It was your classic case of cheating. Every cliched element, you name it, it was there.

I got back from work early.

I thought I'd surprise her with flowers because, just because right?

Oh, I didn't buy the flowers because things were turning sour between us. I just wanted to do something nice. Shocker huh? Believe it or not, it's this part of the story that surprises most people instead. I always see that eyebrow going up.

We had been living together for six months. The transition was smooth. I had my qualms about living together at first, but it seemed like everything played out perfectly without mistake.

I went to work everyday. She helped to clean the house. She cooked my meals. Whenever I had an exhausting day at the office, a smile comes to my face whenever I think of the warm hug, the warm meal and the warmth of my home, our home.

We were practically a married couple. All of our friends were already asking when it'd happen. I laughed it off mostly, but of course, the ring was at the back of my mind.

It's too bad that ring turned into a hook, dragging my brains, the experiences and thoughts along with it. And I just laid there, memories bleeding out of that tiny hole.

I unlocked the door to our apartment and yes, I did bellow, "Hun! I am home!"

There was no answer. I shrugged it off. It was whatever.

Then I noticed the coat that was not mine on the couch.

Then I looked back and noticed the black, leather shoes that were not mine by the door.

Then I noticed the empty bottles of beer in the sink that were not hers to drink.

A sharp, undesirable pain suddenly sprang forth in my chest. I already knew what was to come. I breathed heavily, like a new assassin on the field who couldn't contain himself. I moved quietly to the bedroom.

I turned the knob, and then I saw it, the classic scene an invisible director was filming.

My long-time girlfriend laid there naked atop her ex-boyfriend whom she said was the most toxic person on the planet who enabled her addictions.

She stared at me, shocked. The guy inside of her looked at both us back and forth, like a spectator at a tennis match. Only this time, the score was not important.

What did I do? What did I do there and then? My hand was still on the door knob. My long-time girlfriend was screwing the most toxic person on the planet, and he was in my house without my permission. They drank my beers and from the looks of it, used my bathroom along and the fancy, aromatic bath soaps we were saving for an unknown special occasion.

Again, what did I do?

Let's just say, this is the part my best friend told me that I should have simply jumped on both of them and beat whoever got in the way. 

This is the part my female friends said that I should have slapped her, pardon my french, "cunty face to space."

This is the part my conniving colleague said that I should have taken a bunch of photos so I could use'em to blackmail them for future purposes.

This is the part my lawyer friend said that I should have called him the following day so we could plan a semi-legal law suit to ruin both their lives.

This is the part where people I meet at parties told me how dumb I was as they regaled me the many things they'd have surely done. Somehow, murder is always involved for them.

This is the part my mom said that I was dumb to react that way, but then again, everything I did to her was wrong.

This is the part with many karmic possibilities.

But all I did was stare at her.

There was no anger, sadness, rage, pain or anything like that. There was only emptiness. Have you ever cried till you feel like you've no tears left? Have you ever been so angry that the fire just killed itself somehow? It was like that. 

This was the part my long-time girlfriend started screaming hysterically, "Say... say something!"

But I did not. All I did was stare at her.

"Please! Just say something! Or... or... hit me! Please! Just hit me and hurt me!"

I did nothing, for I knew that she too, was feeling that same emptiness, only for her, it was littered with empty bottles and cans of beer and liquor, all of which were stacked neatly because they could be counted. The drugs and needles though, were endless.

"Tommy! Please! Say something!" she screamed loudly again, her dishevelled, dark hair covering half her face, wet from her tears.

"Ah, dude, I am sorry man, let me just make a quick phone call then I'll get out of here okay?" said the most toxic person on earth, still inside my long-time girlfriend.

I ignored him. All I did was stare at her.

She started to break then. Knowing my long-time girlfriend, I knew she was going to hyperventilate or something.

With that, I exhaled. I turned, closed the door and left the apartment.

It has been two years since the classic case of cheating happened with my long-time girlfriend.

I am fine today. I've moved on. It was easy.

She still sends me texts and even letters. She even got her parents to write me. I ignored all of them. I deleted each message without a single glance. 

I heard that she went back to her old ways, but it was not my problem anymore. I don't revel in such news.

My emptiness still remains somewhat. But it is okay. 

I am not in trouble.

I am fine.

I was inspired to write this piece of fiction from the manga, Monster by Naoki Urasawa. 

In a particular volume, one of the characters, Martin came back to his girlfriend sleeping with her ex. Instead of doing anything, he simply stared at her and walked away.

I found that reaction to be extremely powerful. The eyes alone were definitely hurtful. It's a form of disrespect and humiliation towards someone you instantly stop caring for anymore.

Many people today think that the best revenge is to rain hell on your cheater by physically beating them, blackmailing them, shaming them online or whatever. It doesn't even have to be about cheating. It just has to do with someone you're angry or upset with.

But if you think about it, staying silent and staring with disappointed eyes are enough. Check out the excerpts below!