At the dining room table, Chicha was introduced to Sumac's mother, an aged woman who didn't speak at all to her but smiled warmly. She noticed that there was an empty spot at the dining room table.
"Who are we waiting for?" Chicha eyed the idle seat as they passed around the food.
"Oh, that seat is saved for Pacha, Sumac's twin brother. He's usually too busy tending to the fields or the llamas to come for dinner, but we always save a hefty portion for him out of courtesy," Sumac's father said with a chuckle.
"I didn't know you had a twin brother," Chicha mused, genuinely curious.
"You wouldn't see the resemblance," Sumac said with annoyance. "Such a simple man."
"Huh," was all Chicha could muster before digging into her meal.
Dinner party conversation revolved mostly on Raymi and Micos reminiscing on their friendship stemming from their days trading at various markets. It pleased Chicha's heart seeing her father look so joyful. Years of mourning his wife aged him greatly, and he grew wistful leading up to the day of their departure.
When Sumac's mother began pouring the after-dinner tea, an air of seriousness swept over the dining room table.
"Sumac intends to begin his position as consultant next week, and it takes roughly three days to travel to the city. It would look unfavorable for him to arrive without a wife," Raymi said in a hushed tone.
"So we push the wedding closer than anticipated?" Micos suggested, to which Chicha almost spat out her tea.
"Next week?" You want me to marry this guy in less than a week?" she sputtered, and looked at her father helplessly.
"It is not becoming of a consultant's wife to display such defiance amongst company," Sumac admonished, but Chicha ignored him. Instead, she looked at her father.
The tiredness in his eyes was the only answer she needed. Marrying Sumac would mean that she would be wealthy, and without a doubt she would send money to pay for his medicine and everyday necessities. With a husband of high status, he would have no cause to fret about her, and she had no doubt that he spent many sleepless nights worrying about his beloved daughter.
"Forgive me… I'm just so… so caught off-guard, but perhaps learning more about our life together would answer questions I have about the unknown," Chicha said in hopes of deescalating the situation.
"Ah, I see," Sumac responded, and raised an eyebrow. "The city is bustling with life. At every corner you'll find crowded markets selling the most decadent clothes and succulent delicacies. The streets won't reek of rancid rainwater like here in the country, and the maddening sound of frogs at night will be replaced with the bustling sounds of nightlife. Festivals every night, can you imagine? Our children will learn actual skills, none of this low-grade survival skills education that peasants learn. Our life will be fantastic."
At this, Chicha abruptly stood up. "Excuse me. With all of the excitement I've gotten a little overheated. I'm going to step outside for some fresh air," she said.
Chicha hurried out of the room, thinking to herself over and over again:
This is not what I wanted.
This is not what I wanted.
This is not what I wanted.
