BLOODY LOVE'S
Extra 2: The Four Seasons

Not only did Jose use his friends as a shield, Maria also hid in the middle of her female friends. He was a bit overwhelmed to avoid people who asked him to talk, afraid to offend them if they slipped when refusing. But when the music turned soft and her friends went to dance, Maria had no more protectors.

His eyes swept across the room restlessly, looking for where Jose was. He knew that the man must have been busy serving guests, but Maria still wished that at least Jose would come to ask her to dance. Damn, his eyes were on Guy Eastwood. The man immediately turned towards the cursing Maria in heart. Guy Eastwood is not a bad guy, it's just that the noise isn't playful and pretentious. After all the man's face was slightly red, seemingly a bit drunk.

Exactly ten steps before Eastwood arrived, Marsh appeared and reached out to Maria. "Lady," she said with a grin on her face. "That's so much love .. nobody asked you to dance to the point that Baron Eastwood glanced at you. Here I save."

"Pity indeed," Mary grumbled as she placed her finger on Marsh's hand. They spun lightly onto the dance floor without the slightest awkwardness. Maria only thinks Marsh is like a bad little brother even though he is only two years older than the man. "You were with Jose, weren't you?"

Marsh grimacing. "Why ask about him? The kangen? There is a man like this in front of you."

"Hmmm yeah, very gallant. I'm impressed. Waw."

Maria's flat tone actually made Marsh laugh loudly, no matter though many people turned their heads towards them. "I haven't seen him since, Garnet. Maybe he's in the other corner, dancing with another woman."

Mary moved her eyes quickly. He did not see the black-haired head anywhere. Jose is quite tall, so tends to be easy to find. "none. Maybe he ran away. Jose doesn't like parties very much."

"Contrast with you, yeah." Marsh turned Maria around, taking her across the room slowly. "You like parties, he doesn't. You like to appear in public, he prefers behind. Even your names are inverted in order of letters."

"That's a complementary name" said Mary. His feet stepped agilely matching Marsh's movements, but his forehead was wrinkled. "Hey, why are we getting to the edge?"

Marsh did not answer, instead changing the position of his hand from guiding so as to hold Maria's fingers, pulling her away through the opening of the room and down to the first floor.

Maria followed him. As soon as they reached the first runway, shielded from the eyes of other guests and servants, Maria pulled her hand free from the clutches, kicked hard at Marsh's shin and slapped the man.

Marsh retreated and cursed, rubbing his slapped cheek. "You're a lady but your hands are so light!"

"You're a god, but you're a mess!" reply Maria cold. He shook his sick hand. "Esteemed men will not shake a girl's hand! I'm not a doll you can drag. Don't see my shoe height? What if I slip and break a bone?"

Marsh opens his mouth to answer, but soon realizes he is wrong. "Sorry," grunts. "I just want to get you out quick before someone else asks to dance with you. Because Jose—" Marsh stopped, covering his mouth with both hands.

Mary looked at the man suspiciously. "Why Jose? He's fine, right? Involved in trouble again?"

"Emmm, problem? Yes, I guess. He's got a problem .. big problem. Need your help right away." Marsh nodded.

"What problems? He injured?"

"Eh, no wound .. but pain. Wait, wait," Marsh said hurriedly as soon as Maria was about to turn again to the second floor. "He's very sick, you go with him first, let me get you some help!"

Maria looked at Marsh sharply. Eyes squinting. "What pain? Have you called a doctor?"

Clearwater appeared before Marsh could answer. The man came from the side of the corridor leading to the garden.

"Ah, that's Luke! How's Jose doing?" Marsh waved nervously. Sweat dripping from his temples. "He's still sick?"

Clearwater looked at Marsh, then turned to Mary who was clearly suspicious. He breathed and walked closer. "Jose said he didn't need a doctor" he said as soon as he arrived. His expression was as cold as ever. "We failed to persuade him to enter. He's resting in the park, in the gazebo."

That one sounds reasonable. Jose prefers to be alone and does not want to bother many people when they are sick. Maria began to worry, fearing the effects of the war with the devil a month ago. Unlike Marsh, Clearwater couldn't possibly mess around, so Maria didn't doubt it at all. "Where's gazebo? I'm going over there. You better call a doctor! Ah, if Dr. Rolan were here!"

"Just follow the fairy's lamp," Clearwater gave a hint with his finger. "He was sitting in the gazebo, near the angel's topiari."

Maria nodded, then rushed down the stairs while being cautious at the end of the dress, leaving Clearwater and Marsh behind.

As soon as Maria's figure disappeared from sight, Clearwater turned to Marsh. "Sick, huh?" Eyebrows wrinkling.

"I'm not lying." Marsh shrugged his shoulders. "He's sick of love."

"Garnet will slap you for playing it."

"He slapped me!" Marsh pointed at her red cheeks.

Clearwater laughing. He stepped first towards the second floor. "I'm going to the orchestra. Can you play the violin?"

"Cheap, violin, timpani; let's call it his name, I can even play a comb to make it sound!" Marsh patted his chest proudly.

***

A month ago, Jose was found the last. The man did not emerge from the river as dramatically as Marco did, but drifted many meters away from the border bridge. Maria finds it while walking down the river, then Greyland helps pull Jose's body and resuscitate the heart of the lungs.

The seconds of waiting for Jose to come to their senses were the scariest moment for Maria. He was really afraid that his childhood friend would go to an unreachable place. Even the word fear sounds too trivial to describe what Maria felt at that time. It felt like the world had stopped spinning, leaving him alone in a dark corner. It is like looking from behind a thin cloth that separates it from the world. Maria believes she'll die if Jose doesn't breathe anymore.

In the brief moments of decades, Mary understood the suffering Sir William felt.

It was like breathing in a fire, but not dying.

Mary does not want to feel it anymore. He ran in the direction of the fairy's lamp light that lit up in bright colors, no matter how many times it almost fell because the right shoe slid into the ground. His heart was beating very fast and he almost cried from panic.

"Jose!" the thrill is loud so see the angel top and the roof of the gazebo. He ran on the stone floor of the garden, avoiding the ground so as not to fall. "YES!"

The summoned one immediately appeared from the direction of the gazebo and rushed to run towards it. "Mary? Wh why? What's up?"

Mary did not answer. He threw himself into Jose's arms. Breathing out. Throat hurts. His side hurt from running suddenly. He sobbed, half of it in relief to see Jose alive and breathing, half in annoyance once Marsh and Clearwater were sure to work on him.

Jose circulated a suspicious look around the park, regretting not having brought the dagger. In his heart he noted to always carry a weapon whenever and wherever in front of him.

"Mary, why?" the question was gentle after making sure there was no danger near them. He stroked carefully Mary's hair, afraid of damaging the braid on the girl's head. "So something bothers you? You injured?"

Maria shook her head. He took off a hug, looking for a handkerchief to wipe away his tears. "Marsh says you're sick," he said, still a bit of a whim. "I'm so scared."

Jose clucking. He took out a handkerchief from the pocket of his suit, then rubbed wet on Mary's cheek gently. "I'm not that sad. How could it suddenly hurt."

"I didn't believe it at first, but Clearwater said—" Maria kept quiet. He realized that Clearwater had said nothing at all about pain. "They're playing me" he murmured. His panic and fear subsided, turning into riled up. He took Jose's handkerchief. "You asked them? It's not funny!"

Jose shook his head quickly, looking shocked. "I did ask Adrian to bring you here" he admitted, "but there was no talk of pain."

"Why don't you meet me yourself? Why ask Marsh? You know he's ridiculous!"

Mary still wanted to be angry, but she could not harden her heart. After being seen again, the garden was decorated differently to what he saw when he came earlier. Fairy's lamp multiplied and seemed to form a certain pattern that could likely only be seen from above, the flowers adorned the gazebo, and the angel's topiary beside them decorated with tulip—the symbol of true love.

As soon as she realized all the ornaments, Mary's heart beat faster. But not because of fear. It's a different thump than the one he just experienced. Her cheeks were hot. Maria hoped it didn't look messy. His eyes lifted, looking directly at Jose's charcoal black iris.

"Do you remember what I said a month ago?" Jose asked. Smiles glimmered at his lips as their hands clasped together, grasping each other. "I want to go to Cantana, take care of Argent's fief there."

Maria nodded. "You said you'd be gone for a few years ..."

"Yes, to find a name." Jose mendehem slowly. "But it turns out there was a change of plans .. And instead of Cantana, I got a place in Redstone."

"That's a dangerous place." Maria felt Jose's hand tighten. The sound of a loud heart beat made him unable to hear his own voice. "But you can handle it."

"It's impossible to be alone" said Jose, still with a stable gentleness. "I've got what I need .. so, I want—"

"Marquis Redstone!" one call interrupted. It sounded thunderous like lightning, overcoming orchestral music that flew all the way to the park.

Maria and Jose raised their faces together towards the second floor of the manor. On one side of the balcony, someone waved towards them with one hand holding a wine glass half-filled. "I haven't congratulated you! You were there!"

Maria gaped, recognizing the figure. Guy Eastwood's. "He was drunk" he said.

Jose is heavy. "ignore him. Pretending not to see. Let's hide."

"Where can!" Maria whispered back. "Look, now everyone's onto the balcony because he's screaming!"

It's true, more and more people are showing up. Not only on one side of the balcony, but also a long balcony on the other. Jose sees Marco and Lady Chantall there, the two chatting casually as if nothing had happened while Guy Eastwood was still clamoring from where he stood.

"I heard stories about Argent and undead! I've come to see your miracle once again, Redstone!" Baron Eastwood turned his head around, provoking the people. "You also want to see what sheen is in the story, right? Show, Redstone! Show me! Show me! Show me!"

"Show me!"

"Show me!"

Along with Eastwood, some people also sued because they thought this was an interesting and entertaining event. Dave and Simon pull Baron Eastwood, trying to drag him back, but the man goes on a rampage. "I just intend to enliven the mood! You should thank me! Later if no one comes to your party, then you whine!"

Maria took a deep breath. He knows it's a difficult situation for Jose. If the man rebukes or threatens, the position will be bad. People don't care who's right or wrong. In such a case, the loser is the one who shows weakness first. "Jose, just ignore it. He's just a drunk man" whispered Maria softly, worried Jose was lured.

Jose doesn't look angry. His face was as calm as usual. "Baron Eastwood!" lantang. His voice was clear, stopping the orchestra chanting. Everyone kept silent waiting. Eastwood has freed himself from Dave's checks.

Maria clasped Jose's hand tightly, intending to fully support whatever the man did. Although Jose dropped Eastwood or made up something, he was determined not to show a face of shock or rejection at all.

"You people who know everything, of course, also know that magic is just gossip" Jose continued. Although many eyewitnesses, the question of the miracle on the Bjork River and about Sir William is still to be denied and hidden from the public. All people can know is the Scholomance sect as a scapegoat. "But if you're so eager to see a miracle, I have one that I prepared specifically for Miss Garnet!"

Mary was surprised to hear her name called. "Jose?"

Jose turned his head towards her, gave a witty smile that Maria was very familiar with, then raised a hand pointing at the sky and flicked a finger. "Look!"

From the direction that Jose pointed to, a long whirring appeared followed by a loud explosion. Maria turned to the voice in a watchful manner. His eyeballs are wide.

"What ... wow!" Maria held her breath gazing at the colorful splashed color of the night sky.

It was the biggest fireworks he had ever seen, not the small explosions he saw at every festival. It's bigger, with colorful variety and other chain explosions. Long rattling sounds followed the beautiful eruptions. In between, Maria could hear sighs and cries of admiration from the direction of the manor. All the guests appeared on the balcony. There are also those who go down to the yard and garden to be able to see more clearly.

As soon as the fireworks disappeared, the night went dark. Everyone thought the magic show was over, but Jose wasn't done yet. He pointed again in the other direction, giving rise to another fireworks explosion that was bigger than before. The explosion was louder, shaking everyone up into the chest. These fireworks hang in the sky, between the earth and the moon. Maria believes this sight must have been visible until Bjork. His gaze was fixed to the sky. All those explosions, the bangs, and the splashes of color made his emotions jumbled.

"And this!" jose shouted as he flicked his finger twice into the sky, right above his head.

Mary thought she would see another bigger one, but she was wrong. A long whistling sound flashed through the air, splitting the night sky, blasting heart shapes in the sky, following after it without pause in shapes large and small, diverse in color.

"Jose!" Mary covered her lips with both hands. His voice was drowned in the sound of fireworks. He had never seen a sight like this. He didn't even know fireworks could be made that beautiful. All this time he knew was an ordinary round shape. He tried to look at Jose, but his blurry, teary eyes blocked his view. How the hell did you do that? That question cannot be said.

"You like it?" Jose whispered in his ear. "This explosion, the beauty, this is nothing more than what I feel for you."

Maria doesn't know what to respond to. All words disappear from the head, free to find form when the mind is so empty. He took a breath, held it in while watching how Jose took a step back away from him, took out a small red velvet box from his suit pocket, then opened it in front of Maria. It's just one. A ring. Its luster overcame the fireworks that were still erupting noisily above them. The ring was of gold, with one tiny diamond eye set on the outside and engraved in Albion on the inner side. Both of their names are there.

"I love you so much" Jose said in a soft whisper, but Maria felt it echoed so loudly in her head, making her unable to breathe. The ring box was slightly shaking. Jose took a deep breath, looking at him expectantly. "I swear I'll always make you happy, Mary. Marry me."

Maria tried hard, very hard, but she could not maintain her composure. Now he realized that he could never be calm whenever he was near Jose. His feelings are always so ungodly. But this time Maria didn't mind. He stepped forward and hugged Jose tightly, trying to convince himself that this was not a dream. The warmth of the body is real.

"Mary? This means you agree?" Jose laughs. There was clearly a voice of laughter in that tone. Mary does not blame him. He also wants to laugh happily.

"Of course I agree!" he said as he sank his face into Jose's shirt, letting his tears seep in there. He's been waiting for this for a long time. Although he knew that they would get married sooner or later, he still wanted to hear the request directly. He wanted to hear Jose propose to him. "I love you too, you know that!"

Jose banged their eyebrows lightly. "I know," she replied gently as she lifted up Maria's face. He lowered his head, putting their smiles together in one warm, restrained kiss. His hands clenched Mary's nape, then slowly descended down the curve of her spine down to her waist, pulling her up slowly but surely.

Mary returned the kiss that came in the same thirst. He likes the sensation that appears every time their lips and tongue touch. It was like coming back home, as if something in him was tethered quietly and safely, no longer swaying without direction. This time when their faces finally separated, that sense of security settled down.

Jose felt the same way. Each time their kiss was over and she slowly opened her eyes to look at Maria, warmth pervaded her thoroughly, making her seem to go back in time, when she saw the girl for the first time. He still saw the same angel, who made his breath falter in an addictive way.

As the two breath each other, everyone who saw exclaimed and shouted, blurting out cries of safety. Lidya and Maria's friends shouted congratulations out loud despite their voices being swallowed in a frenzy. Guy Eastwood was the loudest of cheers, but was soon dragged away by Andrew, Simon, and Dave. The crowd watching from the park knew themselves better. No one came close, they just clapped from a distance.

Clearwater and Marsh flicked through the crowd on the balcony carrying a violin, both of them winking at each other and chuckling, start playing Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons while Jose puts a ring on Maria's ring finger. The orchestra followed quickly. Music filled the manor.

On the other side of the balcony, Marco casually shifted Lady Chantall into the confinement of her body, then clenched her lips regardless of the reactions of those around them. After all, this is his own house. Whatever an Argent does in his manor is no other man's business.

Fireworks broke out several more times in the sky, creating heart shapes in a variety of luminous colors.

***

¬topiari: processing of finished plants of certain shapes for garden decoration.

¬The Four Seasons by Antonio Vivaldi is usually used to accompany the arrival of newlyweds.