Asin.
~
Next morning, we comfortably sat inside Oliver's own car, driving through traffic towards my home.
" Listen to this .. "
I took my eyes away from a pretty girl waiting next to us in her car.
" Hmm? "
Oliver connected his phone to a USB, and soon, a pleasant summer tune was playing through the speakers.
The lyrics were missing. It was just the instrumental playing.
" Aha .. it's good. Brand new? " I asked.
He nodded proudly.
I tapped his shoulder in appreciation. My boy was a genius when it came to making music.
Listening to the Latin undertones, a combination of harmonica and .. I had zero idea what the other instrument was.
That's just it. Couldn't imagine how he came up with these or how he made them.
" I'm telling you, one day we will listen to your beats playing in the radio, brother. They are just that good. " I put on a sunglass, enjoying the beat.
" God willing. " He smiled.
I enjoyed the sun and the light breeze, and with the music, it was really one of those special moments when you felt completely at ease.
" I have a bad feeling about this breakfast thing .. "
Just like that, Oliver's voice pulled me down and back into the real world.
" Tell .. "
" Your grandfather rarely attended breakfasts, Yes?You told me that. " He looked at me for confirmation.
" Yes .. I remember. " I nodded.
He turned back as we slowly went on to the white bridge of Saintfield. Same bridge I drove through last night.
" Your big brother just got married last summer..
" Hush .. seriously, shut up. " I sat back up as an uncomfortable feeling grabbed me. " God forbid .. go knock on wood. "
We both tapped the wooden part of the dashboard three times.
" I'm just trying to think with his mind. " he shook his head.
I didn't say anything immediately, trying to think of a reason what it could be.. but no, nothing came to mind.
" Maybe it's another fundraising thing .." I said without believing my words.
" Hmm.. maybe. " he left it to me.
I stared at him for a few seconds as he ignored me watching the road.
It was just like him to ruin a perfectly pleasant morning.
~
" Welcome home, Sir. "
The gates opened and let us through.
" I don't understand how can people make this much money legally. " said Oli, looking at the estate.
I smiled at his remark, fully knowing how unlikely a thing it was.
We stepped out of the car, left it for the security, and walked down the beautifully built marble stone path leading us up to the main house.
" Maybe we take the yacht out this afternoon? " Oli said, looking at the sea behind the house.
" We'll see .. you managed to put the devil in my ear, brother. Now I'm starting to have bad feelings. " I said, massaging my stomach.
He took my shoulders and led me for encouragement, but it somehow felt like someone was leading me in front of a firing squad.
" Welcome home, young Sir, Mr Aster. " The maid opened the double glass door for us.
" Thanks, Shelly, my parents, Dede? " I asked.
She smiled and pointed outside. " They're having breakfast in the garden. "
Fueh ..
I felt pushed this time.
" Go on .. we haven't had breakfast. I'm starving here. "
Damn you, Oliver.
Outside, an opulent breakfast was enjoyed by all 6 of my immediate family.
" Morning .. " Oliver said after they noticed us.
" Morning all. Sorry we're late. "
I walked around the table to give a few kisses to my mother, aunt, and sister in law. Kissed my grandfather's hand.
" Morning son .. Oh, Oliver, thank you for driving my grandson. Although it is nonsense, he still needs a driver.. "
We shared a quick glance and avoided the upcoming smile, quickly taking our seats.
" Please don't mention it, Uncle Erwing. It's no trouble. " he waived it off.
" You still work at your mother's firm, aren't you Oliver? " my father asked him.
He took some pastry and some tea as he nodded. " Yes, Uncle Yanam .. it's going well. "
He received some polite smiles, and I caught my brother smiling at me.
" What? " I asked, confused.
He didn't answer, just kept eating his fruit salad, and the grin never left his face. My sister in law gave me an apologetic smile.
All my appetite flew away, and my ears started to burn for some reason.
With Oliver's predictions in the car and now my idiot of a brother having this much fun?
Something was wrong, clearly.
I cleared my throat and decided to ask.
" So tell me, Dede, why you wanted me here this early? "
My grandfather just kept staring with a certain mad glint in his eyes.
Worst of, my own parents started squirming next to me. After my father exchanged a quick look with my mother, he took a deep breath.
" Son, the thing is .. your grandfather is getting older and ..
I closed my eyes but not before seeing Oliver holding a piece of bread, frozen in anticipation, and my brother gleefully popping a grape in his mouth.
" .. it's time to get married and have..
" You will get married is what your father is trying to say here. "
My aunt had enough fumbling around and just said it plain and simple.
Meanwhile, I was in the middle of a staring contest with Dede.
" I'm not doing it. " I kept it short.
" Yes, you will. " He kept it equally short.
I broke my gaze away just to see Oliver's reaction.
He gave an apologetic shrug, indicating he had nothing to say, at least not here.
" Can I ask why now? I mean, Yary just got married. They are about to celebrate their first anniversary in a few weeks. Where is the fire people? "
I turned to the rest of the table for some support, but they all had more interesting things on their plate .. literally, as in playing with their food, was more interesting than my loss of freedom.
Dede took back the flow of the conversation.
" I know it sounds kinda like we're joking with you here. " he started feigning understanding. " .. and for some 18 year old it's a bit of a shock .. "
.. Then He went back to his meal.
As in, that's all he had to say.
" Oliver, tell us you still making music? How's that going? "
Yary tried to move on from the conversation as if it were settled.
I got up from the table trying to storm out.
" Sit down! "
.. and sat back down hearing my mother's irritated voice.
She turned to me, taking my hands.
" Remember last year? What did you tell me in the hospital? "
I closed my eyes in desperation because I remembered that embarrassing moment.
" I lamented and opened up to you. Saying I can't believe .. khmm.. I'll never have my own family. "
She tapped my hand and returned to her plate as if something I said drugged up, and a single step away from oblivion was a valid argument to get married at 18 years old!
" Yary was never pushed .. " I brought up my brother.
" Your brother has been with Zerile since high school. We knew more or less they would end up together for years. " said my father, smiling at his daughter in law.
Yary just turned his glass of orange juice aside and lifted his eyebrow as if asking .. anything else? ..
I felt the situation slipping from my grasp.
Now the logical question was ..
Why would I need to marry just because my family wants me to?
I don't, really.
But if I go down that route, there's a lot of heartbreaks and heated fights, freezing my accounts .. but the worst?
Even if we drift apart because of this, and I move out or something .. they would keep an even closer eye on me just to see how I cope and eventually discover GOD in the process.
This was unacceptable, but I didn't wanna get married either ..
My prolonged silence was taken as a verbal agreement, and when Dede stood up the table, the rest followed like good soliders..
" Good day to you all. Asin .. " He stopped by my chair. " .. don't forget to eat something, son, you look pale. "
~
" How did this happen to me? " I asked the sea.
" .. It happened. "
We were out on the waters in the yacht, as I needed some time away from my house. My parents are already making plans at the wedding, and my brother teasing became unbearable.
" We need to find a way out of this! " I proclaimed, turning around.
" Hahaha.. "
Oliver wasn't as devastated as I thought he would be.
" Damn you .. " I grabbed the rails and looked out onto the open sea. " .. I have an idea, Oliver. "
" Nope .. we can't live out on the sea, little brother. "
" .. "
My life was so fun .. as if I cursed myself!
" This can't end like that .. " I started walking in circles. " .. I go back to Germany and hide out with Lismay and guys. "
" Yes, because they would never look for you over there. " Oli said it, his voice dripping with sarcasm.
" I don't know why you're not more upset!? "
He got up from a chair and handed me a cocktail.
" I think you are looking at this the wrong way. I'm not nervous because I already figured out a way out of it. "
He led me to the sunbeds and guided me down.
" What we need .. is a fake wife. "
" Fake .. what do you mean? " I asked, confused.
" Listen here .. we will find a girl, someone your mother and aunt find acceptable, but here's the thing .. you offer her a deal. "
" Go on .. "
" Like .. I don't know.. whatever she wants! .. you sign with her for .. 6 months. Live as husband and wife make your grandfather happy .. but after 6 months, you divorced her. No harm done. " he cleaned his hand.
No harm done, huh?
" I don't know, Oli .. It sounds like an unbelievable amount of headache.. "
" Not if you find the right girl .. leave everything to me, brother. " He tapped his chest.
" No .. No! .. it sounds insane! .. what if she talks to the press or goes on social media.. what if she finds out about the crew? "
Oliver was my best friend, one of the reasons we were able to build our lives.. help people.
But this was crazy, and can go wrong so bad .. so fast.
" Asin .. brother .. my son .. listen to me. We have a good life. Trust me that everything I do is for the preservation of that life and all the others .. "
Looking at the sunrise, I realised we had been out here for a few hours.
" I trust you .. of course, I do. Alright.. but how would you go about it? " I asked.
He tapped my shoulder reassuringly.
" As I said.. leave everything to me. After all, what's the point of having this many people on the payroll if they can't help? "
My head still hurt .. but for a second, I imagined his plan actually working. Some nice quiet girl who keeps to herself and maybe even cover for me ..
6 months later, I'm free. No one can say from my family that I didn't give it a fair shot, and they would stop pestering me with further marriage nonsense.
" I hope you are right .. let's go. "
I stood up, walking towards the captain.
" Where to? " He asked.
" To Old Ivan .. "
——
Oliver.
~
Ivan Crigmasky.
Old Ivan was a leader. A father and good man, to the people in the 9th ward, they respected him more than feared.
The area was desolate as always, buildings left from another century, make shift ones built by the locals. You could count the bullet holes in some of them made by Ak47 in the war decades ago.
The rain made everything muddy and spread the dirt, yet its people were still outside.
Maybe because some of their houses were in such a state, it didn't make a difference.. same as being outside.
" Masks on. "
I reminded Asin as we parked the car.
" Pointless.. " He said, but put it on.
The 9th was a dangerous place, even for us, even for Asin, the man's successor, but until the moment, the elders proclaimed him Leader .. I felt better with the mask on.
Strength was the only language the 9th residents understood.
I was nervous when we came here. Even after years and years, that didn't change.
Not Asin, though..
The man felt more at home here than his own house.
Even as I walked cautiously watching out for jumpers, he was away playing football with the local kids.
I knew he was worried about this marriage situation, but I already had our people out and searching for just the right wife candidate. He left it for me .. I will take care of it.
" Oyy, what's up with that silly mask boy? "
A man big as a tree named Tolmen stood in front of Asin and kids blocking their path.
Oh no, not again .. Calm yourself, brother, be polite and don't ..
" The fuck is it to you .. Lurch! "
Fuck.
Tolman shared a few smiles with the man behind him.
" Hahaha.. stone cold killer as always, those are some nice shoes.. wonder if they are size. " He laughed.
He was a big mother..
" These shoes brother? Nah nah, you want new shoes you write to your local goverment officials at the council ..or go rob the store. "
At this point a bunch others came over standing around the large man stood .. but that made no difference for Asin. I saw his clenched fist..
I frantically started looking for someone we knew Old Ivan and to go an grab ..
" The fuck you all looking at? You wanna share the shoes with this fool? " Asin addressed the crowd behind him.
" Boy I think we gonna take you and your friends shoes and whatever else you might carry.. " the big one stepped forward.
Asin wasn't scared.
" You ain't getting shit from me or my friend that's for damn sure .. and that goes for all you shit farmers hear that!? "
We might actually get killed.
His opponent was at least a feet taller and with a dozen man behind him, but Asin stepped closer, standing up to them, close enough to count each others freckles.
Just as the real shit hit the fan ..
" Tolmen .. what is this? "
The man was dispersed as an elderly man walked slowly towards us. His two trusted body guards close behind him.
The large one .. Tolmen took a step back with the others close to heel and looked at their shoes .. or the lack their off.
Tolmen tried to explain.
" Sorry, Uncle Ivan, the sissies here ..
" Boy, keep it shut. These kids here are my guests, and you keep barking at them. My boy won't blink .. and if you keep pushing it. I'm going to be very disappointed... "
The man never raised his voice and said the last bit almost whispering, but we all heard him clearly.
Tolman and his people stood aside and kept their heads low.
" Come .. and take those silly masks off. No one cares here, son. " He pointed at Asin and me.
I wasn't sure, but Asin followed up immediately.
" Hey, old man. I missed you. " he smiled.
" Hahaha.. come, come here. "
I walked closer as they embraced, and the crowd dispersed back into their homes. The kids kept playing.
" Uncle Ivan. " I bowed and kissed his hand.
" Welcome, kids .. let's go, can't stand the rain. "
He led the way.
The old man's house was not much better or bigger than the rest. But it was familiar and felt homey.
We found his wife at the door waiting.
" Ahh.. look who came after so long. Son .. come here already! "
She stepped out in the rain.
" Auntie .. " Asin went and picked her up, twirling around.
He was always happy when we came. Those sincere smiles were always missing at home .. Don't get me wrong, he loved his family, and they loved him as well..
But years ago, he found another family.. a spiritual one that now he cared for equally.
I kissed her hands as well and were lead insid. The silent guards of his stood at the door.
Asin was lead inside the kitchen to try some Aunt Krista's cooking, and Old Ivan made me take a seat and offered some tea.
" My boy looked unbalanced .. especially after a decisive win, and now that I saw your face riddled with worry .. tell me. "
He was sharp. There was no point dancing around it.
" Well .. Asin is getting married. "
Seeing Old Ivan shocked expression was quite a sight..