"Damaged goods?" Everyone looked in the direction of Saka. He asked in a soft voice, sounding pleasant, like he was contributing to the conversation, but Vira felt a chill. His eyes had darkened.
Fiza, oblivious, continued. "Indeed. See that ugly scar? Did you know he was called a monster at school? People were scared to approach him."
"I see," continued Saka. Vira put his hand on Saka's, but Saka withdrew his hand.
"And why do you chase the monster? Clearly, he isn't interested in you."
"Pity. If not me, who will marry him?" Fiza explained.
"Ah! I see. So there is no love, nor respect, just pity. You must be a charitable person indeed. Willing to lose out on your life, to give him a life type, huh?"
Fiza felt relieved. This kid was a smart one, if nothing else. "At least you understand what I have to sacrifice. He is a school teacher; what does he make? I, on the other hand, make fifty thousand shells a year. He needs to live off his grandmother's earnings, if not for me. How many women these days are that broad-minded?"
Saka clutched the grass cup with all his strength, to not punch her in the face.
Vira was starting to feel uneasy. "Saka…"
Fiza's niece was starting to feel uncomfortable too. "Aunt Fiza, we should stop."
Fiza brushed her aside. "It is the truth. He got kicked out of college because he fought with his teacher. Why else do you think he works as a school teacher?"
"Ah, you seem to be knowing our Maw Vira so well."
She smiled, proud of herself. "Of course! I used to keep tabs on him. He was always a source of gossip."
Saka then smiled sweetly. "Say, Sen Fiza, why don't you marry me?"
"What?" Vira and Fiza both reacted the same way. Vira was absolutely thrown off balance by Saka's question. What was he thinking?
Saka continued, "Maw Vira has at least attended college; I haven't yet. So I can completely rely on your earnings. He at least has his ancestral wealth; I don't even have that, so it would look even better on your charity scorecard.
And bonus, I don't have an ugly scar. I am younger than you as well. You get an eye candy, and you get to be my sugar mummy. What do you say?"
Fiza looked like she had been clobbered. "What are you saying?"
Vira burst out laughing. The words were spot on.
Saka shrugged. "I seem to be your type. A bit better than Vira at least. And unlike him, I promise you, I am very easy." He winked at her.
She shuddered. "What a freak! You think I'd marry a street urchin like you? What will the world say?"
"Isn't it the same with Vira as well?"
Vira noticed how Saka subconsciously started using his name without any honorifics. It made Vira feel warm on the inside.
Fiza screamed, "You ignorant idiot! He has wealth and a social standing. By marrying him, I can settle down for good. Let me explain in terms you can understand; he is an asset, and you are a liability."
Saka looked hurt. "But at least you won't be called the wife of a monster. Girls tend to approach me a lot. I can be a bad boy, too, you know?" He drawled in his Mann accent.
Fiza spat out, "He may look monstrous, but he is considered one of the most sexiest bachelors in our circle. Do you know the competition going on to win his hand? I didn't know this when I dated him, or I would never have dumped him."
Saka pointed out, "So you are admitting to being the charity case then. You are trying to live off his handouts. Then why do you make it seem like he is lacking when clearly, you have nothing going for you?"
She banged the table hard. Horrible brat. "Who the hell are you to talk to me so insolently? Just you wait, I will ruin your future."
"Ah. I never got to introduce you. Fiza, meet Saka, the guy I'm marrying."
Up until then, Saka had been unconsciously tightening his grip on the glass cup. His hand was white due to the blood being cut off. With Vira's rather bold introduction, he ended up cracking the cup with his grip.
"Huh?" Saka and Fiza both reacted the same way.
Vira gently removed the glass from Saka's hand. He took Saka's hand held it in his own, gently rubbing it to help with the blood flow.
"Well, it depends on when you graduate, of course. You do it faster, we get married earlier."
Saka gaped open-mouthed at him. His anger was replaced by shyness as he blushed from head to toe. Fiza's niece whistled. They were smooth.
Fiza got up, raising her voice. "What the heck are you two playing at?"
Vira looked at her and said pleasantly, "Sit down. People are looking at you. Someone may recognize you. You don't want to embarrass yourself further, do you?"
She gritted her teeth and sat down.
Vira continued, "I may be a monster to you, but I'm his dragon. You think about living in my house, he thinks about us living together in his house. You think about social standing? He doesn't need it; he is loved and cherished and commands respect just by being who he is. You said we were compatible? I don't know about things like compatible. I just know I'm head over heels in love with him. With him, I live; without him, I'll exist. To you, I am valuable; to him, I am priceless. You may not understand what I'm saying now. I only can pray you meet someone who can make you understand my words."
Fiza sat frozen. Vira continued, "Ah, one more thing. If you so much as think about Saka and I get to know it, your family will have to face my wrath. And let's not forget, I am not the type to forgive. Now, if you'll excuse us."
With that, Vira gently dragged Saka back to his car.
He held the door open as he waited for Saka to sit inside. Making sure he was comfortable, he walked to his own seat.