I saw you getting married.
She was glowing in her white chiffon wedding dress while you looked the same 8 years ago when we first met. Same tall built, same black windswept hair and same electric blue eyes that used to always look at me with love, and now at her.
And suddenly the memories just came flashing by. I remembered meeting you for the first time during our first day in college down to the very last moments we saw each other.
We started like every other couple out there as friends until we grew too close to be even considered as friends and we did the most logical thing- we went steady. We hid our relationship from others because of your family's status. You came from a prominent family with immense wealth dating back in the 1900s and I'm just an ordinary person from an ordinary family.
I had nothing to be proud of while you have the whole world ahead of you.
There was always an invisible wall that separates us and I know that this relationship is doomed to an end right from the start. I saw all the red flags waving at my face but I ignored them. I don't care if others don't know about us, labels are not our thing anyway.
Though I don't think it'll make me a lesser person to admit that it does hurt to be introduced as your 'best friend' only or the moments that I have to watch you being flocked around by girls, though I can't blame them. Good looks, intelligence, family background, money- you were perfect.
Everything was perfect.
But like all good things, it has come to an end.
After 5 years of studying in college, we finally graduated. During graduation, you held my hand and I looked into your eyes and it was all in slow motion. It surprised me because your family's looming eyes are just behind us and there were tons of people to witness this tiny act of intimacy but still, you held my hand.
I almost cried but I held it all in; It was the first time we did something in public.
And it was also the last time.
You suddenly turned cold after a week and I don't know why.
You ignored all my texts and calls, you don't show up for "hangouts", and most of all, you can't look at me in the eye, the very same eyes that you used to look at with love. I know that it's hard for you to properly express your feeling through words but your eyes never lie. You know that I know about it.
You were hiding something from me.
The next thing I know we talked over the phone with you saying you need some space and that your family's taking you Italy to orient you with the family business. You said it was only for a month and so I let you go because I trusted your word that you'll come back to me after a month. We survived years of hidden relationship happily and I doubted that a month will make a difference.
I was wrong.
A month turned into a year; a year turned into years, and I waited for you to come back.
But you never did.
Then one day, three years later, I saw your face all over the news, saying you just came back that your about to marry someone. And that someone was not me.
And it hurt because we didn't have a proper closure. Because I trusted your word that you'll come back to me. Because I waited for you. Because no matter how hopeless it was I still love you.
But I have to let you go because she can make you happy. Because she has your parent's approval. Because she can give you something I can't- a family.
And now I'm looking at you as you stare at her lovingly. The same stare that you used to give me back them. And as I watch you bend down to kiss her- to seal your vows of Holy Matrimony in front of the altar I just have to turn back and blink away the tears.
As I hear the crowd clapping their hands politely, I walked away. I can't bear the pain, it hurt too much. Maybe someday I'll learn to move on and let him be another chapter of my life instead of being the entire book but right now I'll drown in self-pity.
As I walked away from the wedding, I heard hurried footsteps following me from behind.
"Hey! Wait up!"
I turned around at the source of the voice, up at the steps of the Cathedral- it was his younger brother- Charles.
"I know you!" The 17-year old boy exclaimed while pointing childishly at me. "You were always around my brother back when he was in college!"
"It's been years since we've last saw each other and you're still as childish as I've last remembered" I bantered back, grinning impishly as if I wasn't about to cry three minutes ago.
"Wait I remember! You're my brother's best friend! I always wondered where you went. You guys were always together and now you weren't even invited to his wedding!"
"I guess we just drifted apart." I sighed solemnly, looking up at the heavens "Your brother went to Italy to manage the family business and I went on to work for a desk job. I guess our paths just didn't cross as it did back then."
"What's your name again?" He grinned, rubbing the back of his head stupidly "After all these years, I've already forgotten about it."
"Aww! Little Charlie's gotten too old to remember names?" I bantered back, smiling teasingly as he sputtered profanities about not being old as I claim him to be "It's fine though, I'm pretty unremarkable."
I climbed up the steps, reaching his hand to shake it as I introduce myself to him for the second time.
"I'm Adrian."
.
.
.
FIN.
Originally posted in my Fictionpress account (xXClouDyXx) way back in 2015 but recently decided to crosspost this on my Wattpad account. Also edited things a bit since there was a bit of grammar errors and I changed the name since I didn't liked it.
