ACT 25
It has only been a few hours ever since Katarina had last seen Ashe, and she's been acting like a zombie on autopilot the whole evening of her father's little birthday celebration. Her father noticed it but decided to say nothing, giving her the space she needs and the privacy she deserves.
Cassiopeia and Talon wouldn't let her leave to go to Ashe's apartment when she had attempted to do so earlier. Her two siblings think that she needs some time to think and ponder about the situation she had witnessed, and maybe take a break from the one that caused the situation from the first place.
As soon as dinner was finished, she mumbled a low birthday greeting to her father before she climbed up the stairs and retreated into her area, which she is her bedroom. The only place where she can let her stoic expression fall and morph into its original depressed look.
She got on her bed and curled up in a ball, hugging Ashe's jacket in her arms as if it would disappear if she were to let go of it. She treated it like some sort of lifeline of hers. Katarina felt so hollow inside, especially in her chest. It's like there's something that died inside of her.
She assumed it was her heart.
Her once ice cold heart.
One that was melted and warmed by the tender affection Ashe had 'acted out' for her before crushing it in the most brutal way possible.
Every time she closed her eyes, the memory of the unnamed female kissing Ashe kept flashing into her mind, which replayed the painful feeling over and over again. She so badly wanted to forget about it, but she couldn't. It's like her brain was rigged to torment her with every moment she tried to find a haven within herself. She desperately wants to rewind time and do at least something that will prevent Ashe from cheating.
'Was it because I opened up to her?' She asked herself, looking down at the clothing in her arms. 'Is it because I showed her that I'm... pathetic?'
One of her hands wandered to one of her pockets and it only took a few seconds until she was staring at her cellphone's screen. Her thumb moved itself automatically, tapping onto the screen weakly. It pressed onto the 'Messages' application, clicked a chat thread and began composing a text to send to a certain white haired person.
Katarina: Ashe?
If she weren't depressed, she would have referred to her own message as a piece of shit. She stared at the screen for God knows how long, waiting for a reply.
None came.
Or so she thought.
A message popped up, so suddenly, that she almost dropped her phone. Her eyes fell upon the reply, which consisted one mere word.
Ashe: What?
She had been texting and calling Ashe from the past two days, so, despite the utterly short answer back, she considered this as a huge progress. It felt like her already broken heart had leapt over her throat because of the rush of excitement it unexpectedly brought to her.
Katarina: Why aren't you going to school lately?
'Take it one step at a time, Katarina. Don't rush in carelessly.'
One...
Two...
Three...
Ashe: I've been busy.
Katarina pursed her lips in a tight line as she read the reply for more than three times.
'Busy with what or... busy with who?'
Before she could think of her next response, another message came in and emerged in her screen.
Ashe: What do you want?
She was taken slightly by surprise with Ashe's unpredicted text. It sounded too... straightforward for her. It felt like Ashe was questioning her, and her girlfriend never questioned her like this. Instead of typing her earlier thoughts onto the text box, she decided to settle for a different message.
Katarina: Can I know what my girlfriend has been doing for the past two days?
She wants to Ashe tell her the truth herself. To tell her that what she's been doing. She desires for Ashe to tell her that what she saw at VU was a big misunderstanding, some stupid act or anything of that sort. Hell, she'll even accept it if it was just a silly prank.
Unlike the replies earlier, the next reply took some time. But, nonetheless, another reply came back.
A reply that she never, not even one bit, expected.
Ashe: Getting married to someone better than you.
...
...
...
Her phone slid out of her hand as her hold around it loosened. It fell onto her bed soundlessly. She blankly stared at her now empty hand. In her peripherals, she saw another message come in. Without grabbing her phone, she turned her head slightly and looked at the new message.
Ashe: You are nothing to me. I'd appreciate it if you would leave me be. It's over.
Katarina could only stare emptily at the screen of her cellphone, her already broken heart becoming more shattered than it ever was.
'I'm... nothing to her...?'
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Marcus arranged his tie and checked if his usual general's uniform is complete and tidy before exiting his bedroom, grabbing his hat and tucking it under his arm in the process. He checked the time from the silver wristwatch his children had bought for him as a birthday present yesterday.
It's only five thirty in the morning, and he knew his children would probably still be asleep.
But, why did he find Cassiopeia and Talon at the kitchen, the two stirring a spoon around in one bowl of cereal each.
"Already awake, I see." He said as he walked into the kitchen.
Cassiopeia and Talon nodded. "Morning, Father."
"How is your sister?"
Talon remained quiet, so Cassiopeia spoke for the two of them. "She's still in her room. We're... just not sure if she's in the mood to go to school later."
Marcus recalled memory from last night. The pair had told him about what had happened and what they saw what Ashe had done at school. In short, he's already been well-informed about the incident and every detail about how Katarina had reacted.
Despite the story being told to him without anything left out, he doubted Ashe would do such a thing. In his opinion, Ashe would never do something like that so... willingly.
"Let her be," He stated. "If she does not desire to attend school today, then give her what she needs."
After those words, the banana he had taken from the fruit bowl was eaten and the peel was thrown away. He bid his children goodbye before he exited the estate, boarding the waiting black vehicle at the bottom of the front steps.
He has plans for today, and not all of them involve work.
The hours passed quickly for him, next thing he knew he was turning away from a soldier he was speaking to and made his way out of the Institute of War, which is the main headquarters of all the military personnel in Runeterra. He glanced at his watch.
9:02 a.m.
'Perfect.'
He made his way to the parking lot and as usual, the vehicle he rode in this earlier morning is there, waiting for him.
"Leaving already, sir?" His driver asked as he opened the door for him.
"I have an errand to run." He replied before slipping into the backseat.
As soon as the driver was at his designated seat at the front, the employee asked. "Where to, sir?"
"To Freljord Corporation."
"At once, sir."
Marcus had made a call last night after he had one of his connections retrieve him the number of the current CEO of Freljord. He had set an appointment with the man, and luckily enough, Alkove himself agreed to give him the said appointment he requested.
The whole day, his mind wasn't fully focused on one task only. It kept circling around and about for his plans later on. He may be a workaholic, as most people say, but when it comes to his children, he makes time for them. If there will be a time that he is to pick between his job and his children, he will, without an inch of doubt, choose his family.
Family comes first before anything else in his life.
Even if it needed him to leave important military documents that are supposed to be reviewed and approved by him now just to talk to the father of his daughter's girlfriend.
The drive to their destination was brief and quick. As soon as the car stopped and the door was opened for him, he exited the car and walked up to the steps of the tall building. He didn't bother checking with the receptionist at the front desk. Instead, he walked ahead and used an elevator to get to the very top floor.
The elevator doors parted after a minute or so, and Marcus stepped out. A woman, which he assumed is the secretary of Alkove, greeted him.
"General Du Couteau,"
"I'm here for my appointment."
"Right this way."
The secretary led him down a hall and after ten seconds, he found himself entering a wide office. And, in the office, is the man of his daughter's girlfriend.
"Mister Avarosa." He greeted formally.
Alkove placed the file he was reading onto his desk and stood up from his chair, shaking hands with Marcus.
"General Du Couteau," The other man greeted back. "I must say, this is rather sudden, but nonetheless, an honor to meet with you personally."
Marcus is well-known as one of the greatest generals in the military and is always busy, so he didn't bother commenting in anything about what Alkove had just said. Alkove gestured for him to take a seat and he did, settling at the leather chair across the desk and taking off his hat in the process.
"I am quite grateful that you accepted my request for your audience."
"To be honest, I would not have made time for this appointment if it weren't for the fact that one of your daughters are friends with my only child."
Marcus had two things in his mind. He discovered that Alkove doesn't know about his own daughter being in a relationship with Katarina, and he assumes Alkove is doing his best to not specify the gender of his daughter.
"That is actually why I am here," He answered. "First of all, to remove any possibilities of arguments and misunderstandings, I will inform you now that I know that Ashe is your daughter. And, to reassure you, her secret is perfectly safe."
Alkove didn't seem to be fazed with his words. In fact, he looked like he was prepared for it. He, once again, assumed that the other man had anticipated his response.
"I expected as much. After all, Ashe is friends with your own daughter, so it was inevitable for her to know about the secret. Katarina is her first friend, so like I said, inevitable. Now, why do you want to talk about our daughters?"
"May I inquire about your daughter's life, Mister Avarosa?"
"It depends on your question."
"What is Ashe doing right now?"
"I don't see the relevance of why you need to know, General."
It's true though. It's not like it's an everyday occurrence to have an adult man ask about another man's daughter and about what she's doing. It's only right that Alkove was careful about it, and he understood his intentions fully. If the situation was heard and not explained to an eavesdropper, it would probably make him look some sort of pedophile.
"I personally came here to know if Ashe is busy or not," He calmly explained. "My daughter does not make friends easily. Truthfully speaking, Ashe is the first person and friend my daughter has mentioned to me. Right now, Katarina has been feeling a tad bit neglected by your child, which is why I merely want to know the reason why Ashe does not have time to at least pay a brief visit or a vacancy in her schedule."
Alkove suddenly looked saddened. "Ashe, along with Sierra and her fiancée, has been busy for the wedding preparations."
"Wedding preparations?"
"Yes," Alkove nodded. "My wife had decided to arrange a marriage for Ashe a few days ago. She plans on marrying Ashe to Ahri Seducere to... ensure our fortune is not rid from the family."
"And your daughter is fine with it?"
Looking down, Alkove sighed. "She doesn't have much of a choice."
"What about you?" Marcus found himself questioning boldly. "Are you just going to stand at the sidelines and watch your daughter be married off to someone she does not even know?"
"I want to intervene, General. Believe me, I do. But... Ashe does not want me to do so."
"Why?"
"Ashe had always been selfless. She knows that I have a heart condition. I only have a few months to live, and a heated argument can only speed up my time in meeting with death. Ashe doesn't want me to fight with Sierra, fearing that I may achieve an early departure during a fight."
"Which will only bring her in grave and awful waters with your wife." Marcus murmured, wanting to succumb to the urge to sigh.
"Precisely." Alkove nodded. "I deeply and sincerely apologize in my daughter's behalf. I'm completely sure that Ashe did not mean to hurt Katrina in any way possible. But, with my wife controlling Ashe's life, I'm afraid the most recent meeting your daughter had with my own is the last one."
"Alkove!"
Marcus didn't even get a chance to reply as a woman's voice suddenly cut in with his conversation with the other man. Looking over his shoulder, he found a woman walking up to them.
"What is it now, Sierra?" Alkove asked in an exasperated tone.
"Don't use that tone on me," Sierra said warningly. "Have you distributed the wedding invitations to our business partners?"
"The meeting is still two hours from now. No, I have not."
Sierra opened her mouth to speak and probably rant some more, when she finally noticed Marcus, who looked at her with a neutral gaze.
Of course the emerald eyes was immediately recognized by the woman. It's the same eyes Katarina possessed. She had done her research after hearing a few maids murmuring about Katarina, and when she questioned those said maids about the appearance of Katarina herself, she instantly realized who they conversed about. Sierra had to resist the want to smirk at the opportunity now given to her on a silver platter.
"Oh, hello there," She greeted him. "You must be General Du Couteau."
"I am," Marcus stood up and held out a hand to avoid being impolite.
"I'm Sierra Avarosa. It's certainly wonderful to meet you." Sierra said with an awfully sweet smile. "You have a daughter, right? Katarina?"
"Yes."
He did not like her 'friendly' tone one bit. It made him suspicious of her intentions, which he theorized that it probably isn't kinds ones. After all, what else could you expect from a woman that forces her own daughter to dress like a man? Awful things, that's for sure.
"From what I've heard from Ashe, she is a friend, correct?"
"Indeed." He didn't bother denying the info they know.
Marcus knew that correcting her and telling her that Katarina is actually and specifically Ashe's girlfriend will only bring more trouble for the young female. The fact that Ashe kept it from her father is enough of a sign for him.
"Then, please," Sierra swiftly reached a hand inside her bag and produced a white and folded invitation, handing it to him. "Come to the wedding. I'm sure Ashe would be absolutely ecstatic to see his friend there."
"Thank you for the invite," He thanked, again, to avoid being impolite. "I cannot guarantee our appearance there, but we will make an effort to attend the event."
"Brilliant."
"Sierra...-!" Alkove tried interjecting, but was cut off by the woman herself.
"All that's left to do is for you to hand out the invitations I gave you, and we'll be finished with the invites."
"Your son must be happy with this marriage of his." He mentioned, wanting to know what Sierra's reaction will be from hid words.
"Believe me, General. Ashe is completely excited to get married."
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Sierra excused herself from the two men after giving the wedding invitation to the grand general. She hummed quietly yet happily to herself as she stepped inside the elevator. When the elevator slid close with no passengers but herself, she couldn't help but smile at how things are turning out.
'Finally. Everything is coming to place.' She smirked. 'Katarina Du Couteau will be nothing but a worthless notch in Ashe's belt.'
As she thought about this, she pulled out a small object from her bag.
Ashe's cellphone.
A gadget that she had confiscated from her 'son' as soon as she told Ashe about the arranged marriage. Last time she had checked and used the phone was last night when 'Ashe' had a 'very nice' conversation with Katarina via text message. She swiped the lock screen away and had to stop herself from looking amused at the reply Katarina had sent back after the 'you are nothing to me' text 'Ashe' had sent last night.
Katarina: I fucking hate you. Don't you ever show yourself to me again.
"Such a foul mouth you have, darling. Oh, don't worry, Katarina," Sierra cooed at the screen. "You will never be seeing my son again."
A few soundless taps later...
Ashe: You were never my loss. I never loved you in the beginning anyway.
"And neither will he see you."
With that, Sierra locked the phone again and slipped it back into her bag.
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Author's Note: Hope you're all happy, my awesome readers! Leave a reviw or two and tell me your thoughts about all of this if you have the time. :D