The Talk

"What kind of book is that?" Roxane's voice surprised Ayana, who had been engrossed in her book. She thought that her sister had fallen asleep since she didn't hear her voice anymore.

"I thought you were asleep, why didn't you say something?" Ayana asked as her eyes glanced at the alarm on the bedside table. It was 1 in the morning. It seems like she was too absorbed in the book to notice the time.

"I was pondering about something," Roxane said briefly.

Roxane had been sleeping with Ayana lately. Even though Ayana vehemently refused her, she didn't yield and won in the end. She always wanted a sister like Ayana. The little sister she can tease and can share her interest with. She didn't expect much when she knew that Bryana has a twin sister, but when she finally talked with Ayana, the girl's extensive knowledge on the topic she liked stunned her.

Roxane has never been so close to Bryana since the topic they are interested in has a 0% correlation. Bryana is only interested in branded things, make-up, and the entertainment world which is the opposite of Roxane who would love to talk about research and some topic about biological hypotheses.

"I can't sleep," Roxane said, then started to look at the ceiling.

"I thought you said you were sleepy earlier?" Ayana chuckled as she moved to put her book on the side table and turned off the bedside lamp.

"You will marry in three days, are you okay?" Roxane asked as she moved closer to Ayana.

Ayana pondered on her closeness with her sister. She never thought she would be this close to Roxane in less than a year. She thought that Roxane was too pushy and just liked to tease her at first, but after spending so much time with her, she realized that her sister just behaves that way toward her because she likes her and wants to be close with her.

"Of course I'm fine. Why did you ask?" Ayana asked softly while looking at Roxane in the dark. Ayana couldn't see her face clearly since the room was dark, but Ayana could hear a wave of anger and worry mixed in her voice.

"Why did you have to marry at such a young age? You are too young for this! Even Raphael, Roney, and I haven't thought about marriage yet. You should chase your dream like Bryana. It is not fair!" Roxane said with a rage in her voice.

Ayana understood her sister's reaction. Roxane wants Ayana to enjoy her youth because she was brought up that way.

"Didn't mother say that I still can pursue my dream even after I get married? You don't have to worry about this, sister. I have thought about this when I made the choice. I chose to stay in Zone A with our family. I can refuse the marriage, but I know our life won't be peaceful anymore if I do that. I will regard this as a payment for coming back to Zona A." Ayana said in her soft voice.

"Moreover this is only a contract marriage, there will be an expiration date and I will be free after that," Ayana continued after a long pause.

"Now, you sound like an old woman. You should be angry at this unfair situation," Roxane said while shaking her head.

"I want you to vent your anger. You look calm, too calm that I am the one getting angry when I think about this. You haven't even stayed here that long; it looks like they plan your return to shove you in the wolf den. This is unfair, Bryana was more suitable for this." Roxane vented her anger. Ayana smiled as she felt the warm tingle feeling in her heart.

Since getting close to her family, Ayana always gets this warm feeling every time they are angry, worried, or even mad for her sake.

"Did you know what I learned after living in Zona B for a long time, sister?" Ayana asked. Roxane froze for a moment at that question. No one in her family dares to initiate the conversation about Ayana's past in Zona B. They did not want to remind her of her suffering when she lived there. Ayana rarely talks about that and only answers briefly if asked, so Roxane was quite surprised when she heard her sister initiate the topic.

"I learn that life is never fair for everyone, but it is also fair because it treats everyone with the same unfairness," Ayana continued with her soothing casual tone. She then added, "If it's bound to happen, it will happen, I will marry someone at one point in my life, and right now, I just quicken the process. Why did all of you think that I will suffer in this marriage? I will be fine, okay? No one will hurt me." Ayana consoles her sister who seems in a bad mood.

"You know, that was the longest sentence I got from you since the first time we met. Are you sure you are okay?" Roxane tried to joke when she realized their talk was getting more serious.

"Mother, father, brothers, and even you keep asking about this every day, sister. I know that you are worried, but just believe me on this, I will make sure of my safety." Ayana reminded her sister with a tired voice.

Ayana stops trying to reassure them as she realized that her family only considered her words as the word of consolation and resignation. She had accepted her fate, but it seems like her family is the one who is still lamenting her marriage. She even began to believe that her family actually tries to persuade her to cancel the marriage by asking that question every day.

"I'll be fine, sister. Trust me." Ayana said while patting Roxane's hand.

"Just sleep. It's very late now." Ayana said before closing her eyes.

Roxane still wanted to say a few things but seeing Ayana who had closed her eyes, she stopped her intention and tried to sleep.