Chapt. 9 - Interogation

“One thing I didn’t realize: I was like an eagle raising a snake in my nest.” –Mike–

***

Mike and Angie sat side by side, looking like a married couple as they should—a typical couple—now facing an interrogation by Vivian, the queen of the Genosie family.

Mike’s father, Zack, was still not fully recovered, so Vivian had to face the two lovers alone. They had been conspiring about their marital status and relationship from the start, leaving Vivian a little overwhelmed.

“Is no one going to speak up and explain this?” Vivian asked, her sharp gaze alternating between Angie and Mike.

Angie, who had never faced such a harsh attitude before—she had always been the beloved child and received gentle treatment from her mother and older brother—felt intimidated when facing her mother-in-law, whose sternness she had already come to know.

“It’s all my fault, Ma,” Angie said, bowing her head. She shouldn’t have defended Mike, as what was happening now was the idea of that temperamental fool. However, for some reason, Angie couldn’t bear to see Mike facing an ultimatum from his mother. “We didn’t mean to lie to you.”

“Then what? Shouldn’t you have done that? You even slept together before marriage.” Vivian turned to Mike. “Don’t tell me you didn’t touch her.”

“I’m still scared, Ma. I hope you could forgive me.” Angie interrupted. Her face must have turned as pale as chalk or red as a tomato by now, and Mike didn’t say a word, seeming to enjoy having someone who would always be there to defend him whenever he was in trouble.

Did Mike think it was easy to do that? In reality, Angie was busy thinking about where to hide her embarrassed face.

Angie had never discussed such taboo topics before. Her family never did that, especially not in front of the opposite sex. Melly, her mother, would only discuss reproduction and private matters with her alone, without her older brother present. Meanwhile, Vivian had said such things in front of Mike, who was no one to Angie.

“You’ve heard Angie’s answer. Why are you still looking at me like that?” Mike asked, displeased with his mother’s judgmental gaze.

“I just can’t believe you. Why didn’t you do anything about it? Look! She’s so beautiful.” Vivian looked at Angie with sparkling eyes. “Don’t tell me you didn’t—”

“Come on, Mom... how can you think so badly of your own child? Seriously?! I haven’t done anything because we’ve only been married for a few days. Having a child isn’t like making pizza, where you just knead the dough, bake it, and done.”

“I know that, but everything requires effort, Mike!”

“Enough. We’ll talk about this another time, because I have a lot to do, especially after Zico’s attack. We need to start rechecking the items coming in and out. You women have been wasting my time since earlier,” Mike said, getting up and walking away without saying goodbye, ignoring Angie’s calls.

After Mike left, Vivian, who had previously looked like a grim reaper, suddenly transformed into an angel. She gave her sweetest smile to her beloved daughter-in-law, who had just sacrificed her dignity to defend her wayward husband.

Seeing Vivian’s drastic change made Angie’s hair stand on end. She felt like an insect trapped in a spider’s web, and for some reason, she felt much safer if Mike were by her side right now.

Though Vivian loved her dearly, she always remembered the philosophy of the snake: the more beautiful its appearance, the more deadly its venom. A python might seem calm, but it wouldn't release its prey once it had wrapped around it.

“Is Mike causing you a lot of trouble?” Vivian asked softly and warmly. “I’m sorry for being so harsh with you earlier. It wasn’t really directed at you, but at Mike. Knowing that he still hasn’t touched you makes me a little disappointed.”

Angie didn’t know what internal issues were affecting the Genosie family, but seeing the expression on her mother-in-law’s face, she could sense a hint of disappointment.

Vivian sighed, then stared intently at Angie. "Is it true that you don't dare to do it? It isn't because Mike doesn't want to touch you, right?"

Again, Angie's cheeks turned red. Couldn't she avoid this discussion and choose another activity instead? Would it be polite if she changed the subject so that Vivian would no longer discuss the taboo issue that confused her about where to hide her face?

***

After a lengthy discussion and negotiation, Mike finally got permission for him and Angie to move into their apartment, albeit with various warnings.

Since her father was starting to improve, Mike and Angie were finally allowed to start their new life without interference from them.

After a journey of over thirty minutes, their car entered the basement of a spacious, comfortable luxury apartment for them. Due to pressure from his father, Mike had no plans to have children for now, as such an idea was only in his imagination.

That didn't guarantee Mike's compliance. He didn't want to rush, and that was the problem.

Angie was still speechless as her feet stepped into the building that had been Mike's residence during his college days. It wasn't the first time, but she was still excited. She, who hadn't had time to check the kitchen and room when she first came, quickly checked and headed to a room that was so comfortable and had color accents she recognized.

“This guy is so boring!” she muttered, but she couldn’t help but flop onto the bed and curl up comfortably. “I’ll paint this room with lilac. It’ll be beautiful and cozy.”

“No lilac or pink. You want to ruin my image?”

Hearing Mike’s voice, Angie stirred and sat up. “I’m just sharing my ideas. Look… this room is boring.”

“You’re the boring one. Get out and take your things to the room at the far end. Don’t ever come into this room again.”

“What? We don't share a room?” Angie pouted but stayed put instead of leaving the room. “Mike… can I sleep in the room next to this one? Don’t put me at the end, please…”

Angie’s face suddenly paled, successfully encouraging Mike to tease her.

“Why? Are you scared, huh?” Mike’s signature smirk appeared, and Angie hated it.

“Scared? I didn't say that. I just…”

“Just what? Don't you want to do that again?”

“I... I just want to be close to you.”

Lied. How could Angie be that sweet to a man who had threatened her to marry him? She just wanted to elicit Mike’s sympathy. Unfortunately, it never worked. Mike was like an iceberg in Antarctica. Even though they had had sex—an intercourse without penetration, to be precise—he would never have been fascinated only by a sweet seduction.

Failing to make Mike feel sorry for her, Angie quickly left the monochromatic-themed room while muttering. “What’s wrong with changing the room’s color? Doesn’t he get bored? All his rooms are always the same color.”

As Mike had said, Angie stopped complaining and immediately checked the farthest room.

A bright smile spread across her beautiful face when she saw the room, which was just as comfortable as Mike’s. She quickly put down her belongings and rushed to the kitchen to practice the cooking skills she had just learned from her mother-in-law.

However, before she could start preparing, her phone rang. “Vivian Genosie” appeared on the screen, causing Angie to ignore everything else to prioritize the call.

“Hello, dear... have you unpacked your things?”

“Yes, Ma. Is there a problem?”

“Can you come back here? I forgot to tell you that today is the rescheduled wedding photo session that was previously canceled. I can’t postpone or reschedule it for another day. Can you?”

Angie might have easily agreed, but what about Mike? In truth, she didn’t want to disturb him while he was busy with his own tasks like this. She was tired of hearing Mike’s sharp words, especially since he couldn’t be gentle with women, making Angie reluctant to be near him.

However, it seemed that the mother-in-law hadn’t just informed her, but also Mike. Sure enough, not long after, he came out of the room dressed neatly with his trademark sour expression, now even more sour.

Angie sighed wearily. She couldn’t imagine how long she would endure this tense life.

The contract stated two years, and she hoped Mike would reduce it to one year, or if necessary, just a few months.