Athena's POV
Alex raises an eyebrow as I hide behind him; holding onto his shoulders—keeping my head down. I mutter curses under my breath, what the hell is he doing here? I mean, why now?! My mind feels like it's going to explode and I am not the one to bear the freaking pain.
I lift my head a little, pressing my lips into a thin line. My eyes widen as I see him walking toward my direction as he pushes through the crowd. Oh no, oh no no no. Without me realising, I've been gripping onto Alex's shoulders as hard as I can; receiving a glare from him.
''What is wrong with you?'' He asks, trying to turn around so that he would be facing me but I continue to hide behind him.
''No, stop moving!'' I hiss.
I peek to the side, seeing him waving at me as he slowly exit the crowd. I roll my eyes before dropping my knees to the ground and holding Alex tightly around his waist. Alex looks down at me—eyeing me in complete confusion. He opens his mouth to say something but I shake my head violently.
''Athena?'' Well fuck.
I bite hard onto my lower lip; frowning as I keep on mentally hitting my head against the non-existing wall. Standing up slowly, I force my lips to curve up into a smile, ''Oh—'' Glancing toward Alex, seeing that he's smirking at me, ''—hey.''
My eyes look up to meet a pair of sky blue eyes. Oh boy, he sure does grow up well. I thought. I take my time to eye his every feature; seeing that his jawline is nicely sculptured. Pft, more sculptured than my life. He smiles at me, revealing his left dimple, shit, remind me again why I had my first period in front of him?
''Athena, right?'' He asks, continuing to flash me one of his breathtaking smiles.
I nod my head lightly, trying my best not to slap him in the face for being attractive, ''Yeah...'' I reply awkwardly before quietly glancing toward Alex; seeing him staring at me, ''Um, Noah, this is my—er—husband, Alex.'' I point toward Alex, ''Alex, this is an old friend from school, Noah.'' They both shake hands.
Noah furrow his eyebrows before looking at Alex with curiosity, ''Aren't you the Alexander Herrera?'' He points, somehow unsure with his question. I turn to see Alex smiling and nodding his head, not even saying anything as an answer. Noah nods, ''You married a footballer, that's big news, Athena.'' He clears his throat, trying to turn his frown upside down.
I fake a grin before patting on Alex's arm a bit too hard, ''Lucky me.'' I say sarcastically.
He just watches me and as I focus deeper into his eyes, I see him looking down at my lips a few times before looking back at my eyes, ''Lucky you.'' I hear him mutter under his breath. We three stay quiet, not saying a single word. Noah clears his throat once more, breaking the silence, 'Um, I got to go. It was nice seeing you again, Athena.''
''It was nice seeing you too.'' I mumble.
Noah smiles once more at Alex before smiling at me, ''Have a great time, you two.'' Then he waves before slowly back toward the crowd. I eye his broad shoulders as he slowly disappear with the amount of people. I turn around to see Alex clenching his jaw lightly before looking back at me.
''Who is he, though?'' Alex asks.
''An old friend.'' I reply. Then I quickly walk ahead, avoiding any further questions from him. I hear him following behind me but I just ignore him.
I walk down from the Taj Mahal and I can see people walking up. Once I realise that I've been walking alone for the past half an hour, I turn around to see if Alex is anywhere near me but he's nowhere to be found. I stop walking and a couple behind me glares before walking pass me. Lifting my head up, where is he?
Standing quietly at the side as I wait for him to show up. Rubbing my temples, I bend down to hold my knees. I could feel them breaking soon, I thought sarcastically to myself. Where the hell is he? I groan in frustration. People walking up and down but there's no sight of Alex. Sighing, I quickly walk straight toward the hotel; not even glancing back.
''Whatever,'' I mutter.
Once I reach the hotel, I head straight toward the elevator and press the floor. I walk out and quickly scan the access card on the door until I hear the door unlocking. Pushing the door open, I slide the card into the electric access before closing the door behind me. I walk into the bedroom and take out my phone from my back pocket, scrolling down for Alex's number.
As I place the phone near my ear, I look on the bed to see a nicely wrapped box. The box is in pink; with a card on top. My eyebrows furrow in confusion as I pick up the card, turning it around;
Wear this tonight. Meet me near the pool outside at eight.
-Alex
I glance down at my phone before pressing the screen to end the call. Placing the phone beside me, I pick up the box; putting it on my lap. As I open the box, my lips curve up into a smile. The necklace he gave me yesterday, nicely placed on top of something underneath. I pick up the necklace before slowly putting it on the bed.
My eyes widen as I see a wine coloured long dress which would cover my feet. I lift the dress up to see that the strap falls down to my arms; like one of those princesses in Disney movies. Eyeing the whole dress, I run my fingers on it to feel the material. Smooth chiffon.
I look further into the box to see another card. There's a date written on the box which confuses me. I pick up the card and try to remember any important dates but nothing came into my head. Putting back the card inside, I head straight into the bathroom; preparing myself.
Walking down from the elevator, I walk further to the back—pushing one of the doors. My eyes wander around to see lights on everywhere with a pool in the middle. The only noise heard are my own footsteps.
I walk near the pool; seeing my own reflection. Looking down at the necklace around my neck, does it have anything to do with his confession?
My body freezes as I hear footsteps behind me. I turn around immediately, seeing Alex standing a few feet away from me. I look down to see him wearing a suit. My eyes look back up to meet his eyes and I can see his lips curving up into a small smile as he continue to walk toward me. As soon as we're close enough, he looks down at my necklace and up my lips, ''You look beautiful.'' He mutters.
My cheeks heat up as I smile, ''You look great yourself.''
''Shall we dance?'' He continues to smile.
I look down to see him offering his hand. I take his hand slowly, ''But there's no mu—'' I was cut off with the song coming up. ''—sic.'' I sigh, knowing that he must have planned everything, of course. Both of his hands goes down to my waist as I hold onto his shoulders—as if depending on him for dear life.
Alex keeps on looking down at me which makes me feel slightly shy around him—which is new.
We sway side to side with the music. Both of us in our own thoughts; feeling our own heartbeats. I take all of my courage to look up into his eyes. Our eyes meet and he rests his forehead on top of mine as we just stay close to each other.
I feel his warmth radiating and somehow, that calms me down. His hands move upwards to my back before turning me around in one spin and grabbing me by the hand; dancing slowly. I feel his lips on my forehead and I close my eyes—enjoying this exact moment.
We stop dancing as we stand in the middle; loving each other's contact. He lift my head up so that our eyes could meet once more and as soon as our eyes meet, he smiles a little—making me blush immediately, ''Where were you?'' He leans in before whispering into my ear.
I shiver at the coldness of his voice but once he pulls his face back, our faces are just inches apart from one another. He stares into my eyes before glancing down at my lips and leaning in closer, brushing against my lips. As soon as I feel his soft, cold lips. I respond back immediately and he pulls my body closer.
Whenever we kiss, everything fades except the memories of us together. Memories of him listening to my story when we first met. The look on his face when he found out that I chew a condom when I was a child. The way he say his vows; even though we both know where the marriage could lead us. How he teases me and acts rude but slowly changing and revealing the side of him that I know; deeply.
''When I was six years old, I ate a condom.''
''You ate a what?'' He leans in as he frowns.
''A condom.'' I shrug and I can see his lips curve up and his eyes brighten in amusement, ''Well consider myself lucky that it's an unused condom or I might have swallow some crazy shit...'' I shake my head and Alexander just laugh beside me, ''I didn't exactly ate it. More likely chew it. It was some fun chewy rubber.''
I glare at Alexander, ''Don't judge me I was six.''
''Well when I was six... I never ate a condom.'' He chuckles again as those word slip out of his mouth.
He tilt his head to the side—deepening the kiss as one of his hand moves up to the back of my neck. Our kiss continues passionately slow. Every movement, every touch, it's like a bittersweet moment.
He chuckles a bit as he look down at my hand. Everyone is focusing on us and I can sense myself burning up. It feels like someone just throw me into the flames or something. He looks up once more, ''I see these vows not as promises but as privileges; I get to laugh with you and cry with you; care for you and share with you. I get to run with you and walk with you; build with you and live with you.''
''So... I take you, Athena; to be my wife from this time onward, to join with you and to share that all is to come, to be your faithful husband, to give and to receive, to speak and to listen, to inspire and to respond, a commitment made in love, kept in faith and eternally made new.''
How everything disappears when we have our first dance together; despite the awkwardness between us. It's crazy how a lot of things happened in a matter of one month. It became crazy as he came into my life—he gave me adventures. Adventures that I wasn't able to experience before.
''Don't touch my ass.'' I whisper lightly—enough for only him to hear.
He grins as he let out a light chuckle before moving his hands up a bit, right on my waist.
I look up at Alex and he looks down at me. I don't know why I feel this way but I feel like I'm growing closer with him, it's like we are somehow meant to be. One of my hand moves up to his face, caressing his cheek slowly. He exhales before bending his head down and leaning in, brushing his lips on the bridge of my nose.
His lips moving down to my lips and I stay still at his touch. Within a second, he kisses me softly. I pull him by the neck to deepen the kiss and so we did.
When I was in danger, he was there. He understood. He didn't even say a word to ask me why but he just listen to me sobbing, crying and sniffing. The best comfort is from the way he holds me safely in his arms; making me enjoy his warmth.
''It's me.'' He mutters once more, this time it came out more like a whisper. I sob harder and wrap my arm around his waist, tugging onto his shirt. Tears fall freely and his shirt does an amazing job at absorbing them. ''Shh, I'm here.'' He whispers lightly as he pecks onto my temples, ''I'm here, princess.''
When I tighten the grip around his waist, both of his hands wrap fully around my body which leads me to feel his warmth. I snuggle in comfortably, breathing his scent. My mind feels free and I feel safe. He pulls me closer—resting his chin on top of my head.
Closing my eyes, I let out a breath of relief. It feels like I have been holding it in for the longest time. It doesn't matter if he might be back to the arrogant and cocky Alex because right now, I feel safe around him. I have never felt this safe before—around anyone.
When we were dealing with Colton.
''I have to babysit him.'' I quickly answer.
''You have to what?'' He turns toward me, more like glaring. I find him clenching his jaw so I look at Colton—feeling that Colton isn't really the devil after all. Well he's like the devil's little baby.
''I have to baby—'' I start to speak again but Alex's index finger appears in between my lips, stopping me from continuing. I narrow my eyes at him but take no chance at removing his finger because he did so just a few seconds after.
''I heard that.'' He replies as he sit back, looking at Colton.
I chuckle mentally. When we ran around the house just to catch him. When Colton reveals the reason why. Despite Alex's personality; of not liking kids, he still manage to take good care of them. Like when he did with Giselle.
''Counting?'' I reply, touching the side of his cheek.
''How long daddy has been gone.'' He mutters quietly.
''What do you mean?''
''Daddy has been gone for thirty six days...'' Colton looks up at me, ''I miss daddy.''
A tear falls from his eyes as he keep on sniffing. I quickly pull him toward me, ''Come on baby it's okay.'' I didn't want to push Colton to answer questions so I just snuggle him closer—comforting him.
I feel his hand wrapping around my neck and his tears wetting my shirt but I didn't care. He keeps on crying and I keep on rubbing his back soothingly, ''Shh, it's okay, Colton.''
''I miss daddy.''
''I miss daddy.''
''I miss daddy.''
''I miss daddy.'' Colton sniffs.
When he was sick and he keeps on telling me to drive faster. Oh boy, how I wanted to punch him in the face.
''Drive faster.'' Alex presses onto my thigh.
I press my lip into a thin line at the sudden gesture. My eyes glares at him, trying to not focus that his hand are on my thigh. I'm a bit ticklish on my thigh so it's never comfortable, more like making me want to pee.
''How fast do you want me to go?'' My voice came out a bit high as I hold onto the urge of slapping his hand away. I know he holds my thigh without him realising that it would effect me. ''I'm going one hundred and sixty kilometres an hour!''
''Faster.'' That was all he could answer before I see him biting onto his lower lip, ''God damn it, Athena! Just fucking press the gas.'' He curses and I turn to look at Colton who is now covering his ears.
I press onto the gas harder causing the metre to go up from one hundred and sixty to hundred and eighty, ''If I die—''
He cuts me off, ''Then I'll die with you!'' He says in anger as he massages his temples, ''Fuck.'' He mutters under his breath before leaning down at the pain.
When we got caught...
I feel him lifting my shirt up and throw it onto the ground. I let him as his lips move down to the middle of my chest and down to my stomach. He holds tightly on my waist, as his lips leave soft kisses.
My mind seems to drift away. It's like we're doing the right thing.
When I move both of my hands down to touch his hair, he looks up and pushes both of my hands up to the side of my head, entwining our fingers together. He stares down into my eyes before brushing his lips near my earlobe.
When he uses his teeth to lift my pants down, I hear the door open and my eyes shot open, revealing a surprised,
Liam.
When he threw me into the swimming pool.
I hear footsteps and as soon as I turn around, I am being picked up by someone over the shoulder. I scream as loud as I can before feeling my body being thrown into the water. My screaming ends as I swim back up to the surface—seeing Alex laughing at me. I grab onto the side of the pool, removing my wet hair away from my face.
''You're so dead.'' I mutter angrily.
He keeps on laughing before crouching down so that there won't be much of a height different. He looks down at me, smiling. I pull myself up as I use both of my hands for support. He gaze at my lips and I smile back at him—seeing that he has fallen into my trap.
I brush my lips against his, feeling him staying still. The coldness of both of our lips somehow create warmth afterwards. But before he could lean in and kiss me full on the lips, I use my right hand to pull his neck and just like that, we both fall into the pool.
Alex appears to the surface, shaking his head and running his hand through his wet hair. I laugh at him, seeing his nose redden at the coldness. He looks at me as he gives me one of his evil smile and with that he grabs me around the waist, causing me to scream once more.
His cold fingers brushes against my freezing skin.
How he kissed me in front of Jon and well... Liam interrupt.
Alex smirks before leaning in and surprise me with a kiss on the lips. My eyes widen but slowly shut them off as soon as his lips move slowly on mine. He touches my jawline, pulling my face closer to deepen the kiss. I kiss him back just as slow.
He bites lightly on my bottom lip and I let him in.
I hear someone clears their throat from beside so I lightly break the kiss and turn around to see Liam staring at us with slightly parted lips. He is holding a tray which has our coffees. Jon just let out a chuckle as he look away from us.
When he risked both of our lives; just for me to come with him to Manchester. I grin as he pecks down my chin; gripping harder around my waist. I wrap my arm around his neck—pulling him closer.
He smiles, ''So you want to come along?'' This time he is looking straight at me, not even looking at the road. I glance at the road, seeing that the road is clear with no cars ahead but deep inside, if we might hit a bus or another car. My heart beat raising as he keeps on staring and me keeping on glancing on the road.
''Aren't you going to watch the road?'' I say frustrated.
''Not until you say yes.'' And within seconds, he presses the gas harder, causing the car to move faster. He still has a smirk appear on his face—giving me the urge to slap his face so that he would be facing the road but I hold my hands back.
''For god's sake, eyes on the road!'' I close my eyes as I see another car's headlights quite far from us.
''Tick to-ck tick to-ck, Athena. Decisions, decisions.'' He says playfully as he remove both of his hands on the steering wheel but he keeps on pressing onto the gas, ''So... there's like a car a few metres ahead of us,'' He says as he glance up front, not even bothering to touch the steering wheel, ''And—''
The car is getting closer and closer and honking so that we would move out of the way. With a loud groan, I stand up and bump my head in process but turn the steering wheel to the right—the car passing us without a hit. I sit back down, eyes wide.
Alex just look at me, not even affected.
''You could have killed us.'' I mutter under my breath.
''There's another car,'' He says without as he holds both of his hands further away from the steering wheel.
''Oh my god, yes! Fine, yes.'' I say and he touches the steering wheel, going back to the correct road. He let out a chuckle as he smiles at my reaction, ''You did that purpose.'' I add.
''No I didn't. Truth be told, we could have died if you didn't turn the steering wheel. The car would have hit my side and give me a great impact. I would absolutely die and you might have a chance of staying in coma for the rest of your life, assuming to the fact that I am going one hundred and forty kilometres an hour.'' He winks, giving me a hint of playfulness.
I groan once more before hitting his arm, ''Dickhead.'' I mutter.
When he kissed me after winning the game.
Alex chuckles as he let me down and in my surprise, kisses me.
My eyes widen as the group of people woo at our kiss. Alex then wrap tighter around my waist, deepening the kiss. My hands move up to his face, feeling sweat on the side of his cheeks before closing my eyes and enjoying the kiss. My body feels so small whenever I'm with him but somehow fit perfectly.
Both of us slows down the kiss and he rests his forehead on mine as he looks down at my lips. My hands are wrapping around his neck while he has his around my waist. He then lift his forehead and look down at me in surprise. His expression shows that he's surprised at what he just did.
When we had our own food fight.
My eyes widen once I realise that he had crack an egg right on top of my egg, making the whites fall. I look up to see him still holding it up. His hold on my hips loosen as he continues to laugh—taking a few steps away from me. I smirk, taking a packet of flour and a box of milk. His eyes widen as he laughs loudly but I run after him, throwing the flour toward his direction.
The flour falls all over the place as he runs toward the back—making me run after him. Our laughter are the only noise filling the house. I keep on throwing the flour as it hits his hair and most of his body. He runs toward the living room and I see him slip right near the stairs but he manage to regain his balance by grabbing onto the wall.
I take the time to throw the milk toward him. The milk hits the side of his body—making him trip once more near the sofa in surprise.
I laugh harder as he turns around, glaring at me. He opens the sliding door to the swimming pool and I continue to run after him. Just as I step out, I throw the whole flour right at him—but he catches me by the flour as soon as the flour flies on the thin air—blocking our vision. I scream loudly as we both fall right into the water, him receiving the impact first.
We both quickly swim up and I see him running his fingers through his hair as flour sticks in different directions of his hair. I clutch my stomach, laughing as I let go of the packet of flour. ''God, this is hilarious.'' I mutter as I grab onto the side, trying to exit the swimming pool.
But he hugs me from behind and wrap his arms around my waist, blocking me. I continue to laugh but when I don't hear any respond from him, my laughter dies. I feel him pulling my shirt down from my shoulder. As the wind hits me, I shiver but his warmth manage to soothe me down.
I turn around, facing him.
When I saw the other side of him for the first time.
''You don't get it. Yeah you can say that you will protect me. What happens then when this whole five months is over and we'll go on our separate ways? After that, what happens to me isn't your business anymore. I'm worried about my future, I'm worried about what's to come.'' I state.
He clenches his jaw as he keep quiet, thinking as he do so. Breathing in, ''You're right. You win when you say that. In a matter of five months, we'll be going on our own separate ways and it's almost impossible for us to see each other anymore. But remember one thing, keep this in your head, keep it in there, always; you are going to meet someone new, you are going to start a life with that someone and you're going to get married, have kids, have a family, have everything you've ever wanted. He will take care of you, he will love, cherish, protect, want and need you with all of his heart. I may not be there but he will. He will and you will be his first responsibility. Do you trust me?'' Alex lifts my head higher, so that I wouldn't look away from him.
When he confessed.
''I like you.''
My body goes ice cold, freezing my entire body. My mind feels corrupted and somehow, my organs are damaged. Blinking a few times, I try to seek for lies in his eyes but there are none. Only the same blue eyes that I see almost every single day. My lips curve up into a grin before laughing unknowingly and shaking my head, ''Y-you're kidding.'' I stutter.
''I'm not.''
I lift my head up, letting out breathy laughs, ''Yes you are. You're kidding.'' I run my hands on my temples, rubbing them before looking back down—somehow feeling my heart beating so fast that it could explode from my rib cage.
He cups my face, stopping me from shaking my head as he just stare into my eyes. I close my eyes, not wanting to look into his any longer, ''Princess, open your eyes. Look at me.'' He mutters under his breath, ''I don't play around when I like someone. It's not a joke. Liking or loving someone isn't a joke to me. It's something that I take seriously.''
I breathe out, looking everywhere but him, ''You're insane.''
''Yeah, I'm insane.''
My life has never been this crazy. My life has never been this exciting. It was always a bore and it was basic. Everything changes. It all starts with him. It starts with Alex. He manage to bring thrills into my life; joy, laughter and fun. Despite the fun, there was also anger and fear mixed in one. He makes me feel differently every time.
I slowly break the kiss, catching my breath. Alex brushes his lips against mine but he doesn't push further to kiss me back. We are still snuggled up close to one another; somehow not realising how we both were too drift away just by one passionate kiss.
He breathes out on the bridge of my nose before meeting my eyes, ''Athena, I—''
''Athena, is that you?'' I turn around to see Noah standing there; both of his hands in his jeans' pocket.