To Know You

Twenty-Three: Seth

Before I could dive too deeply into the world of lost thoughts, a light knock rasped against the door before Nakawa was thrusting herself into the room with a proud smile upon her cracked lips. 

"Oh well don't you boys clean up nice." 

She wore a tea-length, chiffon dress in the shade of ranunculus pink and to match she had an off-the-shoulder shawl. Her hair was done up in braids and she looked as beautiful as any grandmother would when they dolled themselves up. 

Behind her flowed in both Blanche and Stella. Blanche wore a knee-length dress in the shade of Carnival pink and with a large bow in her hair of the matching color, she looked like a barbie who had just escaped from Malibu. Once in the room Stella pushed past the two older women and took a sit on the couch before adjusting her black stiletto heels. She wore a halter style dress with a high back and low front, in the shade of mint green with black lace details. However, I could not keep the frown from my face as the tops of her small breasts were on full display and she was far too young to be showing off such parts of her body. 

"Stella." I breathed calmy as to not lose my collective calm in which I had gathered enough strength to form. 

Her eyes remained on the task of adjusting her heels but in a voice mimicking my own she mumbled, "Seth." 

"Do you really think you should be wearing that?" I felt like I was embracing a part of me that I never knew existed. I was fully zoning into a dad-like-mind, and I knew deep down that any respectable dad would not want their daughter walking around with her body on display for predatory men to eye her as if she was a new juicy piece of meat rip enough for the taking. 

"Yes, because it's my body and I should be allowed to show it off however I see fit." 

All eyes fell on me besides Stella's for she was still too focused fixing her shoes on her feet. 

Sighing loudly, I shook my head, "I'm not going to fight with you about this Stella-"

"Good, at least one of us is finally maturing."

I bit down on inside of my cheek to contain my anger for she is arousing the anger within me, "But I shall not have you running around here half-naked as the day you were born. So go put a jacket or shawl on." 

Her eyes finally drifted up to connect with mine and as if water had been splashed upon the burning fire within her, she simply nodded before standing and leaving the room without so much as a snarky comment. No one truly seemed to notice besides Nakawa and myself for Blanche and Dean were in a deep conversation about how red roses and white roses should be classified as different flowers.

Stepping closer Nakawa shared a warm smile while gingerly patting my arm, "God is truly moving around us today." 

I could only agree with her for it would take only God to get Stella to listen. 

"But Seth what is going on between you and Olive?" She asked the question as gently and softly as a mother or grandmother would. But in that moment, I felt as if she was a hunter pushing me back into the cage where my final breath would be taken. 

"Let's not talk about it now, we wouldn't want to take the focus off the soon-to-be groom." 

As if God was saving me Himself, another knock fell upon the closed door and Lola ducked into the room wearing a black A-line dress with lace sleeves. "The bride is ready." Her soft words brought a proud smile to Dean's lips as he nodded happily. 

We all flowed out of the room and made our way onto the back yawn where there were tall sugar maple trees which loomed over our passing bodies. A large wooden cross stood proud and tall at the end of the isle where Dean would stand, and Chiaki would come to stand with him. Throughout the entire backyard hung fairy lights which created a glow like effect to the area. And on either side of the isle to which Chiaki would walk down, there were white chairs on either side to host the maids and Chaya.