Not A Love At First Sight...

Chapter 1

Kelly couldn't stop shaking. Her stomach was quivering. Her head had begun throbbing with a tension headache the moment William told her he needed space to think things through and figure some things out.

She has not had a headache like this since the night before her last exam at culinary school when she fell ill from all the preparation stress. It was the first time in her life that she had to read and work so hard —she could still remember the scare on Andrea's face when she got back from practicals and found her curled up in the bed, shaking like a tree in a storm. Andrea almost fainted in fear— She quickly called for help and Kelly was rushed to the hospital.

The nurses were not even helping matters, they kept telling Andrea to be calm but in what world could she be. Kelly is her best friend but their relationship goes beyond ordinary friendship, they were practically sisters and has been her only friend since they both got into culinary school four years ago. Their friendship goes way back than that. They've known each other since childhood, they went to the same high school and were even more happy when they realized they have the same career interest although Kelly got into culinary school a year before Andrea...

"What's the matter? Can one of you just tell me how my friend is doing? Is that so hard to do?." Andrea blurted at the nurses when she couldn't take the silence and suspense anymore.

Hot words were exchanged in anger, but fortunately, one of the nurses who understood her plight interceded and was able to calm Andrea down after which she escorted her back to her seat. Andrea didn't so much as look at the nurse's face as hot tears rolled down her face.

"What do I do now? Kelly never gets sick. I have never seen her like this." Andrea asked amid the tears.

"Nothing. Let us do our work. Your friend will be fine." The nurse said confidently as she went back to her post.

Thankfully it wasn't long before the doctor came out and assured her that Kelly was fine. She was allowed in to see her as well...

***Present***

"Surprise!!! Happy Birthday!!!" Loud cheers filled the hall as Kelly's hand mistakenly opened the door. That wasn't her intention. At least, not at the moment. She just stood motionless at the door while staring blankly at the people inside. They had pulled William, the birthday celebrant in and were cheering him from all sides.

Kelly's headache was even more compounded by the immense fear which consumed her whole being. She wondered why William would drop such huge bomb on her on such a night which was meant to be a happy and fun-filled one.

What did I do? Was it something I did? - Kelly asked herself as she saw William beaming with smiles and exchanging plesantries with the guests.

Kelly couldn't take it anymore. She got a hold of herself and hurried towards Wiliam. Unfortunately, she was pulled to the podium before she could confront him and unleash her terror on him. Andrea also went up to her before she got up on stage and whispered something in her ears.

"You look really nice my darling. How did he react to the surprise? He seems really happy though." Andrea said with a broad smile but there was no answer from Kelly. She only looked at her and looked away. That was weird and also awkward. That was the first turnoff for Andrea. She knew right then and there that something was wrong with her friend, Kelly. But what could it be?

"Hah... I... I..." Kelly stuttered as she couldn't find the right words to start. The guests cracked up real hard as they thought she was overjoyed.

"Thank you all for coming and for keeping our little surprise a secret. I know how hard it is to pretending everything is normal when you're quietly plotting away, but we did it for our beloved William, my partner, my best friend, my everything for the past eight years..." She let out while looking intensely at William. She was so emotional and could start crying anytime if moved more than one already is.

"I remember saying to him after our first date - what if we just found each other? But the knowing was that fast, that strong and I just... I can't... Imagine my life without you." She let out slowly and sweetly while still looking intensely at her boyfriend who was also looking. His gaze was more of a guilty one as he knew Kelly was trying to communicate with him about what he just told her.

"It just doesn't make sense..." She added in a shaky voice as a stray tear rolled down her face. The guests awed at this.

"So, to you William... I love you... I love you... I love you." She said conclusively and then raised a toast which everyone else did too. In a split second, her attention was taken from William when Andrea called her. She quickly looked in his direction afterwards but he was no longer there. She hurried off the stage and started looking through the crowd maybe he was there. He wasn't.

As Kelly stood still amongst the crowd, confused and not knowing what to do, she felt a light tap on her shoulder. Hoping it was William, she quickly turned back. It was Andrea.

"He needs space Andrea, he said he wants space to figure things out. He's leaving me Andrea." Kelly let out as she burst into tears. Andrea quickly grabbed and pulled her to a side. She didn't want people to see her in such broken state.

"Don't say anything more. You don't want people to see you like this." She whispered to her while patting her lightly on the back. Kelly listened to her and stopped talking too. She stayed still and then tried to blink back the tears that were already formed in her eyes as she flashed back into how she and Wiliam started...