When Luna Elzzie mentioned the wedding, Daniel agreed right away.
Everyone started picking the earliest auspicious date.
Although it's best to hold the wedding as soon as possible, it's not something that can be done in a snap. We have to choose a suitable date for both of us, inform family and friends, invite them to the wedding, and prepare the gown and the celebration feast.
And there are still the pre-wedding steps; we haven't even met each other's parents yet. We definitely need to have a proper family meeting before the ceremony.
After discussing the dates, it turned out the earliest we could hold the wedding would be in a month.
"Then let's plan for the wedding next month," I decided decisively.
The bride price would be handled by Daniel. As for the dowry, Luna Elzzie assured me that she and Beta Jackson had been preparing it, so I didn't need to worry.
By the time we finished talking, it was already 10:30 p.m.
We had dinner around eight, and it felt like we only chatted briefly, but nearly three hours had flown by.
Beta Jackson glanced at the time and said, "Daniel, aren't you visiting your parents tomorrow with Rose? It's too late now, you should stay here tonight."
Luna Elzzie chimed in, "Yes, it's really late now. If you go back and then have to come again tomorrow morning to pick up Rose, it's too much trouble. Besides, you two are already married, so it's fine to stay here tonight."
I was taken aback and instinctively looked over at Daniel. Our eyes met, and I felt a bit embarrassed and quickly looked away.
Although we were already legally married, we had only known each other for a day. We barely knew each other, so asking him to stay overnight seemed a bit much.
Besides, there wasn't even an extra room in the house. My parents had their room, I had mine, and there was only a cluttered storage room left. He couldn't possibly sleep there.
If Daniel stayed, that would mean... he'd have to share a bed with me?
⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄ My breath quickened, and I could feel my heart racing. A mix of nerves and excitement surged through me.
Beta Jackson and Luna Elzzie were too enthusiastic, and Daniel couldn't refuse, so he reluctantly agreed. Besides, they made a good point. It was late, and staying here meant he could take me to meet his parents in the morning.
"Alright, then. Let's all get ready for bed," Luna Elzzie quickly retreated to her room with Beta Jackson, leaving just the two of us newlyweds in the living room.
I handed Daniel a new toothbrush, a face towel, and a pair of clean slippers before heading to bed myself after washing up.
Only a small bedside lamp with a soft orange glow lit the room. I listened carefully; it was quiet outside, but the sound of footsteps grew nearer, making my heartbeat pick up pace.
My whole body tensed up, and when the door creaked open, I squeezed my eyes shut.
We had only gotten married this afternoon. Was this... was this supposed to be our wedding night?
Daniel didn't seem like someone with much experience in romance, but if this was his first time sharing a bed with a woman and he couldn't control himself, then what?
Worries swirled in my mind.
With my eyes shut tight, my other senses became sharper. I heard the footsteps come closer, then stop right by the bed. My nerves were on edge, my mind racing with thoughts.
What should I do? I wasn't ready for this. We've only known each other for a day! Is this really okay?
Then again, we are legally married. Even if something happens, it's not like it would be wrong.
But... but...
If I turn him down, would Daniel get upset?
Despite keeping my eyes shut, I could sense Daniel turning off the lamp. Then I felt the bed shift as he lay down, covering himself with my pink blanket adorned with daisy prints.
My heart thudded loudly, anxiety flooding my chest.
One second, two seconds, three seconds.
A minute passed, then two, then three.
I frowned slightly. What was Daniel doing? It had already been five minutes, and he hadn't made a single move.
I sneaked a glance over at him. Daniel was lying straight as a board, arms folded on his stomach. He looked like a mannequin, completely still.
I stifled a laugh. He was so well-behaved, as if simply going to sleep without any other thoughts, not even caring that it was our wedding night.
If he's going to be this honest, then maybe I should make the first move?
With his handsome face and physique, I wouldn't exactly be losing out, right?
⁄(⁄ ⁄•⁄ω⁄•⁄ ⁄)⁄ But, would that be too bold of me?
I wrestled with my thoughts, wondering whether I should just pounce on him. After a while, I grew tired of my own overthinking.
Although I didn't have work today, it had been a long day. I hadn't rested enough.
I woke up early to try on dresses, then had lunch at the restaurant before going on a blind date. After that, I rushed home to grab my household registration book and chatted with Luna Elzzie. We went to the civil registry and got our marriage certificate by the time we got back home at five.
The entire evening was spent discussing the wedding details, including the bride price and dowry. Finally, we settled on the wedding date.
Thinking about all of this, I fell asleep not long after lying down.
The summer night was unbearably hot, and cicadas occasionally buzzed outside.
The fan in the room whirred on all night, but despite that, I still felt unusually warm.
Tonight felt especially hot for some reason.
In my drowsy state, feeling heavy and uncomfortable, I kicked the blanket off.
Without the blanket, the cool breeze from the fan felt much better, and I quickly drifted back to sleep.
However, my sleeping posture was less than graceful. After tossing and turning a few times, my leg ended up draped over Daniel's back.
Daniel, having spent years living in the military barracks, was alert even in his sleep. Any disturbance would wake him immediately.
He was startled awake and the first thing he saw was my pale, slender leg resting on his back.
He glanced over at me sprawled out in all directions, my belly exposed, with the blanket tossed aside.
The fan by the bed was blowing fiercely, and although the night was warm, sleeping like this the whole time could easily give me a cold.
Daniel carefully pulled the blanket back over me, at least covering my stomach to keep me from getting sick.
"It's hot... I hate it..." I muttered in my sleep, wriggling and then rolling over to continue napping.
I fell back asleep quickly.
Daniel looked at my odd sleeping position and my pouting lips, finding it rather amusing.
How adorable.
Seeing that I was tucked in properly, he lay back down, content to sleep again.
The sunlight streamed in through the window, and the sound of a rooster crowing could be heard in the distance, followed by other roosters joining in.
The sun rose quickly. It wasn't too hot yet, so when Daniel got up, he didn't open the curtains.
When I woke up, the bright golden sunlight greeted me. I rubbed my eyes and glanced over to the side.
The spot next to me was already empty.