Chapter 25
"Enough," Sebastian moans.
It was a bad idea to ask my brother to help me pick out my dress.
"Shut up, or you'll have to stop by the emergency room on the way to the wedding."
He rolls his eyes.
"The wedding is in three hours, and you've decided to pick out a dress just now."
"Well, I'm sorry, I've been swamped this week, I haven't had time to shop, and I have a lot of new dresses."
Actually, I didn't know if I would even go to Danylo's wedding.
Sebastian takes out his phone and texts someone with a silly smile on his face.
Task number two hundred and forty-three for today: find out about Sebastian's secret girlfriend!
"I think I’ve decided," I say and take a white silk dress out of the closet.
"Finally," Sebastian sighs again.
"I promise, I will hear you sigh again, and you will be sitting in a wheelchair in the photos with the groom."
"Why?"
"Because your legs will be broken."
Sebastian leaves the room and I put on the dress. It's brand new so it's perfect. It hugs my figure, almost reaching my ankles, with a small cutout on my chest and a corset around my waist. I'm wearing black Saint Laurent heels, a gift from my mother. I know they are terribly expensive, but at least now I will have a reason to wear them.
"Come in," I shout to Sebastian, and he comes in.
By the way, I must admit he looks great. He is wearing a suit from the new Prada collection (his favourite brand). Black pants and a black jacket with an unusual cut. Black buttons are intertwined in a chaotic manner. There is a black shirt underneath, but it is almost invisible. He looks as if he himself opened this Prada show. And of course, he's wearing his favourite sunglasses. It doesn't matter that we're indoors.
"You are beautiful."
"We look like two secret agents," I laugh.
"I like it."
"Okay, we have to go, so I can get my hair and makeup done."
Sebastian rolls his eyes, but doesn’t refuse to take me to the salon. And wait for me for an hour and a half.
He is the best brother, have I said it before?
I decided to do my hair in a simple, low ponytail, and not too bright makeup. But everything together looks just incredible.
"Finally, I thought you had forgotten that we had to go somewhere." "We still have time," I say.
"Yes, but we still have to get there."
"Stop whining and get in the car," I order.
All I can see around us are majestic mountains stretching out on both sides. We arrive and I open my mouth in delight.
Danylo's wedding is the realisation of my childhood dream when I first watched Twilight.
It's a spacious lawn with everything you need on it. This place is nestled among green trees, with the sun's rays breaking through the branches and creating a harmonious play of light and shadow. There are small tents and pavilions with comfortable sofas and armchairs for relaxation. Instead of a traditional altar, there is a natural arch made of vines, emphasised by flower arrangements.
There is everything here, from wooden stairs, columns with vines and wooden barrels to wreaths of vines. Small wooden white tables are decorated with arrangements of flowers, leaves and berries. Candles and lanterns scatter soft, warm light throughout the forest glade.
It's like I entered into a fairy tale. But this is not a fairy tale. This is Danylo's wedding. A wedding you can only dream about.
I thought that I would not see anything else that would surprise me, but Zlata and Danylo appeared in front of me. I can't take my eyes off of them. They look like supermodels straight off the cover of a magazine. Zlata is dressed in a long white wedding dress, in which it is not even visible that she is pregnant. A lace train stretches behind her along the long path. Her eyes sparkle with happiness, the sun's rays are reflected in them. All eyes are now on her.
And Danylo... Even if he came here in one T-shirt, he would remain the hottest guy. His suit makes my throat dry. It seems that ordinary black pants and a black jacket have never suited anyone as well as they do now. His hair is cut short and styled. His smile shines on his face. But his eyes.
They do not know how to lie. He is upset.
We come to congratulate the bride and groom. I feel like I'm walking on hot coals. I hold Sebastian's hand because I'm afraid of falling. I just might not be able to take it. Danylo takes one look at me, and I'm ready to fall into a million pieces. This is what he does to me.
They were standing five meters from us, but it seems that we are walking forever. I say greetings in my mind, but I can't say a word when I stand in front of them.
Bondar is married.
He is married.
The man I fell in love with is married.
My heart is squeezed. A little more and I will have a panic attack. A little more and I will spend a week in the hospital.
But I'm pulling myself together. I'm trying.
"Thank you for coming," his voice finally speaks to me.
God, how I want to hug him now. I want to feel his hands on me. Those are the hands that are now stroking Zlata's back.
I can't stand this evening. I will definitely die. And more than once.
Sebastian is congratulating the bride and groom, and I still can't say a word. If I say something, I will cry. But I have no right to cry. Not today.
Finally, we move aside, and I run away from my brother somewhere far into the forest. I take deep breaths, but nothing comes out. Fear envelops me. Everything becomes so small. I'm getting so tiny. I forget how to breathe. I can't breathe.
Tears are pouring from my eyes, but I still can't breathe. How long has it been? One minute? Two. A few more seconds and I will lose consciousness.
These are not just panic attacks. This is much worse. I really forget to breathe, I really can't get my chest to pump air.
"Breathe, Amelia." Someone's voice wakes me up from my state.
I raise my eyes and see Danylo. I realise that I am sitting on the ground in the middle of the forest, crying and unable to breathe.
"Breathe." He orders and covers me with his hands.
His eyes glide over my face, his fingers wipe away the tears.
"Amelia, take a breath." He shouts and I finally breathe.
One more second and I would’ve passed out. My heartbeat slows down little by little.
"What the hell was that? You scared me."
I want to stop crying, but I can't. I am terribly scared. I thought my eyes would close forever.
"Darley," he pulls me to him and hugs me tightly, "what's going on with you?" You.
You are my greatest ruin, Bondar. My tsunami. My tornado. My universe.
"Calm down, I'm here," he strokes my back with his hand.
Five minutes pass when I finally calm down and only then does he release me from his embrace.
"Ready to come back?" Danylo asks and I nod.
Danylo lets go of my hand just before we approach the wedding. I was silently praying that no guest saw how we left the forest holding hands.
By the way, I don't know why we held hands. Simply because it is us .
"Are you having fun?" a familiar voice whispers the words to me.
"Timur," I answer nervously.
"Don't worry, I won't tell anyone," he promises.
"What exactly?" I pretend that I don’t understand what he is talking about.
"Listen, I've known Danylo all my life. There may be nothing between you two, but when you are together, it gets so hot that it could set the whole damned forest on fire."
I purse my lips. My heart starts beating faster. Timur stands next to me, and we watch the bride and groom cut the cake.
"Danylo will regret this mistake more than once."
"Why do you think this is a mistake?"
"Because you exist."
I'm shocked. And what the hell is that supposed to mean?
"You are, Amelia, the only one Danylo needs."
At this moment, Danylo's eyes falls on me. His eyes are shining. They always shine when he looks at me.
"And I just think that a guy who doesn't care about you wouldn't ask me to stay as far away from you as possible." "What? " Now I'm looking at Timur.
"Danylo asked me not to see you anymore, told me to forget about everything, and when he found out that we were kissing, he was close to knocking out my teeth. And I've been friends with him for twenty years, Amelia," laughs Timur. "He has never been so worried. Not because of any girl. Damn, at school we exchanged girls like socks."
"So why did you ask me out then?"
"Because you're hot. And I didn't know Bondar had feelings for you. Until I saw the way he looked at you."
"But now it's Zlata standing next to him, not me."
"Like I said, he's going to regret that decision."
Why is every one of Danylo's decisions so strange?
Stay as far away from me as possible, Amelia. No, work with me. Come to my wedding, Amelia.
I'll never know what's going on in his head.
And I will never know what is in his look, which is still fixed on me.