Mary and Yusuf were seated on the stage. The hall was buzzing with activity—food had been served, and everyone was busy eating. Mary's family was occupied chatting with relatives, while Mary and Yusuf sat there in complete silence.
Mary didn't look happy at all. Yusuf, on the other hand, seemed… normal. At least on the surface.
Mary clearly wasn't going to start a conversation, so Yusuf did.
"Your name is Mary, right?"
Hearing his voice from the side, she didn't even turn to look at him. Keeping her face straight, she simply replied, "Hmm."
Silence fell again. Mary started wondering whether he had even heard that quiet response. She glanced at him.
"You knew my father," she said, her tone edged with anger.
"Hmm," Yusuf replied in the same flat way, still looking ahead.
Mary turned her gaze forward again. Her head started spinning. Part of her wanted to bombard him with questions right then and there—but she stopped herself. She'd ask him everything later, once they were home. She didn't want to create a scene in front of her family.
When Mary noticed her mother walking toward the stage, she quickly fixed her expression, trying to look a little more composed.
"Mary, should I get you some food?" Sarah asked with a gentle smile.
"No, I'm not hungry right now, Mom," Mary replied, forcing a small smile.
Yusuf had turned his face away, staring somewhere off to the side.
Sarah didn't feel like asking him either, but she had to. With a strained smile, she turned to him.
"Yusuf."
At the sound of her voice, Yusuf—lost in thought—looked toward her.
"Aren't you going to eat?" she asked softly.
"No," Yusuf replied, then turned away again.
"Mom, you eat," Mary said quickly. "Don't worry about me. I'll eat later."
"I don't know if you'll even get the chance later," Sarah said quietly, lowering her gaze.
That brought Yusuf back from his thoughts.
"I'm fine. Please don't worry," Mary said with a faint smile.
Finally, Sarah stepped down from the stage and went to eat.
Once again, the two of them were alone on the stage.
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"Look at them—sitting there on the stage like statues," Anita, Mary's sister, muttered.
John, Mary's brother, was staring at Mary and Yusuf too, clearly irritated by the silence.
"I've got an idea," John said, a strange grin spreading across his face.
"Please, John, just don't," Anita rolled her eyes. "Your ideas are always terrible."
"Hey, at least hear me out," John insisted. "Why don't we go up there and entertain them a little?"
Anita shot him a look. "Are you crazy? You'll create a scene for no reason."
"No, nothing like that. Come on," John said, pushing the idea.
"…Fine," Anita sighed, a little nervous. "But please, don't do anything stupid."
"Relax. Let's go," John said cheerfully, already heading toward the stage. Anita followed behind him.
They climbed the steps and stood in front of Mary and Yusuf.
Both Mary and Yusuf looked up at them at the same time.
The moment John noticed Yusuf looking at him, he flashed a big smile and made a casual gesture. Yusuf returned it with a faint smile.
"You two weren't talking at all, so—" Anita had just started when Mary shot her a sharp look, clearly signaling shut up. But Anita was never the type to back off.
"So we thought we'd come over and do a little Q&A," she said, laughing lightly.
"I'll go first," John said, turning toward Yusuf with a half-smile.
Yusuf shifted his attention to him.
"So my question is…"
John paused, thinking what to ask. After glancing at Mary—who was looking visibly irritated and deliberately avoiding everyone—
He finally asked, "Will you keep my sister happy?"
Mary snapped her head toward John in shock. Anita stared at him too, making an awkward face.
Before Yusuf could even respond, Mary jumped in, clearly done with the suspense.
"Did you two seriously come up here for these stupid questions? Go eat your food."
Anita instantly understood from Mary's expression that she was extremely annoyed. She and John started to step away from the stage when—
"Of course."
Yusuf spoke up, looking directly at John.
"I'll do my best to keep your sister happy," he said with a smile.
Mary's heart started pounding hard.
Was that… normal? she wondered.
Or was it just creepy? Because that sounded really creepy.
John and Anita exchanged a look, then smiled at the groom and stepped off the stage.
Mary felt sweat on her face as she sat completely still. Beside her, Yusuf was still smiling.
Both of them drifted into their own thoughts—until someone stepped onto the stage.
They looked up at the same time.
A man stood in front of them, wearing a black suit, white shirt, perfectly fitted, hair neatly styled.
Mary's expression changed instantly.
"Noah…" she whispered under her breath.
Noah stood there for a moment, smiling as he looked at both of them.
"You actually make a good couple," he said, glancing at Yusuf. Yusuf simply looked back at him and gave a faint smile.
From behind, when Anita turned around and looked back at the stage, she suddenly froze. Without taking her eyes off it, she smacked John's arm.
John flinched in confusion. "What?"
Then he looked toward the stage—and saw Noah standing there.
All of a sudden, Noah dropped to one knee right in front of Mary.
"Oh shoot," Anita muttered under her breath, staring from a distance.
"John, do something—he's about to mess things up."
Both of them watched the stage tensely.
"I'm going," John said, already moving toward the stage.
Meanwhile, Noah was sitting in front of Mary, looking up at her with a smile.
Yusuf finally turned his gaze toward Noah. There was something strange in his eyes—something unreadable.
"So my first question is for Mary," Noah said, still looking straight at her.
Mary was visibly nervous now, sweat forming as panic set in.
"Noah… please go. Leave," she whispered, glancing around anxiously.
"Why the rush?" Noah said lightly, placing his hand over hers—but then stopping midair. He turned his head toward Yusuf, who was staring back at him with an unsettling look.
"Oh—sorry," Noah chuckled, pulling his hand back.
"I heard that's not allowed in your religion."
Yusuf listened silently, his face completely straight.
"But Mary isn't Muslim," Noah added with a small grin.
"So for her, it's allowed."
Yusuf's expression hardened, irritation flashing through him.
"But don't worry," Noah said casually.
"I won't say anything today."
Mary turned to look at him. Noah was still smiling—his eyes fixed on Yusuf now.
John climbed onto the stage and leaned close to Noah's ear.
"Please don't create a scene."
Noah laughed softly and stood up.
"Well then, I should get going," he said, smiling at both of them one last time.
"What else could happen now?" he muttered, turning his gaze toward Mary.
"She betrayed me and…"
Then he looked at Yusuf.
"…married him instead."
Yusuf snapped his eyes toward Noah instantly.
"Noah, let's go," John said, gripping his arm lightly and guiding him off the stage.
As they walked away, Noah glanced back one last time, gave a faint smile—and then turned away.
☆☆☆☆☆