Episode 002
1099 Words
Three years. I hadn't seen him in that long. But as soon as I stepped into that room and our gazes met, everything returned to me.
Miguel Santos remained the same. He remained dangerously attractive. My stomach twisted, my throat tightened, and my heart pounded. I could still smell his scent as he stood there looking as sharp as ever in his navy tux.
And me? I went cold.
I wasn't sure how I would feel if I saw him again. Hours before our wedding, I ran and walked away silently. Now, he stood directly in front of me.
He was standing under the same roof, breathing the same air.
When his blue eyes met mine, they widened. Startle. Incredulity. Anger, perhaps. At first, he said very little. "Althea..." was all he said in a whisper.
I opened my mouth, but nothing came out.
The explosion followed. "Why is she in this place?" Miguel stood up so fast that his chair almost toppled over as he barked.
"I am uncertain about the nature of this troubling situation, but I must decline to participate," he exclaimed before hastily departing to participate," he exclaimed before hastily departing to participate," he exclaimed before hastily departing. He yelled and rushed away.
My heart thumping, I recoiled. The room was filled with stares. Uncle Andres turned before anyone else spoke.
With that firm voice that always hinted at trouble, he said, "You have a lot of explaining to do."
However, his wife, Mrs Althea Miguel Santos, greeted me warmly. She patted the chair next to her son and said, "Sit down, dear."
I took a seat. Silently. Awkwardly. The room was so thick with tension, I could barely breathe.
We departed following their inquiries, awkward silences, and courteous farewells.
On the way back, Andres was silent. Completely quiet. However, my thoughts weren't. They were
But the second I saw him, I felt the same rush I used to feel. It was a dizzy, helpless, overwhelming kind of want.
Andres had a lot of money. That much was clear. It was like a movie, complete with the private jet, the staff, and the crammed designer closet. However, it didn't make the pain in my chest go away.
I entered his opulent mansion when we returned to New York. Polished floors and the scent of fresh flowers ought to have given me a sense of security. Rather, I felt imprisoned.
It buzzed on my phone. My sister.
"Hey, sis, How are you doing?" Danica inquired
.
Before responding, I wiped my face. "I'm all right." Just tired."
It had been a long time since we had spoken. When I fled, I left everything behind, family members included. Danica, however, never gave up. She kept trying calling and messaging.
She said, "I heard you're back in town."
I blinked. "How do you know that?"
"A friend at the airport saw you."
"Which friend?" I raised an eyebrow inquisitively.
She replied hastily, "You don't know all my friends, especially the new ones."
There was a problem.
My heart was pounding as I gazed out the window after we hung up.
Finally, Harry said something. His tone was sharp but low. "Why didn't you tell me that you and my nephew got engaged?"
I turned to face him, but he remained silent.
He gave a dry laugh. "Whoa. I completely misunderstood you. I genuinely believed that you were unique.
I wanted to say anything at all. However, I felt scared. I was worried that he would hear me admit that I still had feelings for Miguel.
So I said nothing. Both of us did.
As we returned to the house, the car was silent. No music. No talking. The burden of reality was something neither of us wanted to bear.
After we got home, I paced my room, but I couldn't fall asleep. I kept thinking about Miguel. I observed the look in his eyes. His voice wavered when he caught sight of me.
I started to walk. Slowly. I am walking down the corridor. Ascend the stairs.
It wasn't until I was standing outside his door that I stopped.
What am I doing?
I pushed the door open before I could stop myself.
Miguel had fallen asleep, calm. He wore a shirt. Slowly, his chest rose and fell.
I moved closer. I ran my fingers over his arm, trembling.
He shifted.
"What are you doing here, Althea?"
I kissed him, leaning in.
He did not retreat.
My lips moved from his mouth to his neck. I moved my hands over his chest.
"We can't " said Althea.
"Do you want me to help you forget this night, or do you want to talk?" I whispered.
He moaned, torn between desire and guilt.
I slowly and deliberately teased him, waiting for him to push me away. But he didn’t. He touched my waist. He drew me in. My heart thumped, and my body hurt.
Even as his lips touched mine, he whispered, "This is wrong."
"Then stop me."
However, he didn't. We caved.
Our bodies intertwined, and our breaths blended together. There was nothing else to worry about.
However, as we approached the brink of insanity...
"ALTHEA!"
The voice cut sharply through the atmosphere.
I went cold.
Andres
My eyes popped open. Reality struck me.
I walked over to the door.
There he stood. He had a pale face. His eyes were filled with disbelief and anger.
Miguel scurried away from me.
Andres stepped forward.
"I trusted you," he said, his voice shaking.
I was unable to talk.
He gave Miguel a look. "And you. This is my nephew.
The quiet seemed to go on forever.
Miguel attempted to clarify, "Andres it's not what it looks like."
Andres chuckled. It was a sour, icy laugh. "Really? Then what is it? What? You two just fell into bed together after getting lost."
"I made a mistake," I muttered.
Andres looked at me as if he had forgotten who I was, Althea, you are my wife. Do you even recall that?
I wanted to apologize. I wanted to yell that I didn't understand. Everything inside of me shook when I saw Miguel. But nothing would make this right.
Andres said, "I need to think," and slammed the door behind him.
.
Miguel had his head in his hands as he sat next to me.
He whispered, "This... shouldn't have happened."
I gazed at the ground.
He was correct. However, that didn't alter our actions.
We sat in silence.
And I realized for the first time that everything was going to collapse.
- Writer
