Mai Legacy
1.18 - A Friend's Wedding
James and Susan were pissed. And, if we’re being completely honest here, the weren’t just pissed. They were completely offended.
James had gone to get the mail and was surprised to find a letter from Akira. Usually, if Akira wanted anything he would text or just show up at their front door. A letter was completely unheard of. James cut the letter open at the dining room table, and upon reading the first line, he started yelling so loud that Susan came running.
“Look at this. Look at this Susan! I can’t freaking believe this.”
Susan looked down at the letter, then back up at James. She shook her head in disbelief.
“I almost feel like this is fake?” she stammered. “Today is literally Saturday. And, they’d have told us they were dating. We’re their friends, right? And there’s no way Akira would let a design like this fly!”
James snorted. “The last thing Akira would want is some image of him from 20 years ago posing against a white background like that. And Salim has class.”
Susan turned to James dramatically. “Maybe it’s Hajar!” she joked.
James laughed.
“We haven’t heard from the Le Chiens in 10 years, I honestly wouldn’t be surprised if they’d all gone and quietly died,” Susan went on.
“Susan! You’re being almost as extra as Hajar was!”
Susan rolled her eyes. “Anyway, I’m going to shoot Akira and Salim a text and ask what the hell is up with this monstrosity.”
Susan wandered off into the living room while Leah emerged from her bedroom, rubbing her eyes.
“Unlike you two, I actually enjoy every second of sleep I get. So I would really appreciate it if you two could avoid shrieking like a pair of banshees at seven in the morning, alright?” Leah drawled.
Leah walked over to the kitchen table, and upon seeing the invitation, snorted loudly. “Seriously? Did they ask the design class at my school to do this? You know what? I take back everything I said. This letter right here is a perfectly valid reason to shriek like a maniac at seven in the morning. It’s freaking horrifying.”
“Leah…” James sighed.
“All I can say is Seth sure is lucky he sleeps on the other side of the house where he can’t hear all this. Anyway, I’m going back to bed. You two have fun.” Leah said over her shoulder as she drifted back to her bedroom.
Susan walked out of the living room again. “Apparently Akira and Salim got the design class at the school Leah and Seth go to to do this as some strange form of publicity for Salim’s magazine. Apparently, the student who created the winning design would win a lifetime subscription to his magazine... and they get their design used at the wedding. But you know what the most outrageous thing is? They’ve been dating for five years now.”
“Five years? Seriously? I am going to talk their ears off! They date for five years and don't think it's fit to tell us? I thought we were all friends.” James muttered.
Surprisingly enough, everyone managed to drag themselves to the wedding in some degree of formal wear even on the incredibly short notice.
James and Susan wandered over to Penny, who looked completely exhausted. “I canceled an interview with freaking Nash Holiday to be here. My views would have skyrocketed! But no. I need to attend this surprise wedding instead.”
“Tell me about it,” James agreed.
“Don’t get me wrong, I love Akira and Salim, but what the actual hell. You two and Eliza have kids! And I texted Eliza, and the fact that she can even make this? It's a miracle that she seems to be on holiday in Windenburg or San Myshuno every other week.”
Ulrike walked up to the three of them from across the park. “You guys talking about kids? I’ve heard Aarohi is planning to have one with Joe soon.”
“Really? Wow. I didn’t think they were that serious yet!” Susan exclaimed.
“And.. aren’t those your kids right there?” Ulrike went on.
James and Susan turned around to see Leah and Seth approaching.
“What are you two doing here?” James hissed. “You two didn’t receive an invitation!”
“Actually, we did. It showed up at our house. For all of us.” Leah sighed. “Honestly, this is simple stuff guys, I’m surprised you don’t get it.”
“Is that my…?” Susan asked.
Leah nodded. “Yeah. The dress you wore to court with the Le Chiens. I remember seeing it in news articles recapping your guy's drama growing up, and I've always wanted to wear it, so here I am. And regardless, it isn’t like Seth or I had anything nice to wear, so we just had to raid your closet.”
“And personally, I haven’t talked to Akira or Salim in a few years and want to again,” Seth smiled.
"Probably haven't talked to them in a few years cause they secretly started dating," James muttered.
"Oh, tell me about it!" Penny exclaimed. "Five years, that's what Salim texted me this morning. Unreal."
Eliza then showed up with Bob. “Susan! Are these your children?” she called out from across the park. She walked closer and examined them. “These little monsters have grown up so well, Susan, well done.”
“Excuse me?” Leah snorted, turning around abruptly to see who'd said that.
"Yeah, seriously," Seth agreed. "Leah may be a monster, but me?"
“Don't take it personally,” Eliza laughed.
"Where are Akira and Salim anyway?" Ulrike asked, looking out over Myshuno Meadows.
"I'd guess Akira wants to make some dramatic entrance," Susan said. "He descended onto the wedding grounds in a hot air balloon during his wedding to Jacques."
Aarohi, Lily, and Victor showed up over the next 10 minutes, only further emphasizing the question of where Akira and Salim were. Eventually, everyone started to guess what their dramatic entrance would be.
And soon enough, they witnessed it.
Akira and Salim rolled up in a fancy, luxury brand car they’d rented just for the grand entrance.
Everyone clapped sarcastically as Akira climbed out of the car and bowed. Salim looked to be completely embarrassed.
Despite what James had said, he didn’t have the heart to call either of them out on not during telling them about their relationship during their wedding day. He’d wait until some time had passed. This was their day, after all. He couldn’t screw that up for them. And a beautiful day it was.
After the ceremony, everyone gathered around Akira and Salim and cheered. The two always had been rather close, it’d only been a matter of time.
Lily announced that she was finally pregnant, and the Feng family would continue.
And Seth got his time with Akira and Salim.
He pulled them aside when the two went to grab a drink together.
“Akira, Salim, can I talk to you?” Seth asked, biting his lip anxiously.
“Of course Seth, what’s up?” Akira asked.
“I’m pretty sure my mom ranted about this to both of you by now, but, uh, you know how I kissed that guy to make Leah jealous and maybe even try to take him from her?”
Akira and Salim nodded slowly, already seeing where this was headed.
“Ever since, I’ve been questioning… well, everything. And I don’t know if what I’m feeling is actual… feelings or just guilt over playing with him and waning to make up for that. How… how did you guys know?” Seth rambled.
Akira and Salim shared a look, then Salim cleared his throat. “I first knew when I was young. Younger than you. Just, look, Seth. Try to look inside yourself and find if what you’re feeling is real, or just an onset of the guilt. Don’t lead him on anymore than you already have.”
“Or… just try gay porn,” Akira said, grinning mischievously. “And, don’t tell your parents I ever suggested that, they’d have my head.”
Across the park, two individuals turned to each other.
“Did you hear that?” Hajar grinned.
“Yes, Hajar, I did. We didn’t spend all day bugging the whole park to get nothing,” Joaquin sighed.
“We just need to find a way to start putting all this info to use…”