Once Upon a Lie

We were high school sweethearts, Aztech and I. He was the epitome of popularity, leading the volleyball team with his incredible skills and intelligence. He is good at math, and used to conduct tutorial classes for our classmates and even the other batch to help them. It was a huge help to our teachers. That's why they love him so much. "Hey, Aztech!" ...and I am just a normal girl who loves admiring him from a distance. His smile literally brightened up my day and my inspiration to study harder. For me, a glimpse of him is enough to make my day. We do not need to be friends. One fateful day, as my best friend and I walked along the school sidewalk, a stray volleyball came hurtling towards us. Instinctively, I tried to pull my friend away to avoid getting hit, but I was too late. "Ouch!" I said and groaned because of the pain. I slumped on the floor and looked straight at them. "Why are you playing in the school grounds when you knew it was break time?!" I told them without looking back and Yuna softly caressed my left shoulder and glared at them. "We're very sorry!" they exclaimed and went in front of me, "I will take you to the infirmary so you will get treated..." when I saw his face, it was as if all of my anger towards him vanished right away. He looked like an angel, and where are these lights coming from anyway?! "I- I..." I knew at that moment that I was blushing so hard. He smiled and reached out to me, "I'm really sorry." I was not able to answer and he took me to the infirmary. That was the first time we talked to each other. *** Now, I am walking to the Hotel AZ, a five-star hotel where I will be marrying the man I had a contract with. We are going to talk with the wedding coordinator here. It was such a lively and vibrant place. Hotel AZ lives by it's name. When I was younger, I had always dreamed of marrying at the age of 28. But now I'm 32. After four long years, I will get married. I looked at my son, who was excited about me too. As he will have a father now. "Mom, are you excited?" Jacques asked, his voice full of innocent curiosity. I bit my lip, a mix of emotions swirling within me, before answering with an enthusiastic nod. "Of course, sweetheart! Mommy is getting married. How could I not be excited?" I replied, ruffling his hair affectionately. He giggled and hugged me tightly, his words echoing with a hint of possessiveness. "Just don't forget that I love mommy the most!" he said. "Of course, baby!" and hugged him tight when someone stopped in front of us while we were hugging inside the hotel lobby. But as our tender moment unfolded, a figure suddenly appeared in front of us, drawing our attention away from each other. This man was surrounded by a group of imposing bodyguards, and his polished shoes hinted at his affluence. "Monica?" My heart skipped a beat as I recognized him. The voice, the chiseled jawline, the mesmerizing green eyes—it was none other than Mr. Walton, Aztech himself. Memories, both painful and cherished, flooded my mind as I stood up, clutching Jacques' hand tightly. My heart sank, for Jacques was a spitting image of his father. It was a resemblance I had tried desperately to conceal, but now, it was impossible to hide any longer. "No long time no see, Mr. Walton." I could not hide my bitterness when I saw him. He looked more mature and more gorgeous. "It's been six... no, seven..." he stopped midway when he noticed the child creeping behind my back. I tried my best to hide him but I could not do it right and he had already noticed him. I was praying so bad for this moment to not happen, because Jacques looks exactly a mini version of him. I want to disappear right now at this moment. "Monica--" "Ms. Monica!" someone called my name and I turned my gaze on who. Also, it is my chance to escape. It was Ashley, our wedding coordinator. "Oh my, Mr. Walton! Greetings!" Ashley exclaimed, bowing respectfully. "We didn't expect you tonight. We were informed you'd be arriving tomorrow morning." "It's alright, but you know her?" he asked straight forward. And Ashley, my lively friend here, looked and smiled at me before answering him. "Well, Sir," my forehead knotted, "I am her wedding coordinator. She is the bride who I mentioned to you that requested and bid to use the Avania Pavilion for the first time!" and clapped her hand and was very excited about me. I smiled at her in response. "Wedding?" he asked with a firmness in his voice. "Thank you so much, Ms. Ashley. But I think we need to go now..." and tried to drag her down and looked at Aztech, "We've taken up enough of your time, Mr. Walton." And with that, I mustered a smile and ushered Ashley away, my heart pounding in my chest. "Wait..." he tried to reach out but we had walked out fast, and my heart was beating so fast. He wanted to catch up with us but it seemed that he was very busy because I heard the secretary was telling him about his next schedule with a VIP. He is still the same. Same old busy man, company being his priority. I could never get to his level. Besides, I am getting married now. My heart ached a bit and I felt like crying, ran away and locked myself inside a room. It has been seven long years and my heart yearns for him, and suddenly, like those times that we were apart, are just mere seconds. I hate him. I will secure my happiness and will not let him tarnish the future I had dreamed with my son, Jacques.