. Lilly had tried to warn her when she had called, Just two weeks ago, her best friend had shown her pictures from Nathan's social media , smiling with some girl, his arm draped casually over her shoulders, looking too close to be just friends. But Viva had refused to believe it. "That girl..." she whispered.

"The one you've been hanging around with. Is she the reason?"

Nathan smirked. He didn't even have the decency to deny it. "Let's not make this messy, Viva. It's over. You'll be fine".

Fine? He was walking away from years of love, and he thought she'd be fine? She watched him throw some cash on the table before standing up, brushing imaginary lint off his shirt like this entire conversation had been a mild inconvenience."Well, see you around," he said over his shoulder before walking out of the restaurant, out of her life, just like that.

Viva sat frozen, her heart pounding against her ribs, her ears ringing with the deafening silence he left behind. She should have cried. She should have felt shattered. But all she felt was empty. Slowly, she pushed back her chair and walked out onto the busy city street. The night air was crisp, but it did nothing to cool the fire building in her chest. She didn't want to go home. She didn't want to replay his words over and over in her head. No, Tonight, she wanted to forget. She wanted to drink, to lose herself in the night, to stop feeling anything for just a little while.

A neon sign flickered across the street-CLUB AURA. Music pulsed from inside, a steady beat calling her in. Without a second thought, she stepped inside, letting the heavy bass drown out the pain. Maybe heartbreak wasn't the end, Maybe tonight she can prove to herself that she wasn't boring.

The club was dimly lit, a mix of deep blues and purples casting shadows over the dance floor. Bodies moved in rhythm to the music, lost in the moment, in the heat of the night. Then she saw him. A man leaned against the bar, his posture relaxed yet commanding, like he owned the space around him. His dark eyes locked onto hers immediately-sharp, assessing, interested. Viva swallowed, her breath catching in her throat. He was effortlessly magnetic, dressed in a fitted black shirt that stretched across his broad chest, the sleeves rolled up just enough to show strong forearms. His jaw was sharp, his lips curved into the faintest smirk, as if he knew exactly what she was thinking. He tilted his glass slightly in her direction, a silent invitation. Viva hesitated for only a second before walking toward him, feeling a confidence she didn't know she had. As she reached the bar, he leaned in just enough for his voice to be heard over the music.

"Rough night?" His voice was deep, smooth, laced with something dangerous. Viva let out a breathy laugh. "Something like that". His eyes flickered with amusement as he took a slow sip of his drink.

"I could tell. You walked in like you had nothing to lose. "Maybe I don't, she wanted to say. Instead, she met his gaze head-on. "And what about you? Sitting here alone, watching people all night?"

He smirked. "Not all night. Just since you walked in." A shiver ran down her spine. Viva reached for the drink the bartender placed in front of her, but before she could take a sip, he leaned in just a fraction closer, his cologne wrapping around her like a spell, "Be careful," he murmured. "A woman like you... she could make a man do something reckless."