She Did Nothing About It

Antoine

Agreed, I did enjoy the attention that the women around were providing me with. But being a footballer, by now I was quite used to it. I didn't pay much attention to it. I won't deny that I didn't check out one bride's maid, but hey, I am only human!

I wanted to escape this place and situation....but then if I did, I would have missed the beauty that had entered the church a few minutes later- my life line, my Veronica.

Time seemed to have stopped for me when I saw her enter the church. It felt like the moment itself was holy. It felt as if god was rewarding me for a good deed that I had done and hence had sent his most valuable angel to be with me... an angel whose beauty and virtues one cannot fathom. The church seemed like the most ideal place for this experience. I was indeed experiencing heaven on earth.

She was perfect in every single way. I never had to check her out because her face was beautiful enough to keep me spellbound. Seeing her in that tangerine gown and lovely updo which was filled with delicate flowers, my heart started beating rapidly. She surely looked like a woman fit to rule the world, especially my world. I would readily make her the queen of my world. My life revolved around her and the thought of her. I knew it wouldn't be easy to get her and that I would have to put up a tough fight to win her head over heels. But I was determined to fight for her, to make her mine forever and ever.

Thinking about all this, I didn't realize that my jaw had dropped and I was gapping at her.

"Close it before a bee goes in." she said shutting my mouth. I could feel my face go red in embarrassment.

"you...you...uh..." I stuttered, not being able to compose my thoughts, which were going wild looking at her.

"Are you going to finish the sentence today?", she asked cheekily.

My breath got heavier and I was finding it difficult to convey what I wished to say. I knew she had figured out what I wished to say. It was quite clear from the sparkle in her hazel eyes which was glowing because of the sunlight. Couldn't she just help me? I could see she was enjoying seeing me struggle like this.

"you...you look...WOW!!" finally I said, managing to break the awkward stuttering.

"Looking at the way you were staring, I thought you would say 'ravishing, ethereal ' but, I'll take....WOW!!"she said but those words were enough to set my face on fire due to both embarrassment and lust. Her voice was just so musical. It was like honey to my ears. I had undoubtedly turned red.

The wedding began. Everyone's attention was on the wedding; but mine was on her. I could feel her happiness through her radiant smile and I could also realise her want for her very own fairy tale, evident in her dreamy hazel eyes. I knew I could give her anything and everything she wanted. I wanted to be her happiness just the way she was mine.

The wedding got over leaving most of the people crying. Indeed, it was exceptionally beautiful. Veronica was also crying but she had somehow managed to hide it. It was an admirable virtue of Veronica how she was always there for everyone, shared everyone emotions and was yet so strong and independent. But sometimes it did irritate me, because she had made it a habit of hers to appear strong even when she wasn't. I knew her long enough to be able to see through her. I never said anything to her about this but it did hurt me when she hid her feelings from me.

As she was leaving, I felt a strong urge to stop her, to figure out if she was fine. I stopped her by grabbing on to her wrist. She looked behind, and yet again, her gaze on me was like cupid's arrow that was piercing my heart for the millionth time.

"So..." I spoke nervously, not knowing what to say further," they got married..."

"yeah, they did. I know it's hard to believe, but we'll manage. We still have each other for company.", she said, playfully winking at me. I loved it when she reassured me about these little things.

"yeah, that's true.... Hey,....uh....do you ever picture yourself, you know... someday...in the white gown, in church..... standing with the man you love....saying 'I do' and all?"

Wow... straight to the question... way to go Antoine... you probably just screwed up everything, I thought.

"yes, very much indeed" she answered sweetly. Her gentle soft smile was killing me.

"well....do you have a man in mind? I....I-I mean... you know... anyone you fancy to be your future man?" I stuttered, my face getting redder by the second.

Once again Antoine... way to go... what a lovely way to find out whether she was seeing someone... this time, you surely screwed it up. Stop trying your luck. It's quite limited, I thought yet again.

My tension was quite visible. I really hoped she would say no. But my life was full of unwelcome surprises.

"yes, I do have a man in mind." She said bluntly.

My face dropped. There was no hope left in me. Only thing that was left was self-pity and yes of course, despair.

"oh...", I said disgruntledly," who is this guy? ... if you don't mind me asking..."

"James Bond.", she said absolutely seriously.

"James Bond... he is your future husband? Stop kidding. You don't want to tell me, don't tell me. But don't joke around with me." I said agitatedly.

I was pissed, no doubt. Why would she play such nasty games with me when she knows how I feel? Moreover, why was she still hiding things from me? I thought we had sorted out our fight!

And that's when she bursted out laughing...

"You really think I would date anyone when there is an eligible candidate like you roaming around. Never in my wildest dreams is that possible." Saying this, she started walking down to go and join the others.

That was surely reassuring. The hope inside me was rekindled by those words. But now I thought it was time to take my revenge.

"What makes you think I am single?" I said, turning the tables on her. This was surely going to be fun.

On hearing what I said, she stopped where she was.

"You're dating?" she asked, her voice shaking, probably thinking of the worst.

I took my time to answer, knowing it would make her go wild internally. I started walking towards her slowly and steadily.

"No." I said, coming as close to her as possible and then I whispered in her ears "Gotcha."

Saying just so much, I walked away with a smile of victory planted on my face, leaving her behind to follow.

The game was on Milady, the game was so on, I thought to myself.

 ________________________________

The photo sessions were going on and everyone seemed much involved. I was dragged into a few pictures by the enthusiastic people around me- most of which were the young ladies at the party. I wanted to get away but I just couldn't. They were drooling all over me, saying cheesy things in order to get in bed with me, but honestly, I couldn't care less. My eyes kept searching for the beautiful lady in the tangerine gown. My eyes met hers, but she quickly looked away without even flashing her pretty smile like she normally did. I realised she misunderstood what was going on. I somehow got rid of these women and caught up with Veronica, who was evidently trying to walk away from me.

"listen, it's not what you think it is...", I said spontaneously.

"it doesn't matter what I think... I get it. You're a famous footballer and stuff... women and more women, they are just part and parcels of your daily life I'm sure. So, you don't owe me any explanation. I mean it's not like we are dating or something. I'm just your re-acquired best friend who you need for your own personal benefits... so yeah, I don't need an explanation." she said forcing a smile on her face.

I could feel the bitterness in her voice. I wanted to stop her from walking away but I couldn't. let's face it, everything she said was true. Except for the fact that it did matter to me what she thought. What she thought meant everything to me. I realized now might not be an appropriate time to talk about it because it would just unnecessarily escalate matters.

In the evening, I found her sitting all alone in the lawn outside, starring at the sky studded with stars. I quietly sat next to her on the grass. The setting around us reminded me of the numerous late-night walks we shared in Madrid, back in the days when we were teenagers and inseparable.

"beautiful isn't it?" she said looking at the star lit sky, "they say... every star is made for an individual person. I wonder which one of these is made for me......"

"the brightest and the most beautiful star in the sky- the pole star- that's the star made for you" I said quickly staring at the sky first and then at her.

She looked at me and smiled.

Silence rested between the two of us till she spoke- "hey listen, I'm sorry about today morning. It wasn't right of me to say those things to you. Just seeing you with all those women was a little overwhelming for me. I don't know why."

"It's okay... you don't need to apologize. It wasn't your fault or anything... hey, can I ask you something?" I asked, my mind filled with doubt whether she would say yes.

"yeah. ", she said in a whisper like tone.

"do you really think your opinion does not matter to me?"

"well... I don't know... does it?"

"of course it does... it means the world to me... YOU mean the world to me." I said desperately trying to explain how much she meant to me.

She bit her lower lip and blushed a bit. We looked at each other for some time and then back at the sky.

"You too mean the world to me Antoine."

Those words coming from her mouth made my heart fluster. I think cupid's arrow had made a really large hole in my heart by now which made it difficult for me to breath.

The dances were beginning and hence we went back. I was happier than I ever was; because somehow, I had not spoiled the one relation I really cared about, and also somewhat confessed to her and learnt from her that probably we both wanted "US" to happen.

We walked in together hand in hand. Her fingers were laced in mine. However, soon she separated our hands. I looked at her amused at what had happened. Her face was pale. She looked as if she had seen a ghost. I looked in front to see a young, tall, brunet, green-eyed man standing, who was equally pale at the site of her.

Veronica took a very deep breath. She looked at me and then went back into the lawn.

Does she want me to accompany her outside?

Does she want me to stop this man from following her or coming close to her?

What does she want me to do? I thought.

The young man followed her out. The conversation was quite short and seemed to be heated. But soon he embraced her in a tight hug and before you know it, he kissed her.

He kissed her and she did nothing.

My heart? ...... ha ha...what of it?

I didn't have one anymore.

The only thing that my mind was able to process in that moment was, that the particular bride's maid that I was checking out earlier, was sitting at the bar and wanted to dance with me and get laid desperately. I went up to her, took her hand and led her to the dance floor.

I didn't know who the young man was. I didn't know why he was here. I didn't know how the two were linked.

All I knew was that he kissed her and she did nothing about it.

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a/n: just to give you guys an idea of the wedding:

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