Charles sat thinking about what happened between him and Monique. He did not expect any drama from anyone at all. Exhausted, he bowed his head. His hands clasped together while contemplating about what transcended that night.
"That night..."
He pursed his lips. His eyes sadly smiled and murmured under his low voice. He reminisce the beginning of their love story.
She was a beauty like no other. Her skin is fair as white, her eyes sparkle like stars in the night and her personality lights up any darkness. To him, she really was a nova of the universe. She cared for him and comforted him like his mother cared for him. She would bring food for them to eat and share how their day was. There was one time he cried because he was sad and she was there to comfort him. It was a blooming friendship and that was when he realized that the girl beside him was the one he will marry one day.
It all went to ashes when she left without saying goodbye.
His eyes turned gloomy, feeling the ache of losing someone he loved. He remembered telling her that he wanted to say something to her and meet him in a room inside their home. He recalled Alex, Monique and Alexander were there having lunch with the family. He was distracted with the fact of confessing to her about his feelings. He was ecstatic but nervous and anxious. He remembered giving her a letter to meet him in his room. He wanted to prepare himself for his confession. He fixed his attire and arranged the gift and flowers that he prepared beforehand. Feeling nervous, he asked Alexander if there was a person waiting in his room. Alexander knew what his brother was planning and was on board on helping him.
"Hey, you're gonna do just fine, bud. Think of it as your studies." Alexander smile and reassured him.
He gave him a nervous smile but was relieved when he felt his brother's words.
"These nerves are killing me." He nervously said with a low chuckle.
They both laughed.
"Ok, I'll check on the guest waiting in your room." Alexander gave him a wink and left.
When he stared at Alexander's departing figure, he suddenly felt sad but he couldn't pin point exactly what made him feel such.
After some time, he heard some commotion and was curious about what happened. When it all turned quiet, his foot brought him to his room.
He was surprised that there was no one on his room. He scanned the whole room and felt broken.
He was about to tell her his feelings when she was nowhere to be found. He scanned his surroundings. He searched all over for her but failed. He looked for her that day but he only saw his brother and Monique outside talking.
Feeling uneasy, he approached them.
"Bro, have you seen her?" He asked Alexander.
Alexander looked at him like he was hurt.
"I'm sorry..." He looked at his brother and back to Monique.
Monique pleaded at him as he looked ashen.
He felt guilty and hurt. He looked at Charles like something was up. He keep calm and told him.
"I saw her but she left in a hurry. I tried to let her stay. I failed you bro." He worriedly said.
Charles was shocked. He did not expect the turn of events. He felt rejected and sad. His shoulders slumped and his head laid low.
"I'm sorry." Alexander voice felt hurt for his brother but internally he was sorry and pained too.
Monique stared at the 2 brothers guiltily. She felt left out and she felt sorry for both men. She stared at Alexander's face, wording him that she thanks him. Her idea of Alex leaving Charles was a good thing since she loved Charles all of her life. She felt connected to him despite him having eyes for another. Her loneliness made it an idea for her to have him for herself.
An idea popped in her head.
She walked towards Charles and hugged him.
Charles felt stunned and felt her warm arms. He felt her heart thumping rapidly when she leaned on him and whispered on his ear.
"I am here for you. I am sorry for what happened." Monique reassured him.
He felt goosebumps but he felt good about it. He never thought that someone will be there for him other than his brother.
For once he felt accepted, cared for and loved.
His eyes smiled while he thought of it. The only problem was when she appeared before him on his wedding day was the start of the wall breaking.
He did not forget her let alone moved on. His lips grew a large smile.
"How troublesome..."
His mind was cut off when a man walked in front of him and sat beside him. He looked at him and observed him. He was wearing a suit and his eyes were starring something far. He was curious as the man exhibits an authoritative aura. He was surprised when this man suddenly talked.
"It is a wonderful day, isn't?"
Charles looked his way and smiled at him.
"Yes it is." He replied at him casually.
"You were the groom yesterday, weren't you?" He asked him. His eyes looked at him. He looked like he is mid 20s but he looks like the same age group with him since he felt his taste for fashion same with his.
"Yes. Were you one of our guest?" He asked him.
The man perked up and faced him.
"No, but the news says so." The man showed him the current newspaper on the dedication page and the photo of him and Monique flashed in his face.
Ah the Irony...
He saw his face smiling with life while Monique felt loved and secured in his arms. Her face leaning into him and he looking at her looking like a happy couple.
He suddenly dazed off.
He remembered their pre nuptial photoshoot and how excruciating and exhausting that day turned out but he couldn't feel that way looking at the picture before him. He also saw how beautiful the wedding was and how those intricate designs were what he and Monique designed; how they managed to call friends and family to celebrate with them; how they made every detail of their wedding theirs.
He saw Monique's likeness with her.
A realization dawned into him.
It was HER all along.
"Ah, you two are really a great couple." The man looked at the picture on the newspaper and looked from afar.
"You are lucky, indeed." The man's voice turned sad.
He sighed while Charles was caught off guard. He turned at the man and smiled.
"Thanks but I do hope for you as well." He genuinely said. His hand clasped together while he straightened his back.
The man curiously looked at him. He had a puzzled look on his face. His eyes staring at him for a moment when he turned and looked at the sea. The wind blew a warm air while he savored the freshness of it.
He was expecting something from him but he did not get what he was looking for.
He chuckled lightly.
He stood and turned at him.
"Best wishes and Congratulations, Charles." The man sends his regards but Charles felt a shiver in him. He smiled at him and pushed his thought at the back of his mind.
As the man's figure disappearing in his sight, he felt something was amiss. There was something with that man and he needed to be cautious.
In the women's washroom...
The knob opened and a woman came in. There were tears on her eyes and her voice echoed on the closed room. She wept to her heart's content. She locked the door and walked in front of the mirror. She stared at her reflection feeling drained and tired.
The wedding made her beautiful but she was not happy. The dress was beautiful. It was white with lace on her shoulders, arms and back while there were jewels on her bodice. The dress has ruffles of tulle making it elegant and classy the same time. It is a classic princess gown. Her makeup enhanced her beauty making her a goddess that came down from the heavens and her hair was tied into a bun with braids with jewels on it making it bridal. Her bouquet were yellow and white stargazers with lavenders on it. She loved everything she put her heart and mind to but it had to be that time.
It wasn't blissful at all.
Despite the stress, she kept composed and noble but she couldn't comprehend what happened yesterday.
Her cries grew louder thinking about it.
What hurt her the most was when she saw Charles with her that night.
Her heart was crushed and she felt alone.
All of a sudden, the radio on the washroom played a song. It was Astrid's Hurt So Good.
"You fight me off like a firefighter...
So tell me why you still get burned?"
Her ears perked up and stared at her reflection. Her tears dried up but she could still feel a tear falling.
"You said you love me but you're still a liar..."
Her mind travelled in time, remembering Charles said a moment ago. She empathized with the lyrics.
"Cause I'm the one that you run to first..."
She remembered that time she took her chances with him. She sniffed and looked for tissues. Luckily there was an ample amount of it. She blew and discarded the used tissue.
"Every time, yeah
Why do you try to deny it
When you show up every night
And tell me that you want me but it's complicated..."
Her eyes started to well up again.
Her mouth sadly smiled and sang with the radio.
"So complicated..."
Her face lit up and quietly cried. Her mouth opened and mouthed with the radio...
"When it hurts..."
She sniffed...
"...but it hurts so good
Do you take it?
Do you break it off?"
She stared at the woman on the mirror. Sadness filling her heart...
Loneliness wrapping her...
Pain reminding her...
"When it hurts but it hurts so good
Can you say it?
Can you say it?"
She glared at her own reflection, wiping her tears with a tissue. She slammed her palms on the counter.
"Your love is like (hey, na-na-na, na-na)
Your love is like (hey, na-na-na, na-na)
It hurts so good (hey, na-na-na, na-na)
Your love is like (hey, na-na-na, na-na)
It hurts so good..."
She took a deep breath and calmed herself down. She opened the faucet and washed her face. Luckily, she did not apply makeup beforehand or else she would have a hard time cleaning it off. She was glad she did not have to deal with another drama until she heard a knock on the door.
She stared at her own self on the mirror fixing herself up when a voice was heard behind the door.