This isn't about the regular love triangle story you've always heard about. This is the story about Alex, Ted, and I, the best trio friends of all time, until a dangerous rift set in, and we became worse enemies, while maintaining a neutral facade in public.
Ted is the rich heir among us, with his father, Mr. Parker, who owns the largest hospital in the city, and his mom, Mrs. Parker, who is the tech genius behind the popular E-Talk app. Alex, on the other hand, has a single mom, Mrs. Sonia, who works as a flight attendant. Alex's dad passed away when he was just eight, leaving him with a tough childhood.
As for me, my parents work for Ted's family. My mom is a tech whiz and assists Mrs. Parker, while my dad is a brilliant surgeon at Mr. Parker's hospital.
Enough about the introductions; let's dive into how our friendship took a drastic turn down the hate lane.
* * *
The infamous trio was back in action, and drama was already brewing on the very first day of the final year exam at college.
I, Muna, was running late, courtesy of my mom's frantic yelling from the living room.
"Muna, get down here now, or you'll miss your ride to school!" I rushed downstairs, grabbing my Gucci handbag on the sofa. My mom, ever the devoted assistant to the illustrious Mrs. Parker, was trying to play the perfect mom – at least for today.
As we halted at the entrance of the campus, I caught sight of Alex just walking down the gate, looking like the epitome of calmness. I, on the other hand, was a ticking time bomb, ready to explode at any moment.
"Alex, you're late!" I barked, shoving my wristwatch in his face. "Do you want me to miss my first paper?" Alex flashed his signature warm smile, and I felt my anger melt away.
"Sorry, Mun. I had to wait for a public bus. Mom had an early flight." His apologetic eyes sparkled, and I was a goner, my anger suddenly withered away.
Just then, Ted came up, looking like the king of the castle. "Hey, guys! Sorry, I'm late. I had some, uh, important stuff to take care of."
I rolled my eyes good-naturedly. "Oh, sure, Ted. I'm sure it had something to do with your royal highness's busy schedule." I said being sarcastic.
Ted chuckled, unfazed. "Someone's got to keep the kingdom running!"
Alex intervened, ever the peacekeeper. "Hey, hey, let's not start again. I bet you guys don't get tired of fighting. Let's not do this on our first day of the exam, okay? I'll go inside and grab us some seats. You two can... discuss the finer points of punctuality." He winked and headed off, leaving Ted and me to exchange a glare before following him into the exam hall.
* * *
As I snuck up behind Alex, my heart skipped a beat. We were standing in our usual spot, a cozy little nook where we always seemed to find each other. I tried to jump onto his shoulder, but he spun around, his instincts on high alert.
Instead of landing on his shoulder, I found myself tumbling into his arms. Alex's hands wrapped around my waist, holding me close as he gazed into my eyes. For a fleeting moment, time stood still. His eyes, bright and brown, sparkled with concern, and his lips, soft and inviting, were inches from mine.
As he helped me up, his fingers brushed against my forehead, sending a shiver down my spine. "Ouch!" I exclaimed though the pain was minimal.
"Why did you do that?" Alex asked, his voice laced with worry. "You almost fell."
I couldn't respond, my eyes still locked on his. I felt embarrassed for a moment.
Ted's clearing throat broke the spell, and we parted, our faces flushing with embarrassment. "Were you guys gisting without me?" Ted asked, his voice tinged with amusement.
Alex chuckled, tapping Ted on the shoulder. "Sorry, man. You're late."
As we exchanged sheepish grins, I couldn't help but wonder: was it just a moment of friendship, or was something more simmering beneath the surface?
"I hope you guys haven't forgotten today is my parents' anniversary. Mum would be very pissed if you miss out this time Mun" He turned to Alex "And you, mum said you should invite your mum. Enough of excuses about the fact that she can't make it"
"Ted..."
"I won't listen. It's enough headache to convince you to come, don't add to it"
"Okay, fine." he smiled revealing his deep dimples.
"My ride is here, let me drop you off, Mun." I heaved a sigh in my head realising Ted and I just stayed a few streets away from each other. I walked ahead of him without a word.
* * *
The grand ballroom was abuzz with a group of influential men and women in the society, all gathered to celebrate Ted's parents' wedding anniversary in style. I couldn't help but gawk at the majestic cake in the middle of the ballroom, as I struggled to keep my flowing dress from getting underfoot.
Just as I was about to tug the dress up again, a gentle tap on my shoulder made me spin around. "Hello, pretty!" Mrs. Parker's dazzling smile lit up the room, She looked simple with a knee-length sparkling dress, and her hair was styled in a chic, low bun complimenting her heart-shaped face.
Her slender fingers cradled a delicate glass cup, and she sipped from it with elegance. I smiled warmly and hugged her lightly, feeling a little awestruck by her poise.
"Happy wedding anniversary, ma'am!. By the way, you look amazing" I exclaimed, trying to sound charismatic even though I was barely feeling myself.
Mrs. Parker's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Thank you, darling! You look absolutely stunning yourself, young lady. I was hoping the dress would fit your small body, but it seems it was tailored just for you!" She chuckled, and I felt a flush rise to my cheeks.
Just before she left, Ted approached us with a smile. I'd be honest, Ted is obviously more charming compared to Alex but I can't debate why I chose Alex. Ted is always full of himself and pompous, he's the talk of the campus, and Alex is calm and reserved, I can't just compare him to this thick head I thought to myself.
They exchanged a hug while I tried to be a good friend in front of his mum
"Hi" I said, and, I think I sounded like a girl who is shy in front of her crush. Wait! actually, Ted would and can't stand a chance of being my crush.
"Hey," Ted said, his voice tinged with an unusual nervousness. "Alex is around with his mom. Want to come meet him?" He faced his mom, his eyes fixed on hers.
"Alex, your friend?" she asked, turning to me with a hint of curiosity. "Ted's always talking about him. He wants me to meet his mom to discuss sponsoring Alex's art at my gallery."
I shot Ted a surprised glance. He'd never mentioned this plan to us. Alex had always dreamed of showcasing his art, and now Ted's mom was offering to make that happen.
As we approached the table, Alex stood up, his eyes fixed on Mrs. Benjamin. "Hello, ma'am. Happy anniversary," he said, his voice smooth.
But the atmosphere shifted in an instant. Mrs. Benjamin's smile faltered as she locked eyes with Mrs. Sonia. The air was electric with tension.
Alex gestured to his mom. "Meet my mom, Mrs. Sonia."
But Mrs. Parker's expression turned furious. "Sonia? You? What right do you have to be here?" Her voice dripped with venom.
Ted's eyes widened in alarm. "Mom, what's going on?"
But Mrs. Sonia didn't hesitate. She grabbed Alex's hand, her eyes blazing with determination. "Let's leave. Now!"
"Don't you dare walk out on me!" Mrs. Parker's voice rose to a fever pitch. "You think you can just waltz in here after all these years?"
The room fell silent, the only sound were the heavy breathing of the two women. Ted's face was pale, his eyes fixed on his mom in horror.
"Stop it, Mom," he pleaded, trying to drag her away. But she stood firm, her eyes blazing with fury.
"You want to know why?" Mrs. Parker spat, her voice venomous. "This...this woman was d**n screwing your father!"
The room erupted into chaos, the sound of gasps and shocked whispers filling the air. I felt like I'd been punched in the gut, my mind reeling with the implications.