23

Anna
As we walked towards the alter arrangements, Mr. Han stepped closer, i feel his pinky finger brush against his arm, and soon, his karge warm hand is wrapped around mine. I look up at him, and he passes me the most charming smile.
The garden is lavishly arranged. White chairs set in rows at either side and circular tables  placed in front and behind obtained with bottles of quality wine. The guests bundled up in elegant coats and scarves, huddled together for warmth as I witnessed the warmth of his hand. My gaze averts down to our hands, I wish we could always be as this, with myvhand and butried into his, feeling the warmth and protection. The scent of cocoa and cinnamon filled the chilly air along with a soothing classical music, providing a conforting touch to the cold weather. A pleasant breeze rustles atcour directions as we strude closer, and my feet stop to see her, my mom.
How fake could that smile be?
"Anna," She strides towards me and takes my hands. I felt Mr. Han let go, but I wish he didn't. She held my hands in hers, and all I could feel was the missing sensation. Did she not know Ibwas holding hand with him, or did she dobit on purpose?
"You're finally here." Her smile grows. "I was just now talking about you." She finally takes her hand off and turns. 
I drop my hand, waiting to feel hia touch. Mom waves at person turns back at me. My attention averts to the person walking towards us. His chestnut hair was neatly brushed back, with a few strands falling over his broad forehead. The dashine tux, His confidentdemeanourr, and charming smile added to his allure, making him look like an heir. He stops in front of me, giving me a perfect smile, and I smile back gently.
"This is Jon. Talk to him. I got to go." Mom says and steides tobthe opposite direction.
"Hey, Anna," I look at him, his voice low and sweet. "Your mom told a lot about you, and I was curious how'd you look." 
"Oh," That was the only word which I could up with. My mom! She has reasons to talk about me as rest of the time, she lives like she had no daughter, named Anna. This woman is really scheming.
"You are more beautiful than I thought," he commented. 
My lips purse, feeling Mr. Han's arm slipped around my waist. He pulls me to his side, and I look up at him. His eyes are fixed on Jon.
"Yes," Mr. Han says, his voice calm yet stern. "She is beautiful, and she knows it because I've already told her that." He shrugs.
Im in this situation again where I have no idea of what I should do or say. I look at Jon, and just then, he averts his gaze to me. His brows meet as he casually points at Mr. Han.
"He is—"
"My—"
"Her boyfruend." Mr. Han interrupts. 
"Oh," Jon chuckles. "Your mom told you we were not in a relationship." He asks, raising his brows questionably. 
"She doesn't know about it." I reply with a pleasant smile as I step aside and slowly push away Mr. Han's hand. It's not because I didn't like itvwas because it seemed rude as I know what mom has built up between Jon and I. Mr. Han respects ny mive and holds my hand.
"So, are you in a relationship with him?"
I nod.
"Yes," Mr. Han answers.
"Well, I'm Jon," he enxtemds his hand for a handshake, and Mr. Han politely reciprocates the gesture.
"Han," he says, "Anna's boyfriend."
Is that how he introduces himself? Come on, tell that you're the CEO of the skyliners company, that's a tag to be peoud of. 
"Mr. Han," Jon calls out. "I know you."
"You do?" I ask, raising my brows.
Jon passes me a glance and back at Mr. Han, "Yes, I do. Who would not know the youngest successful businessman. Mr. Han, I've seen a lot about you." He says.
I, I would not know! Damn, I didn't know a tiny thing about before joining the headquarters.
"I'm flattered." Mr. Han blurts.
"It's nice to meet you." Jon smiles at him and gazes back at me. "And you. I was actually looking forward to meeting you, and I'm glad I had a chance today." 
"It's nice meeting you too."
"Let's bbe touch, okay?"
"Sur—"
Mr. Han clears his throat and lets out a loud weary sigh. I look ip at him to see him oassing a tight smile at Jon, his jaw clenched. "Ms. Anna," he looks down at me, "You told you wanna meet your right? It's been a long time."
"Did I?" I whisper.
"Yes, you did." He averts his gaze to Jon. "She hasn't visited home for a very long time, so she is excited to meet others." What that explained, he slips his hand around mybwaist and guides me tonwalk ahead.
"Isn't your boyfriend great, Ms. Anna?" Mr. Han asks.
I stop in my tracks and gaze at him. "Mr. Han, do you always flatter yourself?"
"What do you mean? Am I not great? Is that Jon better?"
"Maybe," I snarl, hiding in my smile.
His lips slightly part, and his brows raise high. He stares at me and blinks once. He inwraps his arm and rubs the back of his head.
"Ms. Anna, do you think of being in touch with him?" He asks.
"With whom?"
"Jon!"
"Why not?"
"Why should you?"
"He seema nice." I shrug.
Mr. Han takes a moment of silence and bends meeting my heighy. "Am I not nice, Ms. Anna?" He asks, his voice low and challenging.
Despite the cold air, i feel my cheeks heat up. He arches a brow perfectly, biting onto his inner cheek.
"Anna," the cheerful voice takes my attention. I quickly spin around, and my lips twitch to a gigantic grin. "You're here," bray cheers as he jumps forward and pulls me in a hug.
"It's been a while." I say my hands, slowly making its way up to his back. This is pur firat hug.
"Yes," he steps back and looks at me. "I wanted reach oit to you soon after you left, to ask how things were going but I was afraid of interrupting your personal life." His words touched me.
At least he had the thought to know how I've been after I left home. However, I'm glad that I didn't reach out because the first few months after I moved out, it was hectic. He knew I chose to leave because I preferred being alone, and I'm grateful that he understood me back then.
"How's everything going with you?" He asks.
"Good. I'm doing good. Very good." I smile, tears begin to prick at the back of my eyes. "Thank you for remembering that I existed in the family."
"Anna," his voice comes out low. He takes my hand and looks into my wet eyes. "I know how hard it was for you because of your mom. Our parent's marriage didn't do you any good, but you'll always have people around you who will love you." He says.
I nod with a smile. He pats on my head and averts his gaze to the person behind me.
"He is—"
"Han," Mr. Han takes a step forward and extends his hand. "Anna's boyfriend." He says. I watch them to the handshake and the biddy hug.
"I'm glad you came along." Bray says, tapping on Mr. Han's shoulder. "You're lucky to run into my sister." He chuckles.
I look up at Mr. Han, he nods, "Very lucky." He says.
I'm thankful for this moment,  to be at my brother's wedding, to know he was worried about me and overall, I have this special person beside me. 
Bray walks over the altar arrangement,  between the white roses and climbers. Mr. Han and I walk ahead, standing behind the arranged chairs, watching him stand on the podium. Mr. Han holds my hand, intertwining our fingers. I looked up at him, and he was already looking down at me. A spontaneous smile makes its way on my lips to sew him smile. 
"You alright?" He asks, in a low voice.
I nod. "I'm just happy." I say.
His grin widens, and his hold tightens, yet it is gentle. I purse my lips and look ahead. My cheeks lift below my eyes when Bray gazes at me and passes me a kind smile. I don't know why, but I feel touched?
A part of me regrets not spending time with him. We were never too close, we rarely spoke, and whenever we did, we had a pleasant and comfortable conversation unlinke with his other siblings. Maybe, if I had moved along with him instead of staying away, it would make me feel like we did something. My mother changed after divorce, dad was gone, I was forced to move to my grandmother's place, and in a month, my grandmother passed away. Later, after a couple of months, mom introduced Bray's dad to me and told me that she was going to marry him. 
My smile shrinks as the two girls in the front follow Bray's gaze, his sisters. Kate and Amy. Kate is the second child and a year older than me, Any is the youngest. They pass me a digusted look, and I roll my eyes in return. These two, we've never spoken, not even a word with each other. They didn't like their father marrying my mom and always threw tantrums at mom, and as for me, I was treated like I was invisible to their eyes. Mom never cared about me, and neither did my step dad. That was the whole reason why I needed to mive out. 
My brows meet, noticing their gaze travelling to my left. Mr. Han unlocks his fingers and slodes his hand behind me. His palm gently wraps around his arm, and he pushea to his side. I look up at him, he stares straight ahead, his chin raised in the air.
The tone of the music changes, and everyone turns to the direction of the set aisle. The bride adorned in a stunning white gown held a boquet of crimaon red roses.  She gracefully glided towards the beautiful podium. Bray grins at her arrival, his radiant smile reflecting his excitement and anticipation. As she reached her beloved partner, they stood before each other, their eyes locked with devotion. The air is filled with a palpable sense of joy and celebration as they exchanged heartfelt vows, and the crowd erupted in thunderous applause when the couple kissed. 
The applause subsided, and the crowd gracefully parted, creating a path for the newlyweds to embark on their first dance as husband and wife. The enchanting melodies of the romantic music floated through the air, wrapping around the couple like a warm embrace. With every step, they moved in perfect harmony, their bodies swaying gently to the rhythm. The dance floor soon became a symphony of love, as other couples stepped forward to join.
I admire the scene in front of me, and my attention averts as I notice Bray gesturing his head to Mr. Han. Furrowing brows, I gaze at Mr. Han and thame are very momet he gazes at me. 
"Ms. Anna, Do you want to dance?" He asks, withdrawing hand from my body. He enxtends his arm, "Shall we?" He asks, eyeing at the centre.
I turn to look at Bray, who smiles at me and back at Mr. Han. Inhaling a deep breath, I gold his hand, and we stepped in. Mr. Han's hand makes its way around my waist and pulls me close to his body. He seems to be even taller in closer. Blinking multiple times, I raise my arm to his shoulders. It's funny that I couldn't reach them that my hand stops a lottle below his shoulders on hia chest. Maybe I should buy higher heels.
He takes ny other hand, and his long fingers interwines with my mine, our hands clasped. My heart pounds, harder, and harder at every step we take. I couldn't focus on the music or anything. I don't dare to look at him, to meet those deep eyes, which makes my body motionless. I'm unable to follow the rhythm, but i follow pace. 
"Anna," he whispers, my name rolled down his tongue low and sweet. No matter how many I hear him call me that way, my heart will skip a heart every time, and the butterflies flutter in my stomach. I gaze up at him and the corners of his lips slightly twitch. "I wish one day I'll damce with you, and you should be with the white gown and veil." 
Everything around me froze. I feel my cheeks heat up, and my loud heartbeat thunped in my ears. Mr. Han lowered his head. 
"Shall we make that happen?" He asks, his voice roo low. I'm sure I could hear him because of our closeness.
"I—"
The music stops and crowd claps. I step back awkwardly and turn to the opposite side.  I take a step forward, and my feet stop to see my mom, watching me.

Book Comment (93)

  • avatar
    CayaJinjing

    good

    07/05

      0
  • avatar
    ألكوفينداس جونيور

    follow back 🔙 follow me

    09/03

      0
  • avatar
    Julia N. Gultiano

    so nice

    20/02

      1
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