Chapter 1: Plant your own garden
THE REJECTION
Blooming gardens provide a backdrop to all breathtaking sceneries.
Beautiful drive ways heading to thousands of natural rendezvous are savoured in sweet scent of blossom.
Almost half of world's apples are produced here, along with apricots, plums, cherries and pears.
This is Papunika under the reign of Queen Leona. This is a kingdom of the most sophisticated, the most elegant.
It's a kingdom where Marm is currently residing. In the park of Papunika Central, she is waiting patiently for her appointment.
Marm is at her early twenty, kind-hearted and hot-tempered, stubborn and cheerful, a careful decision maker, a peace lover, she is a good example of people who can balance their lives.
From Marm's outlook you can instantly agree that she is beautiful. Her beauty is a harmony of angelic facial features, youthful energy, sensual body and a lovely smile that makes people forget anything but it.
She finally sees the familiar Pop running toward.
He makes it here after twenty five minutes being late.
In a romace relationship, while being punctual is not always required, being late for all the time is definitely a big No.
But it doesn't mean anything any longer. Marm has already given up getting mad at how he wastes her time this way.
Marm has no complains at all about Pop's outlook. He is fine to look at, his appearance is acceptable at all occasions. For Marm, that's all. No friends has ever seen Marm looking at Pop the way Menruru looks at a him.
"We would have some privacy here." Marm asks Pop to sit down next to her.
"Privacy?" Blood is rushing inside Pop. "Marm... this is a public area."
"It's less crowded, so we can talk..."
"Oh I see, you want to talk!" He smiles at himself.
In front of them is a small lake located inside the park. Some little ducks are swimming around and the mini waterfalls create a lively rhythm of water. Atmosphere is great here. Regadless of how pleasant the environment is, his intuition tells him the conversation may not be positive.
Marm places something in her hand. "I have thought carefully about our marriage and I'm sorry, very sorry." She says softly. Marm's voice is only soft for him when she is guilty.
He recognises the ring at one. It's exactly the engagement ring he gave her days ago. Worse than any of his predictions, this meeting is such a nightmare.
"Do you mean to have more time to persuade Mrs Rella? We can put the wedding on hold. I'm sure Menruru will support..."
"The decision is made by myself. I'm sorry. I have tried my best to response the way you want, but..."
She looks into his eyes and all she can see are his disappointments.
"No but." He doesnt touch the ring placed in her hands.
"It's very important for me to be honest to you."
"One day you are being honest and the other day, you change your mind. Have you thought carefully this time?"
She nods. Pop can't see any hesitation in her action.
And then that's the look in her eyes that is telling him her determination. Why now? Pop is furious, yet he is doing the best to control his temper.
"Fine. Cancel the wedding." He takes the ring and stands up.
"I'm very sorry, Pop, I will..."
"It's enough, Marm."
That's the tone of voice when he gets angry. Marm has encountered a similar situation, at a much higher level.
"This is not a game. Why do you put a stop at this stage?"
"This is not a game for me neither."
"Then shall I know why?"
"I don't feel right about you, Menru and I getting married."
"I know you can get jealous..."
"Not about jealousy. I love seeing you and Menru together. It's myself who doesn't fit in."
"Menru likes you alot. She really wants to have a sister."
"I know you and Menru can't wait to tie the knot and build the family. I know the plan of you guys, but I seldom exist in that plan. You have not noticed that." She looks at Pop.
"It's true. I didn't realise.." Pop murmurs to himself. He walks to Marm and on a bent knee, he holds her hands, "Almost four years, that's the length of time I have been loving you, Marm."
She nods. Her dear friend, what is she going to do.
"But I love Menruru, too. I feel very happy spending time with her. Sorry that I overlook your feeling." He is still holding her hands tightly.
"It doesn't matter. Perhaps you have changed." Marm is doing her best to be not emotional.
"Can we... can we have a kiss ? Please."
A Kiss? Marm is surprised, unable to figure out how to response such a sudden request.
In her dream, she has kissed another person. Blood rushes to Marm's face when the image of that person comes to her mind.
Can't wait for Marm's answer, he pushes her down on the lawn and places a kiss.
However, Marm's body is stiff, just as her lips.
Marm feels nothing except the heaviness of Pop. Her lips are closed and she is holding her breath to not feel his smell.
"Sorry, so sorry." Pop quickly gets up. He finds himself in an awkward situation.
"Pop, please keep the ring." In the end, Marm repeats.
He picks it up from the grass and quietly leaves the place.
MARM'S SIDE
"Are you fine, Marm?" Leona asks. Sitting next to her is Menruru. Both looks worried.
"I am. No worry about me. How is Pop now?"
"Not too bad." Menru says, trying to be sarcastic. Menruru would like to stand for Pop, however, she can't stop caring for Marm.
"Sorry, Menru."
"Don't be. Pop is just not expected the change in your decision."
"Nobody can expect this, my dear." Leona looks at Marm. "but to be honest, guys, I think the marriage is less complicated now."
"I understand." Menru agrees. "I'm here to see if Marm is fine because I don't know the reason of the cancellation. I'm...I'm not here to blame Marm."
"You can blame me, Menruru." Marm embraces her beautiful doed-eyes friend.
"I cannot and I won't." Menruru smiles. "I don't understand why do you make this decision but I don't get angry at you. I'm glad you are fine, Marm. Now I have to go back to take care of Pop."
Seeing Menruru's calmness, Marm is more justified that Menruru and Pop are perfect for each other.
"It's good to be honest to your feeling." Leona tells Marm after Menru has left. "From now on, I hope he will love Menru fully."
Marm knows what Leona says is correct. Feeling so tired, she leans on Leona's shoulder and admits, "I did a bad job in handling my relationships."
"Hyunkel is very concerned about you. On the contrary, Avan sensei and Fufu are taking it fairly... well."
Marm's cheeks turn red. "Hyunkel? Did he say anything?"
"I see now." Leona looks at Marm with a surprise, "You are not over Hyunkel, are you?"
The Queen of Papunika has already known the answer.
"If you are not over Hyunkel, you must not marry Pop, definitely. In my opinion, you and Hyunkel can really make a great couple! Even Avan sensei knows that you are his precious." Leona giggles.
"Sensei is wrong. Emmi is already there."
"Emmi is different."
"She is. She is his girlfriend and I'm not. Hyunkel means alot to me, but I can't support his relationship."
Leona sighs and slightly shakes her head. "You will never support Hyunkel's relationship, either it's with Emmi or not. Then why don't you confess to him and makes everything clear?"
Marm keeps quiet even she looks very unhappy. This girl.. Leona thinks, can't believe she is such a shrinking violet.
"Don't be in a friend zone for too long if you don't see him as a friend. I have known Emmi since I was a teenager. She is an action person. She would like to move in with him."
"Move in...? So they have been living together?" Marm feels an immediate heartbreak inside. But on the contrary she doesn't remember seeing Emmi's belongings when she stayed in Hyunkel's house last night.
"Are you freaked out? I only said that she would like to. Fortunately for you, he doesn't agree." Leona smiles, "This means he doesn't see the relationship the way she does."
"Really?"
"Or perhaps he is a traditional person. He would like to marry her before living with her."
"I don't think Hyunkel is a traditional person."
"See? You know many things about him. Your border has way exceeded the friendzone .." Leona wraps her arm around Marm and smiles, "I'm just making an assumption. We all know Hyunkel has been in this relationship with Emmi for about a month. Nothing serious may happen between them. Marm, you should decide what to tell him and what's not. Human feelings are important, be kind to yours."
So you plant your own garden, and decorate your own soul.
In stead of waiting, for someone to bring you flowers.
Leona would like to inspire Marm this way, sincerely.
HYUNKEL'S SIDE
"She said she would try, she said Yes to my proposal, now she is the one who cancelled the wedding. Marm is a freaking idiot!" Pop finishes the beers and asks for more. He is releasing the grief in a pub where they are the regular, himself, Hyunkel and Larhalt.
"Perhaps you have been in her friendzone for too long." Larhalt is very supportive the whole night, kindly listens to Pop and maintains the long, repeated conversation.
"I have already told her we are not friends!"
"It can be worse than being friends, she may take you as a brother."
"Who wants to be her brother? Damn her!"
Hyunkel has heard enough of it. "Don't talk about her that way."
"What's your problem?"
"He is drunk." Larhalt reminds Hyunkel.
"She is not an idiot. She did try her best to fulfill your request. Stop scolding her."
"If there is anybody who disturbs our relationship, it can only be you."
"Hyunkel, don't take it seriously." Leona drags him to her side, making a distance from Pop.
"He is always a maniac to Marm. You should have seen the way he was all over Marm. If he looks at a girl that way how can she resist?"
Hyunkel and Leona hear what Pop is saying clearly.
"The way I look at Marm? Have I stared at her body like you do?" Except last night. Hyunkel is angry.
"Why doesn't Marm make a friendzone of him? Why doesn't she take him as her brother? Why am I not as tall as him and as handsome as him? Why does it have to be me! Life is soooo unfair!" Pop sobs and screams and continues with the drink.
"He is drunk and heartbroken. Don't take whatever he says seriously. He has loved Marm for more than four years." Leona turns to Hyunkel.
Looking at Pop who is hopelessly sucking the beer bottle like a mad man, Hyunkel decides to approach.
"Marm was very upset yesterday when making this decision. This is not the way you want, but it doesn't mean you are not important for her. For sure you are a great person in her life."
"How do you know?" Pop asks.
"I was at your position before."
"How can someone like you be at my position? Marm likes you so much that she will never say No to you. That idiot has a double standard!"
Hyunkel wants to tell Pop he loves Marm more than his life. But love isn't always a mutual feeling and they can't force Marm into anything. As a man, they need to be respectful to her decision.
In the end he doesn't speak a word, for he knows it's of no use, Pop is drunk.
Somehow he is sure everything is going to be fine. With Pop and Marm's relationship they will not unfriend each other for a life time.
"So, do you love Marm, too?" Leona asks him out of sudden. The smile of Papunika Queen is cunning.
"It's impossible to not love her." Hyunkel admits. "I don't plan to let Marm knows, so don't tell her anything."
Leona's eyes are opened-wide. She doesn't expect such a straight forward answer.
"Then how about Emmi?"
"It's a different relationship." He says.
Emmi is not Marm. He feels sorry to hurt a woman's heart. But he knows he is going to hurt Emmi.
Love can be painful. That's the reason why he needs to love Marm in a way he will never hurt her: a quiet way, and Marm doesn't have to know about it.
-End Chapter 1.