MIKAYLA
. . .
The loud voice of the card slapping against our glass table grabs everyone's attention as I throw the stupid card right in front of my mother.
Everybody in the living room is now staring at me while I am fuming with hot anger, done with looking at the ugly shine of the wedding invitation card in front of me, on the table, in front of my Mama.
"What's this?" I grit out, grabbing my hips. Impatiently, I begin tapping my foot on the floor.
"Oh, Mickey," she smiles at me, holding the card, "This is Barak and your wedding invitation—"
"Darn it, Mama, I can see it! But why? I don't remember agreeing to marry that Blondie!"
"Mickey, language. Is this even a way to talk to your mother?" My sister-in-law chides, frowning at me. She had sent her kid away the moment she saw me entering the living room.
"And about the injustice she's doing to me?"
"Your Daddy asked you, Mickey and you said yes, don't you remember this?" Mama interrupts, standing up from the couch to address me.
"Because I can't say no to him, Mama, you know that! But didn't I tell you that I don't want to marry him? But instead of making up Dad for me, you're explaining things to me!"
"Because he's a good match—"
"From which angle, Abby?" I retort, glaring at my brother's wife. She has become a stranger to me after meeting that Blondie.
What the hell?
What's happening to my family members, I wonder. That baby Dawood has cast a spell on my family members and they are so under his spell that they are not even ready to listen to me.
"What makes you all feel that we're good for each other? He's a pain in the ass—gosh! Why are you doing this to me?"
"Then why don't you talk about it to your Daddy?"
I cannot help but grit my teeth in frustration while tears burn my eyes. My own family members are treating me like this. My mother, who very well can make my Dad understand why I don't wanna marry their sweet so-called ideal boy, is not ready to do it, keeping on singing before me that anthem of Blondie Dawood.
What's my place here?
He has made a place in their hearts and I don't think they even consider me their own daughter anymore. To notice the worst, they are hell-bent on sending me away with Blondie.
On the surface of the earth when there are countless men, could they only find him to be my husband?
Not like I would become anyone's bride because I only see Ibzan as my life partner but why also just Blondie is special in their eyes? What good they see in him, tell me! I have never found him to be pleasant. He is the most disagreeable man in the world for me.
I would prefer dying better than marrying him!
"Haven't I tried it already?" I utter, fisting harshly that my nails dig in my palms. "Weren't you there with Dad when I came to tell him that I don't wanna marry him? And wasn't it you who listened to him?"
She sighs, looking anywhere but at me. She folds her arms on her chest and glances down at the wedding invitation. She bends a little to hold it and puts it inside the envelope very carefully, ignoring me.
Wow, so much care for a piece of paper. I have torn down a few in my room and the pieces are lying over the floor, under my bunny slipper.
"Listen, Mickey, we told you already and tell you again that Barak is a good guy. You won't regret marrying him."
"Ibzan is also good but you gave no chance to him."
"Because he isn't ready to take your responsibility. He's a coward."
"That's your mentality."
"We've seen it."
"Even if it is, can't you wait for some more time until he's ready to take my responsibility — as that's what you think? Am I a burden to you already that you're this eager to throw me out, Mama?"
A frown comes on her face as she presses her lips, being discontent. She wags her head at me but doesn't say anything to me in response. Instead, she decides to leave the room silently as if she considers me to be the littlest of Uriel who cannot understand anything if she tries to tell me.
Okay, now I'm a toddler, right?
"Mickey, you need to learn to talk to your Mama again, don't you think so?" Grandma interrupts me this time, looking at me with those narrowed eyes, throwing daggers above her specs. Silver chains hang through her outdated frames as she also wags her head at me.
My sister-in-law rounds the table to put a cup of tea in front of her but she is busy glaring at me.
"I'm shocked to see that change in you. Your father's too much affection has spoiled you but now my son is doing well by choosing Barak for you and not listening to your drama."
My lips fall open in an overdramatic gasp when I hear her. I do drama? She is so savage. But before I can retort again, she growls at me and I have no other way than to remain silent and listen to her scolding me.
Wow, Mikayla. Being in your early twenties gives you no privileges. Thank goodness my sister-in-law's kids aren't here or that little brat would have recorded this all.
"Ibbo, that pathetic man, who couldn't even come to talk to your father isn't good for you and we've told you this already but you don't believe it, do you? You say Barak has cast a spell on us but it's your Ibbo boyfriend who has cast a spell on you and for him, you disrespect your parents. Tell me, is this what he teaches you?" Her words are to shame me as she gives me a stink eye while my sister-in-law tries to control her laughter.
Yes, please! After all, my Granny has given him a funny nickname.
Sharp eyes look above the metal frame of her glasses as she pierces those eyes through me, continuing, "Listen, Mikayla Uriel, I'm telling you that even if any of Uriel is persuaded by your constant drama of not marrying Barak, I will not. You will marry Barak and that's final."
"You can't decide it, Granny."
"I can. You have no idea of my authority yet."
I am speechless because I know what she can do under the roof. I hate it! Even my Dad listens to her before me.
My sister-in-law listens to her silently, watching us. I can't be more humiliated than this. Not even my mother wanted to say anything about this as she went away silently. Nobody here is ready to understand me but it's always Barak.
"If you're so in love with that Blondie, then why didn't you adopt him in his childhood? I too would have gotten rid of you all!" With that said, I stomp away to my room furiously.
None of them reply to me. I come to my room and slam the door behind me. Because it feels less, I kick it hard, getting the sound louder than before so they can hear it and know how much distress they have put on my head.
Going to my bed, I lie on the cold mattress and take deep breaths to calm my anger down. My face feels hot, and my chest rises and falls. And all thanks to Blondie. Not even after being here, he is brilliantly troubling my blood pressure, getting on my nerves.
But the most annoying thing is that my family is not standing with me, but rather with that baby Dawood. I am not under Ibzan's spell but rather they are! — under Blondie's spell. Wizard! Once I get my hand on him, I am going to strangle him to death.
The thought of Ibzan itches my mind again and it makes me call him. He answers me after three attempts, chirping, "Hey, Mickey."
"Don't Mickey me, you Ibbo!" Not just Granny, but I too call him that because I know it annoys him, "You see what's happening in my house, huh? Even the wedding invitation is out and you, what are you doing about it?"
He remains silent, sighing over the phone. If he would have been in front of me, I would have smacked his head hard.
"I told you to meet my Daddy but you kept on turning down the suggestion. Now, what should I do to you? Are you still going to sit there like that and watch it happening until I'm in a wedding gown, standing beside that Blondie, huh?" I utter louder than before, "Aakhir chahte kya ho tum? Don't do anything now lekin baad me ana meri shadi me aur khade rehna us bheed me, full plate ke sath!"
I take deep breaths after venting out my frustration. Well, he needed to listen to me. He even listened to me silently. Besharam!
"Mickey, calm down!"
"Calm down my foot!"
He groans on the other side and I can imagine him running his palm down his face like he does every time.
"Mickey, we need to talk." Hm, now he has come on the line. "We will talk about what you're going to do. When should we meet then?"
"Tomorrow he is coming to meet me," I remind him monotonously, eagerly waiting for his reply. One more wrong answer and he is going to regret it.
"Um, what about this evening then?"
Nice answer. "Very well."
｡ﾉ♡
Evening comes and I get ready to meet him. I button up my white cardigan above my black turtleneck top. I pull out my hair and tie a ribbon around before I turn to leave. I go downstairs and Granny is the first one to notice me.
"Kaha chali itna ban than ke?" She teases me, wiggling her eyebrows.
To meet Ibbo, I pass her a toothy grin as I come downstairs, holding the rail. My Dad is now sitting beside Granny so I don't answer her which I have said in my mind.
Oh come on, I don't enjoy calling out my misfortune.
Holding the strap of my bag, I reach them. "To meet a friend. I can go, right?" I tilt my head, giving them those eyes.
Granny passes me a smirk for I don't know what and Dad smiles at me. "Of course, my love, you can. But come back soon, yeah? Or you'd like to take Eliab with you?"
Oh, no no. I have enough trouble in my life, don't you think so?
"No, Dad, it's fine. And yeah, I'll be back soon," I say and bend a little to kiss his cheek. He pats my head. I smile at him one last time before leaving.
Ibzan has asked me to meet him in a cafe where I reach on time but he, like every time, is late. Bastard. I wait for him, sipping on my coffee, not waiting for him to come and start with me.
January is about to end, you can guess how cold the weather is and here I will deprive myself of coffee. Not even in his dreams.
He comes fifteen minutes late. I glare at him but don't say anything. I have many things to say that can make him sweat.
"So what do you want to say? Are you still not ready to meet my Dad?" I don't beat around the bush and ask him straight. Enough with round and sweet talks.
"Mickey, listen to me," he says, holding my hand. I watch his hand crawling above mine with a stink eye but don't say anything. "I know you are in big trouble but I can't come yet."
I make a fist, watching him swallow down his lump. Afraid I might punch him? Well, he is wonderfully trying to receive one.
"Baby, you know I have to gather before I make you my wife, don't you? How can I make you live with me when I have so little?" He looks into my eyes with that soft look and I know I am letting go of this anger.
No, I won't. Not me but he needs to understand.
"Do you seriously think I worry about it, Zan?" I leave the handle of the cup as I stare at him confusedly.
Surely I have lived a life where I never had to ask for anything but everything was put before me even before I made a wish. My Dad has raised me like a princess, never saying no to me. I celebrate my birthday for at least a month. Every day is like a festival to me but still, for Ibzan, if he says even for once, I am ready to live a normal life.
Why doesn't he understand?
"You still don't understand me." I sigh, removing his hand from above mine. He holds fast to it, stopping me.
"No way, Mickey! I know you," he asserts, "But still, it's my desire to give you so. Don't I want my wife to live in luxury?"
"Gosh, Zan, it'll take time and they have fixed the date! What do I have to do until then? My Dad isn't ready to listen to me. The entire house is against my decision. I can't escape it!"
He purses his lips, falling silent. For a whole minute, he doesn't say anything. He sits silently, staring at nothing particular until his phone buzzes inside his breast pocket.
I roll my eyes. I lean back and watch him answer the person. He hums two times before ending the line.
"Mickey, I have to leave."
"Of course, like every time." I shrug, getting up and gripping my bag. "You always break my expectations, Ibzan," I murmured before leaving and getting inside my car.
Nothing new. I am used to it. He and his work. I too have a job but I don't put it before my loved ones. Well, it's different for Ibzan and I hate the difference. Why can't he prioritize me like I do to him? He compromises so easily.
Sometimes I wonder what I am to him. Does he even love me?
Years have passed since our being in a relationship and I trust him more than anyone but Ibzan, he has no trust in me. Just by saying that he wants to gather for me, he has made it clear that like a spoiled brat, I will throw tantrums. High expectations, right? At least, he should not be like Blondie.
Well, I know he doesn't understand me. Maybe in the beginning he did but not now. He is too well tangled in other things and Mikayla is somewhere in his list, surely not on the top.
And know Mikayla that you have no other way than to elope now.
Let this Ibzan remain tangled in his work and Blondie mourn on his wedding day because hell will freeze over before I agree to become Barak's bride.
｡ﾉ♡
I come out of the bathroom after I have done my night routine. I find my phone buzzing on my bed and I see it's Ibzan calling me.
I roll my eyes, going back to hold my towel. I stand before my vanity and pat my wet cheeks, staring blankly at my face. This face he claimed to hate, right? I cannot help but remember Blondie's words. Such bitter were the words he said to me when we were in high school.
I don't care. I'm well aware of my beautiful countenance. School, high school, and then college — there was no single girl more beautiful than me and yet he said he hated my face.
I roll my eyes. What a liar. He doesn't even know how to lie.
Once again my phone buzzes, getting my attention. I walk over to my bed and answer his call.
"Mickey, are you alright? Baby, I've been trying for an hour. Why didn't you answer me?"
I bite my bottom lip as I walk ahead to slide the doors of my room. "Don't you know I do my nightcare at this hour? And it takes nearly an hour, Zan." I slide down the curtains and go back to sit on my bed.
"Oh," he sighs, "Are you still upset with me?"
No, I am not but I wish to show him still.
I don't say anything, hearing him make sounds on the other side. He makes himself comfortable before he says, "I was thinking of what you could do. But I needed to tell you about my promotion, too."
"Really?" I can't help but say. "You got promoted?"
"Yeah."
"Congrats, Zan! I'm so happy for you!"
"Thank you." I can feel the smile in his words. "Also, I need to leave for London, Mickey."
Oh. It seems main to me. This is what he actually meant to tell me. And all of a sudden, I'm not happy as before. Though it's good for him, he has confirmed by this news that he will leave for London while I'll be getting wedded with Blondie. Wow, what a fate!
"When are you leaving?" I almost mumbled and I never realized the change in my tone.
"This week."
I hum.
"Hey, don't be sad."
"You mean to say that we are over, right?"
"Don't think anything, Mickey, please? I have thought about you, too. See—"
"Are we eloping?"
"No way! As I said, I still have to settle my career."
"Then what?"
"Well, I was thinking..."
"What were you thinking?"
"That you can marry him for now, Mickey, and then—"
"Are you crazy or what, Zan?" I utter, gripping the phone tight. Gosh, the nerve of this shameless man!
"Mickey, Mickey, first listen to me, please? You can later take divorce when I—"
"What? You've literally become crazy and nothing else, Zan! Tell me, are you drunk?"
"What? No, baby—"
"Because you're talking nonsense! I can't marry him just to divorce him, do you get that? It doesn't happen like that."
"But what'd stop you from having a divorce, Mickey?" He asserts, "Both of you hate each other, don't you? I'm sure Barak won't stop you from divorcing him."
"Of course, why would he? But the thing is, I'm not marrying him for the divorce. I'll simply marry you and nothing else. And if you can't marry me, then tell me, so that I can stop having expectations from you. I'll elope or make another plan."
"Mickey, you don't have to do it. I love you, baby."
I scoff. Sounds like a joke.
"F**k, Mickey, then do you have any plans? If you have, then tell me."
"You know what, Zan? Go and get some sleep because that's what you're dying for. Good night!" I disconnect the line and throw away my phone.
Stupid!
He is either drunk or has gotten his head hit somewhere. Marrying Barak just to divorce him doesn't seem like a good idea to me because what if in his twisted mind, he wants to torture me for the rest of my life because of all that I have done to him?
I have no right expectations from him. Many times he has promised me that he will repay and I ignored the threat. Well now, feels like it will come true. But can I do anything already?
Oh no, I have to sleep on time.
Not wishing to torture my mind anymore because it has had enough for today, I go to my bed. Hours pass and I can't sleep, feeling anxious about what is going to happen next.
Tomorrow I even have to meet Blondie.
As the dawn comes, my eyes start getting heavy. I wake up at the rustle in my room and then a touch on my cheek. I lazily open my eyes and see the face of my mother.
"Wake up, Mickey," she chirps, smiling down at me.
I ignore her, hiding my face in the soft quilt. She shakes my shoulder and I groan, "I need to sleep, Mama."
"Oh, Mickey, you can't. Don't you remember that you have to meet Barak?"
"No, I don't."
"Well, I'm here to remind you then. Get up, baby, and get ready." She gets up and walks away as I hear the sound of her anklets. "See, I have bought you a dress. Wear this, okay?"
After I wake up, okay?
I hum, expecting her to leave soon but she doesn't. She comes and shakes my shoulder once again. I groan, throwing away the quilt. Why does she have to do it? Wasn't it enough when she used to wake me up around six in the morning, beating the door of my room and uttering, 'It's already 9 in the morning,' when it was actually 6!
"What?" I utter.
"Get up, baby." She smiles.
I roll my eyes, humming. I have to wake up or else she is not going to let go of me.
"Very well." She pats my cheek. I shrivel into the quilt at the touch of her cold palm, mewling a complaint. She chuckles and then leaves.
Once the door is closed, I glare at the dress. Oh, a traditional one. It's been years since I have tried one.
｡ﾉ♡
3k+ words—
I've tried to write as much as possible in this chapter so I can put Barak and Mickey together asap. Well, they're gonna meet soon!
Also, Happy New Year!
Yeah, I know I'm late but I had an exam today and I just came home. Thought of giving you a chapter.
Next chapter, I can't promise when is coming but stay tuned. Like, comment and share.
Till then, take care!
Jesus loves you <3
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