Chapter 3

“W-Wait... where are we going?” Toby kept asking the same question while I dragged him toward my car and shoved his head inside.

No wonder I was able to get back to my apartment safely last night... He must have driven me home.

“Hey! At least tell me where we’re going!” Toby started to get on my nerves.

“Just shut up and put your seatbelt on!” I shouted.

“What’s wrong with you, woman? You woke me up in the most inappropriate way. And then you started dragging me away like this... Ju—”

“Shut up, or I’ll shove my sneakers into your mouth.” I glared at him.

And he shut his mouth.

Finally.

I started the engine, fastened my seatbelt, and quickly drove away.

“I have to fix all of this mess,” I mumbled to myself.

From the corner of my eye, I saw Toby shake his head and sigh. A few minutes later, he was already sleeping soundly in the passenger seat.

I felt like punching him right in the face just to wake him up.

How could he sleep so peacefully in a situation like this?

I shook my head and continued driving toward Riverton. Although I had been completely drunk last night, I could still remember the place where I bought this useless guy.

After an hour of driving, I finally reached my destination. I parked the car and looked over at the sleeping idiot beside me.

“Ehemm...” I nudged him with my arm.

He didn't wake up.

I rolled my eyes.

“You’ll regret sleeping in my car...” I mumbled.

Then my eyes landed on a bottle of water sitting on the dashboard.

An evil smirk slowly appeared on my face.

I opened the bottle and poured the water directly onto his face.

“W-What the... AAAGHHH!!!”

Toby immediately jolted awake and glared at me.

“Wake up,” I said calmly as I got out of the car.

I smirked proudly to myself.

Serves you right...

I looked around carefully, making sure no one had seen me entering the old building.

I mean, I had no intention of letting people know that I had come to a shop that sold... a guy. They would probably assume I was some kind of pervert.

I pulled my gray hoodie over my head, put on a black hat to cover my face, and made my way inside while keeping my head down. I was wearing black leggings and white sneakers, trying my best to look as inconspicuous as possible.

I quickly headed toward the cloudy office that looked more like a witch’s room than an actual office.

But before I could reach it, I bumped into someone.

I looked up.

There he was.

The weird guy.

He gave me the same familiar, silly smile.

“Welcome... Miss Hayes..” he said, stretching his arms out as if he expected me to run toward him and give him a friendly hug.

Tch, in your dream.

He looked past me and spotted Toby standing behind me.

“Oh... Toby! Hi!” he said, waving stupidly.

Toby awkwardly waved back, forcing a smile onto his face.

“So, can I help you?” the weird guy asked, still wearing that annoyingly cheerful smile.

“Uhm...” I hesitated, glancing between him and Toby. “We need to talk. I think there’s... a problem.”

The smile slowly disappeared from his face.

“What kind of problem?”

I took a deep breath.

This was it.

I needed to get rid of this mess before it ruined my entire life.

Without saying another word, I grabbed Toby by the arm and dragged him forward. I shoved him toward the weird guy.

“This.”

I quickly stepped behind Toby, using him as a human shield while giving the weird guy an awkward, nervous smile.

The weird guy stared at Toby.

Then he stared at me.

Then back at Toby.

He tilted his head in confusion.

“Him?”

I nodded vigorously.

“Yes. Him.”

Toby's eyebrows shot up.

He slowly turned his head toward me, looking genuinely offended.

I swallowed nervously.

“I... I-I can’t keep this guy,” I finally admitted.

There was a brief silence.

The weird guy blinked.

Toby blinked.

I smiled awkwardly, hoping, praying that he would understand what I meant.

Instead, Toby and the weird guy looked at each other.

“It’s adopted.”

“It’s adopted.”

They said it at exactly the same time.

I froze.

Toby froze.

The weird guy froze.

For a few seconds, nobody said anything.

Then I slowly turned toward Toby.

“...Did you seriously just correct my wording?”

Toby crossed his arms and frowned.

“You make it sound like you bought a secondhand refrigerator.”

“I basically did!”

“HEY!” Toby said slightly offended.

The weird guy suddenly cleared his throat.

“Ahem... technically, he is an adopted guy.”

I stared at him.

“That does not make me feel better.”

I rolled my eyes and let out a frustrated sigh.

“Whatever...” I muttered, rubbing my forehead. “The thing is... last night, I was drunk. I mean, I wasn't in my right state of mind, and...”

I was trying my best to explain myself without sounding like a complete idiot.

Unfortunately, HEX seemed to understand where I was going before I could even finish.

He slowly raised his right hand.

“Stop.”

His voice wasn't harsh. In fact, it was strangely calm. His eyes closed, and his face became serious for the first time since I had entered the shop.

I stopped talking.

HEX remained silent for a moment, as if he were thinking carefully about what I had said.

Then he opened his eyes.

“I know.”

I blinked.

“You do?”

My expression immediately brightened.

For the first time since I had dragged Toby into this ridiculous shop, I felt a tiny bit of hope.

Maybe he understood.

Maybe he realized I had been drunk.

Maybe he was actually going to let me cancel the whole thing.

Oh, thank God.

I stepped closer and grabbed both of his hands.

“Thank you...” I said, smiling with genuine relief.

HEX looked down at our hands.

Then he looked back at me.

His lips slowly curled into a smile.

“But...”

My smile disappeared.

Just like that.

I stared at him.

“...But?”

My fingers slowly loosened around his hands.

There was something about the way he said that single word.

Too calm.

Too casual.

It was the kind of but that always came before terrible news.

My stomach dropped.

HEX straightened his red coat and calmly adjusted his collar.

“According to the law of ‘Adopt-a-Guy,’ Rule Number 17...”

He paused.

The room suddenly felt strangely quiet.

Even Toby, who had been standing behind me, stopped fidgeting and looked at HEX.

HEX looked directly at me.

“Purchased adoptees cannot be returned.”

Silence.

I stared at him.

He stared back.

My brain needed several seconds to process what he had just said.

“...Wh-Whattt?” I blinked several times, hoping I had somehow heard him wrong.

HEX's smile returned.

“Miss Hayes...” he said patiently. “Actually, after the deal last night, I tried to read all of the rules to you.”

I slowly frowned.

“You did?”

He nodded.

“You refused to listen.”

I froze.

Then my mouth slowly fell open.

Oh.

Right.

That sounded exactly like something drunk me would do. I could vaguely remember myself sitting there last night, happily signing whatever paperwork they had put in front of me.

I wanted to scream.

Instead, I grabbed my hair with both hands.

“Why didn't you stop me?!” I screamed.

HEX tilted his head.

“I tried.”

“You should have tried harder!”

He simply smiled.

I stared at him in disbelief.

Then, slowly, my expression fell.

“So...” I swallowed. “I can't get my money back?”

HEX didn't even hesitate.

He shook his head, “No.”

His smile was gentle. Warm, even. Almost motherly.

And somehow, that made it so much worse.

I stared at him.

He stared back at me with the same peaceful smile, as if he had just told me I couldn't have another piece of cake.

My lips parted slightly.

“...No?”

“No,” HEX repeated, still smiling.

My eye twitched.

“My $52,000...”

He nodded.

“Gone,” he said calmly, a small, satisfied smile curling at the corners of his lips.

He looked far too pleased with himself for someone who had just told me I’d lost big money.

I felt my soul slowly leave my body.

My hands dropped to my sides.

I stared blankly at the floor.

For a moment, I couldn't hear anything around me.

$52,000

Gone.

Just... gone.

I had spen 3 years saving that money.

Three.

Whole.

Years.

That money was supposed to be for my future wedding.

My future.

My beautiful, responsible future.

And what did I spend it on?

I slowly turned my head toward Toby.

He was standing there with his arms crossed, watching me with an expression that was somewhere between confusion and annoyance.

A man.

I spent $52,000...

On a man.

My future self was probably screaming at me from somewhere inside my head.

What kind of idiot spends this much money on a guy?!

I clenched my fists.

Geez...

If I could go back in time, I would grab my drunk self by the shoulders and shake her until her brain came back.

No.

I'd kick her butt.

Hard.

“Do you want to hear the rules again, Miss Hayes?”

HEX's voice pulled me back to reality.

I slowly looked at him.

My face was completely lifeless.

Then I nodded.

Helplessly.

“Well...” HEX began.

He folded his hands neatly in front of him, almost like a teacher preparing to give a lecture.

“The rulebook consists of one hundred rules.”

My eyes widened slightly.

“One hundred?”

He nodded cheerfully.

“But right now, I will only explain the important ones.”

He smiled.

“I suggest you listen carefully, Miss Hayes,” HEX said, his smile never fading.

I nodded again.

My shoulders had already slumped in defeat.

“First,” HEX said, raising one finger, “the guy being adopted cannot be returned for any reason.”

I swallowed.

“The adopter must take good care of the adopted guy.”

He raised a second finger.

“According to Rule Number 23, if the adopter fails to take proper care of the adopted guy, we will take him back without refunding the money.”

I stared at him.

There it was again.

The adopted guy.

I glanced at Toby.

He was now staring at the ceiling, looking like he desperately wanted to pretend he wasn't involved in this conversation.

I looked back at HEX.

The adopted guy.

I had heard that phrase so many times that it was beginning to sound ridiculous.

“And the next one is...” HEX paused, scratching his chin.

He looked upward, as if trying to remember.

“Uhm...”

I waited.

He continued thinking.

I waited some more.

Finally, he snapped his fingers.

“Oh, yes.”

He smiled.

“I will come once a month for the first six months to check whether you, Miss Hayes is treating Toby well.”

My eyebrows shot up.

“You what?”

HEX nodded.

“Yes.”

“You're going to come every month?”

“Yes.”

“For six months?”

“Yes.”

“To check if I'm treating him well?”

“Yes.”

I slowly pointed at Toby.

“Why does this sound like I'm adopting a child?”

Toby immediately turned toward me.

“Excuse me!”

I ignored him.

HEX, meanwhile, just smiled as if this were the most normal arrangement in the world.

“D-Do you understand what I'm saying, Miss Hayes?” he asked.

I stared at him.

Then at Toby.

Then back at HEX.

I shook my head.

“No.”

It wasn't that I didn't understand. I understood every single word. I just refused to accept that any of this was actually happening.

HEX's smile slowly faded.

He looked genuinely unsure of what to do with me.

He glanced at the rulebook.

“Well...” he said awkwardly. “Uhm...”

He reached inside his red coat.

“I could give you the rulebook for free if you want.”

I nodded weakly.

At this point, I had nothing left to lose. Maybe reading the rules would help me understand exactly how badly I had ruined my life.

HEX pulled out a small book and handed it to me.

I took it reluctantly.

The cover was plain.

ADOPT-A-GUY RULES

I stared at the title for several seconds.

It somehow felt more insulting than anything else that had happened today.

“I suggest you read it until the last page, Miss Hayes,” HEX said, smiling.

“Y-Yess...” I answered miserably.

I tucked the book under my arm.

Then I turned toward the exit. My shoulders drooped as I walked away. I felt like I had just attended my own financial funeral.

$52,000 ...

My poor $52,000...

Gone forever.

I was almost at the door when I suddenly heard a woman's excited voice behind me.

“HEX! Who is he? What a handsome guy!”

I stopped.

Slowly, I turned around.

A middle-aged woman was standing near the entrance.

She had the strangest makeup I had ever seen, curly hair that seemed to have a life of its own, and a wide smile that revealed several gold teeth.

She pointed at Toby.

“Whoaaa... Master HEX! Do you have someone else like him?”

My eyes widened.

I looked at the woman.

Then at Toby.

Then back at the woman.

Something clicked inside my head.

An idea.

A beautiful, wonderful, possibly insane idea.

My eyes suddenly lit up.

Maybe...

Just maybe...

I could still save my money.

I immediately turned around and walked toward her.

“Excuse me...” I said sweetly.

The woman turned toward me, her smile fading slightly.

“Yes? Can I help you?”

I smiled sweetly.

“I heard you're looking for a guy like him?”

Her eyebrows immediately knitted together. She looked me up and down with an irritated expression, as if she were already regretting talking to me.

I grabbed Toby's arm.

His eyes widened.

“Wait—”

I pushed him toward the woman.

“Here.”

Toby stumbled forward.

He immediately spun around and glared at me.

His expression clearly screamed:

What the hell are you doing?!

I pretended not to notice Toby's furious glare.

Instead, I kept my attention on the woman.

She slowly looked Toby up and down.

Her eyes traveled from his face, down to his shoulders, then all the way to his shoes before slowly making their way back up again.

For a moment, she said nothing.

Then—

Her entire expression changed.

The irritation that had been written all over her face disappeared in an instant.

“Oh my!”

Her eyes widened. A bright, delighted smile spread across her face, and she leaned slightly forward as if she had just discovered something extremely valuable. She looked genuinely interested.

My own eyes practically lit up.

Yes.

This was it.

This had to be it.

My $52,000 was finally coming back to me!

I straightened my posture and put on my sweetest, most innocent smile.

“It’s only $52,000,” I said casually, as if I wasn't talking about an amount of money that could make a normal person's soul leave their body.

“Really?”

The woman's eyes practically sparkled.

My heart nearly burst with happiness.

Yes!

Finally!

An angel!

God had finally answered my prayers!

After everything I had been through, perhaps the universe had finally decided to show me some mercy. I could already imagine the money safely back in my bank account. I could almost feel myself breathing again. In my head, I was already mentally counting the bills.

I was so happy that I almost wanted to hug the woman.

Unfortunately, Toby seemed to have a very different opinion about the situation.

“Hey!”

His furious voice snapped me out of my happy little fantasy.

I slowly turned toward him.

Toby was staring at me with wide, disbelieving eyes.

His eyebrows were drawn together, his jaw clenched, and his entire face practically screamed that he couldn't believe what he was witnessing.

“What?” I asked innocently.

He stared at me for another second.

Then his eyes narrowed.

“You're trying to sell me?!”

I blinked.

“Sell you?”

“Yes!”

He pointed at himself.

“ME!”

I gave him my most innocent expression.

“I’m not selling you.”

Toby's expression twitched.

“You literally just told her your price!”

I paused.

“I'm... transferring you.”

His mouth dropped open.

“That's the same thing!”

I shrugged.

“Not really.”

“How is it not the same thing?!”

“Selling sounds rude.” I smiled sweetly. “Transferring sounds professional.”

Toby stared at me in complete disbelief.

For a moment, he looked like he was genuinely considering whether committing murder inside an extremely suspicious adoption shop would somehow violate any laws.

I, on the other hand, couldn't have cared less.

Yes!

Finally!

God had finally answered my prayers!

I turned back toward the woman, my smile returning.

But Toby wasn't finished.

“What are you doing?” he hissed.

I looked at him.

“Saving my future.”

His eyebrows shot up.

“By selling me?!”

“Shhh.”

I raised one finger to my lips.

“Don't ruin this for me.”

Toby's face twisted in disbelief.

“You're unbelievable.”

“I prefer financially responsible.”

“You're insane.”

Before the woman could say anything else, however, a calm voice suddenly interrupted us.

“Uhm... excuse me.”

All three of us turned.

HEX was standing a few steps away. His hands were neatly folded in front of him. His posture was perfectly relaxed.

And, of course he was smiling. That same peaceful, innocent smile.

The kind of smile that made him look like a polite customer service representative who had absolutely no idea that everyone around him was having a mental breakdown.

He calmly walked toward us. His shoes made soft sounds against the old wooden floor. The strange shop suddenly seemed quieter. Even the woman stopped talking.

HEX reached us and, without any hurry at all, positioned himself directly between Toby and the woman.

My smile slowly faded.

The woman’s expression immediately fell.

“What?” she muttered, clearly disappointed.

HEX turned his attention toward me. His smile remained perfectly intact.

“I don't think you can do that, Miss Hayes.”

My smile froze.

For a second, I didn't understand what he meant.

Then my stomach dropped.

“W-Why?”

HEX tilted his head slightly.

The movement was so calm and innocent that, for some reason, it made me even more nervous.

“According to Rule Number 69...”

My eyes widened.

Oh, no.

Not another rule.

I could already feel a headache forming.

HEX continued in the same pleasant tone.

“The adopter cannot sell or transfer the adoption rights to anyone else, including members of the adopter's family.”

Silence.

Complete, devastating silence.

I stared at him. My brain seemed to stop functioning.

The woman's face went blank.

Toby slowly turned toward me, a sly smile on his face.

“No...”

HEX smiled.

“Yes.”

My eyes widened.

“No.”

He nodded.

“Yes.”

I grabbed both sides of my head.

HEX remained completely calm.

“That's the rule, Miss Hayes.”

My entire body went stiff. I stared at him as if he had personally betrayed me. Then I looked at the woman. She was no longer smiling.

Then I looked at Toby. He was staring at me with an expression that was dangerously close to smug satisfaction.

Then I looked back at HEX.

Still smiling.

Still calm.

Still completely unbothered.

Something inside me finally snapped.

“WHYYYYYYYY?!”

My scream echoed through the strange old building.

The woman flinched. Toby immediately covered his ears. Even a few people farther inside the shop turned their heads to see what was happening.

I stood there clutching my head, my hair practically standing on end.

“How can there be so many rules?!”

HEX simply smiled.

“There are one hundred rules, Miss Hayes.”

“One hundred?!”

I pointed accusingly at him.

“Who needs one hundred rules to adopt a guy?!”

HEX thought about it for a moment.

“Apparently, you do.”

I froze.

Toby snorted.

I whipped my head toward him.

“Don't laugh!”

He immediately straightened his face.

“I wasn't laughing.”

“You were!”

“I coughed.”

“You laughed!”

“I have a throat condition.”

“You don't have a—”

I stopped myself.

This wasn't important. The important thing was my final escape route had just disappeared.

I slowly lowered my hands. My shoulders sagged.

The tiny spark of hope I had been clinging to only moments ago completely vanished. My $52,000 wasn't coming back. There would be no refund.

I looked down at the little rulebook still tucked under my arm.

One hundred rules.

And somehow, I had a horrible feeling that every single one of them existed specifically to make my life miserable.

I looked at Toby. He crossed his arms and gave me a small, satisfied smirk.

I glared at him.

He raised an eyebrow.

I looked at HEX.

He was still smiling peacefully.

I looked at the woman.

She had already lost interest.

My shoulders dropped even further.

I let out a long, defeated sigh.

Yep.

My life was officially ruined.