Chapter Twenty-five

Alice

"I think I like this one better," Teresa says as she sits still, pointing out the colour of the eyeshadow she would want on her eyelids. "Wait . . . what about this one?"

The makeup artist nods before doing her magic, making sure the rest of us would look presentable for Juliet's wedding. It has been more than half an hour since they started doing our makeup and our hair, knowing well enough it's not an easy job. Juliet, on the other hand, is busy taking pictures of herself for the purpose of keeping it in her phone while her hired photographer tries to capture moments of us.

I keep quiet, looking at myself in the mirror.

"Is everything okay, Alice?" Teresa asks, turning to look at me.

"Yeah, everything is perfect. I'm just thinking,"

"Thinking about what?"

"How fast time flies."

A few years ago, we were just having the best time of our lives and enjoying the moment but now, we're settling down with commitments. Fun? We still have them sometimes but we know our limits. Being an adult is never easy because we have better things to do, we have bills to pay and we have responsibilities.

It seems like ever since I entered adulthood, there is just endless difficulties.

"So . . . you're with Ian now?" She asks, making me blink.

I turn to look at her, "What makes you think about that?"

"I saw you two leaving Per Se the other night. It didn't seem like a friendly occasion," A sneaky smile plastered on her face before teasing me, "Come on, are you guys dating? At least give me a heads up."

"No, we're not dating. We're just . . . we're just friends," I smile.

Ever since what happened that night, it felt as if we've grown closer. I have been staying over at Ian's house for the past few days and it has been great, he has been filling me with comfort and warmth. Not a night was spent without hours of cuddling until we fell asleep or stupid jokes and even weird conversations. It was just perfect because we trust each other, we are comfortable.

To say that Ian and I are just friends, we aren't exactly just doing what friends do.

The kiss? Let's talk about the kiss.

If I have to say that Ian is a bad kisser, I'd be lying to myself and to everyone I know. Ian is by far, the best kisser, he knows how to move his lips in sync and he knows how to make me feel butterflies in my stomach. Don't get me started on how he keeps making me beg for more—I love the intensity, I love the wildness.

We just never moved past the kiss. Just making out.

"Liar! I know it, you guys are fucking?" She exclaims, causing my eyes to widen.

Juliet turns to look at us, "Who is fucking?"

"Nobody! Nobody's fucking, keep it down." I groan, pulling Teresa's hand. "We kissed. A few times,"

She raises an eyebrow, "Really?"

"Okay, a lot of times."

"I knew it. So, it's official? He has feelings for you?"

"I don't know about that. Maybe," I respond.

"Alice . . . oh my god, why not?! Ian's a really good guy and he's fucking rich."

"I just want us to take things slow and see where it goes." I close my eyes, leaning back on the seat.

"No wonder he is your date tonight because apparently, he has been your date for the past few days too!" She chuckles, trying to put in assumptions. "I mean, I don't blame you or him. Honestly, I even imagined what it would feel like if he ever kisses me—in a weird, disgusting way because I don't see him more than a friend but he's really, really attractive."

"Yeah, well—"

She cuts me off, "—you guys need to have sex."

"Excuse me?" I raise an eyebrow.

Juliet starts to make her way towards us, "Okay, what are you guys talking about?"

Teresa continues to give me a side eye before speaking out, "Alice is sleeping with Ian."

"Can you not?!" My eyes widen, pushing her away as Juliet stands in complete confusion. The three of us remain silent for the next few seconds until I choose to speak again, "Ian and I are not sleeping together. We kissed, a few times, and that's it."

"Well, Ian is single. You are single. There's nothing wrong with developing a relationship,"

"I just don't want to rush things. Especially after what happened with Eric," I reply.

"Speaking of Eric, were you able to reach him?" Teresa asks, looking at Juliet.

Juliet shakes her head before continuing to take a seat, letting the makeup artist continue doing her job. Apparently, for some reason, Eric is not contactable. Juliet has been trying to contact him multiple times but it didn't reach him at all, just went straight to voicemail. They said that he might've flew back to London or wherever, maybe wanting to cut ties for good.

He can cut ties with me after how our relationship ended but with them? They were his best friends. They went through everything together and despite the rough patches of our relationship, he should've been more matured in handling this kind of situation.

"Can't believe how childish he is," Teresa mutters, sighing.

"I don't know why he would just leave like that," I add.

"Whatever. It's good that he's gone,"

"You're happy that he's gone?"

Teresa shrugs, "Eric isn't the type to change, Alice. You know that very well. Of course, he'd promise you these things and how he would continue loving you but at the end, he'll just hurt you. Even with us, he's always trying to prove himself better—he keeps wanting to be first in everything he does."

As cruel as it might be, I can't help but think that Eric might be dead. For no reason, who would've killed an innocent man? Maybe they are right, he must've left the country and went on with his life again. He is just very good at ghosting, there is no point in wondering why he ever left or how fast he did it.

"I guess . . ." I mutter under my breath, staring at my reflection in the mirror.

"Just, don't forget to have sex with Ian. Lock him down," She jokes, causing me to groan before trying to pinch her skin, in which she manages to escape.

It takes another hour for us to finally get ready. Juliet steps out in her wedding dress as a smile plastered on her face, showing just how beautiful she is and how ready to walk down the aisle. The way her makeup enhances her natural features, there is no use in wondering how lucky Will can be.

Teresa starts to hold onto my hand before wiping away her tears, "Wow."

"What do you guys think?" Juliet asks, tears in her eyes.

As we stand here, looking at Juliet—I come to realise just how much her dreams are coming to life. She has been dreaming of this wedding dress ever since she was a little girl, as she told. Even though her taste has changed over the years but the detailing, the base are all the same. When she was shopping for her wedding dress, it was frustrating but also very exciting at the same time.

The strapless, ballgown silhouette, fits her body perfectly. Regardless of the strapless dress, she still has sleeves falling down to her arms which enhances the princess effect.

"You look amazing," I breathe, smiling.

"Perfect. Just perfect!" Teresa adds, making her way to hug Juliet.

Juliet's eyes are almost teary but she manages to hold it back. "Please, don't make me cry. I really don't want to ruin my makeup just yet," She chuckles, grabbing my hand before smiling. "Come on, girls. I have to go and say 'I do' or the groom might run away."

I blink, realising that we're walking down the aisle with flowers in our hands. As soon as we reach the end of the aisle, my eyes remain focusing onto Juliet as she smiles—the guests are staring at her, as if she has just fallen from the sky, a fallen angel. It takes me awhile to notice that Ian has been staring at me, leaving me blushing.

Our eyes meet and my heart skips a beat at the sight of his smile. He's perfect.

Will reaches for Juliet's hand as they blush, as if they were meeting for the first time. Honestly, it is a very beautiful sight—seeing two lovebirds finally getting married. They were it. From the very beginning of their relationship, they were always together and we knew they were going to be forever. It came true, their wishes and ours.

"You're breathtaking," Will whispers, smiling down at her.

My eyes gaze up to look at Ian once more, seeing him looking back at me as soon as he notices. I immediately think of looking away but there is something in his eyes, making me wonder if I ever want this moment to end. I start to lose focus of my own surroundings as I stare at him, mesmerised by him.

All of a sudden, a different face appears which causes me to frown my brows in confusion. The face is different, very different from Ian's but it doesn't feel familiar.

However, it was only a glimpse until it started to disappear and I'm left, staring at a clueless Ian. How can his face ever change into someone else's? I can never think of any logical reasons because standing a few feet away from me is Ian, my friend, who might also be my current lover.

"I now pronounce you, husband and wife. You may kiss the bride," The pastor says, leaving Juliet and Will to kiss—causing the crowd to immediately stand and clap their hands.

Just like that, my best friend, is officially someone's wife.

--

The after party starts off with the guests enjoying their time and their wine. We all witness the bride and the groom having their first dance, leaving us at some point to wonder if it'll ever be us, too. It makes me wonder if things were to last with Eric, I would've been standing there, hand in hand, dancing with him to our song. Then again, the world has better plans for us.

He was never good to me. He was draining and dragging me down, along the paths of his own darkness which had me begging for my dear life.

"You okay, Alice?" Ian asks, grabbing my hand which causes me to break from my trance. "You seem a bit . . . distracted ever since the wedding started."

"I'm okay. Thanks for noticing," I respond.

"Of course." He clears his throat, "Do you want to dance?"

"Yeah, I'd like that."

We both smile as he stands up, pulling me along. We walk side by side towards the middle of the dance floor where people are swaying their hips to the music. Juliet seems to be eyeing my every movement, gesturing for a kiss to happen but I ignore her attempt.

Ian places both of his hands around my waist as I snuggle close, locking my hands around his neck. From anyone's point of view, they would think of us as a couple, a loving one as well. I can't deny the fact that Ian and I have been spending more time together ever since the accident and he has been my number one comfort. We have also been kissing more frequently, as if we are, truly a couple.

It's just that . . . I never thought he ever had feelings for me.

He gazes down into my eyes, "You are very beautiful tonight."

I smile, feeling my cheeks heating up before teasing him, "Just tonight?"

"You know damn how beautiful you are, every other night." He replies, caressing my face. "Makes me feel really excited to go home and just cuddle until we fall asleep, like we always do."

That's it. The way he utters his words and how he is never afraid to let me know, is always a surprise. There are different men out there who are always afraid of expressing their feelings but Ian, he's. wonder—he is never afraid of letting me know how he feels or what he wants. He is the kind of guy that shows you, you're important, if you are to him.

"Even when I wake up with a drool?" I raise an eyebrow, smirking.

"Especially when you wake up with a drool," He laughs.

Ian, any woman would be lucky to belong to him. He is truly one in a million and honestly, I never understood why we were never trying it out—we were too scared, perhaps? I can never be too sure. I could only see Eric and his efforts, regardless of how close Ian and I are. We used to share our secrets, we used to tell each other almost everything but Eric was the only one for me, he was the only one I see.

"Alice . . . I want to tell you something," He starts to say, his face serious before looking around. "Can we do it somewhere else?"

"Yeah, sure."

Just like that, he pulls me by the hand, moving away from the crowd. We continue to walk out until we reach a quiet space, where there is no one but us—it is too quiet yet the breeze and the night sky is surprisingly calm. In the garden filled with roses, there is only Ian and I but no matter how quiet and calm the surrounding is, my heart feels like it's going to thump out of my chest.

"You're making me nervous," I mutter, chuckling.

"God. Please, don't." He replies, smiling.

"What's wrong, Ian?"

I take a few steps towards him, trying to grab his hand in which he responds by grabbing onto mine, instead. Our eyes are never looking away from each other and at this moment, I have never felt the sincerity until now, it is as if we're already connected but somehow, we're miles apart.

He lifts my hand, kissing the back of it; making me blush.

"I . . . I want you to know something," He starts, slowly. "It may not be perfect because I've been trying to write it down but it feels better to just let it out right now. I just want you to know, you are always the one, Alice. You are always the one for me,"

I stay still, completely stunned before seeing him putting both my hands on his chest, near his heart and that's it. I feel his heart beating fast, somehow showing that he's truly nervous—for admitting his feelings.

"From the moment that we first met, I knew you were different. I know we were really young and reckless, it would be selfish of me to pull you away and say all of this but years have passed, I have never felt more content than I am with you. For all these years without you, was like a waste of my time. I don't know how we happened but I'm . . . sure, of how I feel towards you." He caresses the side of my face, "I am sure of what I want in the future, with you."

My breath hitches, as I try to put it all into one piece.

"I don't want you to feel as if you have to say anything. If this is a one-sided thing, I'll put in more effort until I make you mine. Please, give me that chance." He adds.

I look behind him, seeing as if a figure has been staring at me before disappearing, as if a part of my own imagination.