TGLES #1 : Black & Red

Chapter 23 - Destiny

Athena Lemiere

I looked outside through the window and took a really deep breath. I can't believe 3 weeks have passed and I will get married in 2 days. I turned my head to the door and found my dad walking towards me with a smile.

"Hey dad." I said and I hugged him.

"Are you nervous?" He asked and I nodded.

"Don't worry.. Just don't trip over your dress." He touched my nose and I chuckled.

"Don't worry, I won't." I said and then I turned back to the view with my dad standing beside me.

"You know.. you don't look excited. I remembered when I was going to married your mom, she's crazy, but you don't have the same look as your mom."

"I'm excited.. I'm just nervous. I'm marrying a Prince." I said in a 'duh' tone.

"I don't think that you should be nervous about marrying a Prince. He's just like anyone else."  My dad said trying to comfort me.

"Still thinking about that boy?" My dad suddenly asked and I know what he means. It's Xander that we're talking about.

"No."

"That kid came to me last week." I turned to my dad disbelief and he nodded comfirming that Xander really came to him.

"For what? To buy the land?" I scoffed coldly.

"No.. to beg me to have you." I shook my head because Xander is out of his mind.

"Yeah right. What a funny joke that he has there."

"He seems genuine, he even went down on his knees begging. If his dad knows what he's doing, he will never hesitate to punish him. Redent has a crazy pride." That choked me, I can't believe he went down on his knees.

"That's the kind of man that I want to give you to, to be honest. Jacob even proposed you without my permission." I know that because my mom told me that.

"Then why you let us?"

"I was going to talk to Jacob but your mom prevent me to. She said that you're already grown up and you can make your own decisions." My dad said and she's right.

"Am I making the right decision now?" I asked.

"You can't ask me, Athena. You need to ask yourself. Marriage a life time decision, if you don't find the right person then you will be in hell forever." Chase told me that once but I thought it's a joke because he doesn't even care about his relationship and love life so why would he gave me a speech like that.

"I think Jacob is the right person."

"If you still say 'I think', then you're still not sure. You should have state.. 'Jacob is the right person'." He's right but I can't back off now.

"He's the right person, dad." I said and he nodded.

"Well.. If that's your decision then.. I'm okay with it." My dad said as he patted my head. He took out something from his pocket and he put it in front of me.

"What is it?"

"Redent asked me to give this to you. I told him that I won't but.. I think you should read it." I gulped so hard looking at the letter. I think it was crunched into a ball before because it doesn't look like new. I took it from my dad and he kissed the top of my head before going out.

I looked at the letter blankly and slowly open it. I closed my eyes and took a really deep breath before reading it.

Dear Athena,
When I write this, it's a week before your wedding. Well I know maybe you won't read this but I just want to say, I'm happy for you. Seeing you will get married with someone you love and then imagining that big smile showing up later on already makes me happy.

First of all, I just want to say sorry. I want to say sorry for everything that I've done for the past 7 years. I know it's unforgiven but I just wish you can forgive me. I didn't mean to hurt you, I was still young and still finding myself at that time but my feelings for you are real and genuine. I really.. like you a lot.

I can't believe when we met again for the first time, you announced that you're getting married. That hurted my heart a lot actually. I felt like my world colapse in front of my eyes. I just wish I could turn back time to 7 years ago because I don't want to make the same mistake again.

I know that it's time for me to let you go.. even though I don't want to but seeing you wanting this marriage is making me realize that I can't hold you anymore. I want you to be happy, Athena. I really do even though it's hard to see someone else will be the one who gives you the smile on your face.

I'm sorry, Athena, and I'm so happy for you. I just want you to know that.

Maybe if one day.. I get the chance to see you again, I wish you can still be my friends instead of being a stranger.

That's all.. I wish you and Jacob a happy life.

Love,
Xander

I cried reading it and I can feel my heart hurting. My chest was hurting so bad until I can't handle it anymore. I went down on my knees crying. I put the letter back to the envelope and I cried my heart out.

It was a simple letter but I never thought my heart will be hurting like this. My heart still screaming for him and I can't deny it anymore. I don't know if I'm ready for this wedding or not. The whole world already knows about it and I can't back off now.

Maybe this my destiny.. now.