I got kicked out of the apartment that my now ex-boyfriend of five years and I had equally paid for.

Ryo and I met in university and decided to live together.

I put just as much money as he did into that place and all for him to hand me my already packed bags with nothing more than an 'it's over with us.'

I have loans to pay back and can't afford a down payment for any place.

When I asked for my half of the money invested back, he squinted at me in confusion stating that the house was on his name.

It turns out that me putting the money into his account to pay for the place was not a trustworthy decision.

You live and learn. But what hurt more was the knowledge of him sleeping with some other woman for the time we were together. I was just a bank for them who laughed at me all this while.

We were fine just the day before, or so I thought, so the idea of him pulling off this stunt, stuns me to silent disappointment.

I lug my things back to where I work. Being the introverted orphan that I am means that I have no friends or anywhere to go for the night.

I slump down against the side wall of the bakery, my body cramping and aching with exhaustion.

The last five years run through my mind and before I know it my sobbing acts as a soundtrack to the memories of what I thought was my happily ever after.

I cry hard, my heart lurching and aching terribly at the many memories of me and Ryo.

I worked extra hard and had two part time jobs to make the money. I even took on holiday jobs, cutting off any chance of fun to make enough to help him with paying for that cursed apartment and to save up for my dream.

I feel all the emotion and life sap out of me as it cascades down my cheeks in wet droves.

I huddled tightly, holding myself, the only person I have to depend on as I try to comprehend my next step in life.

I feel so miserable and let down that I almost want to give up. The thought of me dying crosses my mind and I realise that I have little if anything to live for.

I stare at the occasional car that glides swiftly past. I wonder how painful death would be if I flung myself at any of those cars.

A darkness consumes me and begins to feed at the idea of me giving up my life.

Overwhelmed with the reality of being alone in the cold, wet night outside my workplace makes my heart cramp.

I close my eyes and cover my face in shame as tears wrack my body once again.

'Oh my God! Oh my God. I really don't matter...' I think to myself, almost horrified at the notion.

"Miss!?" I hear a voice call out but I ignore it.

'Probably for someone else. Who'd care about me?' I tell myself harshly.

"Beg your pardon Miss." The voice slices through the darkness in my mind.

The warm urge of his tone makes my neck crane up before I can even register it.

I startle at the sight of the man crouched in front of me. His wrist resting regally on his bent knee.

'What does someone as gorgeous and refined as him want from me?' I wonder poisonously.

'Perhaps my crying disturbed him and he wants me to shut up...' I consider.

"It's not safe out here." He tells me, drawing my attention for the first time to the time of day.

I look around at the darkened night, the black sky reflecting what I feel inside.

Turning my face back to the man, I guardedly study his features that the street light reveals.

'Wow he's so handsome. Must be a model judging by the fine clothes he's wearing.'

"Can I help you home?" Those innocent words from his lips reignite the raging anger and hurt I feel.

I almost burst out at him telling him that I don't have one of those. In the end I opt for silence, not wanting to spit poison at a person who offered to help me.

Feeling ashamed at my behavior I shake him off, hoping he'd leave me the hell alone to lick my wounds.

The handsome man with the attractive jawline doesn't budge. Insisting on helping me I sigh irritably.

'What's wrong with this man. Just leave me the hell alone. I am homeless!' I scream internally.

I try another lie to push him away but he falls silent, subtly lifting a brow up at me.

"Alright I'll wait with you until then." He offers again, not backing down.

The ridiculousness of my lie suddenly dawns on me and I feel a sense of gratitude toward this man for not calling me out on my bluff.

'What's with this man!? Why is he being so nice!? Ryo wouldn't have thought twice before leaving me stranded. Why can't this guy just be on his way and leave me to my misery?' I ask myself incredulously.

After a hard moment of him stubbornly waiting with me I push to a stand realising that if I don't get going he'll probably do something more drastic like call the cops or something.

I push to a stand, lifting my bags up when I see him stick his hand out into the way. I frown at him wondering what he wanted.

Dropping his long arm to the side he stands up with an ease and the grace of a prince.

Under better circumstances I'd feel conscious of myself but I am too tired to care.

He walks with me silently while I scout for a cab.

Ignoring him I busy myself with rough calculations as to how much I have saved and if I can afford any cheap residence for the night.

I recall a part in the city that has cheap rooms to rent for the evening.

As soon as the idea forms in my mind, he asks for the location I am headed to.

'Is he nosy or what? Why does he care if I died or live as a queen?' I ask myself, ruffled by his concern.

A few minutes later the door of a cab opens and I sigh at the amount of hurt the cost this taxi fare is going to do to my savings.

I climb in trying to figure out where exactly to go when the cab takes off at a slow speed, building up momentum before taking off properly.

'What is that guy's problem. Why did he have to mind my business so much? I could've walked to the bathhouse.'

'I stayed out of the way. What did he have to approach me for?'

After a few moments of ranting out of embarrassment, I realise that he was just being helpful and was probably being what is called 'kind'.

My cheeks sting with embarrassment once more. I was behaving so childishly that I didn't even thank him, let alone even notice him as I got into the cab.

The driver drops me off at a central point where different inns, bathhouses and cheap hotel rooms stand in offering next to each other.

Pulling out my card to pay the driver he smiles warmly at me, shaking it off.

"I am already paid thanks." Lifting a few bills up he shows me a large amount that covered the fare and a generous tip already in his hand.

My cheeks turn red at the realization that the handsome man paid for my cab.

I wrack my head but what with my wallowing in misery, I didn't even notice him.

'Great. He even paid for it and I didn't even thank him.' I chide myself, getting off at the pavement.

I look around at my options and opt for the inn that was still open. I was lucky enough to get a small room for two days at a discounted price.

I allowed myself that much luxury to give myself time to make a decision.

'At least I have a roof over my head for another day. Until then I'll just go to work and take it from there...'

I take a hot shower, the high temperature doing little to melt the ice that had seeped into me from sitting in the cold.

Rummaging through my clothes that my ex packed as a generous attempt to kick me out faster, I find my favorite set of woolen pajamas and pull them on.

Setting my phone to charge I lie down on the musky bed that smells as if a cologne of mold and time had been sprayed on it.

My body falls into a stiff sleep in an attempt to repair the mental destruction of the day.

The next day I busy myself with work at the bakery, putting in extra effort to improve the quality of the bread and pastries.

At noon I make a batch of cupcakes setting aside for my coworker to frost when I hear the door bell chime.

Wiping my hands down on my apron I make my way to the front of the bakery to help the customer.

"Hi there. How may I help?" I ask emerging in a rush from the back.

Tucking my fringe away to see clearly, my eyes focus on a refined, perfectly cut man who stands with masculine confidence that makes my knees buckle.

A whiff of his woodsy cologne hits me and I feel my senses numb at the intoxicating scent.

His dark, hazel coloured eyes widen with surprise. Any chances of last night being a bad dream dissolve, the longer I stand admiring the handsome man in front of me.

The same eyes, the same jawline. Could it be the same handsome model?

  ‧₊ ˚  ⊹ ࣭ ⭑ . ₊ ⊹ .₊๋

A/n: 🩷

Credit to artist.