She felt perplexed at the thought of having breakfast with Charles and Monique. The irony of it all; the more you stay away, the more they come to you.
She sighed. She was perplexed when Andrea approached her. She met her eyes and smiled at her.
"Yes, Andrea. Thanks for inviting me." She would never turn down an invitation coming from someone who she grew close to. She followed her to the restaurant. She started to panic but she still want to remain calm.
Andrea sensed that Alex is tensed. She turned around and asked, "What's the matter dear?"
She looked at her and said, "I'm just hungry maybe." She answered with a reassuring smile. Alex smiled even though she lied.
"I'm glad I invited you then. Relax and we are close to the food." Andrea comforted her. She puts her hand on Alex's shoulder.
As soon as they stepped on the floor of the open restaurant, she was surprised to see Alexanderseating with them. She was perplexed at the sight of it. She gulped and looked at him. She scanned the empty chairs and wanted to seat far away from Charles as possible to not stir up any drama with Monique. The only available empty seats are the sge..fat in between Charles and Alexander and the seat between Alexander and Tom. She wanted the latter but Andrea beat her into it. She felt dumbstruck. She had no choice. She dreaded this day.
She walked past Alexander and seated next to him. She looked at him and whispered, "I did not expect you here."
"Me, either. I thought they left when the wedding ended. That definitely surprised me."
Alexander whispered back.
Tom was busy reading the newspaper. Monique and Charles are busy looking at the menu.
Andrea coughed.
"May I have your attention please?"
Everybody turned their heads at Andrea's direction.
"Alexander and Alex are joining with us this morning for breakfast. We are all happy for Charles and Monique of their union yesterday. This is the first morning of them being husband and wife. Thank you for sharing your time with us." Andrea proudly said.
"Mom, thanks. We appreciate it." Charles answered.
"Thanks Mom." Monique said.
Alex maintained a straight face and smiled at Andrea and looked at the couple next to her. She felt Monique glaring at her. She looked at her and flashed the greatest smile ever.
Monique felt her veins are going to pop at any moment.
Alexander noticed what is happening. He looked at Monique and smiled at Alex. He touched her hand on the table and it made Alex stop what she is doing and turned to him. He whispered at her ear.
"You look cute teasing her." Alexander sneered.
Alex blushed slightly. Her ears turning red.
Andrea seemed to notice. She whispered to Tom.
"Looks like Alexander found his mate. He will be having his own love life after all."
They both glanced at Alexander and Alex. Tom suddenly felt happy and Andrea felt excited.
"Since the whole family is here, We should order our food and eat."
Everybody was happy except for Alex. She was stunned.
"Whole family..." It echoed in her mind.
"What does he mean by whole family?" She got her mind thinking but she was so hungry, her tummy rumbled.
Grrrkkkk!!
Alexander heard her tummy rumbled.
"Oops. I'm hungry." Alex felt embarrassed.
He smiled at her and gave her water.
"Drink this first and start choosing from the menu."
Phew, only Alexander heard her tummy. I would feel really embarrassed if everybody heard it. Her cheeks flashed red.
He handed her the menu.
Alex drank some water and got the menu from him.
She stared blankly at the menu and scanned through the lists.
She heard Andrea asked about the breakfast buffet and availed it. The waiter brought them spoons and forks. They were instructed to go into the buffet table and choose any of the food served in there.
Tom finally said, "Alright, let's head to the food station and choose wisely."
Everybody laughed.
Alexander stood up and asked Alex to accompany him.
"Let's get going. If I hear that tummy of yours again..." Alexander said when he felt Alex hand smacked him on his shoulders.
"Yeah, right." She beat him to eat.
As the 2 figures headed to the buffet table, Andrea and Tom stood as well and followed suit. Charles and Monique were left in table.
"I know about Alex." Monique indifferently said.
Charles hid a flash of surprised and looked at Monique.
"I'm with you now. You should think about how I would feel if you still want to be with her." Monique sadly said.
Charles looked at her and said, "I only went with you into the arranged marriage because your mom and my mom had paired us both when we were younger but my feelings for Alex will still be here close to my heart."
Monique was hurt knowing the reason they were married yesterday.
"I like you Monique but..."
Monique gulped nervously. He looked at her intently.
"Alex is different."
Her world crushed beneath her feet. Her tears fell down as Charles walked away from the table. Charles stopped and turned around. He looked at the girl with pity. He met her gaze. She looked at him heartbroken and alone.
"Don't you dare hurt her. You might regret it. We are friends and friends don't hurt each other."
Her tears streamed on her face. She stood up and went outside the restaurant.
Charles looked at her direction. He stood there while his eyes are following her steps. He should have not been harsh with her. He felt sad seeing her hurting. His heart aches for her. She was one of his close friends but why does he feel this way. He felt his heart broke as well. He had an urge to follow her, to comfort her, to take her pain away but couldn't. What is wrong with him? He glanced at Alex and Alexander. He felt jealous because she seems happy with Alexander around. Even though he loved her, he does not feel the same way as before.
With Monique, it was different. He still remembered the time they spent together when Alex left. She made him laugh and feel needed. She took care of him and she was there during troubled times.
"I could not trade that for what I am feeling right now." He mumbled.
He went after her. His feet shuffled and suddenly reached her. They were in the shore. He stood behind her and held her waist. Monique was taken aback. His head leaning on her head, smelling her scent.
"I'm sorry. I should have not said those words." Charles apologetically said.
Monique can feel his warm breath on her nape that gave tingles to her body.
He went in front of her and looked her in the eye. He wiped her tears away. He held her hands on his.
"I take back what I said to you. I'm so sorry. Please forgive me. I will never do it again." Charles pleaded.
Monique looked at him and smiled.
"I forgive you." She said.
Charles felt a boulder out of his shoulders.
"I will never do it again. I promise." Charles reassured her.
She looked deep into his eyes. She felt his sincerity.
"I Love You." Charles said.
"I Love YOU." Monique said.
Charles kissed Monique's forehead. He pulled her into his arms and did not let her go. He felt her arms hugged him back. There was so much warmth. Love filled the air. They were hugging for a long time when they felt their legs wobbled.
"We should get back." Charles suggested.
Monique agreed. He carried her back to the restaurant and let her walk when they stepped inside the restaurant.
Out in a corner of the restaurant, two pairs of eyes stared at them.
"They are so sweet. I wish someone could be, too." a woman said.
"Why did you say that?" a man asked.
"It is because they look great together." the woman answered.
"You wish we could be as happy as them?" the man asked.
The man looked at her intently.
She dazed for a moment and then the woman said, "Reality check, we just started knowing each other and now you are hoping we could be like them. Isn't too soon to say?"
The man's daydream fell apart. This woman is savage.