Swoosh!!!
"What are you thinking about?" Charles was standing near her.
Monique looked at him and realized it was all a daydream Charles chasing her and having a moment.
It made her realize that Charles only thinks of her as part of the deal their mothers had. She had feelings for him when she learned about their arranged marriage. She was looking forward to it and now it has happened.
"Why is it crumbling down? Was it because Alex came? Does he still love her?"
She felt her heart falling apart. Sadness took over her. She did not know she was seated for a while.
Charles looked at Monique and pats her on the shoulder.
"I got you some food." Charles gave her the plate with ham, eggs, toast and butter.
She took the plate, smiled at him and stared at the plate.
"Are you not going to eat that?" Charles asked.
"Oh, yes I will it. Thanks." Monique answered.
There was an awkward silence.
Charles went to the buffet table and got another plate and placed some food on it.
"I should have not said those words to her." He pondered through his thoughts. Charles mumbled feeling regret as he approached the buffet table. He got pancakes with butter and syrup and has another plate of bacon, eggs, sausage and bread. He looked at the couple not far from him. They were happy and contented. He can't feel the same way with Monique. He used to feel her love the same way he loved her. His eyes travelled to the woman beside them.
"Alex."
He mumbled.
Somehow that woman showed up and stirred up his hidden feelings. It was so chaotic in his heart. The pain is now coming back as if the storm rages inside him. He looked at her with hatred and disgust.
"Why did you come now when everything seems right for me?"
He can hear his heart pound with anger.
"Do I still have feelings for her?"
His eyes now with mixed emotions.
His eyes lingered on that couple.
"Why can't we be like them? So happy, so full of love and so contented that their love is blissful."
He calmed himself for a moment and looked away. He walked towards Monique and stared at her. She was one of his close friends and now she is his wife.
"She was always there for me and I appreciate everything she does for me. All I know is that she loves me but do I love her?"
He walked towards her and sat next to her. He wanted to be with her, learn to love her and be a good partner to her. His feelings got so complicated that it transverse on his face.
Monique glanced at Charles. Seeing his face makes her heart flutter but something in her heart is telling her she will be more hurt if she dwell on his feelings now. She sat still and calmed herself. She grabbed her spoon and fork and ate the food in front of her. She enjoyed the food despite feeling down.
"Hmmm delicious..." She gladly said.
Charles smiled and looked at her. He felt that he had done a great job as a good partner to her. He felt he had accomplished his responsibility as a man.
"Do you want more?" He teasingly asked.
"I think not. I'm stuffed." Monique answered.
"Are you sure? I know your appetite pretty well. You don't get stuffed in just one plate." Charles teased her again.
Monique's face turned red. She was ashamed by this guy. She punched lightly on Charles's shoulder.
"I will go to the washroom to touch up. Be back in a bit." She glared at him.
He was still smiling at her. His face was so happy she felt warm inside.
She stood up and left. She was puzzled by his actions. She thought this guy was not into her but then he teases her so. She felt conflicted with this guy. All she knows is that she loves him. When she mentions Alex, things get really different. She glared at Alex's direction and felt jealous.
"What does he see in her?
Why can't he look for someone that could love him more?
Does my affection not affect him?
Is my love not worth his heart?"
Her thoughts went through her mind like an echo. She felt her heart pounding and it is breaking in her hands. A tear fell from her eye.
"I must remain strong." She mumbled.
She swiped her tears away and continued to the washroom.
She opened the door and no one is around. She washed her hands and splashed some on her face. She looked at herself in the mirror and looked at herself.
"I looked good." She complimented herself.
A hint of sadness crossed her face.
"But was I good enough for him?"
She lost hope as she wanted to express her frustrations away.
Tears suddenly flowed from her eyes.
She heard some people coming in. She shuffled her feet and hid in one of those cubicle. She sat quietly and listened. One woman started to wash her hands and another woman went into one of the cubicles.
After one woman washed her hands, she fixed her hair and dress. She left the washroom when the other woman came out of the cubicle, she washed her hands and noticed a jewelry left by the other woman. She looked at it and dismissed it.
Monique was about to come out when she heard a clink on the counter. She heard heels clanking out and she breath a sigh of relief. She opened the cubicle door slowly and went to the counter to wash her hands. She also happen to notice the jewelry.
A flash of surprise showed in her face.
She studied it and her emotions came to her. She smirked.
"This is the ring Charles gave to Alex when they were younger." She mumbled.
The circular violet jewel with 3 small silver jewels embedded in the metal.
"It is the same one. Could it be..." She muttered.
She took the jewelry in her hand and kept it. She would like to know if Alex would come looking for it or disregard it. She went out of the washroom and scanned the people in the restaurant. She looked at the woman with disgust and hate. She really has a plan coming at her soon. She smirked.
At the restaurant...
Alex and Alexander quietly picked their choice of food in the buffet table when she noticed Charles approaching the table. Her heart pounded nervously and her hands trembled. She put her head down and Charles does not seem to notice her. She glanced at Charles direction and her eyes fluttered when she saw him looked at her. She looked away and her face flushing red. She felt guilty looking at him and still not over him somehow. Her heart is playing tricks with her now.
"I must move on. He is married." She muttered.
A heavy hand patted on her shoulder stunned her. She turned around and saw Alexander smiling at her. Her face turned pale and did not look at him directly. She put on a smile to hide her shock.
"You seem like you have seen a ghost." Alexander teased her.
"Don't mind me. I was just imagining things." Alex replied. She face palmed herself.
Alexander saw her gesture and smiled.
"I will go to the washroom." Alex shamefully said.
"Let me take that from you and I'll head back to the table with your food." Alexander said and took her plate from her hands. She felt touched and felt ecstatic for the first time.
Ashamed and bewildered, she shuffled her feet towards the washroom. She opened the door and scanned if no one is in there. She noticed two cubicle doors are closed. She pretended to wash her hands by opening the sink and stared at her reflection. She fixed her dress and hair. She scanned herself and closed the sink. She did not notice her pendant fell on the counter sink when she was about to leave. She hurriedly walked out the washroom. She felt at ease walking away the washroom as she went back to the buffet table to continue picking food.
Alex saw Monique approaching from the washroom and she felt like she has swords piercing through her. She felt uncomfortable and uneasy. Alexander glanced at her. He placed his hands on top of hers. She felt electricity from that touched. She wanted to withdraw her hand but Alexander held hers.
"What is it now?" Alex muttered to herself.