Unrequited Love

Chapter 31 - The day When they say I Do

As the sun dipped below the horizon on the eve of his wedding, Alex stood alone in his lavish hotel room, grappling with a whirlwind of emotions. The elegant décor and meticulously arranged flowers seemed to mock the chaos within him. Tomorrow marked the beginning of a new life with Aldora, yet the ghost of Kyra lingered, haunting him with unfulfilled feelings.

In a moment of impulsiveness, Alex picked up his phone, dialing Kyra's number. After a few rings, her voice broke through the silence, laced with caution. "Alex?"

"Why did you leave?" he demanded, his voice sharper than intended. "You just walked away without a word, and now I'm getting married."

Kyra's silence felt heavy, a chasm of unspoken words. Finally, she spoke, her voice steady yet edged with pain. "You know I didn't just leave. I couldn't stay and watch you move on. You made that choice for us."

"Made that choice?" Alex retorted, frustration bubbling over. "I didn't want this! I thought I was doing what was best for both of us, but I never wanted to lose you."

"Best for both of us?" Kyra echoed, bitterness seeping into her tone. "You think breaking up with me was the right decision? You think I wanted to be alone while you're happy with Aldora?"

Each word struck Alex like a blow. He could hear the hurt in her voice, the accusations resonating with the weight of their shared history. "You had your reasons to leave! You thought you were protecting yourself from getting hurt!"

"I had to protect myself from you!" Kyra shot back, her voice rising. "You made me feel like I was never enough! I had to pick up the pieces all by myself while you got to move on, pretending everything was fine. Do you have any idea how painful that was?"

"I didn't mean for it to be like this!" Alex felt his defenses crumbling. "I thought you'd understand! I thought it would be easier for you if we parted ways before it got worse."

"Easier for me?" Kyra scoffed, her voice trembling with emotion. "You thought walking away was the easy way out? Do you know how many nights I cried, how many times I wanted to reach out to you but couldn't? I had to watch you build a life with someone else, and it destroyed me. And now you think you can just call me and blame me for everything?"

Alex clenched his jaw, feeling the weight of her accusations sink in. "I'm not blaming you! I just... I don't know how to feel about this anymore! I didn't want to lose you, but here we are!"

"Yeah, here we are," Kyra shot back, her voice rising. "You chose Aldora, and now you're getting married tomorrow like I never existed. It feels like you're throwing it all in my face!"

"That's not fair, Kyra!" he yelled, frustration and hurt spilling over. "I didn't ask for any of this! I still think about you, even when I'm trying to be happy with Aldora!"

Kyra paused, her breath hitching. "You think that makes it better? You think I want to be a memory while you play house with someone else? It's not just your happiness that matters. I lost everything when you decided to push me away!"

With those words hanging in the air, Alex hung up the phone, feeling the weight of regret crashing down on him. He sank onto the edge of the bed, glancing around at the wedding preparations—the pristine white dress hanging in the closet, the carefully arranged flowers, and the glimmering rings waiting to be exchanged. Doubt washed over him, threatening to drown him in the reality of his decision.

In a fit of frustration, Alex hurled his phone across the room. It struck the wall before crashing to the floor, the screen shattering into a spiderweb of cracks. As he stared at the broken device, a sense of clarity washed over him. Maybe it's time to reset my life with Aldora.

The sun rose on the day of his wedding with an almost surreal brightness. The anticipation in the air was palpable as guests began to gather, filling the venue with laughter and joy. As Alex stood at the altar, excitement battled anxiety within him. He wore a smile, yet a storm raged inside, the echoes of his argument with Kyra haunting him.

When Aldora began her walk down the aisle, she looked radiant in her stunning gown, her eyes sparkling with love and excitement. Alex forced himself to focus on her, trying to drown out the turmoil within. They exchanged vows, the words flowing between them like a promise of a bright future. Yet, in the back of his mind, Kyra's accusations echoed—"You chose Aldora... while I suffered alone."

As the moment came to seal their vows with a kiss, Alex felt a fleeting sense of relief wash over him, quickly overshadowed by unresolved feelings swirling in his heart. The applause of their guests enveloped them, but he felt an emptiness that made it difficult to fully embrace the moment.

The reception became a blur of laughter, toasts, and well-wishes. Aldora beamed with joy, surrounded by friends and family, while Alex found himself withdrawing into the background. He smiled and nodded, but his mind was elsewhere, replaying the conversation with Kyra, each accusation a reminder of his internal struggle.

Excusing himself from the festivities, he stepped outside into the cool night air. Alone under the stars, he leaned against the wall, grappling with his thoughts. What had he done? The weight of his decision pressed down on him, and he could almost hear Kyra's voice echoing in his mind, full of hurt and accusation.

With determination, Alex decided to buy a new phone. He walked to a nearby store, where he selected a sleek model that felt foreign yet promising. He felt a sense of hope in this reset, a fresh start with Aldora. When he returned to the reception, Aldora noticed the new phone in his hand.

"Is that a new phone?" she asked, curious.

"Yeah, I thought it was time for a change," he replied, forcing a smile. "I want to start fresh with you."

"Why the sudden change?" Aldora inquired, her brows furrowing slightly.

"Just... wanting to begin a new life together," he said, the words flowing easier than he expected, though the truth lingered just beneath the surface.

Later, as they mingled with their guests, disaster struck. Alex's old phone, still broken, slipped from his pocket as they stood near the edge of the building's balcony. In slow motion, he watched it tumble over the side, falling to the ground below with a sickening crunch.

Aldora gasped, and Alex felt a rush of panic. "Oh no!" he exclaimed, running to the railing to see the wreckage below. He turned to Aldora, trying to mask his guilt. "I guess it's time to leave the past behind, huh?"

"What happened?" Aldora asked, concern etched on her face.

"I just wanted to start a new life with you," he replied, his voice sincere yet tinged with an unspoken truth.

As they returned to the celebration, Alex's heart raced. Tomorrow, he would be Aldora's husband, but in the depths of his soul, he knew that moving on wouldn't be as simple as leaving an old phone behind.