Call of the Night

Part 1

500 years later......

"What?" I say astonished by my father's words.
"You are already seventeen, yet you are unmarried" my father's voice is careful as he sat in his chair looking at some scrolls instead of meeting my eye "throw away the musician idea. The society has no space for more kids playing strings."
I urged myself to swallowed the words that was triggered by his insult. Unable to stay in his presence no longer I took off looking for my mother in the kitchen.

My dear mother sat gracefully as she pour tea for our visitor who sit across from her. "Have you heard of father's decision for me? She is marrying me off to one of his costumers."
My mother clears her throat  while glancing back and forth between me and the old man she's having tea with "Kuan Tian don't be rude. Mr. Shen is only worried about your future" mother glance at her visitor then bow in apology.

Her visitor was an old man who has a hobby of scratching his beard frequently. He must be the caring old man that I am being pushed to, Shen. He looks like he is in his 70's. When he saw that my eyes landed on him he smiled gleefully showing that he is missing two teeth in front that I myself would have knocked off if he tries anything funny. Must've caused by aging.

"Ones again my apologies Mr. Shen. she is only nervous in your presence" my mother smiles to Shen.
"That is alright. I was the same in my first time of marriage" Shen says.

When was that a million years ago? This old man is trying to get a taste of youth.

"Mother you told me that I would soon marry Xi Guang?" I say.

Hohoho my mothers covers her own mouth as she laugh embarrassingly. "My husband will be with you Mr.Shen. For now I will help my daughter dress for you"
Mr. Shen nod at my mother as he look at her exposed cleavage.

Seriously she is worse than the women in the red district.

As she approach me I can see a glint of annoyance in her eyes. She got a hold of my waist and drag me out of the kitchen. I could feel her nails digging on my pelvis. A tiny sound of agony escape from my lips.

When she thinks that our conversation is out of Mr. Shen's ears she turn to me and said "The boy has not returned for 3 years. Do you think I'd let my child grow old over a childish promise?" she sighs.

"Could I at least choose my own groom?" I say almost begging her to say yes.

"No" she says, stern.

"Oh great... That's very fair..... Diao Chan can pick hers and I can't" I say mockingly but behind it was the truth.

"Well it's not like you have so much offers. It's not my fault you didn't inherit my beauty. Besides when you turn 18 you'll be too old for matchmaking and you'll be as good as dead. You might as well think about the red district" every word was a stab to the heart.

That's because when someone is interested you always show off Diao Chan and brag about how much better she is than me. Those words almost came out from my mouth. Words that posses my jealousy over my sister who is a model of perfection. From every tips of her dark silky hair to her toe nails, it can leave every man swooning in her footsteps. Even the sun is jealous that it would dare hurt her white skin. My mother was so proud of her that she might as well scream it all over the city that she is her daughter. My sister was known from every part of the city. You might even hear her name from other cities.

And then there's me. Crickets will sing when they hear my footsteps and the sun is my friend. We play all day when I was young. When you look at me with my family, everyone thought I was foreigner who just happen to walk in the same spot. My hair is black and wavy. My hand is calloused and my nails are chipped from playing different instruments everyday. I am well known in the farm since I like to play my flute there to ease their lonely spirit. Xi Guang and I also met in the farm. He was a hardworking young man who likes to listen to my music. When he reached 17 and I was 14 he spoke to my father about marrying me when he comes back. He left without telling me why. Yet I was pleased by his promise since even though he ones caught a glimpse of my sister his heart still belonged to me. He said there is no one more beautiful than I then he hugged me in his arms. It was so tight that it was hard to breath but I didn't mind. When he let go tears started swelling from his eyes.