Hot air blew in from the window as rocky land zoomed past us. We could hear the soft echoes of metallic rolls gliding against the rails.
She sighed... on and on for what seemed like hours.
"Would you quit sighing! I'm sorry about me having to be here, but we have no choice! We have no choice since you decided to wear such an expensive thing in the first place," I chucked on a green rectangular cubed popsicle.
She just groaned and threw a pillow at me.
"Watch it, you almost got my popsicle!" I grumbled irritatedly.
"Aughhhh!!!," she groaned louder and stabbed her apple cake slowly.
The golden syrup gushed silently as she plopped a mouthful.
Why is she so mad? Geesh.
Thirty minutes ago:
"Alright, as compensation for the pendant and an atonement for almost injuring my firstborn, you will be doing what you wanted to do. You'll get to know your spouse, my son," Mother Xifua laughed," Get along my beloveds."
Our jaws dropped as the maids dragged us away.
Mother Xifua had planned our anicht, a three night spousal event similar to a honeymoon, but it is where a couple spends time to bond and learn about eachother.
Present:
"Hah..." Yuena drew another breath.
"If you're so bored then you might as well join me on a one on one," I brought out a checkered board and placed the glass pieces on top.
"Hmph!" she pouted.
I guess she's still upset that I ate the last melonsicle. I teeter tottered the wooden stick between my teeth and slid out a rectangular medal keychain from my pocket and dangled it like a treat infront of a puppy.
I cleared my throat, hoping to grab her attention, "I-if you can entertain me then I'll get you-" as soon as I said this, footsteps rumbled toward me.
"Anything I want!!!", she exclaimed.
5 hours later...
"It's a draw! Again.. haha," I laughed at the uncanny deja vu of the two glassed king pieces dancing on the board.
Wow... I didn't expect she'd put up this much of a fight.
"Just give it up already!" she grumbled.
We were both sweating from the intense battle.
"Not when you're desperately trying," I said.
"Says the one running away," she puffed air at her bangs.
"Who wouldn't run if someone chased you around the room with a knife!"
Luckily, my bribe calmed her down before she did anything crazy.
"It was a butter knife ," she said.
"Yeah, you stabbed the eels by the neck and wanted to offer me its slimy ugly wriggling body! I don't know how you eat those things! They're like swimming worms or water snakes that stare at you and wanna chomp you bit by bit until nothing is left of you!" I realize how ridiculous I sound and catch her looking at me with disbelief.
"A-anyway, you're not so bad," I told Yuena, dodging her gaze shaming me.
"Hmph, better cough up the dough like you promised!" she said as she wiped her face with her sleeve.
It was noon now and the sun was smiling brighter.
"...ughhh! Why did they decide to have the anicht here at this time?! It's too hot!" Yuena complained.
"Forget that, why doesn't this place have air conditioning? What kind of vacation is this.." I said.
"So, what do you want?" I asked her.
"Sticky rice, sausages, papaya salad, steamed yams and barbeque buns, and icecream!" she mumbled in misery.
I laughed," Heh, what an appetite. Alright, I got it. So why don't you go cool off," I thumbed to the restroom behind me.
"So hot... don't wanna move," she said.
I sighed," Fine I'll head in first."
I placed our order in the holographic menu at the table and left to wash myself.
I turned off the water, dried myself, and dressed up, prepared to recieve the food.
"I'm done," I told her as she sluggishly got up to shower.
"It's getting a little chilly in here..." I said to myself. I slipped on a long sleeved grey shirt and answered the twinkling door.
"Your order is ready, young master," the intercom said.
Trays of food floated onto the dinner table through a small door in the wall.
"I'd also like something warm and sweet for the evening," I told it.
"When would you like your new order to be recieved?" it asked.
"Hmm... around 6pm," I replied.
"As you wish, young master," it said.
"Is the food ready yet?" Yuena asked.
"It just arrived," I replied as I sat down.
"Wah!!! Food!" she said as she ran to her seat.
Haha, she's such a kid.
Even though she has that stubborn spoiled brat face, she can be cute when she smiles like that.
Wait, what. Why am I thinking that's she's cute?! We were just enemies minutes ago.
"Mmmm," she happily indulged herself in the small fruity slush bowl.
She should smile like that more often.
After we finished our meal, we sipped on milk tea and watched some television.
A holographic screen of a woman dressed in a dark grey suit spoke," Hey there everyone! It looks like tonight we will be seeing a rare sight of meteor showers right about now. These meteors are no ordinary rock of dirt. They're mainly made of ashes from the comet, Azora, which usually appears once in a thousand years. But, fortunately, this century, Azora's orbital is coming closer, so the remnants of ashes are also-"
Yuena and I stared out the window. "Wow, it really looks like stars are raining down," she said. I was surprised she spoke after so much silence.
"You know... at first I really didn't want this marriage to happen," she said," Ever since I was little, I was always told, there's this wonderful boy from the Tayen family this and he's so great that. It got annoying. Was this boy really such a bigshot as everyone says? But.. yeah I guess you are. You're just another rich kid from a rich family. Atleast you have good taste in food."
That's what matters to her?
"And.. you have fast reflexes like a cat," she said.
A cat?
She said, "Thank you, for saving me earlier. You cut your arm because of your reckless sister... and because of me. I'm sorry for how I acted... at home and here. It's just... a lot happens in life and whenever you're brought up, it's just... annoying. Like, why do I, a kid, have to marry another kid and is this really for my sake or for the sake of pol-li-tics? Seriously... adults. Do they really think their decisions are the right ones? How is it right to force two people in a marriage just to satisfy their own greed," then she whispered to herself," How is it right... for them to decide for me..."
"I understand how you feel. But for me, I wanted this marriage. Yes, the adults made their little contract, but for me, this marriage is a dream opportunity to leave that place. I know it's selfish to want freedom by going through this, but it's better than going back..." Yuena stopped to look at me as I said," to that house."
She stared at me for an awkward moment and pointed above her head, showing I had something on mine.
"What?" I asked as I felt my head.
I looked at the reflection of the mirror on the entrance door.
The hair at the top my head was curling into a wave, making me look like a messy disco dancer.
She started laughing at my failed attempts to keep my hair down.
"It's not even that funny," I said, trying to hide my embarrassment.