The Kidnapped Bride

"Obviously," Max answered without trying to act known to her. In front of the other's eyes, they were still strangers whom they met right now. He wasn't interested in giving up the details to anyone about that night even a bit. 

However, Veronica's thoughts wandered around the possibility that, had he told her secret to Tristan yet or not? Her heart told her that he wouldn't have done something so big at least for her sake. 

She was still very much confused but it was not that difficult to trust him. 

When Max noted her expressions, he coughed a bit to gain her attention again, "If you are thinking that I might have told you about your crush on Tristan then..No, you're wrong. I don't reveal things."

Hearing this, Veronica sighed in relief. Her hand was clutching her chest as she looked around her to finally avert her gaze back at Max, "Thank you so much..for keeping it to yourself." 

"I'm not someone whom you think to be, Veronica.  That night's talks are between us, you can trust me about this.." Max gave her an assured smile in return, making Veronica's heart skip a beat. 

Here, she was worried that after coming to the venue, her mood would turn gloomy. She won't be able to stay much longer and had already bewitched a plan to leave after a few minutes of greeting Tristan. 

Who would have guessed that she will collide with this stranger, whom she hasn't heard from the last few weeks? 

Motioning her to walk, she did where Max walked by her side. "Tristan told me that you are his friend...how?" Veronica was curious, to which Max responded, "He is my childhood friend. And I have known his bride for a long time as well since we were in the same batch at once." 

"So you are responsible for my heartbreak? Hmm?" Veronica muttered to herself, without realizing that her voice was loud enough to be heard by him as well. 

As the words reached up to Max's ears, the smile on his face froze. The hands tucked inside his pant's pocket, had converted themselves into a fist before he stopped in his tracks. 

On seeing him halting, Veronica also stopped to look at his figure, realizing that he was in a daze. "Are you alright?" she asked with evident concern, to which he gave her a small nod before telling, "You are wrong...or maybe, right that I'm responsible for your heartbreak.." 

When she saw that his mood had taken a serious turn, it gave her heart a clutch. Did he just hear what she said and take it as a mistake? It wasn't her intention to do so, but maybe,  if he hasn't made both of them meet, won't she be able to have Tristan by herself? 

However, Max had another thought that resided in his brain. He kept his subtle expressions, without blinking his eyes from her face, "Even if I hadn't made both of them meet, you would have still been in his situation. Because, for Tristan, you are no more than any other friend.. you aren't more than that." 

"You should be happy that he is getting someone he loves, maybe that is the best gift you can give to him..as well as yourself. Let go of this one-sided love because it gives nothing but pain..and don't put the responsibility of your unhappiness over my shoulder. It is heavy!" 

His words made Veronica gulp the saliva. Her eyes had started to shutter, as she realized that he had taken her too seriously. 

She wasn't interested to hurt him either but seems like she did and now, it was a blunder that has been caused. While Max stood still in his place, he had started to walk, leaving her alone with the rest of the people. 

Passing by her side, Veronica stood still at her place without any movements. Her mind was frozen so were her hands. It struck her that maybe..he was correct. 

'Tristan and I have been friends for so long..maybe he would have friend zoned me no matter what?' 

It never made sense to her, as Veronica always considered that as long as she confronts him and expresses her feelings, he would accept her. 

Why did it never come in her mind to feel that she might never be his and neither can he be hers? 

Standing all alone, while clutching her purse, Veronica took a deep breath. She closed her eyes to not let her veins pop up and calm herself. "On this happy occasion...I should be happy for him like this.." 

And maybe, Max's words had put such an impact over her to feel that, maybe Tristan getting married to his lady love was the best she could ever have. Blessing the couple will also ease her last string of love which she holds for him. 

However, before that, Veronica turned around to find no sight of Max at all. He wasn't there, and it made her freak out. Without wasting the time, Veronica walked ahead to see the ceremony had started, and she saw him standing at the other corner. 

He wasn't sitting with the rest of the people either but had kept a strict expression of his, making her urge to travel to him for once.

And which she did, Veronica came beside him, to nudge his shoulders. 

As the ceremony was going on, she had kept a faint smile, while the others were waiting for the bride's arrival. Tristan was standing in the middle, in the await. 

Meanwhile, Veronica lifted her eyes to look at Max. He didn't glaze in her diction but she knew his ears were at her. "I'm sorry for that...I didn't intend to hurt you.." 

In response, he didn't speak to her, making her anxious. Biting her lower lip, Veronica once again nudged his hand, "I said something to you.." 

"It's fine." was all he said, but her heart wasn't still satisfied by this small reply. 

But this wasn't in her hand as well, before he told her, "Instead of saying sorry to me, you should rather make your heart be free...leave this one-sided hurt which will ultimately hurt you." 

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