AMELIA POV
Emily's question filled the room, and I felt the pressure of her curiosity. "Where are you going?" she asked, her voice full of excitement. "You still seem grumpy, sis. Come on, show us your best smile! Today's your happy day," she said, oblivious to the turmoil within me.
How could I fake a smile when the source of my worry loomed over me like a dark cloud? This party was meant to be joyful, a celebration of love. But without her groom, whose thoughtless actions had left me feeling resentful, it felt unfinished.
As we sat at the table, amid the lively chatter of guests and the delicious smell of food, I couldn't find comfort in the celebration. My thoughts were all about him – the guy who dared to be late on this crucial day, the guy who oozed arrogance like it was his entitlement.
"He's just running a little late, nothing serious," Emily comforted me, unaware of the storm brewing beneath my composed exterior. But it wasn't just his lateness that bothered me; it was his whole attitude – the way he acted like he was better than everyone else, as if he couldn't be touched.
"He's making everyone wait," I whispered quietly, my words barely heard over the noise of the crowd. But Emily caught what I said, her expression turning worried.
"Come on, cut him some slack," she pleaded, her voice tinged with desperation. "He's doing his best."
But her words went unheard, lost in the bitterness simmering inside me. How could she support him, I thought, knowing the mess he had created? How could she ask me to smile and act like everything was okay when it clearly wasn't?
"Shut up, Ly," I snapped, the words bursting out like a sudden thunderstorm, yet she only answered with a calm smile, as if my annoyance were just a gentle breeze passing by.
"What's the real reason for the grumpiness?" she asked, a hint of amusement in her voice as she carefully placed her fork on the table, her eyes focused on me with gentle interest. "What's on your mind?" she wondered, her worry, as she reached out to touch my hand, silently offering support.
I sighed really hard, feeling super frustrated. "It's all because of Alexander," I said with a bitter tone. I couldn't help but glance over at him sitting at the table, looking all smug and full of himself. "He's so full of himself, acting like he's better than everyone else," I went on, feeling annoyed. "Just look at how he sits, like he thinks he's royalty or something. It drives me crazy."
Emily looked where I pointed, her face hard to figure out as she watched the guy I was annoyed with. "Hmm, got it," she said quietly, her forehead wrinkling a bit as she thought. "But you know, sometimes people act all cocky because they're actually feeling unsure inside."
I shook my head strongly, feeling more and more frustrated. "I really don't think so," I grumbled, looking back at Alexander sitting there, the candlelight making his face stand out. "He's hurt a lot of people, Ly. A lot. But he acts like he's above it all, like he doesn't have to play by the same rules as everyone else."
Emily nodded, getting it, her eyes steady as she gave me a little, sad smile. "I understand," she said quietly, her words comforting. "But maybe, eventually, he'll realize he's been wrong and try to fix himself."
I sighed really hard, feeling the frustration ease off like when the ocean goes back. "Maybe," I admitted, the words tough to say as I reluctantly thought there might be a chance for Alexander to change, even though it seemed unlikely.
"That guy, he's really something else, you know! Seriously!" Miguel blurted out, plopping down at our table unexpectedly, looking a bit annoyed as he took a sip of his drink, the liquid moving around in the glass. "He shows up when the party's almost done. And he didn't even bother to introduce you to his family. He's just sitting there alone, like he doesn't realize this party isn't just for him, but for both of you."
I nodded quietly, feeling all worked up inside, like a pot about to boil over. "Yeah, Amelia, forget about it," Cami said, feeling for me, her eyes showing she gets it as she patted my hand to show support. "That's a big warning sign. It's a shame because he's good-looking, but he's mean." I don't know where those two came from, suddenly butting into our conversation with Emily.
I managed a small smile, but inside, I still felt let down, like swallowing something bitter. "Hey, let's just have fun tonight, alright?" I said, trying to sound upbeat even though I was getting more and more frustrated. "I don't want to get upset. I don't want to spoil the party. Let's stay cool and take it easy."
Emily jumped in, speaking softly but firmly to ease the tension that felt thick in the air. "Hey, let's relax, everyone," she proposed, her words calming me down. "There are still lots of people here. And you," she said, looking at me with a playful sparkle in her eyes, "why don't you go find your potential husband? Grandma and our relatives want to meet him, remember?"
I sighed really hard, feeling Emily's words weighing me down like a heavy coat. "Alright, sorry, everyone," I mumbled, speaking softly as I stood up, the chair making an annoying noise against the floor. I took a deep breath, trying to calm down, getting ready for the talk I knew was coming.