ONE YEAR AGO, THE ENGAGEMENT
This late at night, the reception is no longer about them and sheâs thankful for it. Leave it to endless champagne showers for people to pour themselves silly into punch drunk bliss and veer the event gloriously off course, the banquet hall of the palace rendered to nothing but an immodest backdrop to the revelry.Â
Itâs been easier to tolerate than expected. Then again, anything feels easier to swallow with a little bit of drink in you. Like looking at Ozen as she does now, with less of the residual discomfort, the ever-present mournful ache buried deep in her chest more bearable.Â
âOzie,â A nickname that still manages to stick after all these years, with enough fondness for him to understand. Theyâre close enough to the guard-less backdoors to take the chance. She reaches for his wrist and gives it a small tug. âLetâs leave.âÂ
It takes two to tango. Happy feet if you want it to be something to remember down the road. This instance is equal parts relenting and a pain in the neck, but even if Asanaâs got some buzz in her, Ozen canât find it in him to complain. Just foolishness if heâd turned her down. Thankfully nothing else for the rest of the night would serve him a greater pleasure. Then again, when does anything ever compare?
If her hand is to stay around his wrist, so be it. Itâs something. He follows her wordlessly, a moth drawn to a flame. Outside, it is what it is: all theirs, even if guards might be lingering around gates. They arenât close enough to disturb anything, though. So it stays.
The way of the wind in the trees is missed, but it seems vacation-esque, wishing for that during any time here at home. Itâs weird being here, what more with her. Maybe this just hasnât sunken in yet. It probably wonât, at least not for a while. Money moment pending and aside... what else is there to think about?
Nothing, he elects. Theyâve already cleared all their good graces for the time to come as a new kind of duo out of their systems, a silent hope that there arenât any bad ones. Carefully, Ozen slips away from Asanaâs grasp and opts for being at her side, hands to himself. Tired, he still manages a grin even if heâs not looking at her to share it. It doesnât come difficult with you. âLong day, huh?â