Chapter Nine: Married

ELAINE'S jaw dropped. Was she hearing things correctly? She turned to face Tan who was staring straight at her. She tore her gaze from him. His gaze seemed like burning her fully. She decided to shift her look at Atty. Ramas who was smiling at them. But there was a hint of guilt in his eyes as he looked at Elaine.

"As I said over the phone, Tan wants to get married as soon as possible," he chuckled awkwardly.

Elaine bit her lips. She didn't expect that the "as soon as possible" could be this literal. From bed to marriage. Nor was she even able to comb her hair. Judge Costanilla handed the marriage contract over to Elaine. Hesitant, she obliged and took the contract.

"Attorney..."

"Ah, yes?" Atty Ramas turned to her, but his eyes could not stare at hers directly. He took a folder out of his case and handed it over to her, which her face still flustered by the unexpected matter. For her, everything was just too hard to process one at a time.

She turned to glance at Tan upon reading what's in the paper.

Prenuptial agreement.

"I am not finished preparing for my wedding dress yet," she mouthed quietly.

"What for?"

"I thought..." she stopped in mid-sentence.

"I thought... you would let me wear a wedding dress somehow..."

But she refrained herself from speaking so.

"C-can I at least change?"

"No. Let's get this over and done with. Fast," Tan said firmly. He lifted his hand to lend her a pen he was holding.

Tan faced her after giving her a few moments to stare at the paper.

"What's the problem? Isn't ten million big enough for you? For a six months contract, the offer isn't that bad, is it?"

"That's not it,"

"Then what is it?"

"Can I at least brush my teeth?"

"What for? I am not going to kiss you at this wedding anyway. Don't bother yourself,"

Elaine shut her mouth. Awkwardness grew thicker as the judge shifted glances at them. Did he do this kind of set-up on purpose? To humiliate her?

He for sure knew that he would look like a mess guessing from the encounter last night. Nor was she able to get dressed or gargle. But is there anything she can do about it?

Elaine carefully cleared the mess on the table and placed the folder there so that she could give her sign. Biting her lips, she signed the prenuptial agreement with a heavy feeling.

As Judge Costanilla told earlier, there will be no wedding ceremony that's going to be done. Right after the signing of the marriage contract, Tan stood from his seat. So did she.

Attorney Ramas cleared his throat. "I need a photo. For documentation."

"One is enough right?" Tan asked the lawyer.

"Of course," he readied his camera and gestured to them to move closer to each other. "Three, two..."

Elaine wanted to protest but Tan quickly grabbed her waist. Their skin touched. She held her breath for seconds. It was as though her world stopped spinning around all of a sudden. Tan's familiar natural scent assaulted her senses. Just like that, she forgot to worry about her appearance in an instant.

"...one and smile!"

Elaine wanted to look happy in the photo so she broadened her smile. Then they heard the low flickering of the camera. After that, Tan immediately let go of her. As if he got himself burned whenever he would touch her.

Meanwhile, Judge Costanilla confiscated the papers on the table and slid them back in the suitcase before she stood from the sofa. She turned towards Tan and for a closing handshake.

"I wish you the happiness you both deserve. Congratulations," she greeted with a smile and offered her hand to Elaine this time, which she accepted for a formal adjourn.

She heard Tan addressing his thank you to her before ushering them towards the door. Elaine's expression was still blank. She was still trying to process everything that just happened. They're married again. And it happened like a bat out of hell.

A bitter smile curled on Elaine's lips. Like a branch fell on a tree, she let herself drown as the river flowed. But how could she fight the stream? She loves it more than her life.

Elaine fixed her hair once she heard the click on the door, indicating that they had already left.

Her eyes darted to the full-body-sized mirror in the living room. She caught her reflection in the mirror. She's a complete mess. Her hair was disheveled. Her clothes were wrinkled. She was too drunk and she wasn't able to get herself dressed. She crawled on the bed last night wearing the same clothes she wore in the bar. She just wanted the earth to swallow her up.

Tan headed back in the living room with his hand in his pocket. Elaine cleared her throat. For the second time, they got married but for her why does it feel so awkward?

"When should I move in? Was our room back in the mansion still in good condition?" she managed to ask him.

Tan's mouth twisted in a wry smile.

"Mansion?" he mimicked her. "A tainted wife doesn't deserve a good home."