INCESTUOUS MARRIAGE (Blood Marriage)
CHAPTER 11 - INCESTUOUS MARRIAGE

MI.11 BACK TO SINGAPORE

ALBERT MA'S

Since the departure of Allura Gibson, I always took the time to go to my private island every weekend. In addition to giving up longing for him who until now did not know where, I also brought Adrian Ma with me to enjoy the beauty of the beach on our private island. It felt a lot different than usual, because lately I was just with Adrian Ma enjoying free time. But there was nothing I could do but take her to such a quiet private beach. Because by going to the beach, I can calm down while remembering various moments with Allura Gibson that are very attached to my memory.

Actually until now the trauma experienced by Adrian Ma never goes away. Although he had done some therapy with some experts, while sleeping he was still often delirious as if he was drowning. I always felt sad and guilty at the sight of such an unpleasant sight. But I also feel relieved to see him get through the days well. He never seemed to be afraid of the beach or the sea despite having a bad experience. So that I do not feel any difficulty when bringing him here to calm down after busy activities every day. Adrian Ma has turned into a quiet and slightly moody person after the departure of Allura Gibson. But he was not a timid and reliable child. And I'm sure as time goes by everything will be fine.

When Allura Gibson is still by my side, I will go to this island with him and Adrian Ma. The three of us will have a great day, like having a picnic and playing sand together. But the last few weeks have only been me, Adrian Ma and a few babysitters. As well as Violetta Winston who came over without being asked. I don't know for sure why he's been seeing me and Adrian Ma a lot lately. But the sense of indebtedness towards him who had saved Adrian Ma, made it difficult for me to refuse his arrival. Although I knew, Allura Gibson would never like his presence between us.

"Albert, what are you daydreaming about?" suddenly I heard a familiar voice from behind.

I, who was sitting at the beach, spontaneously turned to the direction from which the voice came. Looked Violetta Winston who just came walking up to me. With a slightly startled feeling I asked, "Why are you here, Violet? Since when did you come?"

"I just came. Wh why? Are you unhappy with my presence?"

"Bu-not so. I'm just shocked that you came so suddenly. How did you know I was here?"

"I just follow my heart and mind. Because my heart and mind told me that you were going here to spend the weekend, so I came here to catch up with you."

I felt less happy with the answer Violetta Winston gave me. Even though he helped me find Adrian Ma, that doesn't mean I've forgotten the bad things he did to Allura Gibson. In a flat tone I again asked, "What are you following me for?"

"I-i... I came to see Adrian. I'm worried. So I took the initiative to come here to see how things are going."

I just kept quiet without responding to Violetta Winston's nervous remarks. Without caring about it anymore, I again leaned my body on the lounge chair facing the sea that this afternoon looked sparkling. While Violetta Winston stepped forward near the sand beach that was not too far from my position to relax. He spread his arms as if he was enjoying the gentle breeze of the beach while saying, "This place is really very beautiful."

I was still silent without responding to Violetta Winston's words that looked so happy. Then he turned to me who did not care about his whereabouts and again said, "Albert, isn't the villa finished? Why don't you move here."

"Allura has not been found until now. How can I move here without him?"

"Did you wake up to live with him?"

"Yes. I built it for Allura. So I'm moving here with him."

"It is unfortunate, until now Allura has also not been found. But this villa on your private island is so beautiful. You can rent it out first before moving here. If Allura has been found, you can live happily together in this place."

I took a deep breath as Violetta Winston reminded me of some of Allura Gibson's wishes. In a low voice I said, "No. I'm not gonna rent it out."

"Why? It's a very good opportunity, Albert."

"I knew. But I'm not gonna rent it out."

"If you don't want to rent it out for other people to live in, with this spacious courtyard and beautiful ocean views, you can rent it out to be this place as a wedding venue or other party."

"There will be no party on this island. In addition to my wedding with Allura which will be held after she returns."

Violetta Winston was silent for a moment while looking at me who was still sitting in the lounge chair. With teary eyes he asked, "Do you still wish he would come home?"

"Yes, of course I'm still expecting him to come home. Unless he left because he died. If that happens, I'll still choose him in the next life."

Violetta Winston nodded her head in response to my words that seemed to be dividing the two of you. He looked back at the vast ocean before his eyes. And so did I who didn't want to talk to her much. We were both silent and dissolved in each other's thoughts for quite a while. Until finally he returned to sound to break the atmosphere, "Albert..."

"Yes." Yeah."

"This morning I just got the news about Joshua who died two weeks ago. Did you know that?"

"I didn't think he was going to leave so soon. It feels like just yesterday we got together and had coffee together while enjoying the view of the London Eye. I missed that moment so much when the three of us were still so close."

I took a deep breath and gently threw it away to suppress my sadness. Even though my relationship with Joshua wasn't as familiar as it used to be, his departure really made me feel sad. In a low voice I said, "Time keeps turning, things change over time. What used to be is the past, what will happen is the future. We don't know what will happen in the future. But I don't want to go back in time either. What has happened, that's the best thing for each of us."

****

ALLURA GIBSON

After my best friend Joshua passed away, I felt like my life was getting worse. Not only did I lose the happy family I had dreamed of with Albert Ma, but I also lost a friend who had always been there for me. Ever since Joshua was no longer by my side, I had such intense inner pressure. Not only did the mood change suddenly in an increasingly long time, but I also had a depression that was very difficult for me to control. So the people who saw me in a bad state, thought I was a strange woman.

I don't know for sure what really happened to me. As I reflected, I no longer saw the once graceful and charmed Allura Gibson. Now there is only a Lula Gibson with a shabby appearance and a thin dry body. Even though I was pregnant with my second child, my appetite was getting lower and lower until my body turned thin and dry in just a short time. I am no longer interested in taking care of myself to keep performing well. So that I always look pale even though I have dressed up as best I can.

Right now I'm not only losing my way, but I'm also losing my spirit. Sometimes I think about ending my useless life. But I also do not want to kill the life of my future baby by destroying myself. Although later I could not raise as well as I did Adrian Ma, but at least he grew well in my upbringing. Even though I don't have anything like it used to, at least my baby-to-be is the only treasure I have. So I chose to stay because he deserved to live.

Too long to live without direction in a country of people and without someone who would accompany me like Joshua, made me give up. After thinking about it very carefully and consciously, I who no longer know where and what to do, finally chose to go home. Actually I still want to live a quiet life as long as in Thimphu. But as my body deteriorated further and my mental health became increasingly disturbed by uncontrollable emotions, I followed Uncle Joshua's advice to return to my country. With the money that Joshua once gave me, I finally set foot in my homeland today.

I came home today not to go back to Albert Ma who had hurt my feelings. But I came back for myself and also my baby-to-be. Even though I never contacted my family who might still be looking for me. I also did not think of returning to the Albert Ma residence that I had occupied for many years. In order to keep my whereabouts secret, I chose to contact my old friend Felicia. Because I feel like he's one of my closest trusted friends besides Joshua. And right now I really miss him a lot.

"Felicia, where are you? I just got to the airport." I spoke to Felicia who just answered my phone call.

"What's? Have you reached the airport?" Felicia asked me in a surprised tone.

"Yes, I've arrived at Changi Airport. Where are you Felicia?"

Nervously he replied, "I-I... I'm still at my friend's birthday party. Will you arrive in Singapore at 2 a.m? Why did you get to 12pm, Allura?"

"Have you forgotten that Singapore is 2 hours ahead of Bhutan? Of course I got here at 12 p.m., Felicia."

"God... I forgot that we had a time difference. Would you wait a minute? I'll ask my brother Lucas for help to pick you up."

While continuing to walk towards the baggage claim area I said, "Lucas? I asked you to pick me up. But you asked Lucas to come get me."

"It's okay, Allura. He is my brother. So you can trust him. Now I'm attending my girlfriend's birthday party at her family's house. It would be impolite if I just left. If I leave, I'll probably be a single woman longer. Heheh..."

I smiled faintly at Felicia's words across the phone. In a calmer tone I said, "Alright, then. I'll wait for Lucas here to pick me up. Don't take too long, I'm afraid someone else will recognize me."

"Good, Boss. Lucas' position is not far from there. It'll be here in a few minutes. Wait for him in the waiting room. And don't leave until he comes."

"alright. Now continue your party. See you at the villa."

"We met in my apartment. If you go to the villa, there will be people who recognize you. Did you forget that my villa was rented?"

"OKAY. See you at the apartment."

After ending the phone call with Felicia, I who had reached the baggage claim area immediately searched for my suitcase. Luckily it didn't take me long to wait and find some of my suitcases. Then I immediately stepped into the waiting room in the arrival hall to wait for Lucas to pick me up. Throughout the journey from the beginning of the descent to the arrival hall of the airport, my heart was always shrouded in worry. Not only did I feel worried about my body feeling weaker than before. But I'm also worried that someone else will recognize me while I wait for Lucas to arrive. So I chose to sit on one of the waiting chairs in the corner of the hall while covering my face with scarves draped around my neck.

I don't know exactly how long I've been waiting for Lucas in the waiting room. My worry made me dissolve into my own thinking which grew increasingly chaotic. I wanted to stop by Jewel Changi for a moment to enjoy the atmosphere I missed when I was with Albert Ma. But I, who was afraid that I would meet people I knew, chose to undo my intentions and remain seated in the waiting room. I finally heard the voice of a man calling my name, "Allura... Allura's..."

Spontaneously I turned to the direction where the voice came from. Looks like a casual-looking Lucas ran a little towards me while smiling broadly at me. At the same time 'I got up from my seat to say, "Lucas..."

"Allura, long time no see. How's it going? Are you all right? Why do you look so skinny like you do now?"

I, who did not know what to answer, shed tears at the question Lucas asked me. Without thinking long, I hugged her tightly to vent my sadness that I had long endured. So Lucas who looked confused again asked, "Allura, are you okay?"