Once In A Blue Moon

04 Fantasy

How cruel, your veins are full of ice-water and mine are boiling.

— Emily Bronte

☾

"So, tell me about your bride."

The statement brings a sour taste in his mouth and a dull ache in his heart. This is the last thing he wants to talk about-- think about. That part of his life has already wilted before even blooming. He doesn't want to wander down the memory lane and end up in places that sizzle their way to his soul.

"How is Zimal?" he asks, dodging the original question.

"Good, but she misses you."

"I miss her too, dearly. Is she around? Can I talk to her?"

"It's her school hours, remember?"

"Oh yeah, I forgot." He rubs the skin between his eyebrows. "Give her lots of love for me."

"I will. Now tell me about your bride."

He looks skyward, standing in the balcony of his hotel room. His sister is not the one to let go.

"What about her, Mina?"

"Everything." He can hear the excitement in her voice. But what does she know? He's sure the truth will send her sanity haywire, and he doesn't want that.

"Larmina--"

"Mikael," Larmina cuts him off, not letting him dodge the question again. "Now don't tell me you feel shy."

I don't like shy men.

He blinks and shakes his head, as if trying to shake her off his thoughts too.

"She's," he pauses, not knowing how to actually describe her except what any eye can see, "beautiful," he finishes.

"I know," Larmina says as an obviously. "Hurairah told me so."

"When did your husband got time to make introductions with my wife?" Mikael bugs lightheartedly. "I thought he was busy dancing all night."

His sister laughs. "You know he knew your in-laws long before they became your in-laws."

And he still arranged their marriage, Mikael thinks. Why? Hurairah has known him too; he knew Mikael didn't want that kind of woman, neither is he the kind of man Banafsha wants. If he knew both him and his wife's family well enough, how could he still let this happen.

Something in the picture doesn't fit and he's troubled by the fact that it's his own brother-in-law.

"Mikael?" Larmina speaks after a moment of silence.

He hums in response, letting her know he's listening.

"Are you happy, brother?"

A smile naturally forms on his face at her concern. "Of course.Why would you think otherwise?"

"Because you don't sound happy to me. I sound more enthusiastic than you even though it should've been you. Don't men feel ecstatic about their weddings?"

He chuckles at her last statement. "My wedding is yet to take place."

"You will be happy then?"

He licks his lips, again pushing away any negative feelings. "Well, hopefully."

If the said wedding is to ever take place, he wonders.

My family only married me to you not for you but your father. I was kept in the dark about your past and present until today. I feel like you've the right to know the truth so you won't suffer like me. There's still time; we can do something. I don't want to be a cheating woman in this marriage by using you for my family's games but never loving you, because I don't-- I can never. Because this is something I don't believe in. So you should free me.