Secretly Married

"Eat a lot dear, don't be shy. You are probably starving."

Said the woman as she added some more food on my plate. Her hooded eyes were jet black, and the visible wrinkles in her face are telling a lot about her age. Like an almond tree that has flourished in its season, her grey hair was neatly coiffed in a tight bun.

She has a plump body and dressed up in tattered clothes that have few visible mends. Even though she's a foot away from me, she gives off the scent of lavender.

"Tell me, dear, what's your name?"

"Phaedon."

"You have such a beautiful name, Phaedon. So, how are you feeling now?"

"I'm feeling better, thank you for looking after me."

Her question diverted my attention to my body. I tried moving some parts of it and was expecting to feel some excruciating pain but to my surprise, I didn't felt anything that will make me cry in agony.

I feel sore entirely, but nothing more. For someone who had been in a life and death situation, it is a miracle that I made it out alive in one piece with nothing but a sore body. I can still see bruises and scratches on my arms and hands and even felt the throbbing pain in my forehead caused by a wound -- other than that, nothing more.

"Call me Aunt Marcy."

She said smiling at me, as she pushed the bowl of mushroom soup before me, encouraging me to get another helping.

"Where are you from?"

Her question came to me like cold water. I should not tell anyone about my real identity. If Leo witnessed me falling off from the cliff, they will regard me as a dead body now. But knowing my mom, she won't believe any of it -- not until a dead body is presented to her.

I should keep a low profile to cover tracks. I shouldn't have told her my name, but it's too late now. She will get suspicious or may ask more if I take it back.

"Just from the small town of --"

Before I could say more, our attention was diverted from the creaking sound of the bed. The figure which was lying down on the bed sat down. For a moment she sat there as she looked down at her hands. I was amused by the way she checks herself.

She ran her hands through her body and kneads herself in between -- in her arms, her face, her legs, and her feet.

I don't know if she's trying to feel herself like the way I did with myself earlier. Like me, she's also probably been in disbelief that she's still alive and kicking. She looked in our direction for a few minutes. She then rose slowly and made her way to join us on the table. I froze when her face came to light.

A chill ran down my spine, I felt some fluttering in my stomach, as my heartbeat raised. Suddenly, images of her came flashing back to me.

The angel who caught me -- but no, it can't be. I was delirious at that time. It was just a product of my hallucinations.

"Sit down here dear. I'm glad you're up to join us for dinner."

Aunt Marcy's hoarse voice broke the silence. She offered the sit just across me, as she put a plate and a soup bowl in front of her. I can't believe her strong resemblance to Celandine. The only difference she had is her pastel pink locks and full-fringed bangs that draw attention to her mint green eyes.

She closed her eyes and clasp her hands together as she bowed her head. After a moment, she started to serve herself with mushroom soup and chicken. I pretended to eat as I steal glances at her.

I can't keep myself from not staring at her -- she reminds me of my wife.

"You two are a beautiful couple. It fascinates me to watch young couples getting married and start a family."

We stared into each other awkwardly, then to Aunt Marcy. She must've guessed what was in our heads.

"I figured out from the wedding bands."

"Do you live here alone Aunt Marcy?"

I said to change the course of the conversation. The girl in front of me was about to say something to Aunt Marcy but I cut her off before she could. I gave her a sharp look in the hopes to keep her mouth shut.

I can use her to my advantage.

"I have been since my husband left me."

Her cheery face suddenly turned gloomy. She didn't frown, but her eyes shone like as if tears are about to well up. I might've struck the wrong chord.

"I'm sorry Aunt Marcy, I shouldn't have asked."

"It's alright dear. I will leave the two of you to finish dinner. I will go to the well and fetch some water."

"Please, let me do the fetching. Just retire to bed and rest. We will take care of the chores."

She smiled and patted me in the head, then turned her attention to the girl sitting in front of me.

"Alright. Can both of you manage?"

"Yes, of course! It's the least we could do." The girl answered in a cheerful voice as she sipped a spoonful of soup.

"What should I call you by the way?"

"Call me Estrelle, A-aunt Marcy? Right?"

"Yes, it is. I will retire to my bed then. Aunt Marcy has to leave for work early tomorrow. We can all talk about what happened to both of you tomorrow when I return home."

What she said struck me hard. An old woman living alone and working to put food on the table. How can the world be cruel and unfair? This fact alone made me sick and disgusted.

Her last sentence though suddenly put my mind at work to come up with a believable story without giving out any clues of who am I and making both of them suspicious.

"Where do you work, and what kind of work do you do?" I asked in curiosity.

"I work in the lavender fields at the nearby city as a picker. They pay a good amount there."

Her answer made me frown even more. There's only one lavender field in the entire town of Beaumonde -- and it belongs to my mother.

"Aunt Marcy, show me around for a bit and tell me where the well is."

She stood up and headed out of the cabin. I followed her as she showed me where the water containers were. As we made our way to the well, I took the chance to discuss something important to her.

"Aunt Marcy, I wanted to tell you something. My wife and I have run away and got married secretly. Our families are against it, and we are worried that they might come after us if they find out our whereabouts. We will truly appreciate it if you could keep this a secret."

I saw her turned pink and laugh out loud.

"Young people these days. They will do anything in the name of love. If you have moved heaven and earth, you must be prepared for the storms and earthquakes."

What she said came out like a riddle.

"But yes, I will keep it a secret. You two can live with me until you get to decide what you're going to do next."

"Please do not mention this to my wife Aunt Marcy. She's not someone who easily trusts anyone, and I don't want to worry her to the fact that someone else knows our secret."

She nodded then gave me a light tap on the shoulders. We headed back to the cabin. As we walked in Estrelle was putting the dishes away. Aunt Marcy went to her room leaving the two of us to ourselves.

It is the first time that I paid attention to the small cabin. It has one room -- which is being occupied by Aunt Marcy. Beside it is another door which I assume is the bathroom.

The moment you enter the door, you will be welcomed by a four sitter dining table. A few meters further to its right is an unkempt fireplace. An old round carpet that has a faint reddish color and worn-out prints.

A makeshift bed in the living room by the window, then just a few feet away from it is a brown leather tattered sofa. I brought my attention back to where Estrelle stood. She's at the kitchen sink a few meters away from me, washing the dishes.

The faint light coming from the oil lamp made her appear as Celandine to me. The thought of her made my heart longed for her. The wedding ring in my hand made me reminisce about our happy moments together.

We have just married a few days ago, we haven't even consummated our marriage yet -- and like a nasty joke from the universe, we were drifted apart. I need to know what happened to her, to us on that fateful day.

I will find you Celandine. I will. Whatever it takes.

"Do you want to drink some tea?"

A sweet voice snapped me back to my senses. I must be so lost in thoughts not to notice her when she approached me.

"Aunt Marcy seemed to have a lot of lavender here. I never tried lavender tea before, but I've seen a lot of people enjoying them."

She continued with a light smile on her face.

"Tea is perfect. Let's have it outside."

I said pushing out a smile. She looked elated to hear my answer. She went back to the kitchen to prepare the tea.

I don't know who she is, I don't have a clue how we end up being drawn together in this. The way Aunt Marcy said it -- it is more likely that we were found together somewhere.

I could not let my guard down. The fact that she's a total stranger means I could not trust her. She can be a spy planted by my mother or might be from other mafias. Anyone who is up for the job can play any role -- waiting for the right moment to pounce on me.

The fact that she has a strong resemblance to Celandine, could even mean that they are trying to manipulate me 'til I give in. She even has a ring to play her part well. Celandine's disappearance and her arrival cannot just be a mere coincidence.

I must trust no one.

It is the first rule of the House of the Thriving Gladiolus. All my life I was trained and brought up to not trust anyone, even my peers. I only trusted my mother, Leo, Celandine, and her father -- but the first two who I trusted the most, end up betraying me.

I will find out who you truly are Estrelle. I will know what your intentions are.