The world seemed to stop the moment we stepped inside the reception venue. I hesitated for a second but a small encouraging tug on my side makes me forget my hesitation and continue to walk until everyone can finally see us approaching. I sucked on a breath willing myself not to crumble in front of the mass of people in front of us as I heard my heart breaks all over again. But as I look at the newlywed couple I felt something I never expected to feel at this moment.
Hope.
Hope that maybe just maybe Brad and I were not really meant for each other and someone out there is really meant for me.
That everyone has someone out there.
“You okay darling?” Came a gentle and warm voice beside me. I lightly squeezed his hand and smiled. “I will be,” I whispered back, tugging him towards my friends who are already watching us with a twinkle of mischief in their eyes.
Then, Arya opened her mouth emitting an ear-piercing shrieked that blankete
I looked up at him, panting. He's already furiously staring at me, painfully gripping my arms while his body pressed against mine, trying so hard to intimidate me.“What the hell, Elle?! Are you that desperate? That pitiful to come here at my wedding prancing with your new husband, no less my boss as an act of revenge? That’s low even for you.” Brad snarled, face inches away from my face.“An act of revenge? Really? Why would I ruin the very wedding I worked so hard for months, Brad?” I waited for some semblance of love I had felt for this man to came. It never did. The fact that the reality had already sunk in but the feeling was just never there. I wish I could have felt something. I just feel empty like the love that was supposed to be there vanish.“Because you're jealous, Elle there's no other explanation.” The funny thing is, as I look at the man I've been with for eight long years I don't feel jealous. I'm mad but I'm not jealous.“Jealous?! Me?
The thing about heartbreak was you can’t see anyone other than the person that had hurt you. You can’t see how someone else looks at you because you’re blinded by the pain and betrayal from the past. You looked at everyone like they’re out to get you. Life becomes a series of black and white. Right and wrong. Good and bad. It’s bleak, lonely, and sad.Laughter becomes fleeting and happiness seems nonexistent. And though you appreciate the company and support the wound was still there. Someone may fill up the gap but it doesn’t heal the wound from the past.I was abruptly pulled from my meditative state as Killiad’s voice cut through the thick ambiance inside of his car. I don’t know how long we were just sitting without talking as he let me have my space.“You sure you don’t want it cleaned?” He suddenly asks eyeing my busted knuckles. I shook my head. It’s throbbing but the scrapes already numbed down. Surely if I could handle being cheated and betrayed, I c
“True.” I agreed, nodding my head. He took a couple of steps so we were side by side, without asking permission his hand gently grasped my elbow, guiding me to the farthest near the safety railings.Then, he took out his phone. Seconds latera low bass note blared as the first beat started follows by the chord a little higher on the piano.I immediately recognized the music. It's a waltz, the same one I picked for my wedding but have to change it because Brad doesn't like it, he said it's too intimate for a room full of people.“This is late but we never got to dance our first dance as man and wife,” he murmured.“May I have the honor to have the first dance with you, Mrs. Elizabeth Knight?” My eyes misted at his thoughtfulness. How can they say this man is cruel and ruthless when all he did was make my heart sang.I placed my hand on his, accepting his invitation. “It'll be a pleasure, husband.”“I never got to say this
Feelings.The feelings of kindness and compassion were outrageous especially when I want to strangle someone with the name of Arya Petrov.I’m not a violent person. I swear. I survived eighteen years in a house with two adults trying to shape me into someone I am not. I didn’t throw things. I didn’t stomp my feet. I didn’t let their lecture and disappointment stopped me from being me. I thought I grew numb when it comes to them.And then Brad happened.Hitting rock bottom is never easy even if I have my friends with me. But for my family, expecting me to just bounce back unscratched is ludicrous and downright impossible.Now, who’s the disappointment?Am I? Or them calling me at three in the morning to say sorry for not making it to ‘my wedding’?Lovely, huh?I told them everything. Well, not everything, I purposely omitted the part where I married a different man a week before ‘Brad and I's wedding’.And
Should I tell her?Nah, she's too much of a gossip to be trusted with such details.I gawked at her in mocked surprise, “I bet.” I said dryly. “And by the way, I think you're dreaming on the other ninety-nine times you claimed you called. You called once, R! And the only reason I hadn't picked it up because you just let it rang once before turning off your phone. Once R! Not a hundred times.”She didn't even look embarrassed. “True. But that’s because I realized that I might be disturbing you two on your—” she said wiggling her brows.She did. But I didn't voice that out, afraid that they'll see right through me. Afraid that they'll see how Killiad's mere presence is affecting me in ways no one did, even Brad.Last night, I completely drifted off on Killiad's shoulder and then my phone rang, waking me up. After attempting to call back my friend I asked Killiad if he could dri
“Do I have to choose?”“What about this. I just bought a property on the Cliffside. Why don't we head over there? The weather is good and at the same time I could ask you what you think about the cabin.”“A cabin?”“A rundown cabin. It goes with the property when I bought it. I thought of doing the repair myself.”“Cliffside? That's near the woods, right?”“It's within the woods just like the one where I brought you last night.”“Why? Can we just eat right here? Or the park?” at least I won't be alone with Killiad again. Being with him makes me lower my guard down, and being vulnerable is the last thing in my mind a couple of weeks after I caught my ex-fiance doing another woman.“I have something to tell you in private and in case you decided to throw things or shout at my face then you can do so without the neighbors' knowledge.” He said, winking at me.It's probably about our marriage and his choice to stay with it for whatever reas
“Did you just change the car?” I asked the moment I stepped out of the building. A few of the passersby had stopped and gawked at the sleek and beautiful Lambo Killiad had changed to the car he usually drives.“Do you like it?” His eyes were fixed on my face the whole time he rounded the car to get my small bag and opening the door for me.Jaw-slacked, I stared at the interior in awe and amazement before I met his twinkling gray eyes. “Yes, but I don't really mind the other one.”He shrugged his shoulder like it was not a big deal. “I want to impress you.” I stared at him, expecting to see arrogance and smugness seeping out but all I saw was his serious and expectant look.I want to yell at him but at the same time, I was touched by his effort. Nobody wanted or had made an effort to impress me before. It was me who always chase someone for approval be it my clients, or my parents, or Brad, they are all the s
His hard gaze promptly softens when he saw the terrified expression on my face.Killiad cleared his throat, gazing at me mournfully. “I'm sorry, my University days were not as fun as everyone else.”I gulped nodding my head not saying anything.“Wife,” I stole a glance at him before looking away again. I don't want to say anything that could trigger a fight that I couldn't win.‘But Killiad is not Brad, Elle. Stop comparing two different people.’ a voice in my head chided.Triggers. Words or actions that sometimes could change our mood drastically. It's part of the trauma caused by accidents or situations we don't what to go back to.Maybe Killiad was no different than me. Perhaps he's battling his own demons in silence.My terror was triggered by Killiad’s abrupt change in demeanor. While Killiad’s changed in demeanor change when I asked about his University.“Yes,” I