All My Stars

8

Are we at the point where I can casually text you yet?

The vibration in my hand surprises me slightly before I read the text Sumi sent me and a smile instantly overtakes my features.

"No phones Navi, this is important"

My mother is quick to reprimand me and I sigh quietly before responding to both her and my fiance.

" It's Natsumi, mom"

I think so

"Oh good then it's fine"

" Of course it is" And whether she hears or not, her face doesn't give her away.

How's it going then?

I look around at the different lehengas that I've tried and the pile of others to go through.

I need a break but the wicked witch won't let up.

My phone rings so suddenly in my hand that I almost drop it. I stare at Natsumi's caller ID for a few moments, unsure of what to do.

"Well, answer it" My mother urges.

" I almost thought you weren't gonna answer" She jokes when I pick up.

" Sorry, I was just surprised"

" It's fine, so did I buy you some time?" My mother seems to be an active participant in the conversation which is kind of unnerving so I close the door to my changing room before plopping down in a corner.

" Yeah you did, thanks for that"

" No problem" Muffled conversation in the background fills up the silence.

"Where are you right now?"

" I'm at the office"

" I thought you said you didn't have to go in today"

" I didn't but it's no fun being home if you're not there"

" Oh," She laughed softly, the sound of shuffling filled my ears before a door was shut as if she was trying to get somewhere quiet to talk to me. The thought alone left a warm feeling in me.

"So have you tried on anything that you like yet?"

"No, not yet but I better, I can't even stand the thought of having to do this a second time"

" It can't be that bad"

"You're right, it's worse"

I can hear the smile in her voice when she replies.

"We'll be married soon and you won't have to do any of this anymore"

"Well thank God for that because I honestly don't know how much more of this I can take, I swear this is probably the most civil I've ever seen my mother"

"We can move away and you'll never have to see her again if you don't want to"  I can imagine her, there in her office,  one hand shoved into her pocket and the other holding the phone while she walks around the space and it puts a bright smile on my face unintentionally.

" That's a very generous offer but even if I ended up in hell my mother would find some way to get to me"

She laughs briefly and there's a shift in the atmosphere around our phone call.

"But seriously if you're overwhelmed I'll come get you and we can figure this out together" She's serious, I can tell from her tone. I appreciate her offer but I know my mother,  she would kick up a storm if I did anything outside of what she had planned for me.

"That's sweet of you but it's fine, I can deal"

"Okay" She speaks quietly into the phone, her breaths are soft in the silence.

"Hey, Sumi?"

"Hmm" She hums lowly.

"I'm glad you called" I admit

"Me too"

***
"Today was very successful" My mother boasts, nose in the air as we step out of the bridal shop.

"Shall we go have a late lunch?" Her ideas just keep getting more and more ridiculous.

"Actually I can't,  Natsumi's coming to get me"

"That's even better,  you need to spend as much time as you can with her so you know how to satisfy her needs"

I'm actually too stunned to speak this time and Natsumi pulling up is what breaks my trance of total disbelief. She parks and steps out, greeting my mother and our wedding planner, she draws me to her side and I stay like that until she's saying goodbye and guiding me into the passenger seat of her convertible.

"You okay?" She checks, rubbing my cheek briefly to get my attention before removing her hand to back out of the parking spot.

"Hmm? Yeah fine it's just sometimes I can't believe my mother is actually so misogynistic it's actually well within character for her but still, I keep expecting her to act differently"

"What did she do?"

I'm momentarily distracted when I look at her, the way she wears that suit. The dark green pants fit just right and she's got the first few buttons of her shirt open and the sleeves rolled up.

She looks over at me when I don't respond and I remember we were talking about something before I started gawking.

"Sorry... she said I should spend all my time with you so I can learn to fulfill your needs" A moment ago I was so heated I would've thrown in a few curse words but one look at her and my insides feel like candle wax, warm and melted.

"That's.." she shakes her head and doesn't finish her sentence.

" I'm sorry that she said that to you"

"Me too" There's a pause as I look out, trying to get a sense of direction.

"Where are we going?"

"Oh shit, right.  I do actually have to go back to the office briefly before we go home. Is that alright?"

Home. Our home.

"Yeah that's fine"

I'm surprised at how close the office building is, right in the heart of the city.

"Do you wanna come up?" She gestures up at the literal skyscraper with her chin.

"Yeah"

Natsumi's hand is a constant presence in my own as she leads us past reception and into the elevator.

"Have you had lunch yet?" She asks randomly.

" I haven't actually"

"We can go somewhere after I'm done here and get something to eat"

"Okay"  

The floor we step onto is a hub of clicking and hushed phone calls as everyone works quietly in their cubicles. The majority of the heads turn to watch as Natsumi guides us down the hall toward the office in the back, Her hand leaves mine only to cup the small of my back, a gentle reminder to keep moving.

"Just have a seat" She gestures to the waiting area outside the office. " I won't be long, five minutes at most"

I nod and she smiles, kissing my forehead before retreating inside.

I've never had anyone treat me with such care, it's a genuine shock compared to how my life before this arrangement was. I wonder if Damini would have been happy with her, I hope wherever he is, he's at least happy.