Late

Chapter Five

You had no idea how exhausted you were; you slept for the entire day. When you woke up, it was the next day. You woke up with a smile on your face. Like it was a really big cheesy grin.

Truth be told it had been a long time since you'd seen any action. It had been about a year. You'd never felt like this after though. Your body felt relaxed, and your mind felt calm. The last time you'd slept through the entire night let alone an entire day was back before you started working for the Udakus. You rose from your plush king-sized bed and stretched your limbs. You yawned into the empty space and moaned dropping back into the comfortable blankets. You didn't want to get up; you didn't want to leave this room. You wanted to lie here and go over that night over and over again.

You looked over to the clock on your nightstand, it was 10:30 in the morning. You couldn't remember the last time you slept all night, let along an entire day, it must have been before you began working for the Udakus. Before laying eyes on him. You knew you had work to do. You groaned your frustration. The workaholic in you wouldn't let you be great and lounge in bed. You sighed out once more before flicking the blankets off your body and climbing out the bed.

You walked across your large bedroom to the window and peeped out. It was another beautiful morning in Wakanda. The sun was shining brightly in the sky, and you knew that everywhere, and everyone was already in full swing of daily tasks and duties. You were behind.

You dressed as normal. Something in you wanted to make an effort though so you did. You took the time to beat your face, and select an outfit you knew T'Challa would like, one that would accentuate your figure without being too showy. You settled on a brightly colored tribal print skirt full of pinks, reds, yellows, and blues that wrapped around your stomach just underneath your breast. You paired it with a white elbow length dress shirt. You tucked it in and left three buttons of the shirt open.

Glancing in the mirror, you assessed if you were being thirsty or sexy. Deciding the thirst was real, you buttoned one more button only leaving two open. You chose to pair it with some brown strappy sandals and some minimal jewelry. Moving on to your hair, you decided to put your hair up into a casual, effortless bun and call it a good look.

Once you were pleased with the way you looked and smelled, you began to make your way to your office to attempt to get some work done.

When you made it to the common areas of the palace, you noticed that there was a lot of chatter. You listened in on passing conversations. The king had an announcement and requested everyone within the palace in the throne room. You walked into your office and took up the stack of mail and messages that your assistant left out for you. As you went through it, she approached you.

"Are you going to the throne room, y/n?" Gizi, your assistant asked.

"I was going to get started on some work but, the king calls," you plainly said.

She smiled.

"Shall we walk together?" She asked.

You nodded and smiled warmly at her. You put the stack of mail on your desk and turned to walk out with Gizi. She'd been your assistant for the last six years, and she was a good one. She anticipated your every request and often finished your sentences. She was easy to get along with also and was a sweet woman.

The crowd filled out as the two of you followed everyone into the throne room. You saw Queen Ramonda standing on one side of the throne with Shuri next to her and Nakia on the other side of the throne. You walked in more and took a spot not directly in the front but relatively close. Gizi stood next to you, and you could feel her excitement. You, on the other hand, could not muster any excitement. Your stomach felt weird; it had only felt like this a few other times mainly when you were delivered bad news. The room was buzzing with small chatter, but you weren't. You were silent, trying to shake the foreboding feeling. You caught Shuri's eyes, and she quickly looked away. That was weird you thought to yourself. One of the council members stepped forward.

"People of Wakanda. We've been blessed with the ascension of our king, King T'Challa," he began, then paused. The room erupted in tribal chanting. T'Challa did not look amused; he, in fact, looked distressed.

"We will always love our Queen Ramonda," said the council member. The room erupted again this time with added clapping. You smiled with your agreement.

"We have much to celebrate, and today we will give you more," the council member continued.

Everyone in the room looked at each other. You looked at the people in the front of the room, first Shuri who avoided your eyes, then Ramonda who looked at T'Challa as if she pitied him, then to Nakia who was beaming. Finally, your eyes sought out T'Challa's who had his head held high but eyes downcast to the floor. The feeling of dread in the pit of your stomach became intensified.

"Today, the council would like to announce the betrothal of our king--King T'Challa to...Nakia of the River Tribe."

The room erupted once again this time with clapping and chanting. You felt all the blood in your body turn ice cold. You lost your balance momentarily forcing Gizi to think quickly and catch you. She ensured you were all right. You nodded without hearing one word she spoke. You looked back to the front of the room and saw Nakia step toward T'Challa and slip her hand into his loosely clenched one that was resting on the armrests of the throne. He didn't hold it, but he also didn't pull away. You felt as if you were going to be sick.

At warp speed, the last six years flashed through your mind, the conversations, the looks. Then your mind went to the other night, the entire night beginning with the looks between the two of you, the touches he placed upon your skin, and across all of your body, his mouth and every place that sinful mouth traveled, and finally his hands and the level of skill they brought you to pleasure. Then finally to the following morning. How? Why? You were confused. You felt tears sting your eyes and knew you couldn't stay there.

"The wedding will take place in four weeks," the council member continued breaking you out of your erratic thoughts.

You felt like a fool, an idiot. You allowed him to touch you, to see you in the most intimate way for him to turn around and do this. You pressed a hand to your stomach as you felt the bout of nausea and the bile threatening to spew from your mouth. You looked up and saw Shuri looking at you; she looked sick as well. You couldn't look at him, because you knew you'd fall apart.

"Tonight there will be a feast in honor of the soon to be king and queen," the council member Ma'Uchi finished.

The pain you felt you'd never felt before. It was unbearable. Everyone within the room was hugging and cheering, and you knew you couldn't be there anymore. You turned and made your way through the crowd to exit the throne room as quickly as your feet could carry you. You bumped into a few people and didn't bother apologizing or stopping. Once outside you accidentally collided into Ayo. She looked at you, and her expression was one of softness, but you recognized a hint of pity. Figure that, a Dora Milaje worrier looking soft because even she knew how big a fool you were.

"I'm sorry Ayo, forgive me," you forced out before running down the hall.

Your tears fell freely from your eyes. You didn't know where your legs were moving to. You just kept running, but you knew you couldn't run from your broken heart.