Kana
"Sit properly. They'll be here soon, Maja."
Stern and intimidating. Those were the perfect description of how the tone of my great aunt gave me fear. I was sitting in between my father and my mother whilst my great aunt sat by the head point of the table. In that fancy restaurant, I have known the owner since I was little. It wasn't any different to say that I have been there more than I've watched matches of games. Yet that night was certainly different.
"You are to be liked. Remember that, Maja."
In my light blue minidress, I sat there in silence observing around. My mother looked over to me with a defeated smile after telling me to be someone I was surely not. She held my hand and squeezed it like an assurance that I'd be alright.
"Whatever you did before, it'll stop now. You are not just part of this family. You'll be someone else's. You've disappointed me enough," the last part of my father's words felt like I was struck by a bullet. I looked up to him a little only to see his disgusted and disappointed look.
"Yes, father," I looked down, slowly moving away from my mother's grip.
The tension rose between the elders as they exchanged words. It wasn't my world if it were their talkings along. Except their talkings consisted of my own world. My future. My freedom.
It took awhile but I finally got the courage to ask. "May I be excused?"
"Make haste. I don't want to make such bad expressions," great aunt Leona stated.
I left there and found myself breathing in relief on my way to the tiny alley meant for the rest room. There were only two doors with the indication of each sex while the wash area was by the end of the alley. Of course there were wash area in the comfort rooms so I assumed the one outside was for those who wanted to clean before eating.
I retreated to the end of the stalls, closed the toilet lid and sat on it. I found myself panicking. The tears earlier weren't enough. The frantic shaking from last night wasn't enough. The silent prayers must have been unheard. The closer the meet-up, the closer my sanity loses itself. Hugging myself, I closed my eyes and tried to breathe in and out. A few more till I felt better. I stood from my seat while wiping the tears I shed unknowingly. Fuck! I needed to make myself pretty or it'd be another snide remark from aunt Leona.
After finishing my retouch, I managed my way back to the door.
"Ow!"
As I got out, I felt this huge wall-like crush into me. Mainly my head hurt when I reached for it to soothe.
"Oh, oh, oh! I'm so sorry, Miss!" A deep soothing voice grew in panic.
Finally able to focus on the present, I looked up to see a figure. A tall fair skinned man was right in front of me. His eyes were almond shaped that would definitely turn into a crescent moon when he smiled. They were strikingly interesting to my eyes. His body surely suggested some sport or a faint of being a gym rat. I looked incredibly small compared to this man. This kind serious looking man.
"Miss? Are you alright? Do I have to call for help?"
I shut back to reality when I realized his face inches away from me. His eyes carefully checked my forehead. I was busy being magnetized by this man that even my own pain turned silent.
"Ah, ah! Yes!" Panicking, I moved back only to find my back completely banged on the heavy door of the comfort room. "A-ouch!" I tried canceling my squeal of pain.
I felt my back sliding. The heavy door gave up, opening itself. My vision started to turn in a different direction while I subconsciously reached out my hands for help.
"Hey, be careful!"
I closed my eyes from the impact. Waiting to feel more pain from my own clumsiness. Waiting for wounds to soon build.
Yet it never came.
I felt strong restrictions on my waist. My hands together while I felt someone's neck near. I opened my eyes to see. His face was extremely near mine, I could feel his breathing as we were bonded together. My arms were on his neck while his arms snaked around my waist.
Our eyes locked. With the lighting, I had the perfect vision of his eyes. It was brown. It was like water connecting with the soil. Deep. Very deep and very meaningful. Like he had his own struggles. And I wanted to know what it could be.
"Maja!"
A voice shook me. From the front of the alley, mother was standing eyes wide. Immediately I pushed him off of me. He was holding me too high because the moment I pushed him, it felt like I jumped at least a foot.
"M-Ma!" I rushed to her side.
"I wanted to see if you needed me since you were long gone," her awkward glancing between me and the man was obvious.
"Oh, uhm.. I'm here now. So let's go?" I tried to sound as calm as possible. Yet deep inside I couldn't shake off the thought of what I saw. Those eyes. Those were far more interesting than any other's.
"Who-Who—"
"I tripped so he pulled me. That's all," I interrupted fast. "Please don't make it a big deal. Aunt and father will punish me again," I whispered to her.
She looked convinced as she nodded to me.
"Well let's go now, the visitors are already there," she took me by the hand, pulling me away. I could only look back to the man who looked concerned about my status.
I arrived with my mother at the table already filled with other people aside from my family. I excused myself from being late while sitting down. In front of me, a new set of people eyeing everything I did.
Great.
"Oh, since my grandniece is here. Let me introduce her to you," Leona started. I did my best to perk up the smile while standing up along with her. "Everyone, this is Majareina Lancaster. She is the daughter of my nephew, Noel Lancaster and her mother, Liza Marigold-Lancaster."
"Hello, sweety," the woman looked aged like my mother stood first to shake hands with me. She then pulled me to beso with her.
After this, a man around his 50s did the same but this time he was silent and the beso didn't happen, thankfully.
"Majareina, I want to introduce you to their son—"
"Sorry, it took me awhile!"
There he was. He came running at our table. Him wearing a formal suit with his hair neatly designed. Longer straight hair faded slowly as it descended into a not much obvious undercut. His eyes met mine. We locked eyes a little longer.
"Oh there you are, Haru," the woman acknowledged. "Come here. I'm sorry for the interruption, this is my nephew, Hikaru Yamashiro. He is with us for today."
"It's alright," Aunt Leona went on," as I was saying, here is…"
I lost track of whatever she was saying. My eyes remained on him as his own. We were staying there recognizing each other. My mind flashbacks to the moment I opened my eyes after he saved me from falling. His breathing, the simple details of the air and how he breathes. Like time slowed on its own. Or perhaps it was me.
"Maja. Maja. Maja?" A small tapped on my arm took me to realize I was no longer paying attention.
Awkwardly, I looked to my aunt who was already signaling me with her eyes to shake hands with the person she introduced.
I didn't hear his name!
We all sat together with him sitting farther from mine. He looked like the crowd was drawn to him. He was a natural. The elders were drawn to him. A sweet candy surrounded by ants all wanting to pick a piece of their own.
When the eating died down slowly, the elders finally talked about what they actually intended to do.
"Maja, darling, Shinichi here will be your future husband," aunt Leona plainly said.
Ahh… his name was Shinichi.
No one was stunned by this announcement. All except the Hikaru guy who choked on his own drink. His uncle helped him while I shook my head at this, sighing.
"Is there anything you want to say?" Aunt Leona asked me but I shook my head no.
"Good."
After the dinner, we were all set to go different ways. The families were meant to part after settling down the business. Although they tried, Shinichi and I had obvious disdain from one another. He looked spoiled while I definitely gave off that brat aura. A good looking man who couldn't even hide his insecurity towards his cousin that entertained the entire dinner party.
"Hey," from my back, his voice grew. I looked back to see Hikaru approaching me while Shinichi moved a distance.
"Oh, hi!" I smiled at him. "Hikaru-san, right?"
"Yes. Sorry I didn't fully catch your name. What was it?"
"They call me Maja. I hate it. So please call me Kana." It felt really comfortable around him. Like he was easy to talk to.
"Kana-san. Okay." He nodded. "So uhm… you'll be my cousin-in-law," he stated.
"Eugh, please don't say that again. I'm not very much excited," I grimaced.
He furrowed his eyebrows at me. "Wait… you didn't truly agree with this, didn't you?"
I nodded.
"Then why—"
"Maja, come on!" Father called me as they entered the car.
"I'm coming!" I roared back. "I uhm… I gotta go. But it's nice meeting you, Hikaru-san."
I was about to run towards the car when I felt him hold onto my wrist, stopping me.
"Wait let me get your socials," he stated.
"Huh? Why?" I asked, standing up back to face him.
"Oh—uhm—cause—"
Seeing him panic made me giggle. I was just joking. He looked kind and not harmful.
"I'm just kidding. Here wait," I scrolled through my phone till I reached Instagram.
@Kana_Majareina
After showing this, my father shouted again so I finally waved goodbye.
As we arrived in the mansion, Lily, my niece, came running to me crying. She came at me with a frightened hug so I encircled her with my hands.
"Your aunt Maja can't save you, get back here!" From the distance, my cousin Arlene, started walking towards us.
"What happened?" I asked.
"Akana, mom wants to transfer me to the U.S. boarding school," she said, crying.
"Huh?"
Arlene pulled her off of me while looking at me with her sharp eyes. Lily held onto me, gripping like her life depended on it. I found myself pulling Arlene's hand off her daughter's arm.
"Let go first, Ate," I said. Despite getting irritated, she did.
"Oh yes, the good old savior of the rebellious children in Lancaster. Majareina Lancaster!" she exclaimed. "You!" She pointed at me. "You just came from your engagement deal and you're already creating more chaos by favoring your niece."
"Me?" I was shocked. I put Lily behind me already choosing to confront Arlene's remarks. "Hey, don't point fingers at me just because your daughter feels safer with me. I don't know what's gotten into you again but sending my niece to boarding school instead of parenting her right is not my fault! You chose to be an absent parent."
Before she could retaliate, I pulled Lily towards my room, shutting the door out loud. I was so sure even the elders heard the commotions. I was so sure of it.
When things calmed down, I sat on the bed with Lily. My seven-year-old niece who found solace by being next to me would be sent somewhere while I was being shipped off to marry someone I didn't even like.
"Akana, is it true that if you get married you'll no longer live here?" she asked. I smiled faintly at her before nodding.
"That's what your Lola Leona wants," I told her. "But it's mostly tradition. The girl that marries will live with her husband and his family."
"Is that the reason why I'm here?"
"Hmm?"
"Mama. She isn't married. I don't know my dad. Is that why?"
I felt bad for her. A young child yearning for a father she never met and for a mother who wasn't present. I've taken care of this young one ever since I was 13. Somehow I feel a motherly love towards her.
"Lily, not all families are perfect. Not everyone is complete. Some families do have a father and a mother. Some only have one. Some have two mommies while there are those who have two daddies. It's different per family. What matters is you know you love them and they love you."
"Like you, Akana?" She cheered up. "I have Akana with me. You're my family."
I nodded. Ecstatic that she could find brightness in the dark. Such a bright and wonderful child.
"How about you sleep now then we can go to your ballet practice tomorrow?"
After changing my clothes into pajamas, Lily was already sleeping on my bed. She must have been so tired from crying earlier. It was a good thing she ran to me. I'd hate to know she cried herself to sleep. Again.
The night was still young so I decided to make my way to the kitchen while scrolling on my phone. I found some soy milk and homemade cookies to snack on. As I was sitting on the chair in front of the island, I saw a notification that got buried among the others.
@17_HaruYamashiro started following you!
Knowing it was the guy from earlier, I intended to follow back. So I clicked on it intending to do so.
1.3M. followers; 124 following
What?
Professional volleyball player
@LPFlorence
#17 Japan National Team
Did I get punked or something?
In front of my eyes my phone showed a pro-volleyball player who just followed me. Curious, I started to scroll.
It was indeed the Hikaru guy!
Wait…
He's a professional volleyball player?!
A professional v-ball player?!