Anna had been waiting for over three hours, sitting transfixed at a table that should have been full of laughter. Her birthday cake, neatly arranged in front of her, had begun to melt, yet her heart remained unmoved. Every second that passed added to the biting pain. The hopes she had nurtured since the morning were now crumbling one by one, like the ruins of a sand castle that had been hit by the waves.
"Excuse me, miss, our restaurant will be closing soon," said a waiter in an almost inaudible tone, as if afraid to disturb Anna's sadness.
Anna just smiled sarcastically. A smile that was far from happy. She stared at her neglected birthday cake, then without hesitation, with her bare hands, she began to cut it. One piece, two pieces, until there was nothing left. She ate it in a strange way, like someone forced to swallow a wound. Each chew only added to the pain, reminding her of the empty promises that had never been kept.
Her heart broke, but her face remained rigid. Even when the waiter left, Anna didn't care. She knew that today, not only was her birthday lost, but also the love she once thought was hers.
After paying, Anna stepped out with heavy steps. The evening breeze greeted her face, but could not refresh her broken heart. As she passed by the back door of the restaurant, the whispering voices of the waiters could be heard.
"That's unfortunate, but she should know that she can't replace Miss Richa in Mr. Pedro's heart," said one of the waiters, in a pitying tone.
"True, especially now that Richa is back. Mr. Pedro will definitely choose her again," said another.
Anna laughed bitterly. Laughing to herself. Everyone knew, and she couldn't accept that fact. She wiped away her sudden tears, then walked away with shaky steps.
Five years ago, Anna had big ambitions. She was fascinated by Pedro Albert, who was now a wealthy man known throughout the city. Because of her strong determination, Anna left her career to work as Pedro's personal secretary, climbing her way up to finally earn a place in his heart. However, in the last few months, a dark shadow has come in the form of Richa Almes, Pedro's first lover, who never really seemed to leave.
Anna walked unsteadily, but there was a small hope that began to emerge when she saw Pedro's car passing in front of her. "Maybe he's coming late," she thought, though a little hesitantly. She asked the taxi driver to make a U-turn and followed the car, her heart still hanging on to a possibility. Maybe Pedro was busy, or something important got in the way. "He will definitely come. He won't forget my birthday," she thought.
However, that hope vanished in an instant. When Pedro's car pulled up to an apartment, it wasn't the restaurant they had agreed on. Anna saw it clearly-Pedro getting out of the car, and next to him, Richa, the woman who had returned to fill the empty space in Pedro's life. Richa clung to Pedro's arm, as if the world belonged to the two of them.
Anna's body seemed to freeze. Something sharp and cold infiltrated her chest, shaking her harder than she ever imagined. Pedro and Richa's every move was like a knife slicing through her heart. Pedro did not resist the embrace. No words came out of his mouth to erase Richa's shadow. He remained silent, entering the apartment with the woman who had ruined everything.
Anger raged in Anna's chest. Arriving home, she could no longer contain all the feelings that had been pent up. Everything she had done, everything she had sacrificed, was now destroyed in an instant. Anna packed her belongings into a suitcase, her hands trembling. "Enough," she whispered. "Enough is enough."
That night, Anna left the house where she and Pedro had lived for five years. Every step felt like walking on broken glass, but she couldn't stop. Her broken heart had no room for hope. She knew she had chosen a hard path, one filled with unhealed wounds.
But behind her fading steps, there was something hanging in the air. Something unseen, yet felt-an unanswered question. What would happen if love was truly gone, and only bitterness was left in its place? Anna walked away, leaving everything behind, but there was something inside her that still asked, as if she wanted to know, was she ever truly loved or was she just a temporary substitute, when Richa was not by Pedro's side?
***
At the office, Pedro sat in his chair with a cup of hot coffee that Anna used to make for him. It tasted strange, not like usual. There was a lack, either too sweet or too bitter. Pedro turned to Anna's desk, which was now empty. The awkwardness enveloped him more and more, making him feel that something was wrong.
Restlessly, he called out to Anna. "Anna!" But it wasn't Anna who came, but a young assistant who had just been hired.
"What are you doing here?" Pedro looked at her sharply. "I called Anna, why did you come?"
The assistant was a little surprised, but in a soft voice she replied, "I'm sorry, sir. Miss Anna no longer works here. She resigned."
Pedro felt like the world was collapsing around him. "What?! Resigned?" Anger bubbled up inside him. "When did this happen?"
The assistant backed away, frightened by Pedro's aura of deep anger. Wordlessly, she left the room. Pedro immediately dialed Anna's number, but there was no answer. He tried several times, finally receiving the message that the number had been blocked.
Angry and confused, Pedro immediately left his office, contacting someone to track down Anna's whereabouts. Anna's whereabouts were not that hard to find. With all his power, Pedro was able to get what he wanted.
Before long, he was standing on the doorstep of a house Anna knew. As soon as the door opened, Anna tried to run away, but Pedro quickly grabbed her arm. "Anna! Are you mad at me? Don't run!" shouted Pedro.
Anna swatted Pedro's hand away violently. "Sorry, sir. I have resigned. We are no longer in contact."
Pedro was transfixed, incredulous. "What do you mean, you want to leave me? Just because I forgot your birthday?" His voice was full of confusion, as if he never knew how often he ignored Anna.
Anna looked at Pedro blankly, then sneered. "Is that a joke to you?"
Pedro laughed at Anna's words. "You're not a child anymore. Don't make a fuss. We can do your birthday, next year. Whatever you want, I'll give it to you."
"Really?" Anna smiled sarcastically. "Well, then, I want us to end."
Pedro laughed. "Don't be stupid, Anna. It's just a small matter. Richa was sick last night, I just wanted to help her."
That name. Richa. Whenever the relationship between him and Anna was on the rocks, that name always came up. Richa, the childhood sweetheart who had always been Pedro's number one.
Anna was silent, her heart torn apart. "Pedro, your relationship with Richa is very close. You two have always been more important than anyone else, including me. I understand. I just want to leave. And you two, can be free to start a relationship again."
Pedro tried to reassure Anna. "You're too jealous, Anna. Richa is just an old friend. This has nothing to do with us!"
"Your relationship with Richa has always been more important. Every time he needs you, you'll leave me. Not just last night, but every other time, you would run to her if she needed you." Anna held back the tears that were about to fall. "I'm tired, Pedro. I'm tired of being hurt."
Pedro was about to take Anna's hand, but suddenly his cell phone rang. Richa's name appeared on the screen. Pedro stopped, stiffened, and turned around. Without a word, he quickly got into the car and asked the driver to leave. Past Anna, who was alone.
A few seconds later, Anna fell limp. At that exact moment, a luxury car came in front of her. A man in a black suit got out with a face full of anxiety, called her name and swiftly carried her into the car.
