Silent Eyes

21, Girls Out

"Oh, that's lovely! You should definitely choose that!" someone exclaimed, pointing towards Monica. Curious, she turned her head to see what had caught their attention. Behind her, there was a white gown that sparkled at the top and flowed into a beautiful flower shape. It was undeniably pretty, but not quite Monica's style. Politely smiling, she faced the person and responded, "Hmm, let's explore some other options, shall we?"

Monica, accompanied by a few friends from work, Irene, and some female members of Andreas' family, was on a dress shopping trip. The girls were brimming with excitement, chatting animatedly about the upcoming wedding. However, a tinge of unease lingered in Monica's mind as she thought about her parents' attendance. She had informed them about the wedding and sent them an invitation, but they hadn't responded yet.

Irene appeared from around the corner, carrying a bag. Monica raised her head and inquired, "What's in the bag?" Irene placed the bag down and, with the assistance of an employee, unveiled a breathtaking gown! It was white like the others, but adorned with pearls. The bodice had elegant ruffles, accentuating the waist, and the dress flowed gracefully at the bottom. The sight made Monica gasp, and she hurried over to it. Grasping the dress, she turned to the employee and said, "I'd like to try this on!"

"Of course, no problem!" the woman responded with a beaming smile. She motioned for Monica to follow her, and clutching the gown tightly, Monica glanced nervously back at her friends. "I'll be back soon!" she waved, and they playfully waved back as Monica disappeared inside. Meanwhile, the girls sat outside, engrossed in their phones or engaged in lighthearted chatter. After a while, Monica emerged from the boutique, leaving them awe-inspired.

The dress looked perfect on her, accentuating her alluring curves and highlighting her shapely figure. Monica spun around, allowing the dress to flow gracefully, prompting the women to squeal in delight. The pearls shimmered, and the fabric appeared smooth. Undoubtedly, Monica would resemble a stunning queen on her wedding day. Turning to Irene, Monica couldn't help but ask, "Where did you learn to pick out such amazing dresses?" Irene shrugged modestly and smiled, "My mom used to design them." Moved by her friend's gesture, Monica walked over and hugged her. While she was enjoying the company of the other women, Irene was the only friend she had by her side at that moment.

Soon after, the women bid farewell to the boutique, with Monica proudly carrying a large bag containing her chosen dress. She smiled down at it, envisioning her wedding day, when one of Andreas' cousins suggested, "Hey, I know a fantastic place where we can have brunch. Would you all like to go there?" The question was directed at the group, but the cousin's eyes lingered on Monica. She nodded, and soon everyone else followed suit.

The women found themselves inside a beautiful deli, adorned with vibrant flowers. The owner, who grew the flowers, took pleasure in decorating the shop. The ambiance was vivid, and the girls couldn't resist taking selfies and sharing them on their social media accounts, accompanied by playful hashtags. As their food arrived, courtesy of a waiter, they engaged in lively conversation, relishing the moment together.

"Andreas has changed so much," one of his cousins mentioned. Monica smiled but blinked in confusion. "What do you mean?" she asked. "How has he changed?" His cousin looked up at her, surprised. "He didn't tell you anything?" she asked, and Monica shook her head slowly. The others grew nervous, trying to change the topic, but the woman nonchalantly persisted.

"He used to have serious anger issues that would scare everyone," the cousin chuckled. "I remember one time he broke this guy's jaw because the man was looking at me weird. It was brutal, blood everywhere." Monica gasped, sitting up straight. She had never heard about this side of Andreas before, and her curiosity intensified. "He broke a man's jaw?" she hesitantly asked. "Yeah!" the woman confirmed.