On the parking lot...
Alexander was in deep thought when he created his plan a while ago. He expected that they will meet head on with Charles and Monique. His eyes shone a million stars when he started his idea. He knew he needed to do something when he felt the pang of jealousy in his heart. His face lit up when he darted in a blink of an eye and hugged Alex. His back facing Charles and Monique.
Alex's eyes fluttered like butterflies when she felt Alexander's arms on her. She caught her head unconsciously leaning on his chest, hearing his heart close to her face.
Monique looked shocked.
Charles stood stunned.
Alex was dumbfounded.
Alexander secured Alex in his arms, protecting her like a treasure he claims as his possession. His heart drummed like a battle cry for war. His face void of emotion but his action and heart exhibits his longing love for her. It felt she meant the whole world to him. He was scared, afraid of losing her again. He won't let it happen. He vowed to never let go until he dies.
Alex felt warm and secured in his arms. She felt like being protected by a strong force of love. They picture a very warm and new couple who were committed to each other.
A very serene picture of two people in love.
She suddenly came to her senses when she felt her nose numb. She smelt his perfume, Acqua di Gio, smelt like the sea with a fresh scent of clean air. It makes him feel masculine with a strong sense of power surging through him.
Her eyes started to water until she held it, not showing how pleased she was. She never felt that with anyone of the opposite sex, not even Charles. The only thing bothers her was her heart. How could she face such situation when she herself is confused.
"My heart is..." Alex voice echoed in her head, looking bewildered that made her whole body paralyzed by the situation. She felt her body warm in seconds and her face flushed as she looked up at Alexander's face. Her eyes pleaded at him but her heart won't let her take it away.
"I...uhm...please..." Her voice sounded guilty while her lips trembled. Her eyes looked away shyly as her heart started irregularly beat.
Alexander suddenly opened his mouth, feeling pained. His eyes found hers and felt sadness and hurt.
"Don't deny me..." His voice whispered on her ear, letting her know his true intentions.
They stared at each other's eyes.
Her eyes full of worry and uncertainty. Her heart is confused but never lies.
His eyes full of passion, a never ending hope filling his heart. His heart asking for a chance.
Charles saw how his brother's longing love for Alex yet he feels jealous. An emotion he thought it was gone. A part of his life that has been buried but came back to hunt him. He looked at Monique and stared at the scene right in front of him. His eyes flash a hint of confusion and pain.
"What is this? Why do I still feel something for her?" Charles thought and felt his heart's irregular beat. He was calm before she came. His world collapsed when he saw her. His train of thoughts made even harder to understand when he reminisce the times they were together. His heart is fickle but he knew its honesty.
Monique saw how Alexander cared for Alex. She knew she wanted the same with Charles but she knew very well their history of love triangles. She really thought what happened 2 years ago was the only way to make Charles love her until Alex walked into their lives again and ruined everything for her.
"Why does she have to ruin my peaceful life?!" Monique screamed inside her head. Her fist balled up with anger while her heart felt pain and jealousy. She saw Charles's face and felt her heart breaking, tearing her bit by bit. Her nails dug on her palm until she can feel her blood drain on her palms. She looked away and felt her tears flow on her cheeks. She could not control her emotions taking over. Suddenly, her memories starting to surface in her head. She clearly saw how Charles looked at Alex with warmth and adoration as if she did not exist. Her heart felt broken, shattering her dreams for her marriage. She did not want this type of life, an option. As tears flowed, she wiped them, put on a face and masked the hurt on her face. Her eyes focused on Alex and Alexander's public display of affection. Her pupils dilated, piercing through Alex's face. She remembered that day.
"Charles loves me..."
Alex's voice echoed in her head. She can't forget how she fought for him. She felt her breathing hitched. An emotion she was overwhelmed for a long time.
Anger.
Loneliness.
Resentment.
She hated reminiscing past events. She had defeated her before. She can do it now.
"He cares for me, he thinks about me, he married me..." She smirked but her thoughts voiced out until her heart felt a pang of spiral pain.
"But does he love me?" She muttered under her breathe.
She faced them all in a flash and said, "I need to go to the washroom. Excuse me." She turned around, eyes scanning where the washroom is, turned around and darted hurriedly. Her tears started flowing until her shoulders shuddered. She started running to the washroom and she can hear her voice starting to crack from crying. Her feet started to run.
Her voice woke everybody until Charles studied the situation in front of him and acted on it.
"You guys have a great day. I have to follow my wife." He excused himself and instinctively followed Monique. His steps catching up to her until he grabbed her arm near a hallway.
She heard foot steps following her. She felt someone tug on her arm and felt his sturdy hand just grabbed at her. She waited for him to do something but he just stood behind her. She felt sad and pained when she heard his worried voice.
"I'm sorry." Charles pleaded.
Monique felt her heart was crushed.
"What do you mean?" She asked him. She sadly sighed deeply until she heard him replied.
"I am sorry, as your husband, I..." Charles could not continue his words as he stared at her. He genuinely felt guilty and dreadful when he felt her struggled in his hand.
A tear fell from her eye.
She forcefully yanked her arm from him. She turned around to see Charles and faced a very worried man in front of her. She suddenly shuddered and wailed in front of him. Her eyes looked at him intently when her mouth opened.
"Why?" She asked angrily while her tears flowed endlessly.
Charles looked at her with concern. He was surprised to see her like this.
"How could you...?" Monique voice cracked and her breathing hitched. Her head laying low.
Charles stood tall and walked 2 steps towards her, ready to comfort her when he heard her cold voice.
She took a deep breath and faced him.
With a cold and hurt voice, she continued, "Say you love me when you still have Alex in your heart?"
When he heard what Monique said, his steps went to an abrupt stop. His eyes stared at the floor. His mind went black for a minute.
Monique's head lifted up, eyes transfixed at Charles's figure. Her tears couldn't hold back. She started to sob quietly while her breathing started to have irregular rhythm.
He lifted his head with a stunned face. He stared for her with his head confused and heart disarrayed. Charles wanted to say something but he did not know what to say exactly. He looked at her guiltily.
Monique started to wipe her tears but her eyes can't stop from crying. Despite the sadness, she smiled. She took a deep sigh and swallowed her little pride. She steadied herself and asked him with her calm and pained voice.
"Why did I even bother asking you? It's just that I really thought you said that you love me but it all changed when she appeared on the day of the wedding. How am I so unlucky?" She smirked, letting out a loud chuckle. She stared at him looking for his reaction.
"Don't talk like that. It's not like that..." Charles muttered and stared at her with concern in his eyes.
Monique's eyes were red and started to swell when she saw Charles paused. She felt anxiety and heart break all over again. Her nerves are getting into her when the wind blew a few strands of her hair.
"Yes, I loved her but..." Charles contemplated while staring at her eyes. His expression made him nervous as if a secret will come out. He hid it very well from the past years but it keeps opening up whenever a familiar situation comes.
Monique's eyes met his and understood what they talked about that night. Her eyes darkened and her heart felt pain and sorrow. In a split of a second, her eyes stared at him indifferently.
"Now, I know where I stand." Monique greeted her teeth in anger and turned around.
Charles left stunned and rooted on his place. He let her go and looked back at Alexander and Alex direction. He suddenly thought of their figures intimate with each other. He even imagined himself in Alexander's shoes but he brushed his thought aside. He could not understand the stir of emotions dwelling in him.
Anger.
Frustration.
Regret.
It echoed in his mind. As he stared back at Monique's departing figure, he suddenly realized his predicament. He sighed and sat near a bench along the hallway.
"I never knew you make me so crazy Alex." He smirked. He looked up at the sky and stared at the clouds.
"You make my mind and heart disarrayed. For once, could you even bare me space and time to heal."
Charles muttered under his breathe until his fist balled up. He stared at the sea thinking it will calm his mind. He was confused, angry and stressed all in just one night and now, it bothers him to a point he can't even think straight. His expression seem blank but his eyes were worried.