Fiction #214... Bittersweet pie.

*What is the meaning of this Antonio? How could you betray me like this!” Kate screamed at her soon to be husband who was wrapped in the sheets with a petite red haired lady. Antonio did not even bat an eyelid at her screams. He was comfortable in his own world.

Seeing her fiance's unremorsefulness, Kate staggering two steps backwards, found the strength to run away from that room. She kept running until she found herself in the garden. Panting for lack of air, she finally gave way to the tears. *”I should have listened. I should not have been so arrogant that I threw away the few pieces of good advice given me by my friends. Now I am to eat humble pie because I didn't listen.

---

Flashback

---

Kate was reading a book peacefully in the library. All was right with the world and nothing was out of place. Then, the sound of the door being opened caught her attention. As she raised her head to see who the interruption was, her eyes met with the azure eyes of a young man in his late twenties who just walked into the library.

Intrigued, she raised her head to get a full view of him. He had thick wavy dark hair, finely chiseled jaw and a dazzling set of immaculate teeth. He wore a white shirt with a black leather jacket on black jeans.

Kate had never seen such a fine young man around and before she could say…jack, her heart pounded loudly within her chest. Next thing that followed was Mr blue eyes walking towards her. He stood opposite her and said a simple ”hi” with a smile that could melt Mount Everest.

Kate swooned, her heart pounding faster. She was certain if it continued, her rib cage would pop. She responded to him with a nod of her head, diving right back into her book to prevent him from seeing her blush.

”My name is Antonio Thompson. I'm a transfer student from Manhattan. I'm looking to make good friends. So may I know you?” He said to Kate.

” My name is Kate Shaw and it is a pleasure to meet you Antonio” she said stretching a hand to him for a handshake.

”Can I call you Katy?” Antonio continued with a wide grin that was melting Kate's resolve like wax near fire. ”Yes, you can” she replied to him and that singular meeting became the foothold for their relationship. This encounter happened in March 2023.

---

Six months later, the school was abuzz with the preparation for graduation. Kate and Antonio's relationship had deepened but her two best friends were not happy with it and they aired their views occasionally with Kate but she paid deaf ears to them.

”Kate, you know Antonio is not a serious guy right?” That was Penny throwing a question at Kate.

”Yes Kate, you don't have to waste your time on him. He's a jerk” Stella supported Penny's claim.

”What's with you girls again? I thought we were over this issue. I know Antonio and I know he loves me. He won't do anything to hurt me, not after all I've done for him” Kate replied to her friends.

”You need to listen to us and trust us as well. We grew up together and have always had each other's backs. Do you think that we would lead you astray?” Penny asked, looking Kate straight in the eye.

Kate wanted to believe her friends but her ego was larger than planet Saturn and she angrily yelled at her friends to leave her alone before she walked away from them.

”I hope it isn't too late by the time she sees Antonio for who he really is” Stella said whilst she placed a comforting hand on Penny's shoulder. ”Yeah, I hope so too” Penny concurred as they watched Kate walk away in anger.

---

Four months after graduating from college, Kate was already working in a large organization as a project Manager while Antonio worked as an insurance salesman. All was going smoothly for them until one week after Antonio proposed marriage to her, to which she readily said “yes”.

She moved into his apartment a few days later and readily began to settle in as the new “madam” of the house. This was when Antonio's real face began to show. He kept late nights, he came back home drunk on most days of the week and he was becoming more aggressive towards her.

She felt that this was a phase and that her caring and loving Antonio would return to her but that never happened. The day she caught him cheating had been the day she went to the spa. Fortunately, the spa was less crowded and she was attended to on time. She had planned to surprise Antonio with her new look but she was the one who got a new look of her fiance instead.

---

** The Present**

---

Right there in the garden, she wept at her stupidity. She should have listened to her friends but her pride in dating the coolest guy in school clouded her good judgement.

She needed to see Penny and Stella. She needed to apologise to them in person. Going inside to get her car keys, she drove down to Stella's house. She knew Stella would be easier to dialogue with than Penny.

On getting to Stella's house, she was lucky to have met her at home along with Penny. Right there, Kate felt ashamed of herself for not believing her friends and fighting with them.

"Can you girls forgive my foolishness? I realize now that all what you told me about Antonio is true. I'm really sorry". Kate said almost sobbing.

Penny and Stella looked at each other smiling. Their friend was back. They both stood up and embraced Kate.

"It's good that you realized Antonio's true nature before you guys tied the knot. We fogive you and we love you girl" Penny said hugging Kate a little tighter.

"Really, you girls are the best. Thank you so much" kate responded to both of them.

Taking their seats, Penny was the one to break the ice. "So how does having a taste of humble pie feel?" She teased.

"It feels awful but good at the same time because I have learnt from my mistake".

They all burst out laughing happily. This was going to be a new beginning.

---

Thank you ll for reading.

---

Images were imagined with Meta Ai.