Lost in Love: A Bridesmaid's Destiny...
The Unexpected Reunion...
It was a bright Tuesday morning when, I woke up,, excitement bubbling in my chest like champagne fizzing to the top...
Today was the day,, I was flying to New York for my best friend Lily's wedding.. I stretched lazily, sunlight streaming through the sheer curtains of my bedroom,, painting golden patterns across the floor... The warmth of it kissed my skin,, making everything feel lighter,, as if this day was special in ways I couldn't yet name...
A soft knock on my door broke through my peaceful morning thoughts... My maid entered,, balancing a breakfast tray of toast,, fresh fruit,, and black coffee with practiced grace...
"Good morning,, Ma'am. Your mother is waiting for you downstairs,," she said politely,, placing the tray gently on the side table...
I gave her a faint smile. "Okay,, and please remember to knock every time."
She nodded,, almost sheepishly,, and quietly exited. I turned back to my open suitcase,, carefully folding my favorite dresses—silky,, floral,, pastel—each one a memory and a mood...
This wedding wasn't just another social event. I wasn't just a guest,, I was Lily's bridesmaid,, her right hand for the week,, and I intended to make every moment count...
Zipping my suitcase shut,, I glanced into the mirror... I looked... different.,, Maybe it was the anticipation in my eyes or the way my cheeks were slightly flushed from excitement... Or maybe it was the dress—white with soft pink floral prints,, cinched at the waist... It was simple,, but somehow, it felt like more...
I walked down the grand staircase of our villa,, and the moment my mother saw me,, her eyes shimmered with admiration.
"Oh my!! You look absolutely stunning,, my dear," she said,, her voice touched with pride and nostalgia.
I chuckled,, tucking a strand of hair behind my ear. "Mom,, I'm just wearing a summer dress..."
"It suits you beautifully,," she insisted, pressing her hands together... "I still can't believe you're leaving for an entire week."
I stepped into her embrace.,, "Don't be so dramatic,, Mom... You know I have to be there early for the wedding. I'm her bridesmaid."
She kissed my forehead,, her lips lingering longer than usual. "Alright,, alright. Your helicopter is waiting,, Go before I start crying."
With one last wave, I made my way to the rooftop... The blades of the sleek black helicopter spun slowly in the morning breeze. The pilot,, tall and crisply dressed , greeted me with a nod...
"Good morning,, Miss. Let me help you with that," he said,, taking my bag. "Please fasten your seatbelt and put on your headphones... We take off in fifteen minutes. Kindly switch off your phone after ten..."
I pulled out my phone and dialed Lily...
"I'm on my way!!" I grinned,, feeling the thrill of our reunion even through the phone...
Lily squealed with joy. "I can't believe it!! My super busy CEO bestie is coming early!! I swear,, we're going dress shopping the minute you land!!"
I laughed. "I'll be there in four hours... Just wait for me,, babe."
As we lifted into the sky,, the city faded beneath us,, becoming a quilt of streets and shadows. The adrenaline of takeoff made my pulse race,, but as the clouds swallowed us whole,, my heart sank into an old familiar ache.
Kai...
My first love,. The boy with soft brown eyes and a crooked smile. The one who used to chase fireflies with me in the summer and hold my hand, when the world felt too loud. The one who vanished without a single word...
I had searched for him,, For years. But I never found a single clue... Not even a last name to go on. Just the memory of his laugh,, the comfort of his hugs,, and the way he used to say my name like it meant something...
"I just want to know why,," I whispered to the heavens. "Just once,, Let me see him again,, even if only for a moment."
Somewhere between hope and exhaustion,, I drifted into a restless sleep.
A soft touch on my forehead pulled me back from my dreams...
My eyes fluttered open...
And for a second,, I thought I was still dreaming...
There was a man standing before me,. Tall. Broad-shouldered., His presence filled the narrow space of the helicopter. His dark,, tousled hair fell slightly over his forehead,, and his piercing eyes—those eyes—stared, at me with a mix of concern and curiosity...
"Are you okay??" His voice was deep and smooth, tinged with something familiar that made my heart skip a beat...
Before I could answer,, a flurry of excitement burst beside me...
"Oh my God, you're awake!!" Lily shrieked,, practically climbing in to hug me... "You scared me!! You were sleeping like a rock, but Adi checked and said you were okay..."
Adi??
My gaze tore away from the stranger as confusion crept into my voice... "Adi??"
Lily pointed to the man... "Yes!! Adrian—Adi for short... Mike's best friend and the best man."
My breath hitched...
No... It couldn't be.
But those eyes… that voice… the way he looked at me with something , I couldn't quite name...
"Nice to meet you,, Miss Bridesmaid,, " he said,, a playful smirk tugging at his lips... He extended his hand...
I stared at it.,, Something inside me trembled.
I didn't take his hand...
"I can manage," I muttered,, stepping down from the helicopter on my own... The breeze caught my hair as I landed on solid ground,, but my mind was anything but steady.
It was him...
It had to be him...
The man I'd seen months ago outside my company,, standing in the parking lot like a ghost from a dream... The one who had disappeared before I could confront him. The resemblance was too strong to ignore...
Lily threw her arms around me again... "Let's get you to the hotel,, then we'll go dress shopping!! You'll love the boutique I picked."
I nodded,, but barely heard her... My thoughts were spinning around Adrian...
He hadn't said anything... Hadn't recognized me... Or had he??
Mike joined us,, casually mentioning,, "Oh, by the way,, Adi's staying in the room next to yours..."
I froze...
What kind of fate was this??
I glanced sideways. Adrian was talking to the driver,, but his eyes flicked toward me more than once.
Did he remember?? Or was I just a forgotten part of his past??
The hotel was breathtaking—chandeliers,, marble floors,, and the scent of roses hanging in the air. My room was on the 17th floor,, just as Mike had said. And true to his word,, Adrian's was right next to mine...
As the evening sun painted the sky in warm shades of orange and gold,, I stood by the window in my suite,, my fingers grazing the glass,, My heart still thudded with questions.
Was this truly Adrian… or was he Kai??
Why hadn't he said anything??
Or was I clinging to a fantasy,, mistaking kindness for connection??
A soft knock startled me... I opened the door to find Adrian standing there,, a cup of coffee in his hand...
"I thought you might need this,," he said,, eyes locking with mine.
I hesitated,, then took the cup. "Thanks..."
"I get the feeling you don't like me much,," he added with a half-smile...
"It's not that,," I said softly... "You just remind me of someone I used to know..."
He nodded slowly,, as if the words struck a chord...
"I've heard that before,," he murmured, then looked away. "From someone I lost a long time ago.."
I didn't know what that meant,, but I felt it in my bones... There was something he wasn't saying... Something just beneath the surface,, begging to be uncovered.
As he turned to leave,, he paused. "If you ever want to talk... I'm just next door."
And with that, he walked away,, leaving me in a haze of emotions I hadn't felt in years...
That night,, sleep didn't come easily... I kept replaying the moment he looked at me, the quiet intensity in his eyes... Could it really be Kai??
If it was… why was he hiding behind a different name??
And if it wasn't… why did my heart ache just the same??
I had one week until the wedding...
Seven days to find out the truth...
And I wasn't going to let this chance slip away...
To Be Continued…