***Kai***
…
We visit my brother the next day.
There is still that painful ache in my chest whenever I
think about my brother.
I'm still in pain, but I am slowly healing.
Charles holds my hand the entire time as I talk to my
brother. Telling him I'm sorry. And telling him goodbye.
“Lucas, I promise I will take care of your sister for the
rest of her life. And I will make her so damn happy. I will love her with all
my heart, brother-in-law,” Charles says.
“Brother-in-law?” I raise my eyebrow at him.
“Of course. If you are to be my wife, then he's my
brother-in-law.”
“What kind of proposal is that?” I push him. “Shouldn't you
ask me and present me the ring first?”
Charles rolls his eyes. “Fine woman, we'll buy the rings
later. Will you marry me?”
And that question fills the last crack of my soul with his
love and strengthens me.
“I like that very much,” I whisper.
Charles and I walk through the fields, hand in hand.
I feel like I've become a new person. I look at Charles, my
soon to be husband.
My husband.
It sounds delightful. Charles has a frown on his face and I
feel a restless energy inside him.
“What's wrong?” I ask him.
“Nothing,” he breathes. “It's just that… my ex-bride left me
on the altar during our wedding day. It makes me feel insecure.”
“I won't leave you,” I say firmly.
“I know but… I'm still nervous.”
“Then let's go,” I say as I pull him towards the car.
“Where?”
“A ring can easily be taken off but if you want something
permanent to mark our love, then we can do this.”
“Do what?” he asks.
“We'll see,” I say sweetly.
…
“Are you doing okay there?” I glance at him.
“Y-yeah.” He grits his teeth as the man draws the tattoo on
his arm with the needle.
I laugh. “You're the devil who likes to fight. You don't
mind blood but you're afraid of needles.”
Another guy is also drawing the tattoo on my arm. The pain
bothers me a bit but I don't let that show on my face.
“I rather handle knives than being stabbed by needles,”
Charles mutters under his breath.
After they're finished, we look at each other's design on
our arms.
“Hm, pretty cool,” Charles says.
“Feeling insecure now?” I tease as Charles sees the ink on
my arm, 'Charles Benedict.'
He has my name inked on his skin and he looks at it proudly.
'Kai Benedict'.
“Nah.”
We walk outside the shop with his arm around me.
I smile as we walk under the sun.
I was broken.
But Charles held me together and never gave up on me.
He let me cry and scream. Then he taught me how to let go.
How to become whole again.
And now, standing beside him, I am where I want to be: right
by his side.
I am whole.
“You should go back to university,” Charles says.
“You think I should?”
“Yes, unless you plan to be a housewife.”
My face turns thoughtful. “Housewife doesn't sound… too
bad.”
Charles smiles. “I like that too but I won't force you to do
anything. You can do whatever you wish and I'll support you.”
“What about you?” I turn to him. “What do you plan to do? We
can't live off your dad.”
“Of course not. Now that I have you to look after, I plan to
go back to the law firm. We can find our own place.”
“Why do we need to find a place?” I frown. “You already have
a big mansion.”
“It's too cold. I don't want the place to suffocate you.
I have never liked that house and I don't want you to live
there feeling trapped. My ex hated that place so I'm assuming you would hate
living there too.”
I squeeze his hand. “I'm not like your ex. If it's too cold,
then we can make it warm.
We'll turn it into a home. I can play the piano. We can make
love in the living rooms, and have picnics in the garden.”
Charles looks fascinated. “Make love?”
I roll my eyes. “We'll be husband and wife, wouldn't we?
Charles, the house doesn't have to be cold or empty, because we'll be there.
I'll be there so you won't ever feel lonely again.”