Planet Tierre

Chapter 16

CHAPTER 16

Aimee:

"Welcome to Tierre, my love..." I said breathlessly.

Luna's eyes widened and she bolted up from the bed. I watched as she looked around the room, seeing that it wasn't anything like the rooms in our apartment. She started to hyperventilate, so I calmed her down.

"It's okay. You're gonna be okay..."

She slapped my hands away. "How can this be okay?!" Then she stood up shakily and I steadied her. But she pushed me away again. "Don't touch me!"

I raised my hands up in surrender and sighed.

"Why did you take me here?" She asked coldly. I've never seen her this mad before.

I cleared my throat. "For us to be together."

"You're crazy!" She said before looking for a way out. She found the hatch and ran to it. Before she can reach it though, I was already in front of her. I wrapped my arms around her in a tight hug. She struggled to get out of my grip, but I was strong.

"Am I that hateful? Is being with me so horrible?" I asked softly, feeling hurt by her extreme reaction.

Finally, she pushed me away and managed to get some distance between us. "Take me back to Earth this instance."

"No," I stood firm and put my hands on my waist. "Didn't you want us to be together?"

She screamed in frustration. "Yes! But not like this!"

"Why, what's wrong with this?"

"You brought me here without consent. Without any warning or regard for my feelings. So, what's wrong?! Everything!"

I put on an emotionless face and didn't say anything.

She just groaned. "What about my parents? They're gonna wonder where I am."

"I asked Emma if I can take you here on our planet." I reasoned out. "She said yes."

She shook her head. "Unbelievable! How about our graduation? I have to graduate!"

"I already spoke to the principal. As of now, you're already a high school graduate. With honors."

Her eyes widened and she gasped. "Oh god..." She sobbed. "What about Shannon?"

I threw my gaze somewhere around the room, away from her. I sighed and ran my hand over my hair.

Yes. What about her indeed.

Then I looked at Luna straight at her eyes. "Don't you want to marry me?" I asked instead. She just looked at me, her expression a mirror of disbelief. Then the dam burst and she started crying.

It broke my heart further.

"So," she said after a few minutes of silently crying, "You brought me here to make me marry you?"

I swallowed a lump on my throat. "Yes." I replied.

"You're not even gonna ask me? You'll just... do it?"

"Yes." I turned away from her. "You'll learn to love me soon enough. I know."

"Aimee... please don't do this," she begged.

I closed my eyes. I don't want to give in.

"Luna, there's no other option. You will become my wife, and that is final." I said in a harsh voice before going out and locking the passage out. I punched the wall in frustration and rested my forehead against it.

"Aimee, what's wrong?" I heard footsteps and then found Fructuosè beside me. "Why did you leave the table?"

I started to cry and then I threw myself on Fructuosè . "It hurts, Ja... It hurts," I whispered. She was obviously surprised and froze on the spot. "Aimee?"

"I love her, Ja. I can't live without her. So I brought her here..." I let out a little sob. "I feel like such a bad person."

She pulled away and looked at me confused. "Wait. Who is she? What did you do, Aimee-lin?"

"I brought a human..." I felt her wipe my tears away. "I forcibly brought a human here... to be my bride."

"What?!"

I just looked away from her.

"You crazy Tierran!" Her eyes widened and she made sure there were no one around when she spoke next. "Where is she?" She asked in a low voice.

"In my chambers," I replied.

"What is Empress Nadia gonna say about this?" She asked me and then sighed. "Oh, Aimee, you better think of a way out of this big mess."

"Jaja, help me."

She raised an eyebrow and looked at me pointedly. "Really? You want me to be exiled from this galaxy? This clearly violates code 578766 of the Interplanetary Act BA67. Abduction of other species from neighboring planets."

I rolled my eyes. "Yeah, yeah. I know you're some hotshot space cop. Can you please help me with this mess, Jaja?"

"Help you with what exactly?"

"By not telling a single Tierran that I took Aimee against her will."

She sighed, looking at me reluctantly before eventually giving in. "This better be worth it."

I kissed her cheek. "She's worth it. Thank you, Jaja."

"What is she doing now? Did you at least let her sleep?"

I bit the bottom of my lip. "Actually... she might still be in there, crying."

Then Fructuosè smacked me on the head. "Geez! How can you be so damn stupid?" Then I watched as she unlocked the door and marched inside. I shook my head and followed her.

I found Luna lying face down on the bed, her shoulders bobbing up and down. She's obviously crying. Fructuosè cleared her throat to get Luna's attention.

"Excuse me, Miss," she spoke in English.

Luna lifted her head and jumped when she saw Fructuosè. "Who are you?"

Jaja smiled. "I am Fructuosè , daughter of Aanklo. You may call me Jaja. And I am deeply sorry for what Aimee-lin had done to you. I know you're not feeling well, but welcome to Tierre."

Luna, taken back by Fructuosè’s warm greeting, could only blink in surprise.

"Aimee would like to formally introduce you to everyone now. And after that, the whole household would really be thrilled if you join us for a meal." Fructuosè continued.

"Ja, what are you doing?" I asked her. I'm going to introduce Luna right now?

She winked at me. And then she went closer to Luna and held her hand out. Luna, although confused, took her hand. Then Jaja guided her to me and linked Luna and I's hands together. "I'm going to call a few helpers to dress and prepare her. Then I'll head downstairs to gather the Tierrans in the square. Your parents included." She's back to speaking Tierran.

I nodded. "Thank you, Jaja."

She smiled and kissed my cheek. "You better implant her with a decoder." Then she left. I was left there standing with Luna's hand in mine. Luna hastily withdrew her hand and glared at me.

"Who was that? What did she mean by formally introduce me? To whom?"

"Introduce you to all Tierrans." I finished with a sigh.

"Why? Why do I need to be introduced?" She paced back and forth. "I don't even want to marry you!"

I flash of hurt crossed my being once again. But that was cut short when two handmaidens entered the room and bowed. Luna looked at me. "Are you some kind of wealthy alien? What does this all mean?!"

"Luna, calm down," I gripped her shoulders.

"Queen Aimee, we were sent here by Hahd Fructuosè to assist the new Mistress," One of them said politely and in English. Normal Tierrans don't usually learn English, but Fructuosè must have chosen these handmaidens because they can understand and speak the language.

"Queen?!" Luna roared. "You're a freaking Queen?!"

I reached out and kissed her forehead. "I have to leave. They will dress you and do some changes in your body, but they are gentle. I'll be just outside."

Then I went out to change and dress traditionally.

I went inside the guest chambers and called for some handmaidens. They went in carrying a traditional, white Tierran dress and undressed me so that they can put it on me. Then, while a few of them were putting flowers in my hair, some started drawing colorful coupling lines on my right arm.

It's just tradition that when you finally find a bride, you wear traditional garb and have these temporary lines drawn all over your arms to differentiate royalty from common Tierrans.

After they were finished with me, they bowed and quietly left. I quickly exited my chamber and waited for Luna downstairs. The whole house was empty, probably already on the square to watch me announce the news.

I paced back and forth. I didn't know why, but I was nervous.

And then, I heard the soft clacking of solid, Tierran shoes. My eyes went up to the top of the stairs to find Luna fidgeting with her dress. I gasped.

She looks so beautiful.

Her hair was braided, full of Julibed flowers, and her dress... simply breathtaking. She looks so good in Tierran clothes. Her lines were drawn on her left arm and then her feet were adorned with beautiful Tierran sandals made out of the finest wood.

She had never looked more beautiful than right this exact moment.

The moment she started going down the stairs, she looked even more beautiful with her surreal grace.

Like a poetry in motion... Simply breathtaking.

And before long she already reached my side.

"What now?" She asked softly.

But I was still out if it. I was still staring at her perfection. So she had to yell.

"Aimee!"

That woke me up from my trance. I finally focused my mind on her words.

"What now?" She repeated.

I gulped. "We go out and I introduce you to the whole world." Then I held my arm out. She still looked pissed off at me, but she took my arm.

"Oh wait, before I forget..." I whipped her towards me and kissed her. I wrapped my arms around her waist and kissed her hard. My lips latched on her lower lip and I lightly bit it before moving up slowly. I just enjoyed the feel of her lips for a bit before pulling away, leaving her breathless.

She pushed me away. "What the hell was that about?!"

"I gave you a decoder to help you understand our language." I shrugged.

"You did that by kissing me?!"

"No. I actually put a bracelet on you with the decoder. I just kissed you to distract you from the slight pain," Then I took her hand and lead her with me to the vehicle that would take us to the square.

A few minutes of silence.

Then the vehicle shook lightly, signaling our arrival to the square. I held Luna's hand tightly and stood up. But we didn't get out yet.

"When we get out here... can you do me a favor?" I asked. When she didn't say anything, I continued. "I want you to smile." I turned to her and smiled myself.

And then we slowly went out and my eyes were momentarily blinded by the bright lights. So they turned the artificial 'sun' on. What a proper way to welcome a human.

The crowd went silent when they saw Luna. You can literally hear a pin drop.

I smiled and guided Luna to the raised platform while I saw my two mothers' shocked faces. I waited for a helper to bring me a mic. Then I started to speak.

"Sisters, I know this may seem as a surprise, but I found a bride," I raised Luna and mine's intertwined hands. "Her name is Luna Simons and she is from planet Earth. Please treat her as you would your Queen."

I glanced sideways to look at Luna's face. She still looked shocked. A little too shocked, I guess. "Love?" I gently nudged her.

She looked at me, still wearing her bewildered expression. "These... are all Tierrans?"

I nodded. "All of them will serve you loyally. And all that your eyes could see would be yours." Then, with a soft voice, I added, "If you marry me."

She visibly gulped. "I-I..."

She stopped when she saw all Tierrans bow. Then Luna gasped. Then, at the corner of my eyes, I saw my mother looking at me pointedly. She refused to bow and kept looking straight at me.

I frowned.

After the silent exchange, Luna tugged at my hand, pointing at the crowd who began cheering and celebrating again. I could tell they liked Luna. And that's enough for me.

After I bid them farewell, me and Luna went inside the vehicle again. On the way there, I started a conversation.

"Are you hungry?" I asked.

No reply.

"I managed to take some human food. Bacon, bread... some fruits." I continued, but she just pretended to not see me.

I sighed. "It's about nighttime here now, so... maybe we should rest." And until we reached the house, she didn't even glance at me. This is really starting to hurt me.

"We will have to stay in the same room. We don't want to cause any confusion in our household."

She quickly glared at me before walking ahead to our room.

"You can shower in there. I packed some of your clothes in a suitcase beside the bed," I sighed before going outside to the spare room to take a long soak in scented water. And that's where I started to think about our future.

I was in that bath for about an hour before finishing up and donning underwear and a long Tee shirt. Then I quietly made my way into my room to find Luna lying on my bed, already fast asleep. I smiled at the sight. Until I saw my favorite Pokemon pillow on the floor with a blanket.

Is she telling me to sleep on the floor?

I just stood there for a moment until I grew tired. "I'm the freaking Queen of this planet yet I'm going to sleep on this cold floor," I grumbled.

I went on Luna's side of the bed and stared at her for a while. Seeing tear tracts on her face just broke my heart all over again. I feel like such a jerk.

"Sweet dreams, Luna. I love you... and I'm sorry." I leaned down to kiss her forehead lovingly. I was about to pull away when she grabbed my hand and just pulled my face to kiss me on the lips. It was just a soft kiss, but it made my heart soar.

I know she's asleep and isn't aware of her actions, but still... she kissed me. I pulled away with a smile on my face.

But it was quickly wiped away when I heard what she said next...

"Shannon..."

It felt like someone just ripped my heart open by their bare hands. And with teary eyes, I raised her hand and kissed the back of it. "Sleep well, princess."

I sadly went to my 'bed' and laid down, trying to make myself comfortable. But who am I kidding. I'll never be comfortable. I'm on the floor.

"I deserve this, I guess," I muttered.

A closed my eyes and forced myself to fall asleep. But I ended up being more awake. I tossed and turned on the floor and I even bumped my head on the bed itself.

I stayed up all night just staring into darkness. Until I came on a conclusion that in the end, Luna and I?

We're just a couple of broken hearts.