Sixth Time’s a Charm

Chapter 1

Megan: third person's point of view.

-

Amidst a fancy restaurant in the middle of the streets of the busy city, a certain woman was struggling to pull herself together.

The ambiance of the whole place, the music, even the food looks exquisite. What a nice way to end a relationship, right?

Wrong.

Getting your heart broken again is far from being nice.

The girl stopped playing with her fork after looking stupid for nearly ten minutes now. Instead, she just clenched her fist under the table and plastered a fake smile. 

"Let's end this," she heard him say.

Oh my, how surprising.

She bit her lip. "Why?"

The guy heaved a sigh. "You deserve someone better, Megan." He caressed her other hand that's placed on the table, beside the expensive dishes they left untouched. The girl gasped and pulled her hand away, then smiled at his frowning face.

"I know," she exhaled and shifted uncomfortably on her seat.

He looked down, avoiding her gaze. She bit her lip again, trying not to show any signs of weakness when in reality, she's so close to breaking down. Her right hand clutched her legs that are shaking underneath the polished table, unbeknownst to the man in front of her.

"I thought you only wanted to hang out and go on dates. I didn't know you were serious about this relationship."

The girl giggled. Seconds later, she dissolved in fits of laughter, gaining the attention of the people who, unlike them, were simply enjoying their dinner.

"You're just a fling." It was barely a whisper, but she heard it.

Okay, ouch.

"I'm so stupid for thinking otherwise," she said while wiping her tears, "I should've known better."

"Yes, you should have known better."

Megan raised an eyebrow, visibly unpleased with her boyfriend's reaction. "Pardon?"

The guy sighed and looked at her dead in the eyes. "Don't get me wrong, Megan. You are smart, beautiful, and easy to mingle with. I had fun being with you, but that's it. You, on the other hand, are too eager for commitment."

"Is that a problem? I mean, people date because they like each other. Things are bound to be serious between the two of us."

The guy only rolled his eyes. "I never told you to take this seriously in the first place, I only wanted to hang out."

She chuckled. The audacity.

Megan finally stopped laughing as her eyes brimmed with new tears. "I feel so pathetic right now."

The guy only sighed again and grabbed his things. He put on his coat and gave one last glance at Megan who remained unmoving in her seat.

"I have to go. I paid for the meal already, don't worry."

Ridiculous, but it's okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm okay. I'm-

"I'm not okay with that! We can't just end it like this," she blurted out, stopping the guy from walking away from their table. "We spent eight months together for nothing?"

He sighed and turned on his heel, not bothering to look back.

"Listen, I'm really, really sorry."

Liar.

Megan slapped herself mentally, and a lone tear finally escaped her tired eyes, wetting her left cheek. All she could do was stare at his retreating back. She chuckled bitterly while shaking her head.

"Ah, lucky me."

-----

"Wait, hold up. What the heck-"

"Chill, Andrea."

"But he's like, what, the hundredth dude already? how can I chill?"

Megan only rolled her eyes at her best friend. "It's just the fifth, stop being dramatic."

Andrea slammed her hand on the marble counter, surprising the bartender nearby. She shrugged it off and faced her best friend who's currently drowning herself in whiskey. She clicked her tongue at the sight.

"You look like a mess, Spencer."

The poor girl just exhaled and downed another shot, wincing at the burning sensation in her throat. "My heart's a mess, I feel like I'm gonna puke."

"Of course, you are. You're drunk already, dumbo," Andrea huffed while pulling Megan's left arm. She groaned when the stubborn girl stayed glued in her seat. "Let's go, Meg. I'll ask Ethan to drive us home."

"I don't have a home anymore. He was my home, my everything and I-"

"And you have an apartment. Come on, lady. Get up."

"I'm tired, Drea," Megan's voice broke. "So damn tired."

Andrea stopped to look at Megan's disheveled face. Her eyes were puffy, and her mascara tainted her wet cheeks. She sighed and hugged her best friend from behind.

"Damien's the fifth already. I don't think my heart will be able to handle any more pain."

"Hey, don't say that!" Megan managed to hear Andrea's words despite the loud music booming through the speakers. "Misfortune always comes and goes, Meg. Some guys are total douchebags. They're not into serious relationships anymore."

Megan suddenly stopped moving in her seat.

"You know, what if..."

Andrea removed her arms that were circled around Megan's shoulder. She sat on the barstool again and faced the younger.

"What if I try it too?" Megan spoke after a few seconds of silence.

"Try what- oh, hell no, Miss Spencer. You're not sober."

The drunk girl hiccupped. "What's wrong with that? having flings seem to be a normal thing now," She sniffled. "Need proof, dear friend? My exes. And I'm- *hicc* I'm definitely not drunk yet!"

Andrea scoffed and lightly pushed the younger's forehead with her palm. "Yeah, definitely."

Andrea shook her head at Megan who's about to grab another shot glass. She hit her hand and glared at the bartender who went frozen on his spot.

"Tch. I hate you!"

"We both know you won't survive without me, who are you kidding?" Andrea shook the drunk girl's shoulder. "Don't doze off, I won't carry you."

Such a mom.

She sighed after receiving no response. The tall girl carried their bags with one hand and shook Megan's shoulder with the other. "Let's go, Ethan will get mad at me."

Hearing her brother's name, Megan abruptly stood up, instantly regretting it after she felt dizzy. She remained standing on her spot for a while in hopes of stopping the world from spinning before leaving a tip on the counter and blowing a kiss to the smiling bartender. Andrea noticed her flirty gesture, so she grabbed her waist and helped her walk towards the exit.

"Since when did you become a flirt?"

Megan snorted, squinting her eyes to take a better look at her friend's baffled face. "*hicc* I told you, I'll look for-*hicc* flings now..." 

"What should I do with you, woman?! Ethan will kill me."

Suddenly, Andrea heard sniffles. She looked at Megan's direction and saw her wiping her tears. 

"Why can't they be like Ethan?" she sniffled again. Andrea pat her back softly, fixing the younger's jacket that fell off her shoulder.

"That dude can honestly pass as an angel, like, *hicc* if he would take a vacation in heaven, they'll let him in a- *hicc* heartbeat." Megan pouted and rolled her eyes at the thought.

"What should I do, Drea? I'm tired of bawling my eyes out every single night." She whimpered, followed by another hiccup.

"Anything but having flings, Meg," Andrea looked up to the dark sky, "Anything but that."

"Maybe I could- *hicc* still give it a try, it won't- *hicc* what's with these stupid hiccups?!"

"Take a rest over there," Andrea pointed back at the bar. "I think there's a wooden bench or two near the entrance. I'll text your brother. Crash in our place tonight, we'll drive you home tomorrow."

Megan pouted, even more, letting Andrea help her walk towards the bench. "I told you, there's no more-"

"Stay here, lady."

"Whatever."

"I swear, don't do anything stupid like last time, Spencer."

"Sure, mom."

Minutes passed and Megan got bored, so she stood up and did the dumbest thing. She walked away from the bar. How brilliant.

Andrea, where the frick are you?

She hit her head in frustration as she looked at her surroundings. There are a lot of parked cars and a few people smoking nearby. She coughed and covered her nose at the unpleasant smell. 

"Where the frick am I? *hicc* where did Andrea go?"

She scratched her nape and frowned. 

Oh my donuts, I'm lost.

In reality, she's just near the bar, standing idly in the middle of a public parking space. She was about to continue walking when a black car stopped in front of her. The car windows opened, revealing two people. Megan squinted her eyes after seeing a girl wearing a familiar beige coat. Her eyes widened and she gave the brightest smile she could muster.

"Drea! I thought you left me already!" she wasted no time and entered the backseat.

"Damn, Ethan, I- *hicc* I didn't know you bought a new car. She's- *hicc* a beaut!"

Fancy interior. I like it.

"Um, excuse me-"

"Shut up and let me explain first," Megan shushed the man behind the wheel. "Damien broke up with me earlier. He's- *hicc* not serious about me... *hicc* life freaking sucks, kuya." (Translation: older brother)

The guy didn't say anything further so she continued. "So that's why- *hicc* I'll be a bad girl and do the fling thing!"

"I'm sorry, what?" The girl in the front finally spoke. 

Megan sneered at her and looked outside the car's window. "I thought you left me there, Drea! quit blabbering nonsense."

"Pardon me, but I don't—"

"Ugh, I'll explain it to you guys later, I need to rest my eyes. I'll crash at your place, right?"

The two remained unmoving, their eyes still locked on the disheveled stranger on the back seat. Both of them sighed after hearing her snore.

"Drea? Since when did you have that nickname?" the guy whispered.

"This is messed up, Aster," she sighed and shook her head. "I don't know that girl."