The Anti-Valentine Pact

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The neon lights of O’Malley’s Bar flickered against the rainy February night, casting a red glow onto the wet pavement. Inside, the place buzzed with the sound of clinking glasses, low conversations, and occasional bursts of laughter. In one corner, couples whispered sweet nothings, while in another, a group of friends toasted to their independence. For some, Valentine’s Day was a celebration of love. For others, it was a mere inconvenience.

Jenna sat at the far end of the bar, swirling the amber liquid in her glass. Her phone lay facedown beside her, ignored. She wasn’t here to scroll through pictures of happy couples or read texts from well-meaning friends asking if she was okay. She was here for a drink—just a drink—to get through this overly commercialized holiday. Romance, in her experience, was just a carefully packaged illusion, and she wasn’t about to fall for it again.

Across the bar, Ethan sighed into his whiskey. He had told himself he wouldn’t leave the house tonight, yet here he was, avoiding the sickeningly sweet festivities surrounding him. His neighbor’s extravagant marriage proposal had been the last straw. He had needed an escape, and O’Malley’s was the one place he knew wouldn’t be entirely overrun by couples.

A bartender slid Jenna’s refill across the counter, but the glass stopped just short—right in front of Ethan. They both reached for it at the same time, fingers brushing lightly against each other. Jenna looked up, one brow raised in mild amusement.

“I think that’s mine,” she said.

Ethan smirked. “That so? Maybe fate wants me to have it.”

“Fate doesn’t work that way,” she replied, grabbing the glass and taking a sip. “Especially not on a night like this.”

He chuckled, intrigued. “Not a fan of the holiday either, huh?”

She rolled her eyes. “Overpriced flowers, crowded restaurants, forced romance? No thanks.”

Ethan grinned. “Finally, someone who gets it.” He lifted his glass in a mock toast. “To surviving this ridiculous day.”

Jenna hesitated, then clinked her glass against his. “To avoiding all things romantic.”

What was supposed to be a quick drink stretched into hours of effortless conversation. They swapped horror stories of terrible dates, debated the best detective novels, and laughed over shared cynicism about modern love. The bar buzzed around them, but for the first time that night, neither of them noticed the noise. It was just the two of them, lost in a world of dry wit and unexpected connection.

Jenna leaned back, narrowing her eyes. “This isn’t supposed to happen.”

“What isn’t?” Ethan asked, amused.

“This.” She gestured between them. “Enjoying the company of a stranger on Valentine’s Day. It’s breaking the pact.”

He raised an eyebrow. “Pact?”

“Our unspoken agreement to be bitter, miserable loners tonight.”

Ethan smirked. “Ah, right. The Anti-Valentine Pact.” He placed a hand over his heart dramatically. “No romantic nonsense, no sparks, no grand gestures.”

“Exactly,” she said with a grin. “And if you even think about buying me a rose, I’m out.”

“No problem,” he assured her. “I draw the line at heart-shaped chocolates, too.”

They lingered until last call, neither wanting to be the first to leave. When they finally stepped outside, the rain had stopped, leaving the air crisp and the pavement glistening under the glow of the streetlights. The world felt quieter, more intimate.

Jenna exhaled, shoving her hands into her coat pockets. “Well, I guess we survived.”

“Barely,” Ethan teased. “Though, I have to admit, this was the best Valentine’s Day I’ve had.”

Jenna hesitated, then smiled. “Yeah. Me too.”

A comfortable silence stretched between them before Ethan took a step back. “Alright, no romantic nonsense, so I’ll skip the part where I say we should do this again sometime.”

Jenna smirked. “And I’ll definitely not say I’d actually like that.”

“Perfect,” Ethan said. “Glad we’re on the same page.”

He turned to walk away, then paused. “You know,” he added over his shoulder, “O’Malley’s has great whiskey every day of the year. Just saying.”

Jenna shook her head, laughing softly. “Noted.”

As she watched him disappear down the street, she realized something strange—maybe Valentine’s Day wasn’t all bad after all.

Love doesn’t always follow the rules—sometimes, it crashes the party uninvited.

Note:
Thank you for reading “The Anti-Valentine Pact”! This is a story in a series created for avid readers and English learners who want to enjoy captivating tales while practicing their language skills. Stay tuned for more stories and language tips to enhance your journey!

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