A/n

Unedited. Holler if you see any typos.

This is one of the most personal pieces I've ever written so if you critique it, I will cri :))

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"I heard you're marrying a tree."

I looked up to find Keon standing by my desk, looking down at me with an incredulous expression etched to his face.

I looked away immediately. "Yes," I told the blackboard.

I felt his palm on my forehead. "Are you sick?"

I shoved his hand away. "No."

Keon slid onto the seat next to me. "Are you mad at me?"

"Why will I be mad at you?" I said, still facing the blackboard that had a messy diagram of the human heart drawn on it from its previous class.

"Well, Hill got an invitation to your supposed-wedding and I didn't." He leaned forward on table and I could see his stupid face from the corner of my eyes.

"You have drama rehearsals every Friday, so inviting you would've been pointless," I said, trying to keep my voice casual.

"I'm hurt. You think if I had to pick between my rehearsals and you, I'd pick the former? That's a low blow, I'm very upset."

"Fine, then come to the wedding," I turned to face him. My heart skipped a beat on seeing his stupid, blinding smile and I hated myself for it. "My backyard, 5pm, this Friday."

He nodded, then folded his hands over his chest. "You're legally too young to marry, by the way."

I pursed my lips and looked away again. "To marry humans," I corrected. "No one says anything about plants."

"Dude, that's creepy," Keon cried, finally unable to take it.

"How is it creepy?" I shrugged. "I'll take care of her, make sure no one cuts her down and in return she'll give me shade and a pretty view."

"You don't need to marry the tree to do all that," he exclaimed.

"You mean, just being friends with the tree will be enough?" I turned to him with a poker face.

He looked confused. "Y - Yeah."

"Hmm," I pretended to think. "But humans seem to disagree."

He frowned. "Az, come on! What has gotten into you? Why're you doing this?"

I shrugged. "I care about the tree. But apparently our care for someone isn't valid until and unless we are in a, and I quote, "committed romantic relationship", so yeah, I'm marrying her."

"Azure!" Keon cried, clearly reaching his tolerance limit. "Don't be -"

The teacher entering the room shut him up, and he did not get another opportunity to talk to me throughout the class.

When the bell rang to signal the end of school, I rushed to my feet but was stopped by Keon grabbing my wrist.

"Where are you going?" he asked. His expression was somewhat peculiar and I wasn't able to tell what he was thinking.

"I'm going to buy an outfit for the wedding."

"Can I come with?" he said, taking me by surprise.

I eyed his fingers wrapped around my wrist and forced out a nonchalant, "Yeah, sure."

On the way neither of us talked about how absurd the idea of going wedding-shopping to get married to a tree is. He didn't ask any more and naturally I didn't bring it up either. It felt like any other day of us hanging out - him going on and on about a new play he watched and I listened attentively, watching the way his carefree smile lit up his eyes, the way he talked animatedly, using his hands to add life to his story, and the way he would absentmindedly ruffle his hair whenever he got too shy at certain details.

I didn't realize when we reached our destination. It was Keon who came to a halt facing an expensive-looking clothing store. All mirth suddenly vanished from his face as he asked, "You realize wedding dresses are expensive, right?"

I laughed at his concerned look. "Are you crazy? Of course I'm not buying a freakin' wedding dress! I'm just getting a blazer... from the mall. They have a sale going on. Come on."

I linked my arm around him, on reflex, and led him down the street. It was only after walking a few steps that I realized how close we were, and how I totally should not have done that. But it was too late now. If I let go of his arm suddenly, he would definitely notice.

Fuck!

I had to distract him first.

"You know our neighbor Mia, right?" I said out of the blue. "She got a telescope for her birthday, like a real one. It's enormous." I let go of him to use my hands to show how big it was.

Keon laughed. "What will a six-year old even do with a real telescope?"

I mentally sighed and continued to elaborate on that fake-story.

We reached the mall soon after.

"What colour do you want?" Keon asked from where he stood on the other end of the aisle. "Black?"

"Yup. Will go with everything," I replied. I picked up a black blazer and held it out to show it to him. He crunched his nose and shook his head.

Dejected, I put it back on the rack.

"Az, how about this?"

I looked up to find him holding a gorgeous brown coat. "I love it but it's not wedding-y."

He rolled his eyes. "Right. I forgot you were marrying a tree," he said with all the disgust he could muster.

I made a face at him and said nothing.

"How 'bout this?" he said again after a while.

I looked up and immediately my mood brightened. He was holding a simple white blazer that was just absolutely stunning.

"I love it," I said, running up to him. "This is great."

"Try it on," he grinned.

I nodded and caught the blazer. I turned around and was about to go to the changing room when I found he was still holding onto the blazer, stopping me midstep.

"Where are you going? It's a fuckin' blazer. You can try it on right here."

Right. I took off my sweater and handed it to him, then proceeded to put on the blazer.

"It's perfect," he beamed.

I walked to the nearest mirror and saw that it was indeed a perfect fit. "I'm taking this one," I told Keon, returning his grin.

"Wait, wait, wait," he cried as I was about to take off the blazer.

"What?"

He did not answer me and instead vanished behind the cloth racks. He returned shortly with a black bowtie in hand. "Try this out?"

Excited to my core, I took the bowtie from his hands and threw it around my neck. Only then I realized, I had no idea how to tie it.

Keon chuckled. "Here, lemme." He stepped towards me and caught the ends of the bowtie.

Instant regret! Keon was standing a respectable distance away, but how far away can one stand when one is tying your fucking bowtie?!

"Look up." He tapped my chin when I had just decided to stare at my feet for the next two minutes.

Forcing a neutral expression on my face, I looked up but faced away from Keon and stared at the clothes put on display and the people walking by.

"So much for a fucking tree," Keon muttered.

My heart was hammering against my chest and my brain was begging me to turn around and sprint out of there.

"Done," he said, stepping away.

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. I turned to the mirror and smiled at the bowtie, not perfectly made, but it was absolutely beautiful.

"I hate the tree," Keon said, catching my eyes on the mirror.

I looked away and said nothing.

Friday arrived in the blink of an eye, and I found myself standing in my room, putting on the bowtie the way I had seen people do in the YouTube tutorials.

"Are you seriously going to do this?" Ada cried, barging into my room.

"Yes."

She let out an exaggerated sigh. "Wh - why? Is it because of Keon?"

"Keon?" I echoed. "Why will it be because of him? I never give any human so much power over my life and I thought you knew that."

"Well, I also know you're in love with him," she snapped.

"Love is a strong word, Ada," I shot her a look through the mirror. "Don't use it as you like."

"Am I wrong though? Tell me you don't love him."

"He's been my friend for years; of course I love him," I said, gulping down the ache in my heart, "just not the way you think I do."

"What's that supposed to mean? You either love him or you don't."

I shook my head and fixed the bowtie. I then went to grab the blazer from my bed. "I'm tired of explaining the same thing over and over again," I sighed.

"Wait, is that what this is about?" my friend cried, realization finally dawning on her.

I put on the blazer and turned to face her. "Sex is what makes humans 'humans', no? So I'm marrying a non-human." I shrugged.

"God, Azure, you're being unreasonable."

I ignored her and walked out of the room. She called after me but I rushed out to the backyard, nearly stumbling upon Keon at the doorway.

"Dude," I cried, eyes wide. "You dressed up!" He was wearing a whole-ass tuxedo and his hair was all properly styled to fit the whole gentleman-look. I couldn't decide whether to laugh or cry.

"Of course, it's your wedding!" he said, pretending to fix his blazer. He then held out his arm to me.

My heart leapt to my throat and I felt nauseated. "What?"

"I'll walk you," he smiled.

"Don't be silly." I forced out a scoff, then sidestepped and walked to the backyard with Keon on tow.

In the middle of the yard stood a big flame tree, tall and proud and absolutely beautiful. She had been there since before my birth, and had seen me grow up playing around her. I loved her.

Under its branches stood young Mia, my six-year old neighbor who had wanted to be a pastor since the day she first saw a wedding. She was dressed in a pretty yellow dress and had a flower-crown on her head.

Two of my friends from school were there, dressed casually - unlike Keon - and gaping at me with jaws wide open.

Seeing their faces, remembering Ada's outrage - I felt a rush of excitement, the one I get on stage when the curtains drop after my performance.

I went and stood under the tree, beside Mia, and reached out to gently stroke the trunk. You and I are going to make a statement today that no one will forget!

I saw Ada emerge from the house, angry and frustrated, but she didn't say anything and took a seat beside Keon.

"You can start," I told Mia.

She took out a piece of ruled paper and began reading from it. "Dear humans, plants, animals and fairies. We are all here today to..."

"Witness," I prompted.

Mia's face brightened. "Witness the marriage between my favourite human Azure, and my favourite tree Miss. Flame. Love is magic and they have shown it to us today." She paused and looked up at me.

I smiled at her. "Go on."

She turned back to the paper. "If anyone has any problems with their marriage, speak now or always hold your peas."

I laughed. "It's peace, not peas -"

"I do," said a familiar voice. I looked up to find Keon on his feet.

"You can't interrupt," I said, gulping down the sudden restlessness that shook my heart. "It's just a formality."

"If your marriage is real, my objection is too," he said seriously, walking up to me.

"Fine." I folded my hands over my chest. "Hurry up and state your objection."

He came to a halt in front of me, not a trace of mischief on his face. "Why are you doing this?"

"That's not an objection," I said.

"Azure. Did I do something to upset you?"

Whatever confidence I had shattered on hearing his words and seeing the worry in his eyes. "No," I said, my voice hoarse.

"Did -" he seemed nervous. "Did someone say something to you?"

"No," I lied.

He took a step closer to me. "Why are you doing this?"

I looked at him, at the ridiculous boy with his ridiculous hair and the ridiculous emptiness left behind by a lack of smile on his lips. "You won't understand," I said.

"How do you know that? Maybe I will."

"You won't."

"You don't know that." He shook his head. "You don't know a lot of things."

"You don't know a lot of things," I countered, then realised how it was a kindergarten-level reply.

Keon chuckled and smiled slightly. "I don't want you to get married to the tree because I like you."

I felt a hand reach in and squeeze my heart. I refused to acknowledge it. "Yeah well, I'd be creeped out if you were friends with me without liking me."

"That's not what I mean," he said, his voice almost a whisper. "I - I really like you, Azure."

I shook my head and took a step back. I wanted to cry.

"And I know you do too," he added, slowly, like he was afraid of saying it.

"I don't," I said, my eyes on the ground.

There was a slight pause. "You don't?" I wasn't sure if I was imagining things or his voice actually shook.

I didn't reply.

"Az."

"I don't," I snapped, finally looking up at him. "I don't like you like that, okay? I don't." I was breathing heavily and I felt my eyes sting. "I like you the way you like watching a play. The rush that you get, the fond ache you feel in your heart, that's what I feel when I'm with you. I don't like you the way you or everyone else think I do. I like you the way I like the sky, or the mountains, or... this tree." I reached out to place my palm on the flame tree beside me. "I like your existence, your presence, your mind, your spirit, not..." I took a deep breath, "not your body."

Keon was silent for the longest while and I expected him to walk away. "How is it different from how I like you?" he said.

"It's different," I cried.

"How? I like you, I like when you're around, I like talking to you, I like listening to you."

"Yeah but you also probably want to kiss me or have sex with me," I blurted before I could second-guess myself.

Keon was taken aback, disbelief clear as day on his face. I knew he was going to walk away. To my utmost surprise, however, he said, "Not if you don't want to."

"Don't say that," I muttered, shaking my head. "You don't mean it. You have no idea what you're saying."

He suddenly looked angry, and I saw him clench his fists. "Yes, I do. Why are your feelings valid and mine are not? You want me to trust your words but you won't trust mine?"

Of all the things I had imagined him to say, I never expected this. I opened my mouth but did not know what to say.

"Azure." He stepped closer to me and stretched out his hand. "I like you. And I don't want you to get married to this fuckin' tree."

If my heart beat any faster, it would've burst through my chest. "I won't be able to give you what you want."

"How do you know what I want? I just want you, any way you are comfortable with. I don't care."

I said nothing.

"Trust me," he insisted and flashed me a smile. "I can go shopping with you, this stupid tree can't."

I let out a laugh, then rubbed my eyes with the back of my hand. I then reached out to hold his hand.

"You're going to regret this," I said.

He held my gaze and his smile did not falter. "I won't."

"Then I am going to regret this."

He squeezed my hand. "I'll do everything in my power to ensure that you don't."

"You can hug the bride now," Mia broke in out of the blue.

We turned to her, then looked at each other.

"Do you do hugs?" Keon asked.

I laughed. "Yes, hugs are nice."

The moment I finished my sentence, I was enveloped in a warm embrace. I buried my face in his chest and blinked away the tears.

"Oh oh oh, I forgot one sentence," Mia cried. "I now pro... pro..."

"Pronounce," Keon prompted.

"Pronounce you husband and wife," she said cheerfully.

I pulled out of Keon's hold and flicked Mia on her forehead. "It's not a real wedding, silly."

"Why was the tree-wedding real and this not?" he pouted.

"Hmm, if I remember correctly, someone told me I'm too young to get married." I turned and picked up Mia. "Let's go get you home," I told her.

Keon reached over and picked up Mia's flower crown and put it on his head. "You're too dramatic." He then proceeded to make a dramatic show of extending his arm out for me.

I made a disgusted face at him, and accepted his hand.

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A/n

Finally, finally, fiiiiinally I was able to write a story on asexuality and oof I couldn't have done it without nefelibatanSoul . Buddy, thank you and I love you!!