The Irony of Life

"Is your mother awake?" Sylvan asked as Kaya entered the waiting room half an hour later.

"No, but the nurses said it's normal," Kaya replied with a sigh and Sylvan gave a small nod. After hesitating for a minute, Kaya let a question fly that was on her mind. "Did you really ask the best doctors to treat her?"

"I did," Sylvan said solemnly and a warmth spread through Kaya hearing that. But then Sylvan added, "I did promise you that and signed the contract, didn't I?"

"Ah, right. But thank you anyway," Kaya gave a polite nod and tried not to think why his answer made her a tiny bit disappointed. She reminded herself why she was there. He did his part of the contract, and it was her turn. "So we are going to meet your grandmother now? Can I ask how is she for you know . . . to be prepared a little bit."

"Yeah, I did tell you I would explain. Please have a seat," Sylvan gestured at the couch and Kaya sat down. Sylvan turned to her fully facing her and she thought he got tensed a little bit as if talking about this was not something he wanted to do. But he began anyway. "My Grandmother Aeri Park is very perspective and clever, so she would know very quickly if she finds something off. No excuses ever work on her. Also, she is the reason I have to get married. She is . . . not ok. Her body and heart are in a continuous battle to survive. She has a lot of illnesses which are slowly . . . exhausting her. And before she dies she wants me to fall in love and marry. Unfortunately, I don't have time for that. Not to mention the girls . . . my family had chosen for me are very . . . ambitious. Thus, I decided if I'm about to marry someone who will be with me for my money, I would rather do it in my term. Without any strings or expectations out of this relationship."

Hence, the do-not-fall-in-love rule, Kaya realized. It made a lot more sense now. Sylvan made a lot more sense to her. Kaya was glad to finally get some answers and get to know the man she agreed to marry, even if it was just a little. Sylvan was very practical about life, which Kaya didn't like but understood why someone in his position would be like this.

"But . . ." Kaya wrung her hands together. "If your grandmother is ill, will it be — you know — right to lie on her face?"

Sylvan observed Kaya with a thoughtful look before speaking,

"She needs something to live for, Kaya, and for that, I would take many chances."

Kaya leaned back slowly taking in Sylvan's brief answer. Life was so ironic, she thought, her mother wanted to live but they had no money for her treatment, whereas Sylvan had all the money in the world but his grandmother needed a reason to live. She realized in a way, that she and Sylvan were quite similar in this situation, she was doing everything for her mother and he for his grandmother.

"And the reason we have to meet her today is that she refused to come home from hospital unless I show her my bride," Sylvan said with somewhat tiredness in his voice.

"Oh, so if I meet her today —" Kaya caught on.

"She would come home, yes," Sylvan finished.

"Ok . . . then let's do this," Kaya stood up with a deep breath. Sylvan helped her with her mother and now she would help him with his grandmother. Also, the way Sylvan spoke about his grandmother, broke Kaya's heart a little bit. But then something else dawned on her. "What do I say to your grandmother, though? Like we didn't decide what we say to everyone? We need to come up with a story if we want them to believe we are in love and stuff. And what if I fumble the first day and your grandmother gets suspicious?"

Sylvan's dark eyes looked more and more amused as Kaya kept talking, his mouth almost curved at the end.

"Then we probably should decide on a story first," he supplied seeing Kaya absolutely unnerved.

"Yes, ok. So our story is we have been dating and in love . . . for how long?" Kaya jumped back down on the couch and looked at him seriously.

"Six months?" He suggested.

"Six months are enough to get married?" Kaya repeated before she could stop herself.

"Are even ten years sufficient to know a person?" Sylvan raised his one eyebrow and Kaya let out a small chuckle.

"Definitely not," she agreed, shaking her head with a bitter smile. No matter how much you know someone it was never enough. But— "For the sake of appearance, I think six months are too little. I would like the time period to be a little bit longer to be believable. How about a year?"

"That wouldn't be believable either," Sylvan's eyes changed, but Kaya didn't notice and asked,

"Why?"

At her question, Sylvan's expression turned stony and Kaya's smile faded.

"How about ten months?" He offered dryly.

"If that's what you like." Kaya didn't argue.

"I think that's enough for now," Sylvan stood up abruptly. "We need to meet Grandmother. It's getting late. I have work to do."

"But we barely discussed anything!" Kaya leaped out of the couch as Sylvan started walking. "What if your grandmother asks me what your favorite color is or how did we meet?"

Sylvan paused at the door, his back to Kaya as he spoke without humor, "Then it would be a good opportunity to see if you can improvise."

"What?" Kaya almost screamed in frustration as Sylvan walked out. She groaned clenching her fist and wondering what the hell just happened.

Almost fuming Kaya caught up to Sylvan, just as he knocked on a suite door a little farther from Kaya's mother's room. Kaya glared at him as fear crept in. Did he want her to fail? Probably not, right? He wanted to take his grandmother home today, right? It was just a test, right?

"Come in," a soft and old voice answered from inside.

Glancing at Kaya for a second, Sylvan opened the door and stepped inside. Kaya quietly followed.

"Grandma?" Sylvan called and Kaya noticed his voice got a lot softer.

An old but elegant woman slowly looked up from the book she was holding in her wrinkled hands, sitting comfortably on the bed. Though all the suites of the hospital had the same structure, this room looked really cozy, with potted plants near the big window, a photo frame and some books stacked on the bedside table, and soft calming music playing from a small portable speaker beside the books.

Kaya's eyes swept over the entire room before meeting Sylvan's grandmother's gaze. Kaya tensed a little as she glanced at her but out of habit, Kaya smiled.

Sylvan's Grandmother gave a small smile back and removing her glasses she turned to Sylvan expectantly.

"It's her. The one you are trying to meet for months," Sylvan stated folding his arms in front of him.

Grandma Aeri's eyes lit up as she looked back at Kaya with great interest.

"Hello," Kaya slightly bowed in respect and smiled nervously.

"You sure you brought the right person, boy?" Grandma Aeri's smile stretched, she put down her book and looked back and forth between Sylvan and her, and Kaya discovered where Sylvan had gotten his piercing gaze from. Sylvan also tensed under his grandmother's doubtful and a bit mocking stare.

Sylvan did warn her that he could handle everyone except his Grandma. So taking a deep breath, Kaya pulled a big smile.

"Sorry, Grandma, I was just so nervous to meet you that I just got tongue-tied a bit. Please forgive me."

Grandma Aeri's gaze softened at Kaya's words.

"You were nervous because you cared, darling. There is no need to be sorry about it," Grandma returned Kaya's smile warmly. "What's your name, darling?"

"Kaya, Grandma. Kaya Sah," Kaya answered and Grandma Aeri looked thoughtful.

"Kaya Sah?" she repeated and Kaya nodded.

While Grandma Aeri wrinkled her eyebrows looking deep in thought, Kaya stared at the machines behind Grandma's bed. Like her mother, she was also tied to needles and machines, which tugged at Kaya's heart making her sad.

"How is your health, Grandma? How are you doing now?" Kaya asked concerned.

Grandma and Sylvan both looked at her. Grandma's eyes twinkled as she looked at her then glanced at Sylvan with a small secret smile.

"I am, now that I will see my big Grandson marry such a beautiful girl," Grandma looked back at Kaya.

Kaya was startled and turned red at the compliment. She wasn't expecting his grandma to be this nice and sweet.

Seeing Kaya all red, Grandma chuckled.

and beckoned her close.

"Where did you find such a precious girl, Syl?" Grandma asked Sylvan and Kaya pressed her lips together to stop herself from smiling. Grandma asked the same question Kaya warned Sylvan about, which he ignored. But now what?