CHAPTER FIVE : THE FORGOTTEN SMILE

“Hey Babe, are you listening?” Chloe asked with annoyance in her tone.

“I'm sorry, what were you saying again?” I wasn't really listening to her because my thoughts were somewhere else.

“I was asking if you heard that Mikan's getting married?”

I sighed then nodded at her. “I received his wedding invitation the other day,” I simply said.

Chloe rolled her eyes as she answered, “Seriously? And I didn't get any?” It was clear that she was furious about the idea of not getting an invitation for Mikan's wedding. She was well aware that Mikan doesn't like her.

And knowing Mikan, he wouldn't invite Chloe, he was against this relationship in the first place. He does not want me ending up with Chloe but then again he doesn't really want to get in my way so he just lets it be but he was really open about disliking Chloe.

“Maybe the invitation he sent me was for the both of us,” I just said as I fixed my tie. I’m not in the mood to argue with her petty stuff.

She agreed then smiled at me. “So, who's the unlucky girl?” she asked with a sarcasm in her tone.

“Chloe,” I hissed.

“What?” she asked nonchalantly, “Mikan doesn't look like a keeper, you know?”

“Seriously Chole? Why do you have to say unlucky girl? And Mikan is not a keeper? Mikan's a nice guy, and above that he was my best friend,” I said, now I'm annoyed. Mikan's always the nice guy and I really hate it when someone bad mouthed my best friend. He was my best support after everything I went through, though I really don't understand the thing about him marrying my ex-fiance. Still, he's a nice guy and when he loves someone dearly, he'd go through hell just to be with that person.

“Sorry,” she said without a hint of sincerity in her voice.

Just plain right, now, I can't tell if I'm annoyed with her or I'm annoyed with the fact that Mikan's marrying my ex-fiance or it's just both. “If you don't want me calling off our engagement then learn to behave yourself,” I threatened her, pointing my index finger at her and that made her face turn pale. This engagement wasn't even my decision, it was my parent's decision, at first I was hesitant but there's no better choice than Chloe. First, she loves me, second, this could lead to a good company partnership between both businesses, and lastly, she won't betray me and that's what matters most.

That’s what matters most, I told myself. I need a woman who can never betray me. And that’s Chloe because she loves me the most more than anything else.

“Babe,” she panicked, “I'm sorry, I didn’t mean to- ju-just please don’t get mad,” she stuttered,

unable to hide her worried face.

“Just leave for now Chloe, I'm not in the mood.” I shoved her hands aside that were clinging into my arms right now.

“But-” I stared at her with cold eyes, she stood up and said, “okay, I'll just see you tomorrow then.” She heaved a deep sigh before leaving my room.

I closed my eyes as confusion sinks in, seriously I don't get it, why Hailey? Mikan can't be serious about this or is he?

Right there my thoughts brought me back three years ago…

I stayed at Mikan's house last night, he was confused as to why but I just said, I just got home after five years of living abroad and I wanted a friend to talk to, he just laughed at that reasoning then we ended up drinking all night. Well, I can't possibly say that Hailey suddenly showed up and that she's currently staying at my house.

And now I'm back at my house, lacking sleep and with a massive hangover. I opened the front door carefully, not making any noise and as I walked past the doorstep I saw her sneakers, it looked small for her feet, I wondered. It annoyed me a little, how I could have known her body so well and not know a strand of her soul. It's been five long years and yet I still remember everything like it just happened yesterday.

There wasn't any sound when I entered the house. The lights were low so I guess she's still sleeping by now. I headed to the couch and to my surprise, I found it empty. I turned on the lights and searched in the kitchen, the only other place she could be in, but still, she wasn't there and that's when I saw the door to the laundry room that was left ajar, a pair of bare feet caught my eye. It was only a few steps away but my feet suddenly felt heavy. I walked into the room without making any noise and there I saw her lying in a fetal position with the same clothes on, snuggling beside her knapsack in a deep peaceful slumber. How can she sleep peacefully? Knowing that she's in my house and any moment I can do harsh things on her.

Something caught my eye, so I slowly bent on one knee and picked up the photo beside her. Realizing what it was, I quickly put it down with my resentful eyes moist in tears.

I hurriedly walked towards my room. I tried hard to forget everything that happened five years ago, the kidnapping, the betrayal and mostly the proposal but after seeing that photo, it brought back everything, everything even that smile, that smile that I have forgotten a long time ago.

The smile of a young man who's madly in love with the woman whom he barely knew. We've dated each other for almost two years and those two years were heaven, as if I was on cloud nine. She was caring and loving, my parents even liked her, they treated her as if she’s  their own daughter.  I thought that we were genuinely in love with each other, I thought we're inseparable, that our hearts beat as one and that’s why I decided to propose because I’m so sure that she’s the woman I wanted to spend the rest of my life with, she was my life and I thought I am hers but it turns out that everything was a complete lie.

I smirked, thinking how foolish I am to believe in everything she says. Now I remember, the moment she said yes to my proposal was one of the happiest days of my life, how can I forget?

But- it was also one of the days I wanted to forget because it was the day when my heart died along with that forgotten smile.

A knock on the door brought me back to the present time. “Come in,” I said. It was my secretary holding a brown envelope, handing it to me, I asked, “What's that?”

“It was sent by the Private Corner Agency Sir,” my secretary answered. Oh, it was the agency I hired to search Hailey's whereabouts for the past three years. I already told them to stop digging stuff about her, mostly now that she's marrying my best friend.

“Okay, just leave it there.” Pointing at the center table, wondering what it is this time. As soon as my secretary left my office, I stood up and walked towards the center table. I picked up the envelope and opened it. It was mostly Hailey’s photos doing some stuff, like visiting flower shops and cake shops, I guess it was related to her wedding preparations and all. I guess she was happy marrying my best friend and I don't know but I hate the idea of her being with someone else.

I let out a bitter laugh and then reminded myself that I hate every inch of Hailey Greene and that was when a certain picture caught my attention, it was Hailey with Mikan carrying a cute little girl. I don't know but my heart suddenly beats  a little faster than normal and I wonder why but seeing the toddler makes me feel uneasy.

It made me feel a certain longing for someone. Wait a minute, don't tell me they already have a kid?