Heartstrings And Espionages

"Ms. Moon, Sir Alfie said to give this parcel to you." The maid handed over the package and walked away. I just blinked blankly at the package. Not encouraging myself to open it. Yet, I opened it. "Whoa! This is beautiful!" I exclaimed.

Holding a ruby long dress with two side cuts to show-off my hourglass waist. I just jaw-dropped. Sleeveless including v-neck. Goddamnit, it's so… glittering! Incredible taste, Dillon! I got some white pencil heels with pearl earrings. That handbag… that's gorgeous. Isn't this… the limited edition one! Oh my god! I was willing to buy it for a longtime!

"There's a note on this box…" I took the note into my hand and read it. 'This beautiful dress for Mrs. Fowler.' I smiled and opened the box. There was a really beautiful vermilion dress. This guy does have some sense in the female taste. I don't know why but I smiled to myself and walked to my Mom. Trying to wake her up.

"Mom. Mom, wake up. It's…time for…Tangwen's wedding." She opened her eyes and looked at me. Tried to reach face with her feeble hand but she fell apart in the middle. I held her hand gently and let my cheek rest on her palm. She smiled and said,

"You're real, Baby. I was so worried about you. There wasn't any place I didn't search for you. Thanks to God, I found you sound and alive." She embraced me. Her wet eyes are buried on my shoulders. I could feel her sobs all over my body. I don't know what really happened but don't worry, Mom, I'll be alright. I patted her back.

"It's alright, Mom. I'm fine." I said. She looked at me holding my shoulders. "Then why didn't you receive my calls, Baby? I got so tensed about you when I heard about Tangwen's wedding. I was anxious thinking what if you had done something wrong to yourself. There wasn't a single pleasant night for me and your Father. All my thoughts were only…about you, Baby." She explained, holding back her suffering. I never thought… My Mom has to go through this much just because of me. Just for my safety. She solely wants her daughter to survive… facing her difficulties. I remember, once Mom said that,

'As a Mother, my responsibility was to teach you good things and guide you in the right path but after a certain age, I won't be with you. At those times, you need to remember that it's time for you to take responsibility for yourself because I can't save you all the time.'

I wanna laugh at those words in this situation. Is that really my rigid Mom? She said she won't save me all the time, especially after a certain age. Look at me, I'm already a 28-years-old adult. Yet, my Mom rushed from her hometown to Chiang Mai just because I'm gonna walk in some kinda wrong path, demolishing my short life in the name of Tangwen's betrayal, huh! Whoa, bruh! You literally went too far with your thinking. Dang!

"Mom, you have known me since my birth. Is this what you have understood about my stupidity? I would never do that, bruh! Trust me!" I said. She laughed and snapped her index finger on my forehead. "Ouch. Mom?" I expressed.

"You really are a hyper stupid human being. Yes, you could never do such things. Never." She smiled. "Ah. There's something I need to give you." I immediately stood up and picked up the special box with the note. I forwarded it to my Mom and she just gave me a blank face. "What's this?" She asked and I casually answered. "A box. As you can see."

She raised her brow. I know I'm literally dealing with someone I seriously shouldn't. Yet, I smiled sheepishly but she suddenly masked a gruesome face. Damn!

"I knew it, Ms. Professor Moon. I asked you the reason behind offering it to me."

"A-Ah, Mom. Today's a special day – Tangwen's wedding ceremony! We need to get ready. Hurry up, Mom. Guest room is upstairs, let's get there. C'mon, Mom! What are you –" Her Mom broke her in and asked plainly.

"Are you alright, Moon? Does this all sound good to you?" I know how it feels, Mom. Yet I can handle this. If this is the destiny, let me accept the fact. Hiding that musky feeling, I smiled bright and held her hand in mine.

"I'm alright, Mom. You just get ready for the wedding, ok."

I stood up, took the bag and walked upstairs. I closed the door and stood there quietly. Heh! Is this really the end? I know that what I said in our last meeting will be the last chapter in our story but I never mentioned it was the end of the story…, Tangwen. All this isn't what I yearned for. It's not a joke to ignore. I know your love for me, don't you wanna try to know mine either? Why…

Why are you crying again, Moon? My legs lost their balance making me collapse against the ground. The bag he gifted scattered around me. Those all accessories had fallen out of the package, glittering into my eyes like a refracted ray. In all those shiny things, I could only imagine her smiling face. Sigh…sharply. Only…Only if I could've known how to sort out the things when I'm on the very worst stage.

"Moon, you ready?" I turned around and nodded with a smile on my disguise mask. My Mom smiled back and said amazedly, "My, my! You're looking gorgeous, Baby."

"Oh my, Mom. Not as beautiful as you." We laughed and walked down.

A glance fell on him, leaving me wholly ruddy. Dressed in a black t-shirt and trousers with a red velvet blazer on it. Combed his hair back, well sprayed. His glittering spectacles leaned on my face and he reflected with a short smile. Forwarded his hand, I flushed. Barely able to lift my hand to interlock our hands together. His gold watch slid out and bounced his richness. I gulped and looked at him – he pushed his hand in front and gestured to me to hand mine. I glanced at my Mom as if I'm waiting for her permission but she smiled and nodded her head. Getting my attention back on him, I laid my hand on his and he gently held it, letting me walk with him gradually.

He grabbed his lips closer to my ears and whispered, "I knew you would look gorgeous in this dress. Thank me later for making you my partner tonight." He blushed but wait, what? Partner?

"Huh? Partner?" I asked out of mind but instead of answering to me, he suddenly shifted the topic. "I forgot to mention, Mrs. Fowler. There's a person named Ren Kiyoko waiting for you. Do you know him?" My Mom and I gasped. "Oh. That's my husband, Son. I'll catch you guys up later." I wanted to chase her too but he suddenly held my arm and pulled me beside him. Looking at eyes, he gently rubbed my lips with his thumb. My heart's throbbing!

His eyes softened and moved his face closer to mine. Wh-What? I shivered thinking about the thought of kissing each other! "You're so gorgeous that I couldn't hold myself, Moon." This guy really is drunk! I'm sure he lost his mind. He should know that I'm his sister's girlfriend – we aren't broken up yet. I won't say that Dillon is a complete scumbag – he surely knows how to play with women's hearts very well.

"We are at your sister's wedding ceremony. Focus on it, not on me, Mr. Gentleman." I said and broke into a chuckle. Moving back, he held my hand and wrapped it around his arm. We walked in. My footsteps halted when all the eyes were on us. I felt so uneasy trying to pull my hand back to normal but he patted on my hand.

"Don't focus on others' eyes, ok. Just walk with me till the very end." Huh? Why are you speaking so differently today? Is he alright? I said nothing but walked quietly with him. He stopped at a door and I gave him a blank face.

"Tangwen's inside and…" He halted. Held my hand gently. Rubbing it with his thumb, he said, "Be her bridesmaid. Will you?" I glanced at both of our hands prosaically and said, "Yes, I will, Dillon." After hearing me, he let go of my hand and looked at me with a smile.

"I'm gonna be a groomsman. So, we might not have to spend time together." He laughed and snapped his words away. "Shut up, already." He smiled and turned around to depart. I kept looking at him until he doesn't get disappeared into the crowd. I turned around and gasped,

"T-Tangwen?" Oh my God, she got my soul out! "What are you doing here, Moon? Didn't I tell you to leave?" I didn't say a word. I immediately held her hand and grabbed her inside – locked the door. "M-Moon, what's wrong with you?" She stammered.

I glared at her and asked, "I should ask that question to you, Tangwen! Why…why aren't you understanding about my feelings, Tangwen. I –" Before I could complete she said,

"Enough we had an argument about this topic! Once I said then it's said, Moon. This is fate – we can't change fate. Y'know that, right? Leen Ha-Kong and I are destined to be here. Let things be the way they are going, Moon. Forget me and find the right love that takes you in the right way. We aren't made for each other…, Moon."

"Is this the end…? End of our story? This isn't what I was yearning for, Tangwen."

"Neither am I, Moon. But –" Before she could, we heard a knock on the door. As the door opened, I observed Harper. Ah, can't she wait any longer! Her future daughter-in-law isn't running away. Our eyes met and I strutted away, snoring.

"Moon Fowler, what are you doing here with my daughter-in-law?" She said ironically. I glared at her and said, "Daughter-in-law? She isn't married to your son yet, Harper. And I'm her bridesmaid. I guess that's clear to you. Harper." I said. My eyes filled with fierceness.

She clenched her fist and got raised on me. "Moon Fowler, she had no other choice but to marry my son. So, forget about her completely. She can never be yours." She declared her words loftily and I just faced them when she held Tangwen's shoulder, forcefully making her nod. I can understand you, Tangwen. You are strong enough to refuse them. Yet, why didn't you fight against them, Tangwen Alfie?

Before leaving she turned to me and said, "Enjoy being a bridesmaid for your Ex. Anyhow, you can't be her bride." She smirked and left the room. I shut down the door and Tangwen looked at me anxiously.

She threw herself into the couch and buried her head into her palms. What might have brought her dismay? I rushed to her and took her hands in mine. Her eyes looked into mine.

"Moon, you should leave now. You did nothing wrong to bear words from them. Eventually, you don't have to. Why?" She leaned her head on my hands and began sobbing softly.

I held her chin and cupped her face. She looked with her wet eyes. "Tangwen, I don't give a shit about them. Don't worry, I can fight for myself." She sniffled. Then I continued, "You weren't in my fate. Let me at least take you to the one who was written in your destiny. Like that I could keep my promise which I made to myself." She made puzzled face and asked,

"What promise, Moon?" I answered, "Once I made a promise to myself that one day I will keep you in good hands. I know, Leen Ha-Kong isn't supposed to be named decent yet it's your decision and I could do nothing about it." She just nodded and accepted the fact that she has no choice but this.

"Should we go? All might be waiting for you." She nodded and wrapped her hand around my arm. I remember she didn't have a father to walk along the way to her future husband and interlock their hands with a hope that he would make her happy for the very end. She doesn't even have her mother to lend her shoulder when she cries, thinking about leaving them. She doesn't have her two beloved brothers to hold her in their arms when she says goodbye. She only had Dillon to call her family. Literally…, she faced a lot and gone through so much.

All the way, she didn't let my arm go and I didn't let her escape from it. I laid my hand on her hand. She gave me a softened look and nodded my head, gesturing to her that it's time to let go of my arm and reach for her future husband.

I gulped, wearing a worried face when her eyes filled with tears. I leaned my head to her ears and whispered, "No matter where you're destined to – I'll always be there to help you out. Just give me a signal, I'll be at your door. Now, you should hold his hand, Little Princess." I stood straight and gave a gentle smile to her. She forced a smile holding back her tears.

As her hand gradually decreased from my skin, I poured into melancholy. I know…nothing's in my hand. Just like he said, 'Sometimes it's better to let them go. Not all the time, things go as we plan.' I feel the same now. Maybe, Leen Ha-Kong might keep her happy. I don't know whether I can forget her or not but yeah, I will always remember her. Try not to erase our memories. One day, if she has kids, I'll speak about our tale. The way it represents…

Me and her. "Moon, you ok?" I paid attention to a familiar voice. Looking at his face, I smiled short. "I'm totally fine, Dad." He rounded his arm around my shoulder and nodded with a smile. He patted my shoulder and stated. "I'm glad to hear that, Moon." I nodded.

I eventually accepted Uncle Ren as my father. Took a long time, though.