Walk Me Down The Aisle
It was a beautiful autumn season at the wedding day of Danni's friends. She got up from her table to refill her glass of champagne, and as she walked past the head table, she saw Scott sitting there. They exchanged polite smiles, but didn't talk much. Danni had seen Scott before, but had never really talked to him. She knew he was an actor, but chose to keep quiet about it, because she wanted to get to know the real person behind the fame. Over the weeks, they started to enjoy each other's company, and seem to still seeing each other at weddings. Scott never knew that Danni was a writer in the movie industry, and Danni never told him. She enjoyed the anonymity of being able to observe him without him knowing who she really was. One day, while in their hiding place, Danni opened up to Scott about how she was feeling. She told him that she had developed feelings for him over the passed months and wanted to explore a relationship with him. Scott was hesitant at first, because of his past heartbreak, and wasn't sure if he was ready for another relationship. But with Danni's persistence and patience, they started seeing each other and fell in love. They had a whirlwind romance filled with laughter, passion, and adventure. Danni was happy, and she felt like she had finally found her soulmate. She loved him so much that she decided to write a book about their love story. It became a bestseller and the spotlight was on them. But then something happened that she never saw coming. Scott was disappointed about the book, and his father was filled with anger towards her. Scott felt like his privacy had been invaded, and he became distant from Danni. She tried to reach out to him, but he wouldn't respond. She felt like she had lost him forever. But doon reconciled but it was too late. Years went by, and they were both at a mutual friend's wedding again, with their own partners. They locked eyes from across the room and smiled with the idea of their past. They didn't exchange words, but they both knew that they were happy in their own lives. Danni looked over to her companion and felt thankful for everything she had. She still loved Scott, but she knew that they were just characters in each other's stories now. She realized that sometimes, life doesn't go as planned, and the person you thought was your happily ever after, wasn't meant to be. But she was grateful for the memories they shared, and for the love that had filled her heart for a time. As the night went on, Danni realized that sometimes, the best love stories don't have endings that make sense. And sometimes, the best love stories are the ones that you hold in your heart forever.
Chapter Thirteen
At the end of the day, my boss had no choice but to allow me to go to Hawaii. With Scott, and this time accompanied by his friends, I found incredible fun in their company, and to my surprise, they welcomed me warmly, making me feel as though we were creating memories for our friendship. It seemed that our group was more than just a typical bond between friends; it held certain advantages for both of us.
"Danni, hey! Let's go swimming. Don't shy away from the sun. We're here to have fun!" called out Scott, swimming in the open sea with his other friends.
"Oh, maybe later, Scott. I'm a bit burnt already; sorry," I explained as he looked at me expectantly, waiting for me to join them while I was still on the yacht. "Well, it's up to you," Scott responded with a hint of disappointment. "Alright, I promise I'll join you later," I assured him.
In the shade of the deck, I watched him with satisfaction as Scott joyfully swam alongside his friends. I felt a sense of relief when his other friend joined me. I appreciated the presence of a woman, as it put my mind at ease that I wouldn't be subjected to constant teasing from Scott and his buddies.
"Would you mind if I joined you, Danni?" Scott's friend asked, breaking the silence.
I responded politely, "No, not at all." She smiled and engaged in conversation, saying, "This is fun, isn't it? It's rare to see our friend take a break from work and enjoy himself like this. I'm glad you convinced him to come." I responded candidly, "Actually, it was Scott who invited me to come to Hawaii. I've never been here before."
Curiosity sparked in her eyes as she questioned, "Really? How long have you been living in America? Are you Mexican or Spanish? Although, from the way you look, I would guess you're Asian. Apologies for the way I enunciate it, though" She carefully observed me through her sunglasses, seeming eager to uncover my true identity.
"I'm Asian, and I've been living in the States for six years now, although I don't travel much. Typically, I spend most of my time in Los Angeles or just around the vicinity of my workplace," I clarified, our gaze fixed on the guys who were fully engaged in their swimming activities.
After a brief moment of silence, she questioned, "So, did you and Scott meet at work?"
"No. We crossed paths at our friends' weddings, not once, but twice already," I reacted, attempting to mask my genuine sentiments with a coerced smile. Surprisingly, her smile grew wider as she clamored, "Really? And despite those encounters, you haven't developed any feelings for him? I mean, do you already have feelings for my friend?" At that moment, I realized she must have already noticed my affection for Scott. Yet, her revelation sparked a hint of expectancy within me, as I pondered the possibility that he too might be capable of loving me if I were to confess my true emotions.
I suddenly realized as she confessed that Scott had never introduced a girlfriend to them all these years since his last relationship ended. "She walked away from him without any explanation. She just left him behind, leaving him heartbroken and betrayed. It shattered his trust in others and made it incredibly difficult for him to open up again. But then you entered his life, and you brought him back to us, to the person he used to be."