"I...I know that he is mine and will always be!"
Alex wailed, tears welling up on her fair flushed face.
Her soft sobs filled the air.
"He will never be yours!"
Monique's voice raised with her head held high while looking at Alex's pitiful state. She scanned her from head to toe until her jealousy took over.
"He loves me more than you. Do you think you have what it takes to be his woman?"
She paused and her eyes pierced through her. Her voice sounded sharp as if someone had rubbed their finger on a glass.
"You can't even love yourself. So stop dreaming that he will be yours!" Monique raised her voice and said while crossed arms and grinned.
Alex's sobs grew louder. She did not care about herself until today.
"Stop!" Charles shouted.
He felt his head hurt when he saw both women fighting.
The two women did not hear him and never noticed Charles in the room.
"I loved him more than myself." Her voice was weak but you can hear her clearly.
Monique raised her eyebrows amused.
Alex looked at her sincerely and determined. She wiped her tears until she sighed. The expression changed when she felt brave opening her mouth.
"Because I want him to know that I care about him. I'm going to love him no matter what!"
Alex shouted hoarsely, wiping away her tears. She slumped down in the ground when she saw Monique's shadow beside her.
"We'll see if Charles had the same feeling about you."
Monique grins and was about leave the room but saw Charles instead.
With a quivering voice she asked, "Why are you here, darling?"
Alex looked up and saw Charles fair face. He was gloomy and an ice cold aura filled the air. Monique tensed up but Alex felt awkward.
Charles took a deep breath and said,
"I..."
Alex felt it was a the most embarrassing moment in her life that his crush was in the room and heard everything about the conversation.
Monique was scared that she screwed her only chance to be with Charles.
BAAM!
The fireworks started to light up the air and cut Alex's reverie.
"What are you thinking about Alex?" Lea asked.
Lea is Alex's childhood friend from N City. They would play together until they're exhausted. Even eat ice cream and hide from their parents' basements and binge watch Netflix. Alex knew if she told Lea she would not believe what she was thinking. If Lea knew that she loves Charles, she would rather see Alex with somebody else.
"Lea, will you believe that those fireworks are so colorful?" Alex said.
"I know you are changing the topic. I am your bestfriend. I know something is up." Lea said.
"Huh? Now I'm caught." sighed Alex.
"What is this abo..." Lea trailed of.
"I'm thinking about him." Alex interjected, tears starting to form in her eyes.
There was an awkward a silence until Lea heard Alex's soft sobs.
"Oh Alex..." Lea puts her hand on Alex's back and comforted her.
"I'm sorry. I know it is hard. I know it has been 2 years since you moved away from B City but it does not change the fact he is already gone. I'm sorry if this reminds you of him." Lea sympathetically said.
"Let's not talk about it anymore. I need to move on with my life. This is why I am here with you. I missed you so much." Alex hugged Lea.
Lea hugged her back.
"Are you sure?"
Alex wiped her tears and nodded.
"We should start enjoying the view of the city. Let's walk to the beach." Lea suggested.
Alex nodded with excitement. She can't wait to see the floating lights that will show some time now.
Alex loved the scene of the setting sun as the colors of the sky turning from sky blue to orange to pink and to now lavender. It calmed her soul enough to take her breath away. While the fireworks are still lighting up the sky, she managed to see some people coming for the beach as well.
Her heart thumped with delight as she missed this part of her life. She missed the joy of being alone.
While heading for the beach, they saw the floating lights that lit up the sea and the sky. Some people were also there looking and taking pictures of the beautiful scene in front of them.
"Oh my gosh. They are beautiful!" Alex exclaimed.
"Do you want to take a picture?" Lea asked.
"Yes please." Alex excitedly said.
They turned their backs on the view and did a selfie when they were caught off guard by a man who was running opposite their direction. His mind was so drawn to the music in his ears that he did not notice 2 people on his way. He tried to find his way into the little space but he was not successful. Alex was stunned with his facial features. Lea was pushed aside by the man.
Alex thought, "It can't be..." She stared dumbfounded at both of them.
"I'm sorry, were you hurt?" the mysterious man helped Lea up.
"Well, watch where you're goi..." Lea bickered but did not finished her sentence when she saw the man's face.
A pin drop of silence filled the air.
Alex watched both of them like a scenery out of a painting. There was confusion over their faces. Something was rather odd when they met this man. He was fair, muscle-toned and tall. He was wearing a shirt and shorts with his earphones on. He was on a night jog when he bumped into Lea and Alex.
Lea stared at the man.
"He seems familiar." She thought.
"We are so sorry that this happened. Uhm we have to go now. Lea?" Alex said with a smile.
"Uh, Yes. I, uhm no, we have to go. I'm fine." Lea said nervously.
"Are you sure?" The man asked sympathetically.
Lea nodded and wanted to shake the man's hand when the man raised his hand and said, "Ok then, I have to go." The man ran while Lea's hand felt air.
Lea's face was shocked. Alex's face was indifferent.
"..."
Wind passed by both women and came to their senses. They saw the silhouette of the man starting to drift away in the night. They stared at each other and walked the other direction giggling. Soon later there was an awkward silence.
"His features Lea..." Alex blurted out. Her eyes were full of panic.
"I know Alex. I never knew who that is but he looks a lot like..." Lea trailed off and looked at Alex direction.
"It's uncanny. It was unexpected." Alex suddenly blurted out.
"And rude. That guy had the audacity to leave just like that." Lea added.
Alex looked at her friend aghast.
"Let's not think too much of that. We are here to enjoy are we? Let us have a good time then." Lea said.
Lea's phone suddenly rang.
"Oh...It's a message." Lea suddenly said.
Alex dazed in the vast sea and sky. She stared at those lanterns who were calmly flying and drifting away.
"I will have to take this. I will be back shortly." Lea assured her.
Alex was in a daze when Lea called her again.
"Alex, stay in there ok." Lea taps her on the shoulder.
Alex glanced at her and nodded. Lea turned around and started tapping on her phone.
Her mind was still clouded with questions that needed answers. Her final question was...
Who could that man be?