AFTER I WAS LEFT ON THE ALTAR

CHAPTER THIRTEEN: TAKE OFF

(THALIA'S POV)

The sound of rolling suitcases filled the air as people walked past us. My steps slowed as I took in the scenery. The airport was painted white and blue. The amount of security present was really high.

My thoughts were drowned out by the scenery in front of me. The place was so big it looked like a small city had somehow been trapped inside a building.

I'm pretty sure most people here travel casually every week.

My hands twirled around my hair as I tried not to look impressed.

Despite my thoughts, my head turned left and right repeatedly, lingering on the cafés, shops, and giant screens. I finally understood why Luna said the airport was like a magical portal.

Speaking of Luna, I could only imagine the look on her face right now.

My eyes trailed downward, only to realize my hand was holding just air. Luna wasn't there anymore. My head snapped up as I searched for her.

Alexander, who was answering an important call, seemed to notice because he ended it abruptly.

“Luna!” I felt like the world around me suddenly went blurry.

I croaked out her name. My throat suddenly felt too dry, and my heartbeat rang loudly in my ears.

I reached out and grabbed a fistful of Alexander's suit, and he immediately understood.

His expression remained calm but I noticed that his shoulders stiffened as his gaze swept through the crowd with frightening precision.

He took long strides toward the left corner of the airport. We passed and bumped into people in the process.

Luna finally came into my line of vision.

She stood a few feet away, talking to a boy who looked around her age while using dramatic hand gestures during the conversation.

The air rushed back into my lungs instantly. When Alexander and I reached where she stood, I noticed we weren't alone.

A young man and a woman stood behind the little boy. Alexander wasted no time lifting Luna from underneath her arms.

She turned quickly to see who was behind her and immediately flashed a smile that Alexander didn't return in the slightest.

“I'm so sorry about our son,” the father of the little boy said while dragging the boy by the ear, making him wince.

“How many times have we told you not to run off on your own?” the blonde woman chided, pointing a finger at him.

“But I was just—”

The father cut him off.

“I don't want to hear any of it.”

The father finally released his ear.

Alexander placed Luna down and held her hand.

“Luna, it's time to go.”

Alexander turned to walk away.

“Lucien, you're going to be grounded for a day when we get home,” the father said, taking his son's hand and turning away.

“Let me go!” both children cried at the same time.

“We promised to go on an adventure,” the boy whined as they dragged him away.

“Please don't go, Lucien,” Luna's voice cracked.

“LUNA!” his voice cracked.

“LUCIEN!” Tears filled her eyes.

Neither Alexander nor the boy's father paid any heed to their cries. They dragged the children away without sparing them a second glance.

Meanwhile, the young woman and I watched them being torn apart and immediately shared a knowing look.

“Hey, I'm Jane. Can I get your number?” the woman asked the exact question I had in mind.

“Hi, I'm Thalia. Of course you can.”

I handed her my phone while she gave me hers. Seconds later, we bid each other goodbye, and I hurried off to catch up with Alexander.

Throughout the entire ordeal, Alexander refused to look at Luna, as though doing so would destroy his resolve.

I couldn't find the right words to say.

Luna went silent after a while, refusing to speak, and I realized this might become more serious than it was meant to be.

I whispered “Strawberry cupcakes” into Alexander’s ear.

He looked at me briefly before picking Luna up and walking toward a shop tucked into one corner of the airport.

We entered a bakery. I watched as Luna's expression changed immediately, though she quickly turned her face away and pretended she didn't care.

Alexander stopped in front of the cupcake display and ordered a box of strawberry cupcakes.

My gaze drifted to Luna once more, and I noticed how she swallowed hard and squeezed her eyes shut, refusing to cave.

A soft chuckle escaped me. The box of cupcakes arrived. I reached out to take it, and together we returned to our seats near the boarding gate.

Our flight would begin boarding in ten minutes. Alexander gently placed Luna on his lap.

He stretched his hand toward me, and I handed him the box. He opened it directly in front of Luna.

She swallowed hard.

Then he picked up a cupcake and took a large bite while staring directly at her. Luna scowled and let out a big huff.

She squeezed the hem of her clothes and stubbornly turned her face away. Yet I still caught her licking her lips hungrily.

Alexander took her hand and placed it on the cupcake.

She stared at it for several long seconds. Finally, her fingers curled around it and immediately stuffed it into her mouth.

She closed her eyes and a sigh of content escaped her lips as she devoured the cupcake. Alexander and I shared a glance. For the briefest moment, I caught a faint smile on his lips.

Ten minutes later it was finally time to board the plane.

The moment I stepped inside the airplane, my feet almost stopped moving. The pictures I had seen online did absolutely nothing to prepare me for this.

A narrow aisle stretched through the middle while rows of seats lined both sides. Soft yellow lights glowed from above, making the entire cabin feel warm despite the cold air blowing gently from the vents.

We rolled our luggage onto the plane. We were meant to sit according to our numbers but Luna begged Alexander that she wants to be by the window. He nodded without missing a heartbeat.

My hands trailed down the leather seat, and the smooth feel underneath my fingertips felt calming. I sat slowly, easing into the seat and letting out a sigh of relief.

I did all I could to feign ignorance but my eyes betrayed me by darting everywhere. From the tiny windows piled all through the plane to the buttons that I noticed were on each seat and then to the flight attendants moving around with practiced smiles.

A few minutes later, some drinks and snacks were shared with each passenger. The cake looked too pretty to be eaten. I looked around and noticed everyone looked relaxed, some wasted no time eating it immediately.

I glanced around casually before bringing out my phone.

I did it casually… extremely casual.

I made sure I didn't look like this was my first time. I tilted my phone carefully and snapped a picture quickly, wanting to put it back into my bag, I decided to snap just one more.

Maybe two more actually.

I slowly put my back into my bag and sat upright.

“Did you just take a picture of the cake” Alexander said with a hint of amusement.

I felt like the floor of the plane should literally open so I would fall into it. My eyes lifted slowly to meet his amused ones.

“ I did not,” I said, playing with my fingers.

“You're lying. You twirl your fingers when you lie” Alexander rested his arm beneath his chin, turning his body fully to face me.

“I'm just keeping them as memories,” I said, avoiding his gaze.

“Hmmm, it's free cake by the way,” he said, turning his face away.

I felt heat creep up my neck instantly, what was worse was that he sat right in front of me and I could literally feel his body heat from where I stood. There was nowhere I could hide my embarrassed face.

“Wow!” Luna's mouth fell open.

(ALEXANDER'S POV)

I heard Luna's voice and my gaze followed hers immediately. The sky was on fire—but gently. Gold melts into orange, then fades into soft pink and deep violet. Clouds floated beneath them like they were resting on light itself.

“It's really pretty” Thalia's voice came from behind. My gaze shifted to her and it was I who became drawn to what was before me.

She sat there in complete awe of the sky while I was in complete awe of her. She sat there completely oblivious to the fact that her face was caught in the glow that illuminated.

The sunlight touched her as if it belonged there with the entire sunset reflecting in her green eyes.

I didn't think of what I did next because one minute I was staring at her and the next my hand reached out to her chin, turning her to face me completely.

She let out a gasp as her eyes widened in surprise but like a spell, I couldn't stop staring so deeply into those eyes of hers.

“Momma!” Luna jumped excitedly, “Look, there are birds everywhere”.

I let go of her immediately, clearing my throat and turning towards the window to distract myself from what had just happened moments ago. I closed my eyes while taking calming breaths to clear my thoughts.

I decided to go through some paperwork or anything as long as it wasn't looking at her.

I looked up and noticed time had passed quickly. Luna was curled up on my lap in a deep sleep. My gaze turned to Thalia once again andI saw she was fast asleep but completely unsteady.

I reached out to adjust how she was seated so her head would be straight and wouldn't move around anymore. As I tried shifting how she was seated, her face slowly landed on my shoulder.

I tried lifting back up but instead she snuggled closer to me. Her entire scent filled all my senses making me feel strangely comfortable.

I decided to let it slide just this once. I rested my head on hers and subtly took in her scent which relieved all the tension I felt from going through paperwork just minutes ago. After a while, I succumbed to darkness.

_

I woke up to the voice of the pilot saying we were about to land. I noticed Luna was already awake and looking through the window.

I gently tapped Thalia's shoulder. She stirred slowly, then her face lifted from where it had settled against me. The moment her eyes found mine —barely an inch apart– color flooded her face instantly.

She pulled back immediately."I'm so sorry, I didn't—"

"It's fine," I said quietly and turned toward thee window before she could see anything on my face worth reading.

The countdown began for the plane to land. I saw Thalia gripping tightly to the armrest while taking deep breaths. I placed my hand right next to hers just so it was barely touching and looked away.

“Thank you” an almost inaudible whisper from Thalia.

Then I felt the lightest pressure from the edge of her hand leaning barely against mine. She didn't look at me. I didn't look at her.

Seconds later the plane landed smoothly. We got our luggage and walked off the airplane taking in the scenery of Japan before us.