Aaron looked at his watch and sighed. He whispered, "She is late." Kaeye, his girlfriend had asked him to meet at a café.
The waiter smiled at him and asked, "Sir, it's... almost two hours now. You haven't ordered a single thing. So, would you like to order something?"
He glanced at his watch again. With a nod, Aaron ordered, "A cup of coffee, please."
"Right away, Sir."
Suddenly, a woman entered the café and walked towards Aaron.
Aaron stood up and walked towards her. He gave a light kiss to her cheek and said, "You are late."
Kaeye nodded her head. She walked with him towards their assigned table, and put her purse on a nearby chair. She said, "Look, Aaron... I am not going to beat around the bush. So, I just want to tell you... I... Aaron, us... I think it's not working."
These words caused Aaron to go stiff. He couldn't believe his ears. He asked, "What are you saying?! Did I do something wrong?!" His words were full of disbelief and desperation. He began to recollect where he had gone wrong.
"Aaron, you are too immersed in your career. A non-existent career. You know that you don't have any future in that field. Yet, you are grinding yourself at that place regularly."
Aaron shook his head in denial. He refused, "It's not! I like teaching. Being a high-school chemistry teacher seems not much, but I can change. So, please think again."
Kaeye sighed, "No, Aaron. It's final. I have talked about this before. This? I didn't want to do this. But I have to. Teaching won't give you much. Aaron, you are a talented man. My father wants you to accept what he is offering. So, think again. If you accept his offer, then I will change my decision. You are a chemistry genius. Not just chemistry, you are highly talented in every field. Someone like you should be working in a respected place."
Kaeye's words made him go silent. One thing, Aaron valued was his self-respect. He would never bow his head to anyone.
"No, I won't. Kaeye, you know why. I will never 'beg' to anyone!" Aaron spat out.
"Sir, your coffee."
"Put the damn thing on the table and fuck off!" yelled Aaron. Everyone stopped on their tracks and looked at Aaron.
The waiter put the coffee cup on the table and scrambled away.
Kaeye hissed, "Calm down! Why are you yelling?"
"Have you ever... processed your words? You are out of your mind! Kaeye, I love you and that's what should matter. Not what I am doing," said Aaron.
It shouldn't be surprising for Kaeye to see Aaron's outburst. Ego would always weigh him down... but he? He would never accept that. That was why she asked for a breakup.
Kaeye whispered, "I... can't go on like this. It's one thing that you love me... I can't be with someone who doesn't want to succeed in his life. So, let's end this relationship."
Aaron laughed at himself. A relationship of five years was going to end because he wouldn't 'beg' Kaeye's father. She was her first love. He dreamed his future with her. A family, with two kids and a small house. But it wasn't what Kaeye dreamed of.
"You always have dreamed to be something more, right? Yet, you never got any opportunity to prove yourself. Being a girl is nice, right? Your father takes care of your every need. Me? I wag my tail every time when I see you," mocked Aaron.
Kaeye scoffed, "What are you saying?"
"I am chemistry teacher, with a very low salary. Kaeye, your needs are insatiable... I guess, you never had to do something hard in your life. Daddy's little princess needs a lot of care. Someone like me is insignificant in your eyes. Hard work means nothing to you! Your dreams were a lie, weren't they? You just need a man to lean on, right?" asked Aaron.
Kaeye banged her hands on the table. She yelled, "What the fuck are you saying?! Don't lump your failure on me! It's you who's responsible for this! Your damn pride! You bloody orphan! If not for me, you would have perished long before! Your love is meaningless in front of real success. Love doesn't fill our stomachs! Money does! Have you ever looked at your clothes?! They are filthy. You know what? Go to hell!" With those parting words, she took her purse and left the café.
Aaron closed his eyes for some time, before opening it. Everyone was watching him, he could feel it. Mocking eyes, sympathetic eyes, indifferent eyes... all were fixated on him. He stood up, took out his wallet and put the money on table. Just before leaving the café, he looked at his watch. Without any thought, he took it out of his wrist and left the café.
"Have you ever truly loved me? Or, was it one sided?" Aaron whispered to himself. Suddenly, he threw the watch on the ground and stomped on it. A crunching sound entered into his ears.
"It was fake, wasn't it? An ambitious girl will definitely like someone successful. Me? Even though, I wasn't rich... I loved you. I had dedicated my everything to you and you only. Money was never an issue. Hah! I am such a fool, aren't I?"
All of a sudden, Aaron felt flying in the air, before crashing on the ground with a sickening thud. His ears were ringing, and his consciousness was fading slowly.
Pain. It... hurts... so much.
People, who saw the accident, had surrounded Aaron's bleeding body, wanting to help him. At first, they saw the man breaking the watch... and then suddenly they saw him walking towards a speeding car. Immediately, one of them called the ambulance. But it was too late.
Aaron's life was fading with every passing second. Each event of his life was flashing in front of his eyes. He was orphan. Every day, he woke up with one thought in his head: 'I am going to be adopted today.' But no one did. Apparently, no one liked him enough to adopt him. His wish for a family was dead... much like his fate.
Kaeye, I hope you live happily. Maybe, it was just me... I... loved you. Sorry, for the last hurtful words. I know... you can't... hear me... I, please forgive me. Have a great life... with someone who can satisfy... your needs. I still... love you... even if you don't.