Mine, Even Before The Vows

Chapter one: When he was still quiet

Her POV

When we were kids, everyone thought I was the bold one. I talked too much,laughed too loudly and never think twice before doing anything. If there was,I was somehow always found in it. And he was the opposite,quiet,reserved,almost invisible and always standing shyly behind me like he was trying not to be noticed.

People called him shy,some will call us the prince and his bodyguard,there was a time we were called the mute and the bulldog.

I was the one who dragged him along everywhere. I made him do my homework when I didn't feel like it. My watchman when I'm pulling pranks,sometimes I made him join me in the prank in exchange for snacks later,there was a time we exchange toilet paper for just a printed picture of it and put it in the seniors toilet so it will look like there is toilet paper because they called us mosquito.
If someone teased him,I stepped in before he could even react,he never complained,never told me no,I thought that meant he needed me.

One day,when we were about twelve,an older boy tried to mess with him behind the school building. I remember the way my heart jumped when I saw how big the guy was. He was bigger than both of us, confident in a way that made my stomach twist and turn.
"Move", the boy said to him.
I didn't even think about it,I just stepped forward
"Leave him alone", I said, trying to sound braver than I felt.
The boy laughed "or what?"

My hands were shaking,but I didn't move. I stood there,staring him down like I had any real power at all. After a few seconds,he scoffed and walked away,calling me crazy under his breath.
I turned back,smiling like I'd just won something.
"See?" I said. "You're fine"
He nodded, quiet as always. "Thank you."
That was it.
I didn't notice how still he was.
I didn't notice the way his eyes followed the boy until he disappeared or the way I never saw the boy in school again.

    We grew up like that. Me leading,him following. Our families were close,always together for dinners,holidays, and other celebrations. They always joked about us getting married like it was already decided.

When my parents told me we were getting married,I laughed.

He's my friend,I said "that's weird."

They didn't laugh back.

When I told him expecting him to panic or get embarrassed,he just listened. Then he nodded.
"If that's what our families want," he said.
That should have been my first sign.

The wedding came faster than I was ready for. Everything felt unreal the clothes,the guests,the noise. I kept looking at him, expecting to see the boy I knew. The quiet one who avoided attention.
But the man standing beside me was different.
He looked calm. Too calm. Not nervous at all.
When he took my hand,his grip was steady and warm. It didn't feel awkward or unsure. It felt certain like he knew exactly where he was supposed to be.
I tried to ignore the strange feeling in my chest.
He's just grown up, I told myself.
That night while everyone celebrated,I noticed something else.
He wasn't watching the party like someone enjoying it. He was watching the room, people coming in,people leaving,where everyone stood.

Protective. Alert.
I smiled to myself.
He was still the quiet one.
Still the boy,who stayed behind me.
I didn't know yet that he had never been weak.
I didn't know that he had never been following me.
He had been waiting.

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I hope y'all are ready for this to fully begin🤭
If there is any part that doesn't flow well that's because I had to change some words from my language to English🌚

Also I want to open social media accounts like TikTok,Instagram,etc 
If u have any of this social media accounts is it advisable to open it? Especially TikTok everyone around me is hyping it 24/7
Help a gal out