daniju_attart

for Meljay. You pick whose mom.

Mel was starting to scramble.

She didn't do scrambling, yet she found herself in such a predicament. Frankly unbecoming of her.

Were there any clothes on the floors?

How did the floral centerpiece on her counter look?

She used a scrutinous eye to look over the leaves and petals for any sign of browning, frowned and plucked a few pieces off the foliage to dispose in the nearest receptacle. Mel took a mental note to reach out to Sky when she gets the chance. It was the second bouquet this week.

"Jayce—" she called for him offhandedly in her apartment. "How are the counters looking?" She turned around to find him properly right as he finished a swipe over the oven surface.

"This" —gesturing to all over her with the rag— "seems to be a bit much, wouldn't you agree?"

Even his state of shirtlessness, as indulgent as it was, couldn't distract Mel from the storm to touch down. Several smooth steps brought her to his front swiftly and she placed her hands firmly to his cheeks. They squished slightly in a way most adorable in turn.

"You do not know my mother," she spoke gravely.

"We could change that."

The shimmer in his eyes was most innocent, most hopeful, Mel sighed into them fondly. However, she stayed firm. "Most definitely not. At least not like this."

"Hmph." The sparkle dimmed with downcast eyes and pouted lips that quickly became Mel's object of affection.

Jayce dumbly grinned into Mel's kiss.

A buzz from the front door caused interruption.

"Kindred, she's coming up soon." Hissing under her breath, Mel checked over her shoulder towards the door then back at Jayce. He couldn't leave. Aside from lacking a shirt, he would most certainly run into her mother on the way out, bringing up a slew of questions she was neither ready for nor willing to answer for Ambessa. Likely ever.

"You have to hide."

Jayce blinked, affronted. "Where am I even supposed to go?"

Mel's face turned to a mixture of utter confusion and panic. "I don't know, anywhere! Now go!" shooing him further into her apartment.

"You love to see me leave, don't you?" A rakish grin despite himself.

If looks could kill. Mel sighed with a tight smile. "I'll find you when the coast is clear."

Not even two minutes to herself, the signature sound of the front door clicking.

"You know it is typically considered rude to arrive at a person's front step with little notice." The walls around Mel crept higher in folding her arms across her chest. Her concerns and visible frustration at the situation apparently did not reach her mother as she obliterated the walls carelessly, bracing Mel in a hug.

Ambessa took a step back, hands bracing Mel's shoulders to look her daughter over. "I take it you've heard the news of your brother?" A hand drifted up nudging at one of Mel's hair accessories.

Mel pressed her lips tight.

Of course.

Now it's all making sense.

"I did, matter of fact." Mel replied cooly, raising a fine brow watching her mother scrutinize the scene of her living room space as if it were a crime scene.

"And?"

"And what?"

"Is that all you had to say about it?"

Mel received Kino's letter two days ago. There was little content written out inside the letter aside from, well, a photograph of a pair of booties and a date, several months down the line.

It hadn't even been a full year since Mel attended her brother and Sky's wedding.

That was fast.

Despite their mother's misgivings for a majority of how the ceremony was planned, it went off without a hitch—or with as few hiccups that could have presented themselves. It was a small occasion: intimate between the two of them, Jayce, Viktor, and several other local friends and coworkers. Plus a select few from the Medarda family.

Mel was happy for them. Truly. She told them as much in addition to giving Sky her full blessing to give Kino rotten hell for the upcoming months.

Sky laughed in response, certainly willing to entertain the idea in her mind at least.

"Did you expect something else?" Mel challenged.

As Ambessa sighed and took a seat on Mel's couch, Mel used the chance to brew water on the kettle and dig out a bag of tea leaves appropriate for the conversation. An inventory check in the cabinets proved them to be bare of white jade tea. Shame. Peppermint will have to do.

"What, well with the ceremony earlier this year and now this—?"

Mel rolled her shoulders back, half listening to her mother, half waiting to hear the kettle whistle.

"Were any ideas or thoughts sparked?"

Mel leaned the weight of her upper body on the counter, palms splaying across the smooth surface. "This again?!"

"Now Mel—"

Praise be to the kettle going off. Mel took a breath to pour cups for herself and her mother, dropping tea balls in their cups with light clinks.

The cups were carefully placed on two coasters on her coffee table. "We've talked about this ad nauseam, way back when—"

"You can't blame me, you arrived to your brother's wedding solo! Darius would have been a divine choice as a plus one and— and nothing?"

Mel was particularly glad she picked a calming tea. A higher chance of staving away the swelling ache developing on her left temple. Darius was a headstrong man. Rough. Raw. In ways she cared not to fight.

Partially why he and her mother had always gotten on famously, much to her chagrin. She didn't need another thing in her life to be a uphill challenge.

And besides, while she did technically go alone, she wasn't alone truly.

The mind drifted to the man with a bright and adorably gaped smile who may or may not be quietly snooping through some of her things in her closet in an attempt to stave off boredom and pass time.

Both she and Jayce were already on the wedding invite list, Mel being Kino's sister and Sky working in a similar department as Jayce.

Even though Mel worked in a different area as the two of them, she happened to be friendly with Sky as well, independent of her brother. One way or another orbits managed to become intertwined on more than one occassion over the years.

A curious development of acquaintanceship and stirring chemistry that peaked with a confession two weeks before the wedding. Such a profession led to a stained mark on the corner of Jayce's mouth and a promised dance during the reception. Then long after the buzz of Noxian wine left their bloodstreams the night of the wedding, heated touches behind closed doors worth more than a glass of water for satiation.

"I worry for you is all," Ambessa finally said.

Mel knew there was more behind those words. Gods, the two of them have gotten into it countless times over the years in one way or another concerning "her path." It presented in multitudes: from her choice in schooling, to her career, and clearly now her relationship status.

"Your concern is appreciated but not needed." Mel's voice was clipped. "Now was there more to this visit aside from berating my life choices?"

Her mother's returning smile felt punishing. A preamble to something worse.

"Given I'll be in the area more often in preparation for my grandchild, I expect your manner to be less biting."

Mel was stunned silent.

"In any case—" Ambessa took to rise from her seat. "I could get going now. I'll see you soon, dear." A hand cupped Mel's cheek, thumbing the high point in a singular arc before heading to the door.

Mel quickly stood, hurrying to see Ambessa out. A cordial farewell under her breath and apromise to herself to speak to Kino later about all this, and the storm has passed. At least for the time being.

With her back to the door Mel hung her head and huffed a laugh. One of pure delirium.

Her mother's teacup was hardly touched.

Putting both cups in the sink, Mel felt a tightness in her chest unwind and bound for her bedroom. "Jayce?" she called. "The coast is clear."

"You have to come find me."

Mel's eyes crinkled at his disembodied tease. She let herself roam around her bedroom then bathroom, letting the anticipation simmer. Circling back to her bedroom, she grinned, hands gripping the closet door handles with conviction before swinging the doors wide open—

Legs crossed in a stiff pretzel, Jayce had been sitting on the floor, looking up at Mel. His smile was small, expectant.

Still managed to be without a shirt.

"How much of that did you hear?" holding back a wince.

Jayce only took Mel's hand, silently guiding her into his lap. Arms wrapped around her middle, he could feel Mel relax a little when his lips pressed against her forehead.

"You don't need to rush anything," he whispered. "We can stay here as long as you'd like."

Mel knew.

She liked hearing it from him regardless.

✨ CONTRIBUTOR LINEUP! 💫

Flash Warning ✦ We're incredibly pleased to introduce the shining stars of Stella Aurea: A Mel Medarda Fanzine! 🌟

Join us in raising our glasses to our talented artists and writers! 🥂✨

I was there with my mother, my sister, and my three younger brothers.

When the missile hit, everything turned to smoke, blood, and silence.

My mother and sister were killed instantly.

My brothers and I were pulled from the rubble, injured — but alive.

Moments later, my father arrived at the hospital.

He didn’t know if any of us had survived. He ran through the halls, searching.

Al Jazeera Mubasher filmed that exact moment — the moment he found us.

This video isn’t easy to watch. But it’s the truth.

It’s the moment my father found his sons alive…

and learned that his wife and daughter were gone.

source:

https://www.instagram.com/share/_qqk5pMrz

I’m sharing this not to cause pain, but because I want people to understand what we’ve lived through.

This isn’t just a story. It’s our life.

It’s the moment that changed everything.

I’m still here. I’m trying to raise my brothers now.

We are trying to rebuild something from what was taken.

If you can help — even with a share — thank you

@daniju-attart Page Artist Fav Zaunite: Ekko

GUEST SPOTLIGHT 🌟✨

Today we're highlighting our guest, @daniju-attart! 💫✨

The composition and scenery in each of Daniju's pieces leaves us utterly engrossed! Their artwork for Stella Aurea will be magical without a doubt! 💛

In the heart of Gaza, there is a family that has endured unimaginable hardships.🙏💔 The Al-Masri family, a family of five, has faced the crushing weight of loss, displacement, and poverty due to ongoing conflict and violence. Despite the odds stacked against them, their resilience and hope remain unbroken🥺💔

The father, Ahmed, once a skilled mechanic, is now unable to work due to the destruction of his workshop and injuries he sustained in an airstrike. His wife, Fatima, works tirelessly at home, trying to take care of their children—Maha (8), Omar (5), and little Yasmine (2)—while also dealing with the stress of living in constant fear. Their home, which was once filled with laughter, is now a shelter of uncertainty.💔🙏

The Al-Masri family struggles to find enough food each day and has no access to clean drinking water.💔🙏 Ahmed's dreams of rebuilding his family’s life seem distant, but the love for his children keeps him going, and Fatima remains the pillar of strength for her family. Every night, they pray for a better tomorrow, but hope alone is not enough to survive.💔💔

This is where your generosity can make a real difference

By donating, you can help the Al-Masri family rebuild their lives. Your support will provide them with immediate aid such as food, medical supplies, and a safe place to live. More importantly, your donation will restore hope, dignity, and a chance for a better future for these children.