𝐌𝐈𝐒𝐓𝐘 | 𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈 𝐅𝐀𝐍𝐅𝐈𝐂 (𝐓𝐈𝐀𝐍𝐀 𝐗 𝐍𝐀𝐍𝐀𝐌𝐈)

𝐢𝐯. 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐨𝐟 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐟𝐢𝐬𝐡𝐧𝐞𝐬𝐬

Tiana wiped feverishly at the filthy table, wiping away the loose crumbs and smeared sauces to prepare for the next customer. Today had been so busy, customer after customer, relentless crowds swarming in droves, keeping her on her toes as she tended to their every need. Refills, napkins, desserts, you named it, Tiana would bring it to you with a beaming smile, her dimples adorning her cheeks with a perfect set of teeth gleaming behind her plump lips. She was happiest on busy days like this, it made the time pass way faster.

As she finished cleaning the table to the point where she got a glimpse of her own reflection, she heard the bell above the restaurant ring, signaling the entry of a new customer. Putting on a rich smile, she turns to greet them with warmth and joy.

"Welcome to Duke's-"

And her voice gets lodged in her throat.

Everything around her goes dark, except for a single light that illuminates the dashing young man across the room. Eyes lively and expressive as ever, his paperboy hat clutched to his chest. Tiana felt a surge of emotions come forth as she looked at his familiar face. He held this goofy grin, nose scrunched up like a rabbit.

"Naveen?"

Naveen holds his arms out and Tiana immediately runs into them, sobbing her heart out. She couldn't do anything but wail into his shoulder, knowing her make-up likely ruined his white shirt. He snaked his arms around her resting his chin on the top of her head as she quaked like the earth when its plates moved. He exhaled in relief, massaging her shoulders.

"I told you I'd be back to marry you." He smiled, pulling away from her to get a look at her face. He scanned over him with his eyes, taking in her features as if it were a breath of fresh air, as if it were the last time he would get a chance to look. Tiana continued to cry fat tears that streamed to the ground, bottom lip quivering as she tried to figure out what to say.

"Stop crying." He cooed, wiping at her face lovingly as he chuckled. Tiana closed her eyes, not believing in her own sight, shutting them instead. Naveen took the opportunity to lean in and kiss her eyelids, Tiana whining like a wounded animal every time she felt his touch. It was like electricity coursed through every place he touched, stinging her skin, and her heart.

"You're making a mess, my love."

Tiana opened her eyes and looked down, realizing she had cried a puddle at her and Naveen's feet. How could a person cry so much? It was like years of tears had accumulated at the soles of her feet.

Embarrassed, she gives a throaty laugh as she wipes her face. As she brings the back of her hand to her face, she feels something sharp poke her cheek. Brows wrinkling, she looks at her left hand, taking note of the silver band on her finger, but it wasn't Naveen's ring that she usually wore. It was the actual ring that he gave her when he proposed; a silver band with a small yet elegant diamond adorning the center. She stares at it, blinking rapidly as she examines it.

No rock?

The voice thunders as it echoes through the darkness, startling her as she looks around, trying to find where the disembodied voice was coming from. She looked at Naveen, who was now pressed in a classic tux.

"What did you say?" She squinted at him.

Nanami grabs Tiana's left hand, studying the ring with a dissatisfied look on his face. He brought the hand to his lips, kissing her fingers gently.

"I said, are you sure you didn't want another ring? This one is kind of..." He didn't finish his sentence, but Tiana knew what he was going to say.

"Plain?" She finishes for him, hand on her jutted out hip. "It's fine, Naveen. You know I don't care about things like that. And I don't want it to overpower Mama's dress." She says, twisting as she looks at herself in the tall mirror. She felt like a princess, each thread and layer sewn with love and care. Her mother spared no expense making this for her, it had always been her dream to make her daughter's wedding dress. She was so meticulous with her seams, the fabric giving and curving around Tiana's body, and a veil attached to a crown. Tiana felt the dress was more than enough, and didn't want to seem greedy by asking for more, though she knew Naveen would bend over backwards for her even if she was stubborn.