Hearts Devoured • LT&ZM

1 || The Wedding

It was marital bliss.

Simply said, she looked ridiculously gorgeous. He was expectedly dashing, as always. There was no other way to put it: they looked divine. Even though Dani Moon, my cousin/best friend was wearing probably the most expensive wedding gown that would make a million brides jealous, it all paled in comparison to the bigger reality that she was marrying Harry Styles. Naturally, everything was bound to be perfect. It had to be. They were in love, after all. 

Literally speaking, however, the crowd appeared to be a bit overwhelmed. The small garden wedding had a small gathering going for it, and it was a weird mix of people she could recognize and some she would only see as tourists. Although different races and attires were mixed in the small wedding, everyone -- me included, had one thing in common: we were stunned.

If one would take a moment to look around, you would notice that everyone looked rushed. It's as if like me, everyone had been invited the last minute. The wedding literally came out of nowhere. The feeling was similar to watching someone win the lottery and dropping dead because he/she couldn't take the surprise. When Harry said "I do", I think someone fainted. Was it wrong to think that not everyone was 100% supportive of the wedding that just transpired? 

And yet, even if the wine tasted a bit funky, and the temperature was rising, the silk of my dress sticking up my back (why the fuck did you decide to get married during the summer, Dani?!), Mr and Mrs Styles didn't give a damn. They were too absorbed with each other. Their sticky glances towards one another made anyone in the room bet they would do it right on the buffet table if they were left alone. Did they even have to be left alone? 

Once again, it didn't make sense how this apparent union came to be. Dani literally invited selected friends and family to the wedding without any warning to whom it may be or how soon it would happen. It was hard to imagine that roughly a year ago, Dani had left for London without saying goodbye because of a job offer, and after her drastic return -- seemingly overnight, she was a bride-to-be. 

And now she was Mrs. Harry fucking Styles. In all sense of the name. 

That aside, you're most welcome to conclude that my relationship with Dani has been strained since she left. And since she's been back, I couldn't help but feel like she had shoved everything down my throat. Her return, HARRY STYLES, this crazy wedding, and now, being forced to interact with people I haven't met... God knows how I hate doing things I didn't want to do.

Like me, most of the audience didn't really prod about how Dani (a non celebrity, normal girl) met Harry Styles (I couldn't seem to think of him as plain ol' Harry, well, not yet). But when Dani called me and begged me to be here, of course I had to come. How could I not? Dani was still Dani, and the girl was basically my phantom limb. Maybe I couldn't see her, but I knew she was always there. She was always going to be my best friend.

"But what's the theme, Dani?" I asked, excited and frustrated at the same time. I hated shopping for dresses, even more so going to weddings."Give me a color at least!!!"  I listened to Dani's nervous giggle on the other line. 

"It doesn't matter, Jewel! I don't care if you wear your pajamas, just PLEASE be there!"

So here I was, sitting on my lonesome on a supposedly happy day. I mean, I know she didn't think of me the moment she was busy making googley-eyes with Mister Perfect over there. Don't get me wrong because I don't even blame her; the man was a bit angelic on certain lights. I was starting to see why Harry Styles was the usual fan fave the longer I stared at him. 

But, whatever. 

They were perfect. 

I guess that's all that matters. 

That's all that should matter.

Glancing at Dani in her vibrant gown, gorgeous hair and a smile that rivaled the best diamonds in the world, I know I've never seen her this happy. It dawned on me that she was a completely different person now. Gone was the girl who constantly hesitated to show the world her true self. Gone was the friend who needed me to stand by her through thick and thin. Gone was my soul mate, replaced by this stranger -- so bubbly, so romantic, so cliché.

Then again, I'd always known she had this part of her deep inside. She might have hidden all her light underneath her shell, but she had showed me who Dani Moon was. 

Now there was someone else standing in my place.

Someone else who managed to pull her out of hiding with graceful confidence and love. 

Him.

The wonderful, down to earth Harry Styles.

God, if only I didn't know how her love for him went beyond fangirling and obsession. It was pure, unadulterated faith and devotion -- it was burning passion. You could almost say Harry was Dani's religion (okay, maybe it was borderline obsessive). But even I knew how hard it was to find a real man nowadays. I mean, look at me. I'm single and a tad bit too bitter...

Drowning in my dark thoughts, I tried hard not to grind my teeth against each other. I know I didn't hate Harry Styles. I wasn't jealous. Found him a bit annoying, maybe (come on, he has a weird laugh at least to me), but let's be honest. It's hard to hate a pretty face. 

Maybe I was envious of their connection?

Possibly. 

Sighing to myself, I leaned back against my chair and tried to relax. I don't know how long I sat there waiting for the post-wedding party to wind down. Everyone was drifting away slowly, and still, there danced the love birds, arms wrapped around each other, swaying to the music that was slowly fading into nothing but soft summer breeze and crickets...

Why am I still staring?

Perhaps because this is the best kind of happiness I've seen in a while?

Ugh. 

Talking about self-punishment. 

"Penny for your thoughts," a voice said behind me, interrupting my Debbie Downer mood.

I frowned at once, knowing I didn't really have a "friend" with me here. When I glanced back to check who it was, I felt my whole world stop. I was staring at perhaps one of the most attractive men in my life. Next to Harry Styles, this man was clearly competition in the good looks department. And considering the former already had a ring on his finger (God forbid anyone who would dare steal him from the bride), this ruggedly handsome man won in my book.  

Handsome? 

For fuck's sake.

That word was not enough to do justice to his perfect features. 

I was inevitably frozen in place.

He had this sleepy vibe going on, as if he was trying to be mysterious. The five o'clock shadow helped deepen the dark image he was portraying. With lithe fingers he traced his dark stubble and looked at me from beneath his thick eyelashes and locks of hair that had fallen carelessly over his warm hazel eyes. He was breathtaking. Mesmerizing. He wasn't grinning, but I could tell that he was amused. 

That was probably because of the drool falling from the corner of my mouth because of his beauty.

There stood THE Zayn Malik, asking me how I was.

What the flying fuck was happening? 

What universe was I transported into? Did someone -- oh wait, this was Dani's doing. Perhaps I should thank her for abandoning me a year ago? 

Staring into his eyes, I might do just that. He might have asked me twice already, but I was far too deep in his hazel eyes to brew a coherent reply. 

"Want to grab a drink?"

Only a fool would decline such an offer, and I have always prided myself for being smart. "Sure."

Playing it cool, my insides were a mix of butterflies and bile. 

This was going to be an interesting night.