The ‘Ex’ Factor

Auguste just stared at Astrid, not knowing what to do. Truth is, he doesn’t even know what is going on around him as his mind went totally blank. Yes, he knows meeting Astrid again is not impossible, but whenever he thinks about it, he has never thought of how he will react, what he would say or do and what will happen in general.

That's why at that moment, he just stood there staring at her. He has never been so unprepared in his life. He is used to speaking in front of distinguished people, discussing complex business proposals and strategies, but that moment is something that even his intelligent mind could not work out. Right now, he feels like he’s an idiot.

On his defense, Astrid also just stared at him not saying any word. Auguste could not decipher what’s going on in her mind as he gazed at her. How could he? Even his thoughts seem unintelligible to him.

If only Iñigo did not butt in, they probably would stare at each other longer.

“Astrid!” Iñigo started. “It’s been so long, Mate!”

Astrid’s attention shifted to Iñigo, which Auguste secretly thanked for. At least, he was able to break from that staring contest and recollect whatever thought remained on him.

“Hi, Iñigo!” Astrid said.

“How have you been? You're looking good! Obviously very in love,” Iñigo said to Astrid.

And that’s when Auguste started regretting Iñigo’s participation in the conversation. Especially when his cousin even looked at him and asked, “Right, Auguste? She looks beautifully in love.”

“Hi, Astrid!” Thirdy chimed in, obviously to distract the others from the direction that Iñigo wanted the conversation to go. “Remember me?”

“Thirdy.” Astrid smiled. “Of course.”

“How could she not remember you?” Iñigo asked Thirdy. “She was Auguste’s girlfriend for seven years. Make that, ex-girlfriend.” He looked at Astrid. “Now she’s marrying a real-life prince. I’ve received the invitation, by the way. It looked so elegant and royal, befitting a royal engagement.”

“Astrid.” That was Auguste. He realized he needed to end this encounter because Iñigo is saying too much already. Or at least, remove Iñigo out of the picture.

Astrid looked at Auguste, and he swears he saw a glint of blissfulness in her eyes. He was a bit mesmerized, but suddenly remembered that the joy she must be feeling is due to the general circumstances happening in her life right now. He was able to go back to his senses immediately.

“What made you come here?” Auguste asked.

“Well, I just arrived from the US last week. Thought I might drop by to see you,” Astrid answered.

Iñigo barged in again, making Auguste lose his turn to answer.

“It’s a pleasure to be visited by the future princes of Xeglington. You must be very busy with the preparations for your engagement party, yet you took the time to come here today. But my! Are we being quite rude? Let's go get some coffee–”

“Iñigo!” Auguste said. “Astrid said she came to see me.”

Before Iñigo could talk again, Thirdy cut in. “Why don’t we just go back to our respective offices?” He literally grabbed Iñigo and started taking him away. “We need to continue working because we are not just here because of the privilege we’re given as members of the Ortega clan. We need to prove others that we deserve to be...”

Thirdy’s voice trailed off as he pulled Iñigo away, not giving him a single chance to speak again. Auguste and Astrid just looked on as the two men leave.

“Astrid.”

The woman looked at Auguste, and again he feels like falling to oblivion. But this time, he was able to grasp his thoughts properly, making him mindful of the surroundings and what he should do and what this woman really is to her.

His ex-girlfriend. The only woman who caused so much pain and made him believe he could not truly fall in love again. A lady who is now getting married to a real-life prince.

“Why do you want to see me?” he asked.

Astrid looked quite taken aback. Auguste wondered if there is something wrong with his question.

“Is there something wrong?” he asked again.

Astrid smiled. “Nothing. I just did not expect you to ask me such question.”

“Why is that?”

Astrid looked at him for a while before answering.

“Well...” She smiled timidly as she looked down. “I guess I just imagined a different scene, though right now I realized I shouldn’t have.” She looked at him again. “How could I even forget that I was the one who made you like how you are reacting to me right now?”

What she said kind of confused Auguste, hence he frowned. Although, he quickly realized what she meant by those words.

She's aware she has caused him so much pain.

“Anyway...” Astrid said. “How have you been? I heard you became the CEO of the Ortega Group.”

“Yes.” Okay, this is better than them talking about something more personal. This is something that Auguste can handle. “Well, I guess it’s something that was bound to happen.”

“You deserve it,” Astrid said. “You have always loved the company since we were young. You rightfully deserve to lead it to more success.”

“I always try my best,” is what Auguste managed to say. Why did he suddenly feel embarrassed?

“You always do end up doing your best...”

Silence. Both of them became quiet again as Astrid looked down and Auguste looked to her. He thought he should be the one to start again the conversation, to also address the elephant in the room.

“You also look great...”

Astrid looked up to him.

“I guess the engagement is doing you well.”

Astrid gazed at him for a while before answering, “Thank you.”

“You seem very happy. It looks like he’s making you happy. You... you look very much in love.”

Auguste is aware of the bitterness he felt as he said those words, though the next sentence he said is quite true.

“I’m glad that you’ve found your true happiness.”

Yes, he is really glad about it, though he is not glad that that happiness of her is not something he can provide. He's not the happiness she needed.

“Thank you.”

“Congratulations on your engagement.”

Astrid smiled. “Thanks. I hope you could come.”

Auguste was stunned. No, it’s not because he was hurting that the only woman he loved truly is now getting married. It's not also because he’s jealous of the guy she’s getting married with. Of course, he feels bad for those aforementioned things. He's not a hypocrite. He is still regretting the fact that he lost Astrid eight years ago.

But what really startled him is the fact that he remembered what he did with the invitation sent to him. He threw it on the garbage bin and did not even bother reading the contents!

“Auguste, I know when we broke up it was not the best. But, we have the same circle of friends, and I think you kind of moved away from them because of what happened to us. You started avoiding them, and I feel kind of guilty that you lost your friends just because of me. And it’s so unfair because, I am the one who’s not here. I am the one who’s at the other side of the planet. You should be the one hanging out with our friends instead. So, now I want to correct that and make you come back to the friendship we had in the past. Our friends miss you so much.”

It was a personal choice for Auguste to move away from their friends. He started losing contact, removing himself from the group chat they’ve created, eventually not communicating with them completely. He resolved himself in the company of his brother Geoffory and his cousin Thirdy.

“So, I hope you could reconnect with them again. And, coming to my engagement, I hope that would be the start, since that was the reason why this all began.”

Auguste does not know what to say. He is not sure if he would accept Astrid’s offer or think of an excuse to not go. He looked at Astrid, and her eyes are hopeful that he would agree with her suggestion. His mind kind of understood her explanation, and if he’ll just follow that he will totally agree.

But deep down, his heart is preventing him to say yes. It's preventing him to agree with her, reminding him of the pain this very woman who’s asking him is the reason why he changed like this. Like he’s become unbelieving that he can still love someone truly.

“So, you’ll come, right? You'll attend my party?”

Auguste suddenly felt trapped.