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♯┆blue world .ᐟ ━━━━━━━━━━
From the moment Maleia walked into the marui, she could sense the atmosphere. Tension and anger. She could feel the daggers burning into her flesh as the taunting stare from her mother pierced deep. Goosebumps prickled amongst her skin making her wince out. Tonowari's lips were sewn together, not knowing what to speak on within this situation.
"What have I said about that... demon?" Ronal raptured the agonising silence with a disgusted tone in her voice. Maleia was quick to embrace herself into a hug.
"Mom... He is not what you think," Maleia responded. But, Ronal had set her thoughts upon what Lo'ak is to Maleia.
She scoffed out loud, a small hiss falling off the end of that scoff. Ronal knew how to hold a grudge— constant and eternal. "He is what I believe. Someone who is not good enough for my daughter. My future Tsahìk," Those last words consumed Maleia's mind and made the blood in her veins boil.
She didn't want to be known was that. Her mother was supposed to see Maleia as her daughter, not someone who was born in the same way she was born.
Maleia was supposed to be someone Ronal loved and cared for. Not someone to be seen as the legacy of the Tsahìk.
"I do not wish to be that!" Maleia immediately snapped. Once and final. Sharp intakes of breaths came from Ronal. The daggers turned into swords, "Is that how you think now? You do not wish to be Tsahìk after surrounding yourself with him."
The truth had been set free now. There was nothing Maleia could do to change that. From the moment Ronal announced that Maleia shall be the next Tsahìk, Maleia had never wanted to be apart of it.
She loved the ocean— she loved her home and her people. But, that was the issue. Being Tsahìk meant having responsibilities.
Whereas Maleia wanted to be free. Free to swim around the ocean without feeling the burden or rushed. Free to be on their rock. Free to craft jewellery and dig for rocks.
Free to be herself.
"I have thought this way forever, mom," Maleia looked over at Tsireya tucked away in the corner of the marui. Being Tsahìk is perfect for her sister. She was kind, understanding but strong. "You do not know what you are giving up! And I am not going to allow it, Maleia! You will be Tsahìk, there'll be no further discussion," Ronal explained with her arms crossed.
The sentence pinched at Maleia's brain. A headache forming as Ronal was not listening to her desperation.
"And you are no longer allowed to see that Lo'ak boy..."
That was what made Maleia start sobbing.
"Ronal, you cannot do that," Tonowari finally spoke up as he stood behind his daughter, placing a rough hand onto her shoulder.
"I can and I will. He is a distraction. Filling her mind with such things!" Ronal shouted.
Tonowari sighed before Ao'nung stood up and took Maleia into his arms, giving her a hug that was much needed.
He didn't like showing affection, but Maleia would always be his soft spot.
Ao'nung sat down with her.
Ronal and Tonowari left to have a walk around Awa'atlu to talk things out.
"I do not understand..." Maleia cried.
Tsireya curled her eyebrows inwards as she rubbed her hand on Maleia's back.
"She will come around, sister," Tsireya said in her soft voice, making her claim sound so believable, when it wasn't.
And whilst this argument was happening, Lo'ak was standing behind the tent. He heard everything: the shouting, the crying, the banishment from him.
He walked back to his tent with his head hung low and facing his feet.
"What is it, baby brother?" Neteyam asked.
Lo'ak didn't respond and walked straight towards his mat, resting his head down and thinking about everything.
Neteyam sighed when Lo'ak ignored him. But, he wasn't going to give up. Lo'ak is his brother and he doesn't want him to be upset over anything, "Lo'ak. Answer me."
Lo'ak lifted his head and looked at Neteyam, "You will not understand."
Neteyam tutted before crouching down towards Lo'ak and placed his hand onto his head, "Explain to me."
Lo'ak sat up and closed his eyes. He didnt want to tell his brother about this, but Neteyam was always helpful and he needed his advice right now.
"You know Maleia, I... kind of like her. And I, well, her parents don't agree," Lo'ak explained to Neteyam.
Neteyam only nodded his head.
He smiled when hearing that his brother had a crush on somebody.
"Maleia likes you too right?" He asked.
Lo'ak shrugged his shoulders. How was he supposed to know? For all he knew, Maleia could just think of him as a friend.
Or just a student she teaches her ways.
"I don't know." Lo'ak stated blankly.
Neteyam smiled at his younger brother, "Tell her, brother. She has to know."
Lo'ak nodded his head but then remembered that her mother just banished them from seeing each other.
"Yeah, easier said than done, bro," Lo'ak said before putting his head back down onto the mat, wanting to be left alone.
Easier said than done.
Whilst Lo'ak went to sleep with heavy thoughts that night, Maleia snuck out and swam towards her peaceful rock. The same rock she connected with Lo'ak on.
She braided some parts of her hair and tied in some seashells she collected, wanting something to do than drown in her sorrow.
The world looked so peaceful.
The slight glow from the plants under the sea and the stars shining bright. So different from what she felt inside.
How could she not see Lo'ak.
With him in her world now, she couldn't imagine it any other way.
