"That's kinda harsh, Talia. You just turned the poor guy down without giving him a chance." My friend Dolly stated as we fix ourselves inside the washroom in our university.

She is actually American and just the same age as I am so we got along immediately when I started school. We speak in this language only when we were alone but we blend with the rest once we are in a classroom. She has been my best friend for a few months now so we are so comfortable around each other so it was easier for me to cope up and fix myself more.

Besides, it's already been a year.

I wanted to give birth before I could start my days in the university. But the happy days that I wished didn't happen.

When I gave birth to little Ezekiel, I was the happiest. The hole in my heart was slowly being stitched when I hear her crying but there was a complication occurred. Just as I thought that I was curing, the doctor told us that the baby couldn't breathe on his own. I was so depressed and afraid to lose him and it happened.

2 weeks after he was born, he left me.

He is now a little angel.

I was so afraid that I will never get over the pain. It was so hard and I thought it is better to die but I reminded myself...to live more.

I will live for my child and be better. Ending my life is like giving up and I know it is bad. Nothing will be solved.

I will work hard to get better and I did.

My Dad had me sessions with a therapy just to help me regain myself. Of course I hated it at first but I admit, it helped me recover.

Then I got into the university, and met Dolly. She was this bubbly kind of woman, loves to party and she comes from a very happy family so she always brings this awesome vibe which helps my spirit up.

We have lots of friends here but we are the closest one. Attending parties is a good way to gain more friends and to blend along with anyone. It makes me feel young again and something that I lost the opportunity before. Now, I have these friends who are helping me heal a broken heart. They do not know a thing about my past but they noticed it in me. They keep on telling me that I look like I've been through hell and back.

That my eyes were never happy.

But honestly, I think I already happy.

My past is the one that is pulling me back but it is something that is holding me up high to be strong.

Dolly is the one I have through thick and thin and its a huge problem, because I can't bring myself to tell her about my past. They never force it out of me so I am internally grateful for that.

"Girls, do I look fat in this?" my other friend, Soleigh asked as she came out wearing a new dress because she got spilled by a coffee earlier. She is a very tall slim woman with a statuesque figure. She is French and she cannot speak English that much.

"That dress is much better than the one you are wearing earlier." I commented, gazing at her as she turns around for us to check.

"But your ass looks bigger than that." the other girlfriend, Mercedes laughed. She also know how to speak American.

"Oh, then I am glad I brought this with me." Soleigh cheekily replied before checking himself in front of the mirror. These women are so obsessed in looking good but I'm glad to have them as my friends. They are so fun to be with. "By the way, I was called earlier by a friend and there was this new club that opened up last night, want to check it out?"

"Yeah, sure." I answered, we don't have any classes tomorrow so why not tag along. It's not bad to have some girls night out once in a while though. Besides, parties with these three are one of the best.

We don't have afternoon classes so we grab some lunch at our favourite restaurant that serves international cuisines. Its been our routine to spend most lunches because Mercedes has a huge crush on the handsome French waiter who serves here. She is a flirty woman and she loves to have fun most of the time. But I don't blame her, she is beauitiful, voluptuous and smart. Forgot to mention, she also came from a wealthy family who had businesses around the world.

Also, there is something in this restaurant makes me feel home. They serve American food here too so whenever I crave for some giant bacon cheeseburger then I can grab some of it here.

Around three in the afternoon, I arrived back to my unit. I have a small condo unit on the fourteenth floor that has a sparkly view of the whole city where the Eiffel tower seems to be so near to be reached.

The party is still tonight so I have time to get ready and chill out for a while.

My phone starts ringing once I drop my body on my bed, I reached for it on my bedside table and read the name.

Mom Calling...

Better look at the name twice to make sure of it. My mother is calling? That's unusual.

I swiped the answer button on the screen before putting it on speaker phone then dropped the phone to my side.

"Hey, mom." I answered, covering my eyes with my crossed arms.

"Hey, sweetheart. How you doing there?" she asked like a very caring mom. She had been very hands on and supportive when I started studying here in Paris. She always calls, once in month, she would visit me then she just seems so happy that I am finally under their care again. Dad never calls me but he always asks about me through her so he meddles a bit.

"I'm doing great. You have nothing to worry about. I'm still alive and well." I tried to put some humour on my tone as I sat up, take my phone and move to my small balcony and sat there. "So, why'd you call?"

"I just want to check you out and tell you a bad news." She paused for a while when the noise at her background increases then she spoke again when it's gone. "Your Dad was rushed in a hospital today. She had a mild heart attack."

"Again? This is the second time he had an attack." I shifted in my seat.

"He's fine, he is resting now and the doctors wanted to observe him more so they requested that he should stay at the hospital for a few days before pursuing his work." She stated.

I am still worried for my Dad even though he did a lot of harsh things with me and Luca–

I almost forgot that I should never think of him again it seems to be that he will always be in my life. I can never forget him. My eyes automatically went to my hand, to my ring finger. A ring is missing there.

A ring that I already took off but I am still keeping it.

Lucas...I always keep on wondering how could he possibly doing right now? Is he sad? Angry? Depressed? Or someone is entertaining him to fix his broken heart?

"Talia?"

I break my chain of thoughts and presume my conversation with Mom. "I'm sorry, what were you saying?"

"Nothing, you just stopped talking and probably spacing out." She replied with a soft chuckle. "Anyway, I will go back to your father now. For the mean time, Nate will taking over the hotel while your Dad is resting."

"Alright, Mom. Just tell Dad to stop pushing himself so hard. He's not that young anymore so he should worry about his health." I told her then sigh. "I have to go as well. I will talk to you guys soon."

"Okay, honey. Take care of yourself." She ended the call a few seconds after that then I placed my phone down on the desk. My eyes went to the tower as the nice breeze hits my bare skin. What a beauitul art work this is. I rested my eyes and spread my arms as if I'm flying and just feel the moment. The nice smell of newly baked bread fills my nostrils and the soft chirping of birds are so relaxing.

My life right now is hard to imagine if I'm still at the state with Lucas.

When I lost Ezekiel, I somehow try to fight the sadness in me and rather than being depressed about it, I fought and tried to find ways to make me happy. No one wants to lose their child and also, no one wants to lost their mind in the process. So I have to be strong and find a path to keep on moving forward. I must so I can exceed.

Also, moving on the process is forgetting aboht Lucas.

He is in the past now but I don't think my love for him will quickly die. I know that someday I will get to the point that I will no longer cry about him because even now, I will still cry. I just happen to know how to hold them.

It will always hurt. The pain of losing him will always be there to remain but I must fight it and make it be just a part of my past.

I don't say that I should look for a new man because it is still not right for that. A man will come to me and I believe that I must not be eager to look for it because it will just come to you when it's the right time. Lucas and I are probably just two people met because of fate but we are not destined for one another. Truths tends to be harsh.

For the remaining time for the party, I spend it on my books, studying the art works of many artists before running to the bathroom to clean myself.

-----

Later that evening, I wore a body hugging black stylish dress where the neckline is very deep that shows my cleavage and it does down above my knees.

The club is packed and I was able to see the girls at the vip section. We had some small chats and ate a little before we proceed to the actual party and Mercedes seems to be too drunk to even notice me coming. I let her borrow my bag because she was covering the top part of her skirt, which was spilled by the martini she is drinking. She is like a sloth hugging a tree to the poor man by the bar.

I sat down next to Dolly, drinking a glass of champagne. "That's a nice dress." She complemented, dropping her glass on the table.

"Thanks. Where is Soleigh?" I asked, roaming my eyes through the large number of crowd, dancing to the beat. The club recently just opened up so many people must be checking it out like us.

"She is probably somewhere drinking or making out with some random hot guy." Dolly chuckles then crossed her legs.

"How about you? Why not go fine someone to flirt tonight?" I replied, sitting beside him and watch the crowd from above. "The club looks cozy so I want to stay long."

"I am not in the mood for some fire tonight but I changed my mind when I saw that hot bartender over there." Dolly pointed the bar in a distance. There is a bartender there doing his tricks, wearing a bow tie, and your typical bartender outfit. And he kinds has the looks that can make a woman drool. He had this mesmerizing blue eyes that looks so deep as he talks to some customer.

I winced a bit and looked at her disapprovingly. "You can do better, Dolly." I told her.

Then she seems to be quickly agree to it. "Why don't you grab something to drink there and have a little chat with him?"

"What?" my eyebrows touched. "No way. I'm not flirting with anyone."

Dolly shakes her head and laughed. "Just try it out, Talia. Just this once and try to be a bad girl. You never try to even talk to any man in our class not unless it is school related things but... You know what I mean." She replies.

"I just don't like talking to them!" I laughed and make the excuse believable.

"Heyyy, girls!!!" suddenly Mercedes came to us and hugged me to her. "Oh, I'm going to be sick!" she chanted in slurred English and laughed sheepishly.

She was about to tumble and lose her balance but Dolly quickly hold onto her and Mercedes continued to laugh. "Woah, time to get you home now!"

Mercedes shakes her head like a child. "No, I don't want to! I just need to...to lose this junk off my throat then I'm better again!" oh Jesus, she is going to puke.

Dolly quickly got alerted and was ready to run her to the washroom.

"Oh, Talia! I think I left our purse at the bar over theeerrrreee...i was too busy flirting with that hot bartender and I forgot that you handed me your purse!" Mercedes requested, eyes are half open. "Thank you, and I love you!" she slurred and manages to reach the ladies' room in time.

Water?

Should I ask the waiter for that?

I looked around but the waiters are too occupied and the only solution that I'm seeing is the bartender.

Okay, why am I hesitating to go? Dolly is not here to tease so I should just walk out there and be normal.

I walked towards the bar and take a seat on the stool and raised my hand to get his attention. He was talking to a group of ladies who seems to be his fan because they are all looking at her as if he is a Greek God or Something.

Well, I have to admit...he is really attractive but I just can't bring myself to let myself be fooled by a man again. I would be lying if I declare that the wounds in my heart is already recovered. Other than that, it is still against the law since we are still married. I don't want to commit any misconduct here so, better stay out of danger.

I bit my lip in discomfort as I make my slow stride towards the bar. I sat down on the stool and waited for the bartender to come because he seems to be too occupied with those group of ladies. Tapping my nails to get his attention but the slutty laugh were louder so I have to raise my hand.

"Excuse me?" I called in French but he is still not looking at me, causing me to roll my eyes in irritation. Lifting my ass up to raise myself a little and called him again.

But no, I groaned and stood up from the stool and stomp my way towards them. I intentionally breaks in them and cut their conversation by standing between them, without caring them I bump into their shoulders. They throw me their evil gaze and flipped their hair. But it seems like they got intimidated with my glare, so they became a pussy and purred off. I rolled my eyes once again and took one stool and raised my eyes to look at this bartender.

He had an amused look while wiping a shot glass clean.

"My friend left her purse somewhere in this bar, do you have it?" Asking straight to the point while leaning my elbow on the counter. I don't want to tell it directly as well that it is my purse.

His eyes went directly to me and smirked. "American, right?" he asked, his French accent is making it sexier. He placed the shot glass down and searched under the counter but went back to me again.

"I was asking if you have my friend's purse." I urged because I want to leave this bar immediately.

He chuckled huskily then grabbed something at the back. "Here." placing the purse on top of the counter but before I could grab it, he playfully thrust it back to him again. "I don't serve people who are not smiling. What's with the frown? You're in a club, belle. Be a little cheerful."

"How can I be cheerful if the bartender is focusing on the flirting rather than their customers." I snorted, trying to take the purse from him but he lift it up high and hides it behind him.

"Oh, then let me flirt with you then. You must be seeking for my attention?"

"Tsk, attention your ass." I let out a grunt. "Can you just hand me the purse?" this bartender is annoying me.

"I hate to break it to you, belle but...I don't serve customers with a temper." he continues to annoy me. "Come on, smile a little and show me that you are having fun."

"First of all, I'm not your customer. And second, I am not even having fun because you are annoying. So, give me the damn purse or I will punch you really hard." I warned, cleanly.

But that just triggered him more to tease me. "Oh, feisty. I like it." he winked at me. "What's your name?" the childish smile soften into a genuine one as he asks.

"Why should I give my name to you. I don't trust strangers." I spat, crossing my arms.

"Valentin" He offers a hand.

"I beg your pardon?"

"My name is Valentin." He smiles, sweetly while leaning onto the counter, causing the space between us shorter. "Not a stranger to you now, huh?"

Damn, this man is pushy. Though, he really thinks that he can easily get my name like that? Well, I will not give him the pleasure to find out aboht it.

"I'm actually born here in Paris but I stayed in America for a year before coming back here so I understand your language. So, be comfortable around me when you want to talk to someone. Or you are feeling a little homesick, just keep in mind that Valentin is to the rescue to those women who are in need." he winked before revealing my bag to me.

I finally sigh and sarcastically smiled. "Thank you." I can finally escape him but as I was about to turn and leave, he spoke again.

"Hoping to see you around again, Natalia."

My eyebrows frowned and turned to him. Did he just...? "How did you know my name?"

"You have your ID inside your bag. I checked it to know who is the owner. I also took your phone number." He smoothly smiled as if he just won a jackpot. "Hoping to talk to you soon, belle. And remember, I don't serve customers who doesn't know how to smile." Valentin winked at me again and God knows how much I want to deny it but, I just felt something tickled the inside of my stomach there..

Jeez, this man is unbelievable.

Who would have thought that a bartender will annoy me like this?

Tsk, this Valentin sounds trouble so I better keep my distance from him.

To be continued...