"What do you mean? I thought you loved me.." He says to me. I bite my bottom lip that won't stop quivering. "I'm sorry Mat, I just don't see you in that way.. I thought that I loved you but I.." I stop short. Am I telling the truth? Do I not love him anymore? "I think we should be friends, if you're willing." I finally say, knowing that what I'm saying is what I truly mean in the least disrespectful way possible. "But we've been together for a year, and I even took consideration that you're not ready for sex because you're still a virgin."

I furrow my eyebrows at him. "You think that this is the reason why I'm breaking up with you?" I ask. He sits back in the couch in our apartment. "I'd say yes, what? Are you scared that I'll take advantage of you? That I won't want to wait forever?" His jaw clenched making it look squared and sharp. "It's not even that." I say. He squints at me. "I just don't feel that this is for me anymore Mat, you're not for me. I really enjoyed our time together and you mean a lot to me, but I just feel that we need to move on with our lives." I say. His eyes never leaving mine.

"And you realize this now? After we were almost a year and a month?" I cross my arms over my chest, not really able to meet his eyes. "I've felt it recently, it's not like I stayed with you to play with your heart. I just.." I swallow my saliva, making my throat less dry. "So.. Did you ever love me at all?" He asks. I drop my arms and finally look up at him. His dark hair combed to one side, his blonde roots coming out making his hair look like some type of layered cake. His blue green eyes becoming watery, I nod. "Yes, I did." I say simply. He then looks down at his torn jeans.

"Very well then.. I'll have my stuff out by tomorrow afternoon." He says standing up and heading to the bedroom we once shared. I sit on the couch where he sat not too long ago and listen to him rubbishing through his things to leave. My eyes water and I cover my mouth with my hand. This is what we need, and it's enough for our new beginnings. We are different people now, not the same people that fell in love a year ago. I know that we'll be fine, he'll be fine.

**
• A year later •

It still goes through my head every once in a while, but for sure I know that the feelings I once had for him have become nothing more than friendly affection. It's been a year, and we've actually stayed friends. I know what you're thinking, that it's hard for people who were once together to become friends after a break up. But actually it was pretty easy. If you cooperate with each other and set boundaries, you should be fine. We'd ask each other advice about work and relationships... Okay. Now that I'm thinking about it is actually pretty weird. But hey, life goes on right?

My phone then beeps and I look down at it.

-

Mat-
Hey can we meet up?

Me-
Sure. Mall?

Mat-
You know it :)

-

I grab my keys and head out to my car, I wonder what he wants to talk about.

**

"What do you mean you got stood up?" I ask Mat as he stares at me from the other side of the table at the mall. "Yeah, I guess she only thought of me as a friend." He says, looking down at his plate of pizza that he kept poking at. I frown. "Mat, she's stupid if she stood you up. You're an amazing guy" and I know that he is. He looks up at me with sad expression written all over his face. He finally smiles, that smile that used to make my heart race. But where's that feeling now?

"I feel bummed just sitting here and sulking about some girl, let's go have fun." he says, and I look at him smiling. "Yes! Where!?" I ask, he leans in. His face close to mine, I lean back as much as I could in my chair. "Let's go to a club." He suggests. "A club?" I look at him confused. I take out my phone and look at the time. 7:39 we've been here for five hours, and I didn't even notice.

"Are there even any clubs open at this time? It's kind of early for a club to be open.. Well some clubs. " he grabs my hand and drags me out of the food court. "Look, I just want to go out and forget about this girl by just having some fun." He says swinging an arm over my shoulder. "And get completely drunk?" I ask. He chuckles. "How'd you know?" He asks, I roll my eyes. "I just figured, that's the only reason to go out to a club." I say.

"Okay drive home, and actually dress the way you'd dress for a club. And I'll come pick you up" he says. I feel this urge to say no, but he wants to forget this girl and I only want him to have fun. And it even makes me wonder if this is how he dealt with our break up. Plus, he's my friend. What can go wrong?

**

When I get home I take a shower, blow dry and straighten my hair. When I get dressed, I look at myself in the mirror. I look whorey as hell, but, that's how you dress to go to a club right? An extremely tight top and short shorts with my favorite black wedges. I don't go out much, so I don't know what's over doing it. I hear a car horn outside and peer out the window, I see his blue Honda and run out of the apartment. Yeah, he doesn't even have the dignity to come to my door. I enter his car and he stares at me, his eyes bulging out of his damn skull. "What?" I ask. "That's how you're going to the club?" He asks sounding over protective like when he was my boyfriend. I give him an angry glare.

"Who are you my father? You were the one who said that I should dress club appropriate." I ask. He shrugs and pulls out of the parking spot. "Just don't want you to feel uncomfortable when a guy comes up to you expecting something." He says, I roll my eyes and look out the window. Did I mention what he was wearing? A navy blue tight dress shirt and black jeans. The dark sky complimented the color of the houses, they become a blur as Mat zoomed through the street.

Just then I hear bumping music and see a various amount of colorful lights, we're at a strip. Both sides of the street have clubs and strip clubs. You name it. I step out of the car. "We're going into that one." he says pointing to a club that looked fun.

PARK IT

It said in blue glowing flashing lights, it's a unique name. I shrug and follow him inside. It's not that loud, actually, a perfect atmosphere for both dancing and talking. Not like those obnoxious clubs where its too loud to hear a word from another person. I look around, I thought I was dressed whorey. There are girls, literally wearing their underwear and bras here. I turn to talk to Mat but he's gone. I spot him walking over to a group of girls who gladly welcome him to join them.

I don't blame them.

I walk over to the open bar and sit down, luckily being able to find a seat. I watch people socialize and watch people dance.. I mean that's not dancing, more like dry humping each other. Just then I feel a tap on my shoulder, I turn and see a man. He's not even peering into my eyes, but at my breast. Oh God, Mat was right. "Hey, my eyes are up here jerk." I say. He then looks up at my eyes shaking his head, like he barely realized that I have an actual face. "Sorry, you're just so beautiful. Let me buy you a drink."

I roll my eyes and forced my hand in his face. "Get out of my face you sick freak. " I say, he then turns and leaves. "That guys been trying all night." I hear behind me. I turn in the stool and find myself staring at an extremely good looking man who's wearing a see through shirt, he's obviously the bartender. He catches my attention right away. Gosh, I'm stupid for not noticing him before. "Oh yeah?" I ask leaning forward, he smirks at me. "Yup, you want a drink?" He asks. "What do I have to do?" I ask smirking, he smiles at me.

"You just have to say yes." he chuckles handing me the drink, I look at him. "You won't get in trouble for giving out free drinks?" I ask concerned. He stands up straight making his hard abs visible in the shirt. "Would it make you feel better if I ask the manager?" He asks, I nod. He stands there looking up at the ceiling. "The manager says it's fine." he says smiling. I narrow my eyes at him. "I'm guessing you're the manager." I laugh, he runs his fingers through his hair.

"You got that right cupcake, not just the manager, I own this club." He says smiling, his pet name for me made my heart skip a beat. No one's ever given me a nickname before. "So you gonna drink that?" He asks pointing at the cup he had given me, I take a sip.

Throughout the night we talk, flirt, and drink. I haven't felt this way since the first time I met Mat, I turn in my stool. Where is Mat? I spot him with a girl and they were eating each others faces. In other words, they are making out. I turn back to this sexy bartender. "So sweet cheeks, I never got your name." He says smiling as he prepares someone's drink. "Han Isaeli, but everyone calls me Izzy." I say smiling, he bites his lip and hands a person a drink, then looks at me.

"Izzy.. Such a pretty name for a pretty lady." He says leaning towards me from he other side of the bar. "And you? Mr See Through Shirt?" He chuckles. "Jimin" he says smiling, I run my finger along the wood trimming of the bar. "Well Jimin, do you always flirt with girls?" He just smiles at me. "Rarely, not a lot of girls catch my attention." He says without hesitating, I narrow my eyes at him. "Really?" I ask leaning forward until our faces are inches away, his eyes looking down at my lips.

"Yes, why would I lie?" He asks as he's inches closer, I lean back. "Because you don't know me." I say, he looks disappointed with our distance. "But you catch my attention, and I don't want to start something off with lies. So why would I lie to you?" He confesses, I feel my face heat up. "But we just met today." He shrugs, "So? Can't I know I'm attracted to someone in one day?" I can't help but smile, pulling my hair behind my ear. "I guess.. you can." I say. "So what brings you here tonight? Girls night?" He asks.

"Oh, no.. I'm here with my friend Mat." I point to him. "Oh, wow. Yeah." Is all he says. I slowly look away from him. "Hey." I hear next to me. I turn and see an attractive man. "Hi." I say smiling. "So, how about you take my extra drink and head over to the dance floor and so you can dance with me." He says smiling as he hands me the drink, I stand up and nod. I look back at Jimin who's fixing another drink. "I wouldn't drink that if I were you." He says without looking up. I furrow my eyebrows at him. "Why not?" He finally looks at me and hands the drink over to the person who it belonged to.

"Okay, go ahead. Drink the drink and wake up the next morning with your panites down to your knees not knowing where you are and realizing that you've been raped." he says. I stare at him with a straight face. "You don't go to clubs much.. do you? You're not supposed to take drinks from people at clubs besides the bartender." He says simply fixing another drink, I look down at the drink in my hand. I hand it to Jimin and he throws it in the trash. "How about the.." ,"That guy? he's already walking out of the club, he knows what I'm telling you."

I turn and see the guy walking out of the club. "Thanks..." I say looking back at him, he had a sweet smile on his face. "No problem." He says. "Do people do that often?" I ask him. He frowns slightly. "Yeah, sadly, and I try my best to prevent it. I don't want anyone to get hurt, but, you know.. it's hard to make people stop. People are going to do what they want, even when it's bad." I stare at him for while as he serves more drinks. He hands me a fresh beer that I physically see him pour for me, and when I've had enough he stops handing them to me. "Here, have some water instead." He tells me as he hands me a plastic cup of cold water.

I look at him and smile, even start to chuckle a bit for no reason. "Thank you." I say right in the water. He sort of just watched me for the rest of the night, making sure I was okay. I walked out to the dance floor and danced with some girls, and I saw Mat dancing with that girl from before. He held her from behind, his hands on her hips and she slowly rolled her body into him. I turn away from him and stare in another direction, Jimin catching my attention. A small smirk on his lips and he leans into his side of the bar. I look away from him too, not wanting to feel like he's looking at me. Though he is, I'm just in denial.

The night goes on and the club gets emptier and emptier until I decide that it's time for me to leave. I search around the club for Mat. "Damn it." I whisper to myself. I look everywhere and I think about the possible places that he can be. I walk into the men's bathroom not really caring who sees me. Then I search at the booths, before I walk outside. I don't see his damn Honda anywhere! Fuck me.

"Fuck!" I yell walking around the sidewalk. "Jerk left me, he's probably banging that girl he was making out with." I lean against the wall of the club, not knowing what I should do. It's quiet, I hear the door open and I jump to the sound of someone clearing their throat. I turn. "Oh! Sweet cheeks, hey." I smile at him. He has a sweater on. "Hey sweater" I say laughing a bit feeling completely stupid but I know it's because I'm still a little tipsy.

He looks down at his sweater and laughs. "My nickname is better." He smiles at me, I roll my eyes and stick my tongue out at him. "Hey, what are you still doing here? I thought that you came here with your friend Mat." He asks, concern spreading in his face. I shrug "My ride is probably getting it on with some girl right now." I say, he laughs. "You need a ride home?" I stare at him for a bit. "You sure? I can find my way home" I ask. He nods. "Yeah, I'm sure. It would make my life a lot easier knowing you're okay." He smiles.

"I'm sure I can catch a bus or something, maybe walk home.." I tell him standing up straight as I try to think about the direction we came from. I've never been to this side of the city before, and since I'm a little tipsy.. I don't remember. "Izzy, there aren't any bus stations that are open right now. And you're probably a long way from home, you're not in the state to walk home. I promise that you can trust me." He tells me, I get a good feeling about him. I know, stranger danger but.. let's honestly hope nothing happens.

I let out a breath, "It wouldn't be any trouble?" He shakes his head, "I told you that I would take you home, it's not a problem.", "Okay.." I whisper. He smiles, "Okay." And he unlocks his car and opens the door for me. He helps me into his car because I was falling over a bit. He gets into his car and I tell him my address, which he punches into his phone. "So what do you do?" He asks me. "I work in a office.", "Ooo, a office girl went to a club tonight." he teases. I chuckle, "I only came for moral support, but I guess he didn't need it.", "About what? If you don't mind me asking."

"Some girl stood him up." I say, he then laughs. "Are you kidding me?" I look at him a little confused. "What?", "Guys don't need moral support about being stood up. Honestly, they don't give a shit." I stare at him, "So he lied." I state. "Or maybe I'm wrong, some guys get emotional about little things like that." He says. I stare at him, and think about tonight. Mat had no problem taking a girl home, maybe he didn't need me. I slowly look out the window, the truth may suck but having it come from a guy too.. that says something.

"Is all you do is own a club?" I ask him. "Yeah, owning a club is a lot of work and it's enough to pay for my living." I slowly nod as I finally look at him and he's staring forward. "That's nice." I tell him. He looks around before he pulls his car over and I realize that he's in the front of my apartment. "This is you, right?" He asks. I look at him and nod, "Yes, thanks for the ride. It means a lot, also thanks for not driving me into a dark alley and shanking me, then throwing my body into a river." I say turning towards him as he turns off the car.

He chuckles before he grins. "Anytime, and feel free to stop by tomorrow night, I'd be happy to see you again." He says, I smile at his words. "I'll think about it." He grins. I'm about to get out when he grabs a hold of my hand, his grip was soft but strong. And his bicep looking like it was ready to rip through his sweater, I felt my mouth water a bit. I turn towards him. Is this the part where I get thrown in the river? Damn it, I shouldn't have said a thing. "Sweet dreams.. Izzy." He says, and my heart rate goes back to normal and my feet stop sweating. I use my other hand to caress his hand that held mine. "Good night Jimin." I say smiling, he finally lets go of my hand as he smiles sweetly.

I get out of the car and I close the car door gently, he waves at me from inside his car and I wave back. He waits until I'm inside and I run to the balcony and I wave at him from my room and I see him wave back at me again, then he drives off. The light of the moon, is the only thing that helped me see his car as it disappeared in the distance.
Leaving my heart happy to the thought of him. I slowly walk back into my house and I flop onto the couch and let out a breath.

He's a really sweet person and I'm happy that I met him tonight. What if I wouldn't have met him? Imagine if I would have drank that drink that guy offered me today at the club? I find it rare to meet someone like Jimin. A sweet smile and face like his could make any girl fall for him. Do I like this guy I barely met? I'm unsure if I should allow myself feel this way, what if it will end like Mat and I? What if it's only a feeling for now, and later on.. it won't be the same. I walk over to the front door and lock it, I walk into my room and change out of what I'm wearing and into pajamas.

I lay in bed and pull my hair up into a bun. I check my phone, no sign of Mat. I just hope that he's okay.

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[ R E V I S E D ]