Bye, My Ex-husband

"You're going to fall off if you sit like that.You have to hang on like this."
Eric took Janessa's bag and hung it on the handlebars, then placed her hands around his waist.
"It's okay.This is completely safe."
Janessa was not used to being so close to a man even though she only took him as her younger brother.
She pulled away from him and grabbed the back of his clothes to make more space between them.
But she knew this was dangerous.
"Are you sure about that, Janessa? Don't blame me if you fall off and break your bones."
To prove his point, he rewed the engine of the Harley.By instinct, Janessa grabbed Eric's waist and held on tight.With a smug
smile, Eric put down his helmet shield and the two of them drove off.
Janessa thought that maybe a young musician like Eric would not be a responsible driver, but she was wrong.
She had also assumed that Eric was just a young man who sang well and was devoted to his parents.
She didn't expect that he liked riding a motorcycle.
Although he drove fast, the Harley stayed upright.
Janessa had never ridden a motorcycle before.
This was a completely new experience.
Normally, it would take about a half an hour to get home.
But they arrived at Janessa's apartment in less than ten minutes.
Getting off of the motorcycle, Janessa took off her helmet and handed it back to Eric.
"Thank you so much for bringing me home today.If you hadn't given me a ride, I would've been back so late."
Not only had she not expected to see Eric today, but she didn't think he would give her a ride home either.

It was too bad about his coat, which was now soaking wet.
Janessa took a look at it and said, "I can give your coat back to you after I wash it."
"Why are you acting so stuffy? I can walk you to your apartment, then you can give me the coat."
Eric escorted Janessa towards the elevator.
In the light of the lamp post, she realized that his face was bright red.
Even his neck was flushed from the wind.
He had driven like a madman through the rain.
He must've been freezing.
Why was he like this? How could he go around not giving a care in the world about his health or how cold it was? "You're
freezing! Why did you give me your coat, you idiot?"
Janessa really didn't know what else to say.
She never did much for this young man, but he always took good care of her.
She almost felt guilty that he was stuck with a sister like her.
"Oh come on, Janessa.Look at me: I'm a man.I'm a strong, manly man,"
Eric said and began to flex his muscles at her.
Then, he froze and let out a large sneeze.He blushed.Janessa put a hand on his arm with a smile.
"Strong, manly man? I don't think so."Janessa took off the coat and handed it back to Eric.
A chill went over her, but it wasn't too bad.
"Put it on, please."
"Okay.But don't forget, you can call me if you need anything."
Eric watched Janessa enter the elevator.

He didn't leave until he saw the light in her windows was on.
Janessa stood at the window and watched Eric go.
When he was gone, she went into the bathroom and to take a hot bath.
Before she could turn on the hot tap, the doorbell rang.
When she opened the door, she saw Alana standing in front of her with a worried look on her face.
Without a word, Janessa disappeared into the bedroom and brought back two bathrobes, one for herself and one for Alana.
"What's wrong? Are you okay?"
Alana looked at Janessa blankly, disappointment in her eyes.
"What's wrong with you? You're worrying me!"
Janessa touched Alana's forehead and was relieved that she didn't have a fever.But as Alana stayed quiet, her anxiety grew.
Then, suddenly, Alana said, "I saw you."
"What? What did you see?"
Alana lowered her head, with tears streaming down her face.
She grabbed the edge of Janessa’s robe.
"I saw Eric drive you home."
Janessa didn't understand what Alana was talking about.
Was she nearby just now? If she saw Eric drop her off at home then why hadn't she come out to greet them? Janessa knew
Alana needed some time, so she sat beside her quietly and waited for her to speak.
"You were wearing his coat.You two chatted out here for a long time."
"Yeah, well, I only take him as my brother.It's not like there was anything..."

Janessa sensed accusation in her voice.
Maybe Alana misunderstood the relationship between her and Eric? "I didn't understand why he always rejected me when I
asked him out, even when I told him I loved him.I thought that maybe he didn't know what love was or how to accept it.But I was
wrong.It's not that he doesn't know what love is.It's just that he loves someone else."
As Alana spoke, Janessa grew panicked.
She had a bad feeling about this.
"It turns out that the person he loves is my friend and his sworn sister."
Janessa was shocked.
She had considered this possibility before, but she never thought it could be true.How could Eric...She had never thought that
the romance between Eric and Alana would end like this.
Now the relationship between, Eric, Alana, and herself was ruined.
"Alana, I..."
It was not what she thought, Janessa wanted to explain, but before she could get a word out, she was stopped.
"Don't say anything.I know you don't love him, but I can see his love for you in his eyes.I hope it's not true, but he...He really
loves you.What do you want me to do? What should I do?"
Alana began to cry.
She never thought that the man she loved would be in love with her best friend.
Would she ever truly find love? Janessa didn't know how to comfort Alana.
She held her friend in her arms and let her cry.
Finally, after a long time, Alana grew tired and slowly fell asleep on the sofa.
But Janessa couldn't sleep.
After her bath, Janessa looked at Alana's figure on her couch, her red and swollen eyes, and put a comforting hand on her head.

How had this happened? She wished that it was Alana that had saved Eric that day.
If it had happened that way, maybe things would be different now.Now Janessa didn't know how she would face Eric again.
That night, she laid awake and didn't fall asleep until dawn.