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"Neteyam" Neytiri stood with her arms crossed, as though she were waiting for him to walk back into the kitchen.
"Mother" Neteyam looked at her confused.
"Did you find Aneysa then?" She asks.
"Yes.. she's in the bathroom" Neteyam responds, now looking concerned.
"Then what were you doing up there for so long whilst she's been in the bathroom?" Neytiri takes a step forward, causing an itch in Neteyam's throat.
"I was.. waiting. But she told me that she'll be down soon so I came down" Neteyam coughs the itch away.
Neytiri looks at her son, unconvinced but has nothing to let out than a sigh, "if I find out otherwise, Neteyam Sully, so help you god, because I will beat you."
"Mother I'm a grown man. You can't beat me" Neteyam chuckles.
"Do you want to test me?" Neytiri asks.
"No ma'am" He shook his head.
"Right, as I thought" Neytiri then let out a tsk before walking past, after the doorbell hand rung.
Neteyam let out a relieved sigh, as she walked out.
He knew that his mother did not buy it. Neteyam knew his mother was far from stupid. But he'd rather his mother drop it then let the whole world know how he ravished his wife not five minutes ago.
"Neteyam!" He then hears his name being called out by a voice not only familiar, but slightly irritable.
"Lo'ak?" He turns around, rolling his eyes.
"So, you tried ravishing your wife in the old bedroom again?" Lo'ak asks.
"Shut up" Neteyam hits Lo'aks' head lightly.
"Hey!" Lo'ak whines, "although she's pregnant, so-?"
"I said shut up" Neteyam glared at him, "you're too loud."
"Oh shit!" Lo'ak whispers, "mother doesn't know yet does she?"
"Thank you for inviting us over Mrs,Sully" Neteyam then hears Ao'nungs' voice, as his mother is walking in with both Ao'nung and Love behind her.
"Of course. You are the only man who ever compliments my cooking" Neytiri chuckles.
"I am a gentleman, as they say" Ao'nung chuckles, before looking forward, to see Neteyam and Lo'ak stood in front, looking back at them.
Neither had spoken to one another, after both Love and Aneysa had fallen out.
"Hey" Ao'nung breaks the silence with an awkward wave.
Neteyam nods with a smile, greeting him back.
"What's happened? Why is this so.. awkward?" Lo'ak whispers to his brother.
"Neteyam-"
"I'll be back" he ignores Love's call to him, only to walk out and back up to his wife.
A slight warning to give to her.
-
"Ronal?" Tonowari calls out, as he walks in to the house.
He had been off on a business trip, for what felt like forever, only to return to an empty house.
"Where is she?" He mutters to himself, walking into the kitchen.
He places his bag down, against the kitchen drawer, which was much unprofessional of him, considering he'd never even enter the kitchen whilst still dressed it out wear.
But his sudden panic caused him to lose the absolute run of himself.
Until he turned his head to find a note stuck on the fridge.
'I am a path of petals, a scent of sweet delight,
Where butterflies dance and colors take flight.
Follow my whispers, where dreams softly tread,
In a realm of blossoms, where beauty is spread.'
It read out a riddle. A riddle that had Tonowari chuckle a little, his panic dying down slowly.
"Of course" he whispers.
The flower garden.
After his children had moved out, Tonowari and Ronal had made some changes around the house.
The flower garden was merely one of the changes, where both Tonowari and Ronal would spend their time watering these flowers, yet Tonowari was the only one between the two to then gift these flowers to Ronal as a bouquet.
A gift of flowers, is all a woman needs.
..
He makes his way into the garden, noticing a slight change as the rose petals had been scattered around, fairy lights gleaming in.
Yet Ronal was nowhere to be found.
"Ronal? Where are you?" Tonowari asks, "this is a nice surprise I must be honest. But is this not what I am to do for you?"
"Not if you were in my shoes" he hears Ronal's voice, causing him to turn around to notice her stood at the door, a smile on her face.
"And what are you up to, exactly?" He asks.
"Well, Tonowari, what can I say?" She sighs, taking a step forward, "From the moment our paths crossed, you have been the anchor in my life, grounding me in moments of uncertainty and lifting me up in times of joy."
Tonowari stood idly, looking back at her confused.
Was she perhaps.. about to propose? Again?
"With you, I have found a kindred spirit, a confidant, and a best friend. Our journey together has been nothing short of extraordinary, and with each passing day, my love for you deepens beyond measure" Ronal held both his hands with hers.
"Ronal, this is heartfelt and all, but I'm confused-?" Tonowari then felt her finger against his lips, as she kindly requests nothing but silence from the man.
And so he nods.
"I envision a future where we continue to build a life together—a life filled with shared dreams, laughter, and endless adventures. I imagine us growing old together, hand in hand, weathering life's storms and celebrating its triumphs as a united team" Ronal's eyes gleam as she smiles at him.
She then clears her throat, looking down to the ground.
"You don't have to kneel" Tonowari spoke, causing her to look up again.
"If anything, I'd wish to kneel before you. For the rest of my life" Tonowari smirks, before he gently dropped onto one knee.
His left hand then reached into his pocket, his right interlocked with her left.
"You will hate me for this. But I'm willing to take as much hatred as you give to me" Tonowari tells her, "I hadn't just been on a business trip."
"What do you mean?" Ronal asks, watching him look up at her once again.
"I may have taken a little visit" He holds out a ring, which Ronal recognised the moment she laid her eyes on it.
"I had asked for your fathers blessing" He smiles, "as you can see, it was granted. He was actually pleased to see me after many years."
Ronal smiled, overwhelmed by sudden emotions that began to clash with one another.
Was she sad? Happy? Both?
"Ronal Ihaka" he reads out her full name, his eyes blurred with what he felt were happy tears, "will you do the honour in being my wife?"
Ronal sniffles, a chuckle escaping her as she could not believe, despite her planning of a proposal, she was now being proposed to.
Tonowari, out of nerves, then began to ramble, as he looked away from her, "I- erm- I'm not sure what the vows are. Through sickness and health, yes , I will be beside you through sickness and health. I will be there for you at your lowest times, and at your highest. I-!"
"Yes" Ronal answered, causing Tonowari to look up immediately, "yes of course, I would do the honour of becoming your wife!"
With a heartfelt, relieved laugh, Tonowari found himself up at his feet again, as he takes Ronal into his arms, hugging her tightly.
The two of them hold onto each other, their tears meant nothing but happiness to the two of them.
"I love you. So much" she whispers to him.
"And I love you" he pulls her away from his hug, to get a look at her.
He then uses one hand to cradle her cheek softly,before he whispers back, "I always have, and always will."
-
"Are you not going to talk to him?" Neteyam asks Aneysa, the two of them stood near the pool, away from both Love and Ao'nung.
"I can't" Aneysa replies.
"Aneysa, he's your best friend. Has been for many years" Neteyam looks towards Ao'nung, and back to his wife again, "he looks completely disheartened."
"I am his best friend, yes. But I do not want to ruin his relationship for him" Aneysa looks back at Neteyam, "I love him. But he deserves to be happy. Love will keep him happy, I know she will."
"He's coming over" Neteyam tells her.
"Tell him to go" Aneysa replies.
"No. I'm leaving" Neteyam mutters.
"Neteyam, don't you dare" Aneysa glares at him.
"I'm sorry, you'll thank me later baby" he kisses her head before walking away.
Aneysa sighs, her back faced towards Ao'nung, but it wasn't hard to feel his presence.
"It was nice of your mother in law.. to invite us all over" Ao'nung blurted out.
"Yep" Aneysa nods back.
"It's been a weird couple of weeks" Ao'nung scratches the back of his head, Aneysa's quietness was always awkward towards him.
"Hey" Neteyam makes his way to sit down next to Love, who was looking towards both, Ao'nung and Aneysa.
"I've really messed up" Love sighs.
"Don't beat yourself up about it. I've been jealous of their friendship too" Neteyam replies, "well I was."
"But why? Why do I have to feel this jealousy when she's married to you? Why can't I just accept the fact that they do not want each other that way?" Love asks.
"Because of everything you've been through" Neteyam tells her.
"What do you mean?" Love asks.
"Well, your father has neglected you. Growing up, it's caused you to be afraid. If your father could neglect you, it makes you believe any other man could neglect you the same way" Neteyam uses his wisdom to explain the feeling to her.
"Perhaps you are right" Love sighs.
"But you need to understand" Neteyam then turns his body to face her, "Ao'nung loves you. He bought a house, with you. It shows he wants to spend his life with you. Yes, he might be a little childish, and his words are not the best at showing or assuring you. But you have to take a step back and look at his actions towards you. Everyone can see that he loves you."
...
"I don't understand why you are angry at me" Ao'nung scoffs.
"I'm not angry, Ao'nung" Aneysa tries to avoid him.
It was hard, considering he was right beside her.
"You are. You are never this quiet with me" Ao'nung replies, "do you really dislike me so?"
"No, Ao'nung" Aneysa sighs.
"Then what is it?" Ao'nung asks, "you can't even look at me."
"I'm doing this for you" Aneysa finally looks at him.
"For me? Does it look like I enjoy you giving me a cold shoulder?" He asks.
"Ao'nung, I just want you to be happy. With Love" Aneysa tells him.
"Why can't I be happy with both of you?" Ao'nung asks.
"Because that will never work, and you know it. At one point, Neteyam was jealous and now Love. Our friendship will never work when we are in relationships" Aneysa replies.
"Since when have you cared about how other people feel about us?" Ao'nung asks.
"Since now" Aneysa replies.
"Why?"
"This is what you've always wanted Ao'nung. You've wanted a woman to love you. To be beside you. You have that with Love. Why would I wish to ruin everything you've dreamed of, just for a friendship?" Aneysa asks.
"Because it would mean you cared" Ao'nung looked at her pleadingly, "it would mean you cared about us. About me."
"I do care about you" Aneysa replies.
"Do you?" Ao'nung asks.
"Yes!" Aneysa shouts.
"Then stop it!" Ao'nung shouts back, "just.. stop being cold towards me. Please. It's killing me.
-
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they're definitely soulmates in another universe (ao'nung & aneysa. sorry, not sorry!)