Chapter 7: Chapter Six

Athena

It has been exactly a week since Alex announced our engagement to the media. Ever since they haven't left us alone at all. Some reporters even followed me when I was walking alone to the cafe. It isn't as bad as Alex, though. Whenever he stops by, reporters would come and run after him.

We appear on the news as The Couple Of The Year. Unfortunately, the media finds something funny about us is that whenever Alex or I see a reporter, we would run away instead of facing them. The press finds that we have something in common. Bad luck, they were dumb enough to think that we have something in common.

After the 'you're beautiful' moment last week, you might think that Alex has become all soft with me? Well, hell no. He's back to the arrogant, cocky guy. He keeps on breaking into my house, and I don't know how he did it because he leaves no mark behind any evidence that he has been breaking in.

A few days ago, he broke in while I was out. He left me a new iPhone on the kitchen counter with a note, saying, Athena, I found out that your phone's screen was cracked, so I decided to buy you a new one. Whatever, just don't drop this.

Xoxo, Alex ;)

Well, I can't really throw the phone away, so I end up using it. I needed it anyway. One thing that I hate about him is that he's treating me like his mistress. I don't need him bathing me with riches. I don't need his fortune. I don't know what makes him so stupid that he won't get that in his head.

Now we are preparing for the wedding which is just a week away. This is quite a late preparation, but Simon said it would be enough—just a private wedding—with family and friends. Lucky enough, I'll only invite my family since I've lost contact with most of my friends from college. It was my fault too. I have been busy spending time with Jeremy—the ex-boyfriend—that I left my friends behind.

Chicks before dicks.

Too late now, there's no turning back them. I'm sure that me appearing in the news, they might come to notice me again, but I really can live without them. I can't really face them after leaving them behind.

Oh, and I don't know about Jeremy, he hasn't contacted me anymore. He did contact me two days ago, saying to meet up with him, but I ignore him. Why would I meet up with him? If he didn't cheat, I wouldn't end up breaking up with him, and I won't end up at the bar, which leads to the conclusion of me not meeting Alexander Herrera.

But oh well, fate has a cruel way of dealing with me.

I guess life just hates me right now. I manage to glance at the newspaper this morning, saying that I am the luckiest woman alive since I am engaged to one of the top 5 hottest guys. I can't believe they would consider me lucky. I mean, lucky enough for me, the pictures posted on the internet of Alex and me are not as bad.

Some anonymous even create a fan club to object to the wedding. They said I'm just a gold digger that wants Alex's money. Well, only if they know the truth. They also said that I'm not pretty enough for him and that I'm just some country girl. Excuse me. I am well dressed—no offense to country girls.

''Athena.'' Alex bends down so that our eyes are the same height as he stares deeply.

I blink a few times, trying to lean back but all he does is just leans in, ''W—what?''

''Zoned out again?'' He stands up straight, fixing his shirt before walking toward the rack of tuxedos. I clear my throat as I follow behind him.

''I was just thinking,'' I mutter under my breath as I eye him picking up some tuxedos. They all pretty much look the same, but to his eyes, they are definitely different.

''Thinking about?'' He asks without turning his head to look at me.

''Well...'' I bite my lower lip, ''Nothing.'' And I pass him, looking through the rack. I grab one of the tuxedo and eye the material. It seems pretty enough. I turn to look at him as he keeps on searching for more. I push the tuxedo onto his body, making him turn his body and furrow his eyebrows at me, ''What do you think about this one?'' I raise an eyebrow at him.

I don't know. We aren't even having a real wedding, but we are going out shopping for our wedding like a real couple. Whenever Simon asks Alex to accompany us to shop for our wedding, he wouldn't say no. I could have gone with Marissa or Phil, but he wouldn't let them. He doesn't even want us to shop differently. He wants to do it together.

Well, he's paying, so I ain't objecting.

He holds the tuxedo, brushing my fingers with his on the process, but he doesn't seem to notice, so I immediately let go of the tux as soon as he gets a grip on it. He looks in the mirror, ''I guess... what do you think?'' He raises an eyebrow at me.

Is he asking for my opinion?

''I—'' I raise my index finger.

''Never mind, I'll put this on hold in case I don't get a better one.'' He cuts me off, and it felt like I have bitten my own tongue, so I kept quiet. Don't ask for my opinion if you are not going to listen. I roll my eyes at him as I walk away toward the other built-in cabinet, searching for his shirt. We wanted a white and simple wedding, but knowing Alex isn't going to be simple.

''Don't you have a dream wedding?'' I remember him asking me, ''I mean, what kind of wedding would you like? Some girls have them all set up in their mind, but you...'' He narrows his eyes at me, ''You don't.''

''I don't know.'' I shrug as I stand up, ''I'll just agree with anything that you decide.''

Alex furrows his eyebrow for a moment, and something flashed his eyes, but he looks away, and he's back to his usual self. Sometimes I wonder if he's bipolar.

Alex told me that we'd go on our honeymoon anytime sooner after the wedding, but he hasn't exactly told me where. He said we have to impress the press or they will question us. Of course, all of this for the public's view. I am like a rising star just because I'm getting married to him.

I haven't realized that I am already holding a shirt until it fell on my feet. I blink a few times. Wow, how many times have I zoned out today? I shake my head as I bend to pick the shirt up. When I turn to look around, I see Alex talking to one of the workers.

So, you guys must be wondering. Don't I feel jealous? Nope. I feel nothing. We don't have feelings for each other, and I know Alex is not stupid enough to ruin his own reputation if he gets caught cheating, so I don't really bother.

Alex caught me staring, and he immediately excuses himself before walking toward me, ''We should go to fit your wedding dress.'' He rubs the back of his neck as he takes the shirt away from my hand. He looks down with a frown, ''This is a blue shirt, Athena.'' He chuckles a bit.

''Oh,'' I frown, ''I thought it was white.''

''You've been zoning out too much. You okay?'' He puts the shirt back in its place.

I just nod eagerly, ''I'm fine. You did fitting yours?''

Alex eyes me one more time before nodding, ''Yeah, let's go, just need to pay first.'' And we walk back toward the cashier together. I just end up staring at the counter as Alex pays. When he's done, his warm hand on my back makes me return back to reality, and we walk toward his car.

We arrive at a wedding dress boutique. Alex turns to look at me and seems to notice that I kept on zoning out, and I didn't even realize that I am standing in front of the door, without even bothering to push it open. His index finger moves down my jawline making me turn to look at him immediately, ''What?'' I ask, my voice cracking a bit.

He tilts his head, ''Is there something your not telling me?''

''What do you mean?''

Alex sighs, ''If there is something wrong, then tell me. What's bothering you?'' Then I end up staring into his blue eyes that I somehow feel lost. I don't know if he even notices me staring, or is it just me looking into his eyes expressionlessly, but he never really seems to care whenever I glance into his eyes. He finds it interesting that I am not the one to look away.

He might have felt uncomfortable because he looks away before looking back into my eyes after a few seconds. See, he would be the one to look away, and sometimes I feel like my name has really brought courage in me. Like I said way way back.

''Athena.'' My name slips off his tongue. Why am I eyeing every single detail?

''Yes.'' I raise an eyebrow at him, ''It's nothing really. Let's just get inside,'' I grab his hand and intertwine our fingers together. He seems to be caught off guard by that simple gesture, but he nods in reply as we both step inside the boutique.

''Hi, how may I help you?'' A woman asks me with a smile on her face.

I smile back, ''Hi, I'm looking for a wedding dress.'' And I follow her toward the back. I turn around to look at Alex, and he just looks at his fingers as if studying something strange. I see the way he furrows his eyebrows in confusion. I smile unknowingly until he is out of my sight.

After trying it on, I quickly undress and change into my own clothes.

''Thank you, Amy,'' I say as she picks up the dress from my hold, and she smiles at me.

''Do you prefer this one or the first one?''

''Um, this one.'' I nod, and she walks away toward the front, ''Don't let him see my dress, okay?'' I joke, and she chuckles before nodding in agreement. After I have dressed up again, I walk out of the fitting room.

Alex is looking around the boutique—eyeing each wedding dress—until his eyes landed on me, ''That was quick.'' He says in a surprised tone.

''Well, I found the one; why wait.'' I bend down to put on my flats. Alex just eye my every action, and I look up to find him still staring, ''Why are you looking at me like that?''

''Do you have some sort of plan?''

''What plan?''

He crosses his arm, ''I don't know... Any plan.'' The way his eyes look into me, it's as if he could find out my every secret. Well, if he's wondering about me planning on running away on my wedding day, then no, but if it's another secret, then yes, I have a plan—a plan with Joanna.

She understands that I will start giving her details once we are married so he won't get too suspicious.

''No, I don't.'' I shake my head and furrow my eyebrows at him.

Alex leans in before leaning back, ''Fine, how much?'' He turns to the cashier, and without even hearing the price, I walk away from the counter. The wedding dress will be sent to my apartment a day before the wedding, so Alex won't be seeing it, not until our wedding day.

Alex stops the car right in front of my apartment, and I turn to look out that the sun is almost setting in New York. I have been spending the whole day with him, and my legs are hurting, but I don't feel like telling him. It doesn't matter anyway.

''Athena.'' He calls out my name, and I turn to look at him, ''I don't know what's bothering you, but I want you to clear your head. Just... don't think too much about what's happening.''

I breathe out, ''Okay.''

''I'm sorry for bringing you into this. I know you don't want this, and believe me, I don't want it either. Something arranged it's not really what I do. But believe me, I would have taken you out on a proper date if the reporters didn't catch us that night.'' He smiles a bit, and memories of him and me at the bar suddenly came back. I remember the way he smiles right now. It's the same smile he gave me that night.

It's breathtaking.

His genuine smile.

I lean in and stop when our lips are brushing against each other. I feel his breathing fasten on my cheek, and I can feel how he tense whenever I'm close to him. I tease him as I slowly brush his lips against mine. His hands move down to my waist, pulling me closer, assuring me to kiss him on the lips, but I keep on teasing him.

I hear him groan slightly, but he didn't bother pulling me toward him. This time, I lean in slowly so that our lips touched. He responded immediately, kissing me back softly. He just follows the rhythm instead of fastening the kiss. I feel him playing with the tips of my hair as I play with his.

The kiss ends up passionate as it gets deeper and deeper.

I feel like the car is heating up, but I keep on kissing him. He doesn't bother anyway.

When his hands move down to cup my butt slowly, I moan lightly into his kiss, and he took the chance to slide his tongue in. We kissed as if there is no tomorrow as if this could be our last time seeing each other. It sounds more like making out to me.

I move my index finger between our lips, stopping the kiss. He clenches his jaw, but his eyes are still on my lips. I rest my forehead on his before slowly leaning back. From afar, I can see how swollen his lips look right now, so I smile at him, ''Bye.'' I say before stepping out of the car.

Before I could close the door, I hear him say faintly, ''Bye.''