The Bachelor Party Aftermath

It was 5 in the morning, only a few hours before the sunrise.

Michael forced himself to wake up and grumble in agony over his hungover. He skip his way through the unmoving bodies of his fellow ex-crews to where he store his fresh water. On the way he saw Jones' idiot face, totally exhausted after a night of partying and crying in self-pity.

Michael snickered and drew some dicks in Jones' face with a simple prestidigitation and then move on.

He walked outside the inn to get some fresh air when he noticed that Junior is already there.

"Hey, you wake up really early."

"Hm? Oh, hello there Michael." Junior turned and smiled when he saw Michael approaching.

"Did you sleep at all?"

"No I don't, I just can't seem to sleep."

"Too nervous? The wedding is mine yet you look more nervous than I am." Michael laughed.

"Haha yeah."

and then silence.

Michael started to feel awkward. He have spent some time hanging out with Junior in the past, during and after the journey but this Junior feel different from how he usually is.

"Um." he tried to break the silence.

"Yes?" Junior turned to look at him

"Eh, huh. Er, are you thinking of marrying someone?" Michael said the first thing that came into his mind and quickly regretted it.

Why did I ask something stupid like that? Michael feel like stabbing himself in the eyes.

But surprisingly, Junior's face turned so red you'd think the sun have risen already.

"Eh? Wait do you mean." Michael who asked that question out of nowhere is unsure on how he should react.

"..."

"Wait? Really? Who is it?"

"Hey, what do you think marriage is?"

"..."

Suddenly the table is turned and Michael is confused.

"Er..."

"I've been thinking all night... what does it mean to love someone and what do people think when they decide to finally marry someone."

"Hum. I don't know either." Michael shrugged

"Eh? How can you marry Cecil with such a lighthearted feeling toward marriage you fool!" Junior suddenly got angry at Michael

"Wait wait wait, it's not like I take her lightly! I really love her, I do!"

"Then what was that response from before?"

"Um, well how do I say it? Love is... hum... like when we travel together as crewmates on Takdir." Michael started to gather his thoughts.

"We spent a lot of precious memories together, and it was really fun... but then we split up and see the world on our own again. There are moments that you experienced alone you know?"

"Like looking at a really beautiful sunset in the horizon, don't you sometime feel like "ah, I want her to see this scenery too." or something like that?"

Junior stares at Michael.

"Well, yeah that's what I think. The feeling you have when you're together and the desire to share every precious moment you have with that special person."

"Hm..."

"I started to travel to find my place in the world, right? I told you before. And now I'm sure that my place in the world have two seats in it and that's with her... that's why I decide to marry and AAARGH! I don't know how to say it, you're the poet! Say something!"

Junior shook his head and smiled at Michael.

"No, I understand what you're trying to say."

At that moment, the sun started to rise and Michael can see the lights reaching to the town from Junior's back.

Junior turned his back to see the sunrise and whispered slowly to Michael.

"Thank you. I won't waver any longer."