HER

EVERY OUNCE OF IT

MUNA's POV

The evening was a very long one, and of course, Mrs. Parker decided to make the 'simple party', as she called it, the most elaborate one. I wouldn't have agreed to it if only I had known that was her plan from the onset.

But... I can't even get mad at her. I don't even know whom I should be more mad at. Ted, who was still busy flashing smiles to visitors his mother had brought or my mum. God that woman was just like a weapon fashioned against me. And Dad? Just the ever obedient husband that he is, he sat next to mum, pretending to be fine with the way she kept snatching every server that passed with a tray of alcohol. Very typical of her.

I let the celebration pass, the hall wasn't that big but... The people there sure made everywhere seem bigger than it was, especially when those in charge of the decorations did absolute justice to it. Everything screamed Mrs. Parker's involvement in it. Who else, if not her?

I stood to my feet. Ted didn't notice because he was now too deep in a discussion with this strange guy I had never seen him with before.

I dodged a few eyes, guests, and even people who acted like they knew me until I found my way to the dressing room.

The first thing I did was sink into a chair facing the dressing table, my head banging from all the noise, cheeks aching because of all the smiling, both the ones I faked and the ones that were real.

I massaged my legs gently before grabbing my phone.

I had ten missed calls, so I slid to the missed calls, and it was Alex.

Yeah, I wasn't expecting to receive any calls from Alex, definitely not during this time.

Not after what had happened.

I still felt hurt, and I definitely didn't want to speak to him, but then, he was still my friend, and he was still dealing with alot right now. I couldn't totally toss him aside.

I dialed his line once. After the second attempt, he picked up, his voice breaking through the line.

"Mun," his voice cracked, as if he had just cried. He didn't say a word until a second passed. "Can you come see me at my home?" He finally said, his voice quiet, calmer.

I shifted to the edge of my seat. Call me pathetic, but I couldn't stand even a break in Alex's voice. His pain always seemed to be my own pain. His tears always get to me. I just can't help it. Like right now, I was already standing on my feet. The same feet I almost thought would break if I made even the slightest movement, but right now, the pain I felt just seconds ago has vanished, replaced with concern.

"What happened? Are you okay, Lex?" I asked, clutching the hem of my dress.

"I'm hurt, Mun. I can't..." he whispered, and I could feel the pressure on his voice.

I didn't let him finish, "Just wait for me, I'm on my way,"

I cut the line before he responded. I sat back on the seat, pulled the hooks off my heels and peeled them off urgently, my fingers shaking slightly.

I slid on one of the fancy sandals on the show rack next to the wardrobe and dashed out of the room.

I was definitely crazy. No doubt. I mean, who the hell leaves behind her wedding just to run to another guy who's supposed to be her first love?

But I didn't let my brain think further. In less than five minutes, I was already outside the main building.

I rushed towards the street, flagged down the first cab I saw and told him the address to Alex's house. He nodded and stepped on the gas.

That was when it hit me. I didn't even remember if I had my purse, then I figured I had it tucked inside my right pocket earlier when the party was still on.

As the car drove, my mind kept reeling, wondering and hoping Alex was okay.

The drive was less than thirty minutes, and after I paid the driver off, my legs carried me to the front gate, barged in through the small opening, over to the entrance.

I didn't even remember to knock or press the bell, I just grabbed the handle, twitched the handle and let myself in. Thankfully it wasn't locked.

"Alex!" I shouted the moment I got to the main living room.

Hell, everywhere was dark now, he didn't even switch the lights on and that was the least of my concern. I didn't care if the whole place looked like a damn graveyard, I sprinted up the stairs, aiming straight towards his room.

The second I reached his door, I turned the door handle open, stormed in and shut the door behind me.

Everywhere was dark, and I literally had to squint my eyes while working my hands to direct myself like someone was blind.

"Lex?" My voice echoed in the room, but there was no response until I found the bed. Good. I traced my hand on top of it and noticed he was on it.

I tried to get my phone and that was when I remembered I'd left it at the dressing room, I slowly dropped on the edge of the bed, switching on the lab on the cupboard next to the board.

I pulled away the duvet over Alex's head and then my mouth dropped.

"Jesus! Alex!" I shouted, my hand touching his forehead.

He was so hot, it was enough to recharge a solar.

"What the hell happened?" I managed, still touching his forehead, then his neck, his chest, everywhere my hand could reach.

His eyes opened slowly as it locked with mine.

Then he did the unexpected. He let out a small scoff. Like seriously?

"Did you fly over here?" he managed in a small voice.

Was he serious right now? Making a joke under these conditions? How is that even funny right now?

"You're burning up right now, and you think this is the time to joke? I almost lost my mind because I was afraid something bad had happened, and now I walked in seeing you this way..."

"As you can see, nothing bad really happened, just running a fever and that's all. Seeing you now somehow took away the fever.

"That's not funny, Lex. If you weren't sick I would have punched you right now."

He didn't respond. Instead, he just smiled, revealing those pretty dimples.

"I need to get ice from the freezer. You're really burning up," I said, dropping his head gently on the bed.

I didn't even make it far before his hand grabbed my wrist.

"Just stay, I'll be fine,"

"You don't even sound fine, so, no, I'm getting the ice unless you want me to feel bad about doing nothing,"

He didn't protest further. Instead, with one smooth move, he pulled me closer, I landed straight on his chest, our faces just inches apart.

I stayed there for seconds, just staring at each other, the world standing still at that moment.

His hands moved gently, pulling away a strand of hair away from my face, then...

Without a word, his lips touched mine, just for a second before pulling away.

"I'm sorry I pushed you away, Mun. I realized I had been selfish. I can't deny the fact that I've always wanted you. I really love you so much, Mun," he whispered under his breath.

I just stared, my lips refusing to move, my body just still like it had lost the ability to make a movement.

"Lex," was all I could manage before he cut in.

"I know I screwed up, and maybe I was really an i***t for realizing too late how much I loved this beautiful woman staring at me right now, but then... It's really not too late to start, right?"

For some reason, guilt washed over me, my mind somersaulting in my chest.

He doesn't even know I was married to Ted now.

I shouldn't feel guilty of that. He caused it. He pushed me away, but I couldn't resist the pull. It was so strong.

The moment he leaned closer, his lips found mine, claiming it slowly, deliberately and the worst part? I allowed every ounce of it.