I. Young Love
Diveria is a large world with many places to call home, but there’s one place in particular that few know exists. Deeply surrounded by cavernous walls lies the city of The Quo, home to the quorians. With thirty habitable levels, the city is as wide as it is high. On the outer limits of the eighth floor live the Jruks, a small family of three. Draka, the forty-two-year-old father, Birvena, the forty-one-year-old mother, and Jarvie, the sixteen-year-old son.“ Heading off to school, Mom. See you after,” Jarvie shouted, walking out of the house.
“Meet us at the restaurant later. We have a busy night,” Birvena replied.
Walking to school in the early hours, an unexpected presence rapidly approached him from behind.
“Boo!”
Jarvie jumped and spun around.
“Saune! What’d you do that for?” The couple laughed. Even with the excitement, the blue pigmentation of their skin remained unfazed. Ranging from shades of light blue to alluringly rich and deep, almost purple, the quorian community took pride in their radiating tones.
“I couldn’t resist. A scare is more alluring when you least expect it,” she admitted.
He laughed as they shared a kiss, walking together to school.
Jarvie and Saune were the ‘it’ couple amongst the students. They were well-liked, had a solid group of friends, and were genuinely good quorians. Slightly taller than she at 3’5”, Jarvie was considered tall for a quorian, as the average height was three-foot. His prominent eyebrow structure accentuated his ivory hair. While the top was short and choppy, there was a shoulder-length, thick braid in the back. A golden band sinched its end so brightly his steel blue hue reflected off it, complementing her intoxicating purple pigment well. The happiness shared between them exuded to those nearby.
They occasionally received comments from peers on their attractive physique, insisting they’d make beautiful children. Jarvie appreciated the compliments, but Saune didn’t. He knew it awoke a deep fear that haunted her, one that took a while for her to reveal to him.
Her inability to conceive a child.
Initially concerned, Jarvie acknowledged his adoration for her and asked himself, why should I give up on love for a baby I hardly know I want? Saune begged to never speak of her secret, but his passionate love for her made it easy to comply. He promised to never reveal her biggest vulnerability. Once they agreed that it wouldn’t be an issue, their love for one another blossomed.
When the school day ended, the ideal couple said goodbye to their friends and walked home. Saune was without a job, since her parents didn’t require her to work, but Jarvie did.
The Jruk’s owned a successful restaurant on the fifth floor in Restaurant Alley called Draka’s Diner. Family-owned for over twenty years, it was a reliably humble eatery well-known in the city. Since it was Draka’s dream, he decided to name the place after himself.
The young couple routinely visited Draka’s Diner after school to help. Out of respect for Draka and Birvena, Saune would assist Jarvie, as long as she didn’t have any schoolwork. Her intent was to spend time together, which would include working at the diner.
Eventually, the school year came to an end, and both students successfully graduated, with Saune at the top of their class. Jarvie did well, but never fully applied himself since he knew of his future. His parents had always hoped he’d take over Draka’s Diner, which Jarvie was very interested in. They never wanted to force it on him, but secretly hope he’d show interest. As long as he graduated, they promised to teach him what was necessary to ensure the continuation of their successful business.
Saune’s parents had different plans. As successful educators within the community, they expected her to follow in their footsteps. Unfortunately, she had no interest in the field, especially after forming a relationship with Jarvie.
Due to her strong feelings, Saune made a couple decisions that deeply upset her family. Officially abandoning her parent’s dream of going into education, she instead joined Jarvie working at Draka’s Diner. Her parents considered it a poor decision, undervaluing her potential and worth. They wanted the best and brightest for their daughter, so they struggled with her working at a restaurant.
Further disappointment arrived when Jarvie and Saune announced they were moving in together, and proclaiming their love for one another at The Enchanted Reservoir. Draka and Birvena couldn’t be more excited for the young quorians, offering their services to cater the event and to help with planning. Saune’s parents, however, struggled to understand their reality. Jarvie wished they’d discuss the matter between one another, but Saune refused.
Multiple attempts were made to open the dialogue, but Saune wouldn’t allow it. They became discouraged and lost hope. As much as her mother and father wanted to attend the service, they needed to know their daughter was certain.
“You undermine my knowledge,” she uttered to them. “I love you, but I’ll remember your lack of encouragement and support.”
“You mustn’t fault us for worrying,” her father pleaded. “Please sit down and t—”
But it was too late. Saune stormed out of the house, insisting for Jarvie to follow. Though he empathized with her parents, he remained loyal to his wife-to-be.
3 Responses
Intriguing! Although we’re not dealing with “humans,” these characters really come to life in a way that I can identify with. I want to turn to the next “page!”
I absolutely love it…not gonna lie, you broke my heart a little there…was not expecting that to turn out in such a way!!
This line has me asking what comes next. 🙂 ““My mother asked me when can she expect grandchildren.” Saune instantly felt a jolt in her body that caused her to twitch but Jarvie didn’t notice it.”