AFTER I WAS LEFT ON THE ALTAR

CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: MESMERIZED

(THALIA'S POV)

“This is so beautiful”, Luna whispered gently. And I couldn't help but nod in agreement as I looked at the sight right before me.

I remember clearly walking hastily behind Luna so she wouldn't be out of my reach. I bumped into people repeatedly, but made sure not to keep those ponytails out of my sight.

I finally caught up to her. I noticed she had stopped walking and was staring at a particular stall. I walked up to her and followed her line of sight, and was completely mesmerized.

I have never seen roadside meat look so tempting. The steam came out in wisps, not failing to carry an aroma so mouthwatering that my stomach grumbled in response, and it suddenly hit me that we hadn't had dinner before we left the hotel.

“Why are you two standing here lost in thought?” Alexander's voice quickly broke me out of my trance.

“Smiley, look! This is our chance to taste heaven.” Luna pointed at the stall, and Alexander followed her hand and stared at the stall. I waited patiently for his reaction, hoping I could get even the smallest reaction.

His gaze switched back to I and Luna, “But that's just meat.” He deadpanned.

I thought the way to a man's heart is through his stomach, but why isn't he moved?

“Please, Smiley, can we try that. I'm so sure you would love it.” Luna said, and I almost nodded my head in return, but instead straightened my back, looking at my nails.

Alexander nodded slightly, causing Luna to squeal, jumping around him like a little happy puppy. The sight was something to behold. Alexander picked her up and walked towards the stall, then paid for three people. I released a breath, glad he didn't mind eating with us.

We were directed to a place behind the stall, filled with tables with an umbrella shade. We sat down on one of the empty tables, and the waiter behind us placed the plates of meat in front of us.

The meat wasn't the only thing on the plate; instead, there was rice in the shape of balls and some colorful vegetables scattered across the plate.

I took a spoonful of rice into my mouth first, and it tasted a little bland; I couldn't taste a hint of salt, but it was okay. I decided to go for the main event.

I closed my eyes tightly to stop the moan that threatened to escape my mouth.

The meat practically melted in my mouth. It was sweet, savory, smoky, and somehow unbelievably tender all at once. The sauce clung to every bite, filling my senses that I forgot my surroundings.

My eyes caught sight of Alexander staring at me with a fork in his hand that had stopped mid-air. I immediately looked away as heat crept up my neck.

Don't tell me he just saw me low-key worship the meal in front of me.

My gaze found Luna instead and watched with my eyebrows raised as she kept shoving meat into her mouth, so that her cheeks started to give the shape of a chipmunk.

I bit my lip so hard it hurt, but I didn't mind because I definitely wasn't going to let out the laugh I was holding so dearly while food was still stuck in my mouth.

“Are you okay?” Alexander asked, looking at me. I lifted my index finger and pointed towards Luna. His gaze shifted to Luna, causing his eyes to widen,n and I felt that was the trigger to everything I fought so hard to hold back.

Next thing I forced down all the food I had half-chewed and burst into uncontrollable laughter. My eyes went back to Luna once more, who looked even more ridiculous, with her staring right at me with her eyebrows furrowed and squinted eyes.

I laughed so hard that I was barely breathing anymore, and started wheezing in slight pain. Only after a few seconds could I get myself under control.

I looked up, and both of them stared back at me, Luna with her cheeks back to normal but with folded arms and narrowed eyes, while Alexander looked at me with a full-blown smile resting on his lips.

I couldn't take my eyes off him. I always knew Alexander was good-looking, but this was way beyond what I had always had in mind. It was not a faint smile nor just a twitch in his lips; it was a smile that stretched his lips and showed some of his teeth.

And dear Lord… he looked completely different.

I couldn't look away. He immediately realized I was staring, and his smile vanished into thin air like it was never there.

I slowly went back to finish our food, and so did they. We all ate in silence till we were done eating.

We continued our journey down the road, all the while admiring the designs and liveliness of the whole environment. Little children ran around with masks on their faces, and beautiful lanterns changing colors at regular intervals decorated our paths.

“Momma,” Luna said sternly. I turned to look at her, immediately handing over Shiro to Alexander, who seemed reluctant to hold it. I knotted in my stomach, and I swallowed hard as I knelt at her eye level.

“Baby, what's wrong?” I ran my fingers through her hair, my eyes searching carefully for anything that seemed out of place.

“Momma….. look there!” She pointed to her left, and my eyes followed immediately just to see—

“It's a cotton candy machine!” I slowly took deep breaths as the knot I felt earlier immediately loosened. Luna slowly brought her hands together, and I already knew where this was going,

“Nuh uh, forget about it,” I said, standing upright and going to pick Shiro out of Alexander's arms. Alexander turned his body to the side, making me unable to touch him.

Okay?

I slowly dropped my hands at my sides. I felt a tug on my clothes, looking down to see Luna staring at me.

“Please, Momma, it's the pink kind of cotton candy.” Luna pleaded.

“It being pink doesn't change anything.” I patted her head.

“A legend says if you eat pink cotton candy, you will turn into a princess.” She said, moving her hand with each word she spoke.

“You definitely just made that up,” I said sternly.

“No, I didn't! And even if I did, that makes it more true,” she spoke with confidence.

“ That makes absolutely no sense,” I replied.

“Smileyyyy” Luna cooed.

Alexander looked away from Shiro and then at Luna.

“Smiley, can we please get some cotton candy?” Luna wrapped her hands around his fingers.

“No.” Totally avoiding her gaze.

Luna kept staring at him, Alexander didn't budge, then she stared even harder. His eyes slowly went to hers and stared at her before nodding.

Is this some kind of magic Luna has? The child had somehow discovered the art of emotional manipulation, but couldn't solve a simple multiplication problem.

Three minutes later, she walked away holding the largest cotton candy I had ever seen, and I stood wondering if she had any space left in her to finish it.

I turned to face Alexander, "You lasted exactly two minutes."

"I lasted three." He replied confidently.

I chuckled, "That's not better."

"It is,” he responded. I shook my head at him, choosing not to say anything further.