Chapter 29: Chapter Twenty-eight

Athena

Clara smiles, but her eyes show sadness. I may not know how much she loves Clark, but I clearly do know that anyone—and when I say anyone—I'm sure anyone would love their husband. Oh, wait, correction! Anyone but me. In my situation. 

She starts to wipe her fallen tears, and I stand awkwardly as I watch her. Her eyes redden when they drop down to look at Colton, who is now laughing with Alex, ''He was with another woman, for fuck's sake, she's not even pretty!'' Her voice came out frustrated. 

I hold onto her arm, turning around to look at Alex, who is right now looking back at me with confusion written all over his face. He quickly stands up and points at an ice cream stand to Colton. They both walk away slowly, with Alex still glancing in my direction. 

Clara and I sit down on the previous bench occupied by Alex. She starts to bend down and rub her temples, ''What did I do wrong?'' She cries, ''Where did I do wrong?'' 

Soothingly rubbing my hand on her back, I don't really know how to console an upset person. She stands up straight, ''Colton doesn't know about this.'' Her eyes wander to look at my face, ''I can never tell him. How am I supposed to tell him? He's still young.'' 

''How did this happen?'' I manage to utter words. 

She let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose, ''He was in Dubai, but he arrived in New York last week. He didn't call; he didn't even tell me. I had enough, so I went to his office and asked his assistant. Apparently, she told me that he got back just days ago and there's this house where he bought it so that we could sometimes spend time away from the city. The only place I could think of is there.'' 

''You found him there?''

''With another woman, exactly.'' Clara nods as she breathes out, ''With another woman, Athena! He was spending a few days with that freaking woman. I caught them. Oh boy, I caught them having sex.'' She starts to hold onto her wrist, ''On our bed. On our freaking bed!'' 

I look blankly at her as I see her trying to calm herself down. 

''You don't have to tell me, you know. This may be hard and—'' 

She cuts me off, ''They didn't even use a condom! What pisses me off is that he uses one when we're together.'' Her breathing raging up, ''He did run after me though, but I was more than disgusted to see his face again. I can never even look at him the same way.'' When I was about to say something, she cuts me off once more, ''I mean, what would you do if you catch Alex cheating on you?'' 

My brain stops working as I try to think harder. What would I do? I would ask for a divorce because that's what I need right now, ''Um—I'll kick his ass?'' It was more like a question than an answer.

''Exactly!'' She let out a laugh, more like a stressed one, ''And her ass too.'' 

''Well, did you?'' 

''No.'' She replies disappointingly, ''But I did kick his ass. Mentally.'' 

Both of us end up laughing. She wipes the tears that start to fall on her cheeks as she let out another sigh, ''I love him, that's the problem. I still love him, and whenever I feel like getting drugs and non-stop alcohol, I look at Colton, and I know that I have to be strong for him. Colton needs me. I don't need Clark. I mean, both of us are going to be alright without Clark. We don't need him in our life. Colton may need his father, but he'll understand, sooner or later, he'll stop asking about him. And maybe, he'll grow up hating his father, and I won't stop him for that.'' 

''Because I hate him too, even though I still love him.'' She chuckles, ''Who knew that there's a thin line between love and hate.'' 

I hold onto her hand, somehow giving her strength, ''You'll get a better man. There's someone hotter, better, and sexier out there.'' I say, and she starts to laugh once more, nodding at my advice, so I continue, ''You're beautiful. With those amazing brown eyes, I'm sure any guy would fall head over heels for you.'' 

She grips back onto my hand, ''You're the definition of beautiful.'' Then she pulls me into a hug, ''Thank you. I feel a little bit better after letting that all out.'' I pat lightly on her back as she continues to speak, ''And I hope that you and Alex would last forever.'' Both of us slowly breaking the hug so that she could look at me in the eye, ''Promise me that one thing.'' 

I look down at her little finger. Chuckling, I remember how we used to little finger whenever we make promises. I tie my little finger with hers, and she smiles widely, ''I promise.'' I reply. 

''Mommy!'' I turn around to see Colton running toward us after letting go of Alex's hand. He stops but to show Clara the ice cream Alex bought for him. There's a broad smile on his face, ''Alex bought me an ice cream.'' He says. 

Clara looks up at me, ''Oh, he did? That's wonderful. Did you say thank you?'' She says to her son. 

Colton turns and hugs Alex around the leg, knowing that Alex is way taller than me, so, ''Thank you.'' Colton grumbles. Alex crouches down, patting Colton on the head as he walks back to his mother. Alex is still crouching beside me, watching Colton. 

''When are you guys going to have your own?'' Clara suddenly ask—causing me to cough in response—and her eyes went wide, ''Please don't tell you're already—'' 

I cut her off, ''No!'' Glaring at Alex, who is right now smiling as he looks down on the ground, ''Of course I'm not pregnant, Clara.'' I state, narrowing my eyes at my own bare hands.

She stands up, holding Colton's hand, ''Well, hurry up, will you? Colton needs a friend.'' Then she gives me an assuring wink, ''I'll be going then.'' She says, and I stand up to hug her once more, ''See you guys around.'' Colton waves as soon as they both start to walk away. 

Once they are fully out of our sight, Alex looks around. A woman in her sports bra jogs past Alex and gives him a wink. Alex's eyes widen, but he turns to look at me. Rolling my eyes, I punch lightly on his chest, ''Be a man. Go and ask her number,'' I say as we walk side by side. 

He let out a breath through his nose, ''I'm not going to ask her number.'' Running his hand through his hair, he then slides them in his jeans' pocket, ''Besides, she's not my type.'' 

''Oh yeah?'' I raise an eyebrow at him as I bump my arm with his, ''So does that mean you don't like blondes?'' 

Alex turns to look at me for a moment before looking up front, ''I prefer brunettes.'' 

I chuckle, ''Right. I should have known. Brunettes with light blue eyes? Of course, everyone's type.'' Then before he could open his mouth to respond, his phone starts to ring. He let out a sigh as he takes out his phone and put it on his ear. 

''Yeah, what?'' He says as he looks down at my hand, and I look down as well to see him opening his hand—assuring me to entwine our hands together. I do the most logical thing I could have ever think of, slapping his hand away and laugh. 

''What do you mean?'' He rolls his eyes at me as he keeps on listening to the phone. When he moved his hand slowly, I quickly grab his hand and entwine our fingers together. I can see a hint of smirk forming, but he manages to hide it well. 

We walk down the street like the perfect couple. 

''Are you sure?'' Alex asks through the line, his eyebrows furrowed, ''Okay.'' Then he ends the call. I peek up to see the Caller ID, but he glances my way and shoves his phone in his pocket—not letting me see any further. 

''Who was that?'' I point using my lips. 

''Who was what?'' He looks at me, staring blankly into my eyes—as if he understands nothing.

''That.'' I use my other hand to point at his phone in his pocket, ''The one who just called you.'' 

''The one who just called who?'' Frowning, he starts to shrug and to tighten the grip onto my hand.

''You! The one who called you.'' I roll my eyes. 

''It was Simon.'' Alex finally answers, ''He says I have an upcoming game tomorrow in Manchester.'' He turns his head to look at me—looking at my expression. I'm really good at a poker face, so he probably won't get anything. 

''You're going to Manchester?'' I raise an eyebrow. 

''Yeah, with the team, of course.'' He replies.

Then it hit me. 

She let out a deep sigh, pinching the bridge of her nose, ''He was in Dubai, but he arrived in New York last week. He didn't call, and he didn't even tell me. I had enough, so I went to his office and asked his assistant. Apparently, she told me that he got back just days ago and there's this house where he bought it so that we could sometimes spend time away from the city. The only place I could think of is there.'' 

''You found him there?''

''With another woman, exactly.'' Clara nods as she breathes out, ''With another woman, Athena! He was spending a few days with that freaking woman. I caught them. Oh boy, I caught them having sex.'' She starts to hold onto her wrist, ''On our bed. On our freaking bed!'' 

Shaking my head, I see him watching the surroundings, not even acknowledging me. 

''Are you sure you're to Manchester with your team?'' I ask.

He looks down, furrowing his eyebrows in confusion at my question, but then he blinks a few times, ''Are you perhaps, jealous?'' My eyes widened as he leans in, wandering his eyes on my eyes and my lips, back and forth. 

''Pft.'' I laugh unknowingly, ''Jealous of what? Your team?'' 

A smile appears on his face, ''Oh well, maybe because you might think I may mingle and flirt with some British women.'' He stops for a while, ''When I think about it, they surely are attractive with that English accent. For example, Imogen Poots. She's a cute little blonde British woman; I may bang her.'' He fakes a British accent, which somehow sounds sexy when he speaks that way. 

I cross my arms, ''What makes you think you'll meet her?'' 

He smirks, ''She'll be there at the match. She's a football fan. I'm ninety-five percent sure she'll be there.'' Then he leans back, ''Don't worry, what happens in England, stays in England.'' 

My eyes wide in denial, ''That doesn't make any sense!'' Throwing both of my hands up in the air. 

Alex starts to laugh, patting me on my back as he continues to walk. That little brat. 

We continue to walk around the park, seeing just family hanging around and having fun. Alex somehow finds this calming. He said he loves being outdoors, especially at the park. It's quite weird since they are a lot of kids at the park... For someone who dislikes kids, that is quite odd. 

''I will be leaving for Manchester tonight,'' Alex says.

I look away from the window and turn to look at Alex, who is now holding the steering wheel with one hand. His fingers dancing to the beat of the song on the radio. 

''When are you coming back?'' I ask.

Then he presses the brake when the traffic lights turn red. He looks down at his phone screen, shining brightly—showing that there's a notification coming in. I try to peek but give up once I know that I couldn't see a thing, ''Do you want to come with me?'' He asks out of the blue. 

My eyes wander to look at his blue eyes—is he making a joke, or is he serious? My eyebrows furrow, ''Aren't you going to bang Imogen Poots?'' I say the first thing that came through my mind. 

Surprisingly, he chuckles, ''It's okay, you can watch or join me.'' My nose cringe in disgust as I imagine him having a threesome. With me, add the sarcasm!

''You're disgusting.'' I shake my head as I make a disgusted face. 

Alex continues to laugh and presses the gas, as soon as the lights turn green, ''I can bang her some other time. When you're not around,'' His voice low, half-joking and half-serious. 

''When you make sure that I'm not around,'' I repeat.

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 heartbeat 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 meters 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 the process but turn the steering wheel to the right—the car passing us without a hit. I sit back down, eyes wide. 

Alex looks 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 a coma for the rest of your life, assuming to the fact that I am going one hundred and forty kilometers an hour.'' He winks, giving me a hint of playfulness. 

I groan once more before hitting his arm, ''Dickhead.'' I mutter.

Alex completely heard me as he glances my way but ignores me as he takes the left turn, stopping as soon as we arrive at his house. I peek through the windows, and I turn to look as he turns off the engine. 

''Pack your bags.''