Oliver
"Would you stop pacing? It makes my stomach upset. Just pick one of them already!"
"Oliver, I love you as my own brother, but I need you to shut up! It's not exactly like choosing a restaurant. Tell me again, why them?"
I took a deep breath and tried to place myself in his shoes.
"They come from a good family with a good name. They recently fell on hard times and..." I walked up behind him. "...they are attractive enough that no one will question your sanity." I smiled.
"Hahaha, very funny. I wish you just picked one. Now I feel a little strange..."
We were on top of a hotel overlooking the entire city, waiting for known killers and smugglers, and he felt strange about that?
"Brother, you're overthinking this. Either of these girls will do because I already sorted the contract."
He looked up from the tablet with a confused expression.
"You were serious about that? As in, have her sign a contract before our wedding?" Asin asked.
"...No. Not before the wedding." I finished slowly, giving him time.
"What the... w-wait. Do you want me to trick her into a contract after the vows?"
"I know it feels a little..."
"Salakya muferim! Off!"
He had some choice words. Boy, he really embraced that 9th Ward native tongue.
I poured him some whiskey. We don't usually go for the hard stuff because it makes you stupid, but now it felt like a whiskey moment. He took the glass and emptied the mother. Damn.
"Better?" I asked.
"God damn you, Oliver! You want me to trick her into a contract after the vows? She'll be married to a lie until the wedding night!" He summarized it.
"There is no other way. I mean, no sane person would ever agree to this... unless she is already married to you!"
"Grrhh!" He started walking towards me.
"Calm!" I jumped and ran around the table. "I'm doing this for you! For us!" I corrected.
We heard footsteps and soon saw an army of men walking towards us. Who knew I would be saved by killers of their caliber. We had a meeting discussing next month's events, considering our crew was now trending all over the world. Our newest video made quite a wave and caused a lot of faith lost in the effectiveness of the Rams.
Good for business.
"Listen, maybe..."
"Later, you lunatic." He cut me off.
He stepped forward, fixing his tie, greeting our associates. He was right. Let's navigate this with some grace and secure some work.
---
Asin
Laying on my bed, looking up the ceiling, I had to ask myself: Can you do this to someone?
The guilt tasted like bile. It was the only thing real in this farce. I was planning to kidnap a girl's future, dress it up in white lace, and serve it to my family.
Oliver's words kept ringing in my head: If you don't choose in time and get the wheel rolling, it might cost a lot when your family starts picking.
Damn the whole situation. But he was right, wasn't he? I don't want to get married for real at eighteen.
I picked up the tablet and walked outside to the balcony, laid down on the couch, and looked at them again. Ayshe... Marie. Sisters.
How did he find them? Right, his assistant Leyla and her idiot cousin.
They did look attractive. Was I more attracted to one than the other? Right, it's not that easy.
They didn't look similar. Wait, if she is twenty-one, how does she just finish high school? I flipped for personal information. It was a shocking amount. How did we get all this so fast? Our boys are good.
Hmm, personal trauma, huh? I see. "Musical soul, huh, Marie?" I talked to myself.
Her sister... twenty... nice smile. Ahh, she wants to become a doctor. A good, solid goal, probably a little law-abiding. Finances didn't allow her choice of school. Boyfriend named Stuart. Why would one name their kid Stuart?
I put down the tablet and watched the boats slowly drifting towards the sea. I felt the salt in the air.
The sun is coming up. I need to make the decision and get this over with. Then I need to let my parents do their thing, and after our wedding, sit her down and... explain. What a headache.
I focused on the tiny, determined ship on the horizon, fighting the current, ignoring the cleaner, faster yachts. Determination. That's what I needed. I was sacrificing one life—hers—to protect hundreds of others, to keep the G.O.D. operation afloat. That was the only way to justify the bile.
Fine. I took out the phone and called the architect of this.
"Brother... call Leyla, I'll talk to the family in the morning."
"Did you choose? Who?"
"Yes, yes, I did. Listen..."
---
Marie
I hated Mondays. It had nothing to do with cartoons. It had started lately.
Monday was shopping for the whole week, and it included all of us on tour around town, still pretending we were living lavishly.
"Would you mind taking my shoes off!" Ayshe screamed like a banshee.
"You can yell at me when you learn how to wear your own bra," I answered immediately, anticipating her whining.
"Girls, stop. My head is already throbbing. Get ready, and let's get this over with."
Mother was in a spectacularly bad mood this morning. Better to just make ourselves smaller on days like this.
"I don't know why you are so grumpy. We always did our shopping like that." Granny walked in with the speed of a younger woman. "You need to get out of the house and stop crying, setting a bad example for your daughters."
Mother let out a long sigh before answering. "Ma, I'm not trying to be difficult with you all, just... I can't stand the looks of those people, all judging and enjoying our bad fortune."
I crossed my arms, understanding what she was feeling. We did so many annoying and embarrassing extra steps, like saving old bags from high-end boutiques to carry groceries in. Walking past shops we all loved but now couldn't afford.
Infuriating was closer than frustrating.
"I understand, sweetie. Unfortunately, we might not be responsible, but we are the ones who most keenly feel the loss when our husbands fail."
Uff. Thank God Grandpa was away with Dad, meeting some fancy people. Granny does not hold back.
Ayshe was the one who pulled us out of our bad space and sent us on our embarrassing way.
---
Ayshe
It took us five hours to finish! Some school days don't last that long.
We were all completely exhausted. Not just from the physical aspect of it, but the unrelenting small talks and forced smiles we had to endure. It was enough that we hadn't said a word to each other on the way back. We just enjoyed the silence.
Inside the house, Dad and Grandad were waiting, sharing a bottle of the good stuff, and seemed to be in high spirits... literally.
"What do you think that's about?" asked Marie.
"I don't know, but that is a bottle of a month's mortgage right there," I shook my head.
Mother noticed it, too. "Hassop? Dad? What is happening?"
She sounded scary. Being out there in the sun dealing with all the awkward and often embarrassing exchanges... and they were sitting here having a grand old time? That was a no-no.
I leaned on the wall with Marie and waited patiently.
"My dear wife. Come share in our joy." He got up and offered a glass to her. "Today is a wonderful day! A day that shall be remembered as the day the Konores were given a second life!"
The man was beaming like the sun. Whatever happened must be good news. A small torch was lit inside me, filled with hope. Maybe we can go and get back our dreams?
I looked back at my sister and saw she had similar thoughts.
"Hassop, ouff, don't be ridiculous." She put the glass down and walked around, taking it from her father. "Dad! You're not supposed to drink with your condition."
Granny just waited with narrowed eyes, probably gathering some strength for whatever made them act like that.
"Don't worry, honey, this stuff is actually healthy. It cures things like diabetes and such, hehehe..." His face was red, and I don't remember hearing him chuckle before. Not like that.
We shared an amused look with Marie.
"Imam!"
We could see our grandfather becoming smaller. Granny walked over and stood above her husband and son-in-law.
"Out with it. Who did you meet, and why are you celebrating like we won the lottery?"
Grandpa got up with a little difficulty and grabbed her shoulder. "It's because we did."
Dad nodded along proudly, stood up himself, and walked towards us.
"Girls, come. Let's take a seat."
"Dad, what's going on?" I asked while being led.
He took one more look at Mother with a little concern but finally opened his mouth.
"We have secured a marriage alliance with the House of Martell."
He waited for a reaction, but not even Granny had strength left and had to sit down.
"H-Hassop... what Martell? Which? Those from the capital?" She shot up and started shaking my father.
"That's right, my one and only. They want their youngest son getting married. We spoke with Yanam Martell and his eldest son, Yary. They offered..."
"And you accepted?" Mother asked hopefully.
He nodded short, and the kitchen was filled with my mother's screaming. Grandpa lifted his wife and started slow dancing with her, while our parents cried on each others' shoulders.
I looked at my sister and saw the horror in her eyes. Arranged marriage.
My head was spinning as well.
Marie had enough. "Hello! Hey!!"
She walked closer but was soon pulled into the group hug that currently took place. It was such an absurd, quick change. Take it easy, Ayshe, and think it through.
The Martell family was a brand more than a collective of individuals. They were an old name and very, very wealthy.
"Let go, Dad! Which one of us did they ask for?"
Marie pulled away and asked the question I didn't dare to ask myself. But my heart immediately became lighter once my dad kept his eyes on her.
They asked for Marie's hand.
---
Marie
Marriage, nuptials, union, an alliance. I felt sick.
I found myself outside, taking in some air, and wholly ignored the people walking by making eyes at me. Marriage. Marriage. I'm getting married.
I heard footsteps coming from behind me.
"Marie? Hey, sis."
I felt Ayshe's hand on my back.
"You okay? I mean, probably not."
The nausea slowly went away with every breath I took.
"I'm okay." I tapped her hand. "They accepted it. There is nothing to be done." I lamented.
I felt tears swelling up but pushed it down.
"Listen to me." Ayshe turned me around.
"We're leaving. I'm serious, Marie. We run. We'll figure out a life, you and me. You don't have to sacrifice yourself."
She looked dead serious. It broke my heart. She was willing to run, probably pause her dreams, just so I could... What exactly was I afraid of here? Going and hanging in a library? Maybe getting more drinks from Carl?
Those thoughts were like a cold shower, a reality check. My family is in ruins. Weeks away from complete destruction.
"Marie? You here, sister?" Ayshe looked terrified, maybe more than I was.
Funny. A strange wave of acceptance washed over me, looking at my sister's face. You will become a doctor, Ayshe. Dr. Konore.
"I'm okay, seriously." I added, seeing her disbelief. "I'm going to be fine, Aye, thank you."
"How is any of this 'fine'!? Don't make me mad, Marie. I swear." She was fuming. It made me feel better.
"Look at me. We can't run. We are not capable of taking care of ourselves. I'm not..." I cut her off when seeing the defiance in her eyes. "I'm not running back to a life of canned fruit and whispering about debt! I'm good for nothing here. You have talent, Ayshe, you have a future. I don't. This... this is my purpose now."
"You think a family like theirs are looking for a progressive bride? They won't let you study! I bet they barely let you leave their mansion. Think, Marie!"
"Doesn't matter. Can't you understand they already agreed? It's done! The Martells do not tolerate rejection. If we run, the shame will bankrupt this family overnight. They will find us, yes, but first, they will incinerate what little reputation the Konore name has left. I won't be the one to sign the death warrant!"
I started pacing back and forth, like when I'm trying to write.
Not even her warrior spirit could come up with a solution to that.
We stood there in silence, just looking at the sun setting, coloring the valley in an orange hue.
I'm getting married.