THE OCEAN DEPTH ~ ELITE 04

Chapter II

I'm one of them, those who die when they love.
من أولئك، ممن يموتون حين يحبون
أنا م
-Mahmoud Darwish
                                        _

"What have you thought of marriage?"

Irvin turned to his brother surprisingly, who leaned against the door in the vague light. His room was dark-just like his soul. He was blotched, half-ruined, and half-mourned.

"I'm fine, just the way I am." He said, smoke curling from the cigarette between his lips, scorching and disappearing into the darkness.

"Issac married into the Medicis."

"Yes. If you hadn't refused I'd have married the only daughter of Salvatores. You didn't have to worry about securing an alliance then."

"She's my sister. I don't care if I die, but I'll not leave my family in tears. Did you look at yourself once? You were a trash."

"Then let this trash be in the dark."

Dominic could not see his brother anymore. He'd moved to somewhere in the depth. Only his ominous shadow loomed in a corner and a familiar sound of tapping fingers echoed through the darkness.

"Sometimes antique pieces also end up in the trash. Because they are old. Only a few understand its values. Those things look good in the light although-not the newer bulbs, old and golden lamplights." Dominic said.

"So that it can set both of us in flames?"

"Now you're talking like a failed lover."

"I haven't loved enough to be a lover. So, please-" He finally sauntered out of the room, perfectly attired in pristine clothes, as he passed by the window his beige overcoat and dark caramel hair swayed in the monsoon breeze. A white scrubs hung low on his arm.

"Where are you going at this hour?" Dominic ceased his brows, checking the time-1:25 am

"Hospital."

He was walking away, when Elizabeth saw noticed both of them and came rushing down.

"Ivy! Ivy! Ivy! I thought you were asleep." She said with a smile. "Did Nick say anything to you?"

But Irvin ignored her and Elizabeth ran after him.

"Bro! Bro! Can you take us to Pakistan?"

"Why?" He asked, "Are you crippled? Can't do anything alone?"

"Look it's not about me. You already know about my family-" She couldn't finish as he already reached the main door. "Nick!" She whined, turning to her brother-in-law, who was calmly sitting on the couch. "Please do something."

To which, Dominic only shrugged.

Elizabeth quickly followed Irvin out of the house. "What would you do, if your sister was asking something from you?"

"I don't have a sister."

"You do! Imagine if Mia was in my place?" She asked again.

He gritted his teeth, finally glaring her. "Malena Salvatore is not my sister."

"Irvin!" Suddenly Dominic's voice came from behind, as he walked outside-hand stuffed into pockets. "Take 3 days off. You're going to Pakistan with them."

"I have work."

"I said what I said. If you don't want help your brother then-"

"So her family wants the guy who kidnapped their daughter, to gatekeep them?" He mocked trying to escape again.

"Would you listen to me?" Dominic said over them.

Irvin turned once again, "Why Pakistan suddenly?"

Elizabeth glanced toward Dominic as well and they both patiently stared him. "Remember that girl, Annie?"

"Which one?" Irvin ceased his forehead.

"That little girl with Samantha-when we kidnapped her. Russian father, Pakistani mother?" He knew Irvin already recognized her, but acted ignorant- "The one that ran away with your underwear."

Elizabeth gasped, slapping her hands on mouth.

Irvin cleared his throat- "What about her."

"She's getting married."

"Did you see her? If I go there, that fatherless is going to fall on me again." He paced.

"I'm telling her," Elizabeth said, tsking.

"Nothing like that is going to happen. She's not a kid anymore and getting married. Give me an answer, so that they can pack up. Don't pin the blame on someone else. Yes or no?"

"I'll see." Irvin said before entering his car.

~

Anna Lewandowski was the daughter of their lecturer at Harvard-Aleksander Lewandowski. He was an astrophysicist, working at NASA. He came from a migrated Russian family and then the family scattered. Irvin personally met him at a wedding-the upper part of that was taken for one day for the Pakistani wedding ceremony, he'd heard they came from a political family. Then learnt Dr. Lewandowski was the husband of Alizey Sikander, whose father was the PM of Pakistan back then.

The dance floor was filled with crowds, sways of colorful silk and satins, frills, and music. Then he noticed this one girl in a blood-red cultaral, breaking the crowd with her dance. She was young, way too young. Face was crammed with excessive makeup, half of her hair was black and the lower half falling into bare shoulders was dyed vibrant green.

He already guessed how spoiled she could be. Irvin had seen alot of kids like her-calm and loving parents, sacrificing everything to please but in return only got humiliation from them.

They were circled around her, enjoying the dance. Dr. Lewandowski was away, on the third floor, glaring them through the glass with clenched fists. Suddenly, between her spins-Annie's fierce green eyes caught him.

The world had moved on after that, but her life got trapped in that moment-for ever.