Alkimia ~the Craft of Love~

12. under the same roof (Lilac + Azure)

"Nobody reminds you either," Azure sympathises

"Yeah!" Lilac nods quickly, agreeing wholeheartedly

"Who is she?"
"My wife,"

"I can't believe it! Mr Azure is married?!"
"...Right. Apparently, he is!"

Sitting on the couch with her legs tucked in, Lilac is too absorbed with her laptop to pay attention to the incoming Azure. She is considerably startled when the man plops down next to her, causing her to jump on her seat.

"What are you looking at?" Azure asks, opening his book with one hand, while putting his cup of chocolate milk on the table, next to Lilac's empty cup

"Tips and sorts," Lilac answers, checking out the book's title on Azure's hand before losing interest quickly, "My friends tell me I need to know it, at the very least,"

"Oh. You have friends?" Azure starts to read without waiting for Lilac's reply

"Not many, but I do have friends," Lilac answers, returning her focus to the laptop, "I only have one best friend though,"

"I think, mostly, only one person can get the best-friend position," Azure murmurs quietly, starting to get engrossed in his reading

"What about you? Do you have a lot of friends?" Lilac asks, closing her current page, about marriage life tips, to open up a new page, about newest free-to-play MMORPGs

"Plenty of friends and colleagues, no best-friend," Azure answers after a pause, to turn the page of his book

"Sucks to be you," Lilac snorts

Azure doesn't reply. Lilac is doubtful if he even hears it.

"Are you free to go drinking tonight?"
"No. I need to clean the house,"

"Who is he? You newest boyfriend?"
"When did I ever have a boyfriend? He is my husband, by the way,"

"Happy one month anniversary," Azure says, putting a bowl of salad in front of Lilac

"Happy one month anniversary," Lilac says, pouring plain water in Azure's cup

"Cheers," lifting their cups, they smirk

"Aaah, so she is the rumoured wife,"
"Why is she rumoured?"

"How is he in bed?"
"Dunno, never check,"

Lilac curses Azure for leaving her alone in her parents' house, on purpose or not. They are supposed to visit her parents together dammit.

"I heard... You two have yet to consume your marriage," Lilac's Ma says, disappointed

Lilac curses her best-friend, who must have told her Ma about that conversation.

"Why?" Lilac's Pa asks, curious and not angry, thank-goodness

"We are just getting to know each other, Pa," Lilac answers her Pa, slightly ignoring her Ma, "Doing that out of the blue is awkward, for both of us,"

"Out of the blue?!" Ma gets angry, from Lilac's attitude and words, "You two are married!"

"Only for two months," Lilac mumbles quietly to herself, with her head tucked

"How was the honeymoon?" calming down his wife, Pa asks this instead

"Oh, Azure let me use his card. I bought myself a new laptop," Lilac raises her head and beams at her parents, "I love it (the laptop),"

Ma groans, "I hope you gave Azure a kiss in exchange,"

Lilac blinks, "Err... A kiss on the laptop?"

"A kiss to show your gratitude for your husband, at the very least," Ma corrects, before stopping shortly, "Don't tell me..."

Azure arrives then, saving Lilac from a tongue lashing. Lilac feels pathetic. She is a married, grown, adult, woman... She is also still at the mercy of her parent.

"Azure, dear, when are you going to give us a grandchild?" Ma asks, with a fond smile

Azure blinks, taken off-guard by that sudden question. Lilac howls, as she jumps up and pulls her Ma inside the kitchen, "Maaaa!!! Let's prepare dinner together! Mother-daughter bonding time!!"

Azure blinks after the women. Pa laughs, "My wife is waiting for a grandchild from you two,"

"Ah," after hearing it once more, Azure is sure his ears aren't deceiving him. Though, he is unsure how to answer. Lilac and him, they have never talked about it.

"Don't worry about it," Pa smiles, understanding, "Just enjoy your youth and walk at your own pace,"

Azure smiles back, "Thank you... Pa,"

Pa's smile widens.

"When are you coming to visit us, Son?"
"Tomorrow, Dad,"

"What do you want to eat tomorrow?"
"Everything except fish-ball. Thank you, Mom,"

"Has our Son been good to you?" Mom asks, smiling gently at Lilac over the dining table

"Oh, yes. Of course, Mom," Lilac smiles diplomatically

"Our Son is a little quiet, but he means well," Dad says smiling, "Of course, if he does something that bothers you, do tell us,"

"Yes, I will," Lilac nods, keeping a polite smile on her face, even though she is snickering inside

Azure just eat quietly, keeping his eyes down. Lilac sympathizes with him a little. Only a little.

Azure has younger twin sisters. They both attended their brother's wedding. Though... This is the first time Lilac talks to them. One is bubbly and cheerful. The other one is quiet, like Azure. Both are cute and beautiful.

"I heard from in-laws," Mom starts to say, after the dining table is cleared and they have moved to the living room, "You two have yet to consummate your marriage?"

Lilac laughs nervously while Azure nods, "We think it's still too early,"

"I am surprised," Dad says, though he ends his words there. Lilac has a feeling there's something he refrains from saying.

"Well," Mom is not really bothered, "Just make sure you two have a good time together, as a married couple,"

Lilac and Azure share a look. Lilac answers this, "...Thank you, Mom,"

"Big Brother, do you like Lilac?"
"It's a secret,"

"What do you think about Big Brother?"
"He is a good guy,"