Planet Tierre

Chapter 18

CHAPTER 18

Aimee:

I think my heart just stopped.

"What? You'll marry me?"

I blinked a few times, trying to wake myself up from this dream. But still, Luna sat there staring at me with a slight smile on her perfect lips.

"Yes. Yes I will," she patiently replied.

I saw how the light in her eyes dimmed and it broke my heart. I shook my head. "Luna, you need to leave. I won't marry you because you just feel sorry for me. I don't need your damn pity!" Then I stood up, ready to go when a pair of soft arms wrapped around my waist.

"Please don't go," she uttered those few words. And with that, my resolve was broken, reduced into nothing.

"But you don't want to marry me," I spoke in a barely audible voice.

"Aimee, I will marry you," she insisted. "I am doing this because I don’t want to be the same selfish person I was before. You’re already very dear to me, Aimee. I love you. And I can learn to fall in love with you. I overheard you and your mother. I don’t want you to be exiled. Your duty as a queen is more important than my current troubles."

A tear escaped my eye as I slowly turned around to face her. "Do you think that makes it any better?"

She shook her head lightly. "No. But Aimee, let’s try."

"Are you sure about this?"

She nodded.

And of course, I responded positively. "Okay."

Luna smiled but I could see right through her. She patted the space beside me and laid down. I dropped beside her, holding her hand close to my heart.

"You do know what this means, right? You'll stay here with me. Permanently."

She nodded.

"Can I hold you?"

She laid her head on my chest as I wrapped an arm around her.

"You don't know how happy you've made me. You really don't know how." I muttered against her hair and we both fell into a comfortable silence before falling asleep.

**************

It was decided. Luna and I are getting married in two days.

I was just simply sitting down on my office chair when Fructuosè came in, holding a traditional Tierran 'wedding' gown that I'm supposed to put on the next day. Tierrans technically don't have weddings. Burrying the earrings together in the Sanctuarium signifies that for us.

But Luna deserves a proper human wedding. Done by a proper priest or whatever. And have a beautiful wedding gown.

I can't wait to see her in her wedding gown.

Anyways, she was kidnapped by my Mom to ask questions on how human weddings should be conducted. Knowing Mom, she already has everything planned out on her head.

"Soooo... I've already hired a human priest and wedding singers. I said that I would pick them up so that they don't have to drive. They don't have any idea that they will be going to another planet," Fructuosè started, laughing.

I smiled and thanked her before telling her to sit down.

We were both silent for a while until Fructuosè spoke. "Aimee. You're really going to get married."

I chuckled. "Yeah. It feels so... surreal."

"Like, wow." She laughed softly. "It still feels like we're still kids. Remember when we snuck out to go to a club and the whole Force went out to look for us?"

"Yeah, that was pretty epic. My mother didn't even glance at me for a month." I laughed and shook my head.

"Speaking of your mother... what did she say about you marrying Luna?"

I sighed. "She threatened to report me for abducting Luna. And then I think she already disowned me. But that was before Luna voluntarily presented herself to be my wife."

"But I don't think your mother will report you, though" Fructuosè muttered.

I looked at her curiously. "Why?"

"She loves you, Aimee."

I scoffed. That's the most ridiculous thing that I've heard all day. And I've just had a meeting with the elders!

"I'm serious. I think she's just scared Aimee. Scared that you'll go through the pain that she had once felt. She cares for you. She just doesn't know how to show it."

"Stop joking around Jaja," I warned her. I don't want to listen to her. Surely, she's just being delusional.

"I'm not!" She whined and made a face.

I sighed. "I really don't want to think about that stuff. It confuses me." I admitted.

"Yeah, I know. But you will have to... what's the human term... ah, 'face the music' soon. It's inevitable."

I stood up and went over to her and hugged her. "I love you, Jaja. I've always loved you. Thank you for being a great friend."

"And I feel the same," she pulled away and grinned. "I'll always be here for you okay?"

I kissed her cheek lightly before pulling away completely. "Can I tell you something, Jaja?"

"What is it?"

"I-... I'm having second thoughts about the wedding."

She looked at me like I was crazy and burst out laughing. "Seriously? After kidnapping her and all that you've done, now you're having second thoughts?!"

"Shut up. I'm nervous. I don't know if I'm making the right decision or not."

"Can you hear yourself?" She giggled and pushed me backwards until I sat back down on my chair. Then she sat down on my lap. "I'll ask you some questions okay?"

I nodded.

"Do you want to marry her?"

"More than anything else." I answered.

"Okay. Does she want to marry you?"

I paused. "Yes, but-..."

"No buts." She interrupted me. "Did you ask her if she wants to marry you?"

"Yes."

"What was her answer?"

"Yes. But like I said-..."

"Shhhh... let me finish. So, did you ask her twice?"

I nodded.

"And what did she say again?"

"She said yes. She wants to marry me."

"Then there! Consent. What's your problem?"

I groaned and leaned back on my chair. "Jaja, I don't know if I'm making the right decision."

"Aimee, in love, there is no right nor wrong. Only choices with a lot of possible consequences," she ran a hand through my blonde hair. "You have to choose which is more important. And that will determine the people you will hurt. It may be the one you love, your family, your friends, or even yourself."

"What should I do?"

"You have to choose, Aimee. You have to choose." She replied simply, giving my forehead a kiss before going out of the room.

******************

I nervously sat on the corner of the bed, waiting for Luna to finish showering. It was already the night before Luna and I’s wedding, but I was still going back on what Fructuosè had said. I have to choose who is more important.

"Aimee, are you still there?"

I was awoken from my musing when I heard Luna's voice.

"Yeah. What is it?"

"Could you bring me the towel?"

I absentmindedly got up and retrieved the said towel and went inside the bathroom, only to realize that we don't have shower curtains or any partition between the 'shower' and the whole bathroom.

I got a glimpse of Luna's butt before turning my head away, cheeks heating up a bit. "Here." Then I held my hand out to give her the towel.

"Thank y-... Aimee, what are you doing?"

I shifted on my feet nervously. "Giving you the towel?"

"You do realize that you've literally seen my body up close before, don't you?" I heard her say before getting the damn towel. I didn’t reply and I went out the door, heart pounding.

I weakly laid down on the bed and tried to calm my wildly beating heart. I didn't know how long how I was just there, staring at the ceiling, until the bed shifted from somebody's weight and Luna plopped down on my side.

We were then engaged in an awkward silence. And it never happened to us before. We were never awkward with each other.

"Aimee... we're gonna get married tomorrow."

"Yeah. I know." I breathed out.

Again, silence filled the room.

"Aimee..." She spoke in a barely audible voice. I know that voice. It's her I-want-to-ask-you-something voice.

"What do you want?" I asked her in a tender voice as I faced her.

"I-" She looked down. "Can I..."

I saw her start to fidget. Then she looked back up at me. "You know that I'll belong to you starting tomorrow. Can I ask for just one thing?"

My heart started pounding. I didn't know what to expect. "What is it?"

"Can I call Shannon? She needs a proper break up, Aimee. She deserves a proper break up."

I could tell her that there is no way to contact another person on Earth. Make up a bunch of lies. Tell her I won't allow it. But looking into her eyes, I could see that it's the right thing to do. She needed to do it. So I nodded and got up, getting my special phone and typing some information on it. And then I found Shannon's name.

I called her and then handed the phone to Luna.

"I'll be back in an hour. Call your mom and dad too."

Then I left the room, heading out to my Mom's room. She has a separate bedroom from my mother. I knocked twice before entering and seeing her on the bed, with my asleep mother's head on her lap.

To say that it surprised me was an understatement.

"Uh..." I started, unaware of what I should say. "Can I speak to you privately?"

Mom glanced up and smiled at me before gently moving mother's head and replacing her lap with a pillow. Then she got up and kissed my mother's head before she led me out of the room.

I know this sounds bad, but I ship both of my moms so hard.

We found ourselves in our library. I sat down on a chair and faced my mom.

"What are you doing here Aimee? It's your big day tomorrow. You should get plenty of rest," she said softly. "I really worked hard in arranging your wedding."

"Can I ask you something?"

"What is it?"

"How was it for you? When you and Mother had me in the Sanctuarium?"

She laughed. "We actually were clueless. We just decided to have you on the spot. Like one minute, we were drinking coffee and then the next, we had you."

Well, that doesn't help at all.

I groaned and ran my fingers through my hair. "I'm just so nervous, Mom."

"It's actually a good thing. It means you care about the other person so much, you develop fear in thinking about you screwing it up. Besides, Luna is an angel. How can anything go wrong?"

Yeah. How can anything go wrong?

I smiled and hugged my mom. We talked about more stuff until my mouth got tired and I realized 3 hours had passed. I excused my self and went back to my room, finding Luna sitting on the bed. Her eyes were puffy and red, but she was smiling.

She was smiling at me.

I sat beside her and held her hand. "How did it go?" I asked.

She hugged me. "Everything's fine."

"Are you sure?"

She nodded. "But my mom is mad at you. She wants us to get married on Earth."

I chuckled. "Maybe after we have Lania. We're gonna visit Emma." She hummed and nodded.

"Can I ask you something too?"

"What is it?'

I sighed and pulled away from her. "Just for tonight. Tonight only... can you be mine? Completely and undeniably mine."

I requested, looking right at her.

Slowly, she nodded and stood up. She pulled me up and brought our bodies closer. Everything instantly became hotter. Tentatively, she reached out to cup my cheek and rest our foreheads together. Our lips just keeps grazing each other, ever actually touching.

"You have to know how much I care for you. You mean so much to me, Aimee," then she captured my lips in hers in a slow, tantalizing kiss. Her words brought tears to my eyes. It made my knees weak. Slowly, I discarded her clothes as she did mine. There was no rush. There was only tenderness. Every touch was sensual and loving--almost to the point that it surprised me.

I laid her down on the bed gently, my hands caressing her whole body. We've done this many times, but somehow, this time feels different.

I kissed the soft patch of skin just where her heart is.

"I love you," I told her softly.

"And I love you," she replied with that shy, endearing smile. My heart rejoiced and I captured her lips once again.

That night, we took our time in exploring every inch of each others’ bodies. We went slow, unhurried, and just full of passion. Every kiss, every touch was tender as if we were too scared of breaking something.

That night, we did something that I thought we'd never do.

We made love.

*****

Everyone was smiling at me. The priest mas already here and the wedding singers were singing a lovely hymn. I was on the altar, waiting for the love of my life to be bound to me. Generally, the atmosphere was festive.

But why are my hands clammy? Why is my heart beating a thousand miles per hour? I couldn't even smile naturally.

Then I saw her. I think my heart stopped when I saw Luna.

Her hair was up in a traditional Tierran braid while she wore an Earthing wedding gown.

She took my breath away.

Every step she took made my breath hitch in my throat. And by the time she was in front of me, I almost swore she was truly a goddess. She smiled unsurely at me, making me swoon even more.

"This is it..." she muttered.

I nodded. We just kept staring at each other, until the priest from Earth cleared his throat, smiling bemusedly at us. We shyly faced him and he proceeded to his ceremony. I had no idea how a traditional Earthing marriage should be done, but I just nodded at everything he said.

You expect that by this time, my hands would stop sweating and being weird.

But it didn't. It got worse. It even began shaking. I had to withdraw my hand from Luna so she wouldn't notice.

Why?

Why do I feel like I'm doing something so terribly wrong?

I glanced at Luna beside me and she just smiled.

This... why does everything feel wrong?

I glanced at everyone at the square. The wore bright smiles. Even my mother was wearing a light expression on her face.

But why?

You have to choose...

I gulped hard and suddenly faced Luna, holding both of her hands between my shaking ones. The priest stopped, confused by my sudden action. But I ignored him and focused on Luna.

"Luna..." I started, my voice shaking.

She looked at me, confused and a little bit scared.

"Do you trust me?" I asked her.

"What?"

"Do you trust me?" I asked again, voice full of conviction.

"Y-yes, but why?"

"When I count to three, you run with me okay?"

"What? Aimee what's this?'

"One."

"You're serious?"

"Two."

"Wait, I-"

"Three!"

I started to run, pulling her along. All I heard were gasps and whispers but I didn't mind them. I have something important to do. We continued to run and run until we reached the spaceship I prepared just in case Aimee changed her mind. Who knew it would actually be me?

I stopped and faced Luna. She saw the spaceship and looked at me with fear in her eyes.

"We're going home to Earth." I said, holding back tears.

"We?" She asked. I nodded and pulled her inside. She was still confused, but let me buckle her in after I promised I will go with her. Just as I finished strapping her seatbelt, I lifted her chin up and kissed her.

Long and hard.

"I love you. I love you so much," I whispered, tears filling my eyes to the brim. "I'm sorry." Then I kissed her forehead to put her to sleep. I quickly exited the vehicle, hearing her screams before she quieted down, having fallen asleep. I closed the door and watched as after a few more minutes later, the ship took off.

I collapsed on my knees and cried. I cried and sobbed my heart out.

My heart feels like it's being ripped apart slowly.

Suddenly, I felt a pair of arms wrap around me. "Shhhh...." I heard my mother Nadia's voice.

I buried my face in her neck. "It hurts, mother. It hurts," I choked out.

"I know. I know. Just cry it out."

"I love her, Mother. I love her." I cried.

She nodded and shushed me.

"I love her."

*******************

Luna:

I woke up feeling groggy. And awfully tired. When I opened my eyes, I was inside my room. I thought nothing of it and almost went back to sleep when I noticed I was in a wedding gown.

That's when everything came back to me.

Tears sprang from my eyes as I quickly bolted out from my bed and went downstairs, desperately screaming Aimee's name.

"Aimee?! Where are you?" Tears continued to run down my face.

"This isn't funny!" I sobbed and searched around the apartment until I grew tired. I went back to my room, dropping on my bed and started crying my eyes out. Halfway through, I caught sight of something.

A letter.

With trembling hands, I opened it and started to read.

Dear Luna,

What's meant to be will always find a way. I deeply believe that.

I love you. And this will hurt us both, but it is the right thing to do. This had always been the right thing to do right from the start.

I decided to write this letter because even though it deeply pains me, I must let you go. Even though you now smile and tell me you're okay, inside, you're crying and pleading. You secretly want to go home, even though you said yes to me.

And I am guilty. Guilty that I separated from your loved ones. I love your parents like my own and although it hurts me, you're happy with Shannon. I just can't compete with someone whom your heart beats for.

Remember that night when we were arguing about the movie we saw? When the male lead left because he was letting his love go?

Now I know why. I truly know why.

True love is about letting go, even if your heart wants to hold on.

Just know that your presence simply feels like the first day of spring on Earth and you make me feel overjoyed and strangely content.

I have thought of this decision for a while now, and as I write this letter, my heart still weeps in excruciating pain. It makes me want to die already.

Still, I hope you will remember me. I hope I'll still be in your deepest memories, for you will be in mine. I will treasure each second that I spent with you. I will remember you. Forever.

'Til we see each other again.

Love,

Aimee

And, as the letter dropped from my hands, so did a fresh set of tears.

She's really gone..