Living With A Narcissistic Brother In-law

As they walked towards the group cosplaying in one section of the market, they kept stealing glances at each other and would turn away immediately when caught.

Natalie's face was red as a tomato as she walked in a slow pace with Mikael. They hadn't spoken to each other since that awkward moment that they shared a while ago. Natalie bit her lips as her heartbeat quickened. The scene of her accidental kiss with Mikael kept playing in her mind, she felt like she was going to go crazy if something didn't happen to take her mind of.

Mikael stopped in front of the people cosplaying and watched them. He turned to see Natalie absentmindedly walking away and he touched her hand. The moment he did, they both retracted immediately as they felt a wave of current flow through their bodies.

''Let's watch them a little'' Mikael said awkwardly and Natalie nodded with an equally awkward smile.

Mikael turned to look at her when she was concentrating on the people cosplaying. He bit his lips and suddenly smiled.

''Miss, your husband looks so handsome. Come and play with us, we are imitating the popular actor Mikael Sun in his movie, ''My rising Moment''' one of the women cosplaying said taking them by surprise.

Natalie turned to look at Mikael before turning to face the people with a confused gaze. But, before she could refuse, they had pulled both of them into the circle.

''Huh? Wait, we are not a ma…''

''What are we supposed to do?'' Mikael interrupted her with a question. Natalie looked at him with a strange gaze.

Because of the mask, they didn't recognise Mikael. He held Natalie's hand as they stood in the middle of the crowd.

''Whoa, they look so good together. Miss, I am so jealous. You two are newly wedded, right?'' one elderly woman asked. She was dressed like the woman who played Mikael's character's grandma in the movie.

Natalie turned to look at Mikael with a flustered face as she listened to his answer.

''We are not married yet, actually…''

''You two will end up getting married anyways. Look at the way she is staring at you? Her eyes are so deep, miss, he must be your first love, right?''

''Huh?'' Natalie coughed and pointed at a store close by, 'sorry but I need to go and buy some water'' she said and ran off.

''Young man, she is very beautiful. If you want her, then make sure you act fast. You should strike while the iron is hot'' the old woman said and Mikael nodded his head.

''I should check on her'' Mikael said and hurried towards the store.

…

Natalie opened the bottle and started drinking as she looked into her pocket to take out the money but she frowned and soon realised that she had changed outfits and the one with money was her old outfit which was now in the car.

''It's okay, you can have it'' the young man behind the counter said as he smiled at Natalie.

''No, I will call someone to get me the money. How much is it?''

''It's on the house, I can't let a beautiful lady on thirsty. Are you married?'' he asked, looking at her middle finger.

''Yes, and this is the money. Keep the change'' Mikael said as he held Natalie's hand. He placed a dollar bill on the table and walked out with her.

Natalie looked at him. She didn't see him coming in. as they walked to a distance, she stopped and took her hands away. Her actions made Mikael to also stop walking.

''Natie, what's wrong?'' Mikael asked.

''I don't understand. I am confused Mikael'' Natalie said suddenly.

''What don't you understand? What are you confused about?''

''You. Everything you do makes me confuse. I hate complicated things. I don't also want to jump to conclusion. Tell me, why are you doing this to me?''

''What do you mean?''

''You know what I mean, Mikael. Tell me, what did you and aunt discuss about me? If it involves me, then I should know''

''Mother asked me to choose between letting you be my adopted sister or marrying you''

Natalie's gaze waivered as she asked, ''then, what did you choose?''

''What do you think? Would I kiss my sister even by accident, Natie?''

Natalie parted her lips slightly but she didn't say anything. She looked everywhere but his gaze. Her palms turned sweaty and she robbed them against her pants.

''I didn't want to break it to you suddenly. I wanted you to get used to it. I wanted you to get used to and become comfortable around me before I informed you''

''Why did you make such a choice? Is there a special reason?''

''There is but, first of all, Natie…'' Mikael walked back and stood in front of her. ''I can never see you as a sister''

''What?''

''You don't have to answer me immediately. I will give you time to think about it. Tomorrow morning, I shall send you an email of all the advantages of what this marriage will bring to both of us. give me your answer after thinking it through''

''It's that why you decided to become nice to me? Because you decided from that night that aunt brought the papers that, you were going to marry me? I am already married to your brother'' 'even if it was a fake marriage that you are not aware off' Natalie wanted to added but stopped herself in time.

''That can be dealt with. You just make your decision first; I will handle the rest''

''Let's go home. I am tired'' Natalie said and started walking away.

''Are you angry?'' Mikael asked, his voice sounding a little irritated.

''What?'' Natalie turned back and asked.

''I asked if you are angry? because I am not my brother and the one you want?''

Natalie looked at him and furrowed her brows. She sighed suddenly feeling dizzy.

''My brother is dead. He is not coming back anymore and I can never be him. No, I will never be anything like him''

''You…'' Natalie closed her eyes for a second and sighed. 'What are you talking about?''

''I see the way you look at me, Natalie…'' he suddenly called her by her full name. It took Natalie by surprise. She was getting used to the name he called her before. Suddenly, she felt a strange distance between them. It was like they were close yet far away. They were in the same space but their thoughts were a mile away.

''Your eyes, you look at me with affection but I know it isn't for me. You look at me that way because you see Thomas in me, right? so asking you to marry me is making you feel repulse by the idea itself''

''Hey!!'' Natalie screamed at him, making the people walking about turn to look at them. She sighed and shook her head, ''what do you even know?'' she asked and walked away.

Mikael tussled his hair and screamed. He ran away her.

…

''Natie…'' Mikael called when they entered the hall. Natalie ignored him and went straight to her room. When he heard the sound of the door locking, he cussed and went to his room.

Natalie brought out her drawing pad and started drawing. This was what she did when she was angry with someone or wanted to vent out.

After a few minutes, she threw the drawing book away and picked her diary, ''that man doesn't deserve any good points at all. I am going to take out all the good things that I wrote for him…'' she started writing inside the diary.

….

''This is my life we are talking about. Why would he jump into conclusions like that without asking me about what I think? You should have been there to see how he looked at me, Andrea. He looked disappointed. I mean, I was the one who was supposed to feel disappointed, but he turned the tables around and instead of me getting angry, he got angry first. he dared to get angry at me, first. What kind of man is he? If you don't understand anything, then you should ask me. isn't that right?'' Natalie sighed as she looked at Dr. Andrea.

''So, did you see him this morning before leaving?''

''No. Why should I see him? I left very early in the morning without informing him. I turned my phone off, I am going to make sure he apologises for getting angry at me. Just when I think he is a good person, he just shows a different side of himself and then manages to wipe out all the good points I had about him. what kind of man is so fickle?''

Dr. Andrea chuckled.

''Why are you laughing?''

''Natalie, this is the first time you are telling me about how you feel. This is the first time you are expressing your anger and disappointment at someone. I just feel that it is a huge development from the last time.