Forgive me: An Aonung story

Mended feelings and beyoned the reef

"You okay baby girl" Jake asks as he sits by my side, I gently shake my head, "I want to go home" I whisper to him as a couple tears fall down my face. "You know we can't right now. But I promise we will soon" he says trying to reassure me. I know soon was a lie but it still gave me some comfort, I wanna go back to the safety I knew..but this unknown.

Ronal soon appeared in our pod with a few bowls in her hand, she ushered my dad away as she sat by me. "Could we have some peace please" Ronal spoke as she got my father to leave the pod, "speak to me my child what happened" she says with sincerity. "Aonung..and his friends-" I begin to say as I choke on my words, "they were picking on me. He was picking on me. I went to help my brother when they fought and he hit me.. he said it wasn't intentional but I don't know" I say through my tears, I was so confused.

Ronal gently starts to rub in some ointment as she was intently listening the whole time I spoke, she let out a gentle sigh once I had finished. "Aonung has a very short temper. I'm not excusing what he did..but perhaps hear him out." He says as she gestures to the door. And there he stood..hurt lacing his face as he looked at my wound, "I've finished here..sometimes we just have to listen" she says as she whispers to me, soon exiting the room leaving me alone with him.

Aonung comes by my side as he goes to touch my hand, I quickly swat it away. "Nàlàni..please listen to me" he says quietly, I shake my head at his words as I cried slightly, "why do it. Why hurt me" I say as I wipe away the tears. "I was mad. When I found out you were betrothed I-" I cut him off, "but you never even bothered to ask me!" I shout back to him as more tears fall, "you never bothered to ask any questions about it! It's not what you think" I say annoyed.

"What is it then" he questions hurt lacing his voice, "it's forced!" I shout back to him as I hide my face in my hands. It was all coming to the surface now..all my feelings just exploded. "I don't want this. I don't want this bead! I don't want this life. I want to go home!" I shouted through my tears as he carefully takes me into his embrace. "Nàlàni..I'm sorry can you please forgive me" he says as he gently rocks me back and forth, "I don't know Aonung. I need my space. Away from you" I say as I shove him off. "Don't push me away..please" he says as he reaches for me again. "No. I'm taking control of my life for once. Go away!" I shout to him as I watch his slowly walk out of my pod.

I tucked myself up into a ball making myself as small as I could, crying into my legs as I hug them close to my chest. "Baby girl.." my dad whispers as he comes to my side, "I didn't mean to listen in..is this really how this is making you feel" he says as he gently takes me into his embrace. "Do you really not want to be with Ikàlu?" He questions me, "no!" I shout, "No I don't. I want to fall in love like you and mum did! I don't love him. I'm so confused" I say shouting at him.

"Baby girl I'm so sorry. I thought I was protecting you. But I'm not I'm making you feel worse. If you don't want Ikàlu then I won't make you have him. The choice is yours" he says as he gently kisses my head, I wrap my arms around him engulfing him in a hug. "I don't want to disappoint you.." I say as I whisper to him, "no Nàlàni, you have not disappointed me. I'm disappointed in myself that I was going to let my daughter live unhappy. Nàlàni you choose who you want" he says as he hugs me tightly.

"How do you know when you like someone.." I ask him quietly as he sits me between his legs, leaning on his chest as he leant against the tent. "Before we have this chat.." he says as he gently brushes my hair back, "would you like me to braid your hair?" He questions as I nod my head. "Okay, how would you like it?" He asks me as I just shrug my shoulders "surprise me" I say chirpy. We hadn't done this in a while, it felt nice.

He starts to take my braids out as he answers my initial question, "well when you like someone, from my experience..you feel giddy around them. You want to be with them all the time, they make you happy, they make you smile the biggest smile" he says. "Or in your mothers case..kill you" he says with a chuckle as my mum walks in smiling at us.