Ruby frowned as she stared at the empty spot in her bed. It seems that her boyfriend Alucard didn't come home again from his gig with his friends or something. Perhaps they went out to drink, had a little too much alcohol, so he decided to crash on someone else's place. She should call Granger and Gusion about it later once she finally decides to leave her bed. She slumped back into her pillow and groaned with annoyance.

Alucard hasn't been spending much time with her lately because he said that he's busy with work and stuff. He's buying her a lot of things and everything she wanted would be given to her in an instant. He said that he's been working hard to provide for her needs but Ruby told him that she doesn't need pretty things. Spending time with him, cuddling under the sheets for hours, and having breakfast together are treasures worth more than any material thing money can buy. When she told him this, Alucard hugged her tightly and told her that she's the most precious thing for him, instantly warming her heart and sending butterflies fluttering in her tummy.

Those were the sweet bygone times that rarely happen now. Of course, they spend time with each other; they frequently have sex, go out on dates, and travel to new places. But lately, Ruby's been feeling something amiss. Every time he smiles at her, it feels forced. Every time he kisses her lips, it feels dull. The fire that once burned their souls together in a magnificent waltz of passion vanished. It felt like embers are the only things left that radiate a dull warmth before the coldness of apathy settles in.

Well, it's not like she doesn't know anyways but pretending is better than facing the truth. She knows that their relationship has been going stale lately and that she's the only one clinging to him which keeps their crumbling relationship intact. They might appear like a perfect couple from an outsider's perspective but it also doesn't take an expert to point out the cracks between them. She cannot confirm it nor can she tell who his woman is but her gut feels it. They say a woman's intuition is never wrong and right now something terrible and hideous is eating at her stomach and riddling her mind with negative thoughts which she constantly tries to deny.

Ruby gritted her teeth and groaned once more before throwing the sheets off of her and going to the bathroom like a walking corpse. She stared at her reflection in the mirror. A little bitch glared back at her as she looked at her appearance up and down.

This won't do at all. The girl in the mirror isn't pretty at all. Looking past her disheveled morning appearance, her face isn't really that gorgeous and exemplary. Her beauty is average, presentable but not outstanding. Her body is thin and scrawny compared to other women around her age making her look like a child. Sometimes when she goes out on dates with Alucard, police hold them up, inquiring if she was being kidnapped or harassed since her boyfriend is such a big man and she's a small girl. Some sales ladies mistake them for older brother and little sister considering they both blondes and all while some very rude ones ask them if they were father and daughter.

Ruby giggled at the memory as she brushed her teeth. She fondly remembers how angry she was at the people who assumed such preposterous things because of their appearance but Alucard would always restrain her in his powerful arms while soothing her rampage with sweet words of comfort. He lovingly caressed her hair before telling her that their opinion doesn't matter because no matter how small she is, she'll always occupy the biggest space in his heart.

Such wonderful words still make her tremble with romantic excitement even if they're merely memories. Perhaps later at lunch, he will come home. She will definitely prepare a delicious meal for him since she doesn't have work today.

"Where's my super cute little nurse gone to? She's not here? I wonder where that little princess could be." Excitement filled her stomach as she heard the voice of her boyfriend. She immediately finished freshening up and even put on some lip balm before going out to greet him.

"Aluuuu~!" she squealed like a mouse before hugging him tightly. She can barely reach his shoulder due to their height difference so she buried her face in his stomach while rubbing her cheeks against him.

"Woah there. You're so energetic in the morning. Well, that's already a given since you're a little ball of sunshine." He commented with a joyful smile while ruffling her hair.

Alucard pulled away and lowered his face to her level. He stared into her eyes for a brief moment before giving her lips a little peck.

"Good morning, my little princess. Sorry, I wasn't able to go home last night. I was totally wasted so I had to crash at Gusion's place. I'm so sorry for leaving you alone. Can you forgive me?" He apologized as he cupped her cheeks.

"No. This insolent mongrel should be punished a thousand times!" Ruby said playfully.

"What?! Why?! Oh, this is terrible! The cute little princess won't forgive a lowly mortal such as myself. Then there's nothing I can do but to take my own life and appease her grace." Alucard delivered theatrically.

"Is there really no other way for the little goddess to bestow her mercy upon this pitifully mortal!!!"

"The goddess might reconsider if you bring her an offering."

"Ahh! Of course, of course. How foolish can this mortal be if he didn't bring an offering to his cute goddess." Alucard took out a paper bag from behind him and handed her the object. Ruby's eyes instantly twinkled with stars as she discovered the contents of the bag.

"Cheeeeeeeeese Caaaaaaake~! Donuuuuuuts~! And coooookiiieees~! Oh, Alucard I love you so much. You know me so well." she exclaimed as she went over the various items he bought for her.

"Mhmm, nothing less but the best for my little Ruby. But of course, you can't have these for breakfast. You'll get fat. Let me go to the kitchen and cook something for the two of us. Just relax in there and watch some TV, okay?"

"Sure! I'll just fix the bed and draw the curtains in our room." she smiled before running off to their room.

The door closed behind her before the lock clicked in place. There was a brief silence as she slumped her back against the wood while staring down at her feet. The paper bag on her hand fell on the floor with a dull thud. The donut on her other hand was abruptly thrown against the wall reducing it into crumbs and pieces.

She saw it. She saw a hideous mark on his clothes. It was barely visible along the collar of his shirt but when she looked upon his face she immediately saw that disgusting little pink print on his clothes. How can he do that? How can he play with her feelings and act all innocent and sweet? How can he lie to her face with such caring eyes? How can he betray her yet still make her vulnerable to his touch?

Ruby wept but she made sure to be as quiet as possible. She went to punch the wall far from the door to avoid him hearing her tantrum. She gritted her teeth as tears poured from her eyes unstoppable. This was the third time she caught signs of his dishonesty but like the two other times, she didn't dare address it in fear of widening the cracks in their relationship. Just the thought of losing him drives her to the brink of madness that if he ever dumps her she'll surely kill herself.

Ruby needs to investigate and dig into the roots of her suspicion. She can't just accuse him without proof. Things are bad enough as it is and if she confronts him without having solid evidence then she'll just make a fool of herself. Suspicions are nothing more than accusations without proof. In any case, it might simply be an accident. It might not even be a lipstick mark but simple paint or something else. Alucard wouldn't cheat on her because he loves her greatly. She should dump her absurd guesses and just enjoy the moments she has with him.

"I'm an idiot." she mumbled to herself.

"You're a fool you know." Granger said as he played with her hair as they shared her bed after an intense sexual intercourse.

"I know but I love him. Having another woman is nothing as long as I'm the one he comes home to." Ruby replied as she buried her face into his chest inhaling his intoxicating aroma. His scent is so similar to Alucard that Ruby allows him to be his proxy. Even when Granger is the one inside her, it was Alucard's name that she shouts out with vigor and longing.

Ruby's been having a sexual relationship with her boyfriend's best friend since Granger agreed to have no strings attached. Even so, she can't exactly deny that there's a sparkle in his eyes when he stares at her. The same sparkles that Alucard used to have when he looks at her.

"Why don't you choose me instead? I won't do the same things he does to you. I won't make you cry and I will keep you company forever." Granger offered as he laid his face upon her bosom and began rubbing his cheeks with her soft fleshy mounds.

"My best friend Guinevere loves you very much. I don't want to hurt her. You should keep on making her happy. I'll be fine. Having a portion is enough than having none at all."

"Bullshit." Granger replied as he lifted his face and engaged her in a heated kiss.

"I can give you better. That bastard cannot give you a hundred percent then why should you? Guinevere is nothing more than a way to be closer to you and she knows it, she's just denying the truth like you. I'm not even getting a hundred percent of her too since she's still banging her ex, Gusion."

"Don't be like that. I love Guinevere so make sure to make her happy. Gusion is nothing more than a temporary fuck. The one who really owns her heart is you. If you wanna make her happy then stay with her. As for me, I have my own problems to deal with." Ruby heard her phone ping and sought to reach it but Granger stopped her from doing so and abruptly threw the device away from her.

"Hey, that could have been important. Why did you do that?" she said angrily.

"Oh shut it, you know that it was Alucard. I read the first part he said he won't be coming home tonight which gives us a lot of time to do stuff." Granger informed as he went on top of her and began kissing the sides of her neck.

"I've run out of rubber so let me do it raw."

"Just take it outside when you're done." Ruby said in surrender sighing gloomily.

"Alucard is probably busy with work, I need to be ready to welcome him tomorrow so don't tire me out too much." Ruby whispered as she wrapped her arms around Granger's back while he buried himself inside her once more. Both of them knew that she was lying but her companion didn't oppose either to allow her to live in her little fantasy.

She should have guessed that beautiful dreams always come to an end and reality will always settle in. Her fantasy of a perfect relationship finally shattered and the cold hard truth finally slapped her awake.

When did everything begin to change?

When did I become not enough?

Why didn't you tell me from the very beginning?

That I'm the one you need, but not the one you love

When did my love become not enough?

I gave everything just to make you smile

But why didn't I see that you don't want it anymore?

I'm the one with you, but she's the one you're looking for

Alucard broke up with her to be with some girl called Miya, a bartender on a bar where he usually has his gigs. That woman is now pregnant that's why he immediately dumped her to take responsibility for his child, aside from that, he loves her. He loves that girl, Miya.

She noticed the signs but she continued to deny them. Whenever they bond, his body is with her but his heart is clearly far away. His eyes no longer shined the way they used to when he looked at her. His embrace lost the warmth solely dedicated to her.

When did things stop being real

When it comes to our love?

Why didn't you admit to me that there was someone else?

I'm the one in your arms but not the one in your mind

Ruby wondered when it started. When did things become so different? When did she become not enough for him? She was the one he needed. She was his confidant. She knew him since childhood and she knows every little secret he has, she knows everything he holds dear, everything he fears, his flaws and insecurities, and she accepted them all. She was his sanctuary when his father beat him. She was the one who stayed by his side when his mother left him. She was the one who didn't look down on him and believed that he can become better than the things people limit him to be, so why? Why did he cast her aside for someone he recently met?

He said he needed her! He said she was valuable! But why doesn't he love her anymore?! And instead, he loved a complete stranger who knew nothing about the real him. That girl knows nothing about his passion, his fear, and his flaws but why did he choose her? And why did he keep Ruby by his side while loving another woman?

It was cruel. It was merciless. It was painful.

And now she sat in the chapel hidden behind the crowd wearing all white as she witnessed their matrimony. Tears poured from her eyes but no noise left her lips.

"For richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health till death do us part..."

And if you are happier with her

Then I won't fight anymore

I just wish that she takes care of you

And don't make you cry

A smile stretched across her lips as she finally accepted her defeat. It was hard competing with destiny and watching them share this moment as God bound them in a perpetual union was nothing less than heartbreaking. Ruby can clearly see in his eyes what he saw in Miya. It was more than words can describe. It is ineffable but real nonetheless. One might call it true love. Ruby might have been his shelter but Miya is his home now. She is his soul mate and Ruby cannot compete with that. It seems that the two of them are fated but not meant to be.

Pinagtagpo ngunit di tinadhana. Some people are meant to fall in love with each other but not meant to be together.

Why didn't I think that there was an end?

I was the beginning but she is the end

However, I can see it in your eyes

Why she is the one that you chose

The ceremony has ended. Flower petals rained upon them as the people showered the couple with plaudits and applause. Miya is about to throw the bouquet to the bachelorettes. Ruby merely smiled as tears poured from her eyes happy that Alucard finally found his forever even if it's not with her. She only wishes that Miya doesn't hurt him and take very good care of him because now she's letting go and entrusting him in her hands.

"I was his once upon a time but it seems that she is his happily ever after." she mumbled as she placed her hat on her head and shed her final tears upon the marbles of the chapel.

It is difficult to fight what is destined

I surrender, I surrender

I now entrust you to her

"I told you that we shouldn't have come here. Look at you now all sad and broken." Granger said as he rubbed her back.

"It's okay. I needed this for closure. It was also my fault for clinging too much to the beauty of how our love looked like. I was seeing nothing more than the light of long-dead stars, now he has his own universe that doesn't include even a sliver of my existence."

"It's okay. We can make our own world just the two of us. You can be the sun in the center of my universe while I become the darkness that hugs your light." Granger whispered as he caressed her hair and sniffed her scent.

"No. We can't be together." Ruby said with finality.

"Why not? I can make you happy! I can provide you what he cannot! And I can love you more than he can so why do you still reuse me!?"

"Because you are obsessed with the broken girl that I was. You enjoyed comforting me to please yourself and make you feel powerful. You want to be my alpha but I don't want any of that now. Can't you see that I'm free?"

"What? No! Ruby no I love you!"

"You played with Guinevere, doesn't that say something about yourself?" Granger was speechless as he watched Ruby stand from her seat. His silence confirmed her suspicion. He's a player and he's only looking for someone who he can take care of and dominate. Ruby doesn't want to play anymore; she's sick of always losing. A relationship built on kink won't last long anyway so might as well pluck the buds before it becomes too tedious to control.

"Goodbye Granger." she said as the man merely reached out a hand to her but doesn't have the strength to chase her anymore knowing that she is right.

Ruby took a final look at the newly married couple before turning her back from them and taking leisure steps to finally part with the man who owned her heart.

"Hey, miss. Can I offer this to you?" Ruby turned around as she heard someone address her.

"What?" she asked in surprise looking at the blonde man in front of her.

"Umm, hi my name is Aurelius. You see I accidentally caught this bouquet without meaning to and now I don't know what to do with it. But then I noticed that you were sad so I wanted to give you this. It might cheer you up or something because I was so disappointed to see a beautiful woman such as yourself weeping alone at a wedding. Truthfully, I think that you're even prettier than the bride herself." Aurelius said with flushed cheeks as he handed her the bouquet. Ruby was beyond astounded due to his words. How the hell is she supposed to respond to that?!

"Uhhmm... Yes, thank you. These are gorgeous."

"May I... Know your name?"

"It's Ruby. My name is Ruby. It's a pleasure meeting you Aurelius." she smiled as they shook hands.

"I noticed that you were leaving and I was too. Since it was really my sister who was invited to this event and she only forced me to tag along, would you mind if I join you?" Ruby was especially taken aback by his straightforwardness and confidence.

"Oh, no. Certainly not. I would love the company." she smiled. Perhaps she won't be alone for long after all.

Inspirations for writing this piece:

Paubaya "Entrust" (Song) by Moira Dela Torre

Dead Stars (Short story) by Paz Marquez Benitez

Imahe "Image" (Song) by Magnus Haven

My greatest influence for this story is Paubaya by Moira Dela Torre the italicized words are English translations of her song.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!