Chapter 2: Paper Marriage

“A contract for what!?” I can't believe what I just heard.

I knew it. 

“I told you I don't want to do anything illegal and now you want me to join whatever dark market you are in, and worse... I am signing a contract? What is this? Huh? A cult of addicts or something!?” I hysterically said to him, it was like some things were going crazy in my heart.

He grinned.

“This is the most legal thing that you will ever do in your life. This ain't really just a contract, we will also sign a license. Which made it SUPER. LEGAL.” he calmly said to me while still grinning emphasizing how legal it will be.

What is this mess I got into, why did I even trust this man...

Just— cause he's handsome?

I shook my head to get back into the reality I am in right now. “T-then what do I have t-to do?”

“Marry me.”

It was as if rocks had fallen on me when I heard the two words he said.

I deliberately stopped my feet at what this guy said. When he noticed I stopped, he also paused, dragging me before he turned around and faced me.

I was in a lot of trouble because of the speed of this event and now he's saying something really stupid.

I just stared into his eyes, obviously confused.

He sighed. “We're just signing a marriage contract,” he said as if this is nothing for him.

What in the world of cheese?

I didn't think that this could go even worse.

“A... what!?”

A marriage contract?

There is no way I'm marrying this man, not here— I mean, never. It's just like this is not my dream wedding.

He did not answer me and instead, he suddenly took my hand and pulled me closer to him when we noticed a man approaching us. He holds something that I think is the papers that we have to sign together.

He whispered to me to continue what he was saying earlier. “And a marriage license…”

I looked at him with mixed astonishment, he raised his hand and put his index finger to his lips to signal to me not to say anything.

“No way, I'm here to have a better life, not to have a husband,” I whispered back to him so that the man wouldn't notice us and do not kick us out of this building.

I think my words were strengthened because the man suddenly turned to us.

This guy beside me immediately faked a smile at the man to show that nothing had happened and that everything was fine before he turned to me and whispered “Two hundred and fifty thousand dollars…” with emphasis on every word.

He's holding a pen and has already begun to sign.

While signing the papers, he even raised his eyes to me, they are absolutely beautiful. It's like it's attracting me to grab it and run. I’m pretty sure a lot of creeps will buy those gorgeous eyes.

He was looking at me and not at the papers but he didn't make any mistake signing it, as if he was already very used to it.

He's not a pop star... isn't he?

I wanted to laugh at what I thought but I couldn't. I really wanted to run away from him and this mess, but for some reason that I can't understand, I accepted the pen and started signing as well.

I could just scream and run, but why does my body keep telling me that it's fine to trust him?

I looked at this stranger once again after I finished the paper that they called a marriage license.

He must have noticed my doubts because he whispered to me again. “Don't worry, we'll get divorced sooner than you know.”

I heard what he said, but I never looked at him because of the amount of stuff running through my brain right now.

Did I really sign a contract?

Does that mean I'm married to him?

But wait— I suddenly remembered that he has a girlfriend.

I'm such an idiot. I have a lot of things I can forget then.

Why did I...

I was so annoyed that I just messed up my hair before looking at him again.

“Don't you have a girlfriend? You guys just fought for a while and now you married someone? Seriously, what is your real plan?” I asked him with a mixture of annoyance.

“We're still together. I just really have something important to do.” He replied while looking directly into my eyes to give me the security that everything was fine.

“We're now officially  married, so this means that you're my husband... right?”

“Married by paper.” He clarified.

I just glared at him for what he said. Does he think I am loving this situation right now that he's my husband?

“So, what do you want me to do next? Don't you ever expect me to have some sort of a honeymoon with you? You're not thinking of sleeping next to me, are you?” I regretted the words that came out of my mouth.

It was like a gun trigger that suddenly fired his loud laughter. He laughed really loud at what he heard.

I suddenly felt embarrassed at what I said and it was like all my blood had risen to my cheeks because of the extreme heat of them.

I feel like they are already so red, it's too hot in here.

I pulled my face away so he couldn’t see it.

I looked at him as I felt that the redness on my cheeks had somewhat disappeared, he still didn't seem to have finished laughing.

“Are you done?” I raised an eyebrow at him which immediately stopped his laughter.

He adjusted himself and stood up straight before speaking. "You must go to my wedding tomorrow."

I flipped over by what he said, what wedding?

“We just got married, what do you mean there will be a wedding tomorrow?”

“No- I mean... Yes, but tomorrow's wedding and today's marriage contract are just a part of my plans.”

I did not answer so he spoke again. "It's not us who's getting married so you don't have to feel excited."

Seriously, how many girls is this guy dating?

And what? Me? Excited?

Whatever is happening tonight is seriously insane. Nothing is going right, and I am certain that nothing will also go right tomorrow.

If it was just a dream, I hope someone would shake the hell out of me and wake me up.

This is all too much for my brain to handle so I couldn't let out any words so I just stared at him.

“Look, I know you can't understand and you're a bit puzzled by this kind of situation right now, but all I want you to do is to attend my wedding tomorrow.” After a long pause, he continued “Just remember that I am not allowing you to talk to anyone at my wedding or even say anything, just be there until the right time I call you, do you understand?” He looks at me directly in the eye hoping that I would understand every single word of it.

I agreed to the marriage, there's nothing bizarre for me anymore. So I just nod my head to let him know that I understand what he just said.

“I'm going home,” I said softly to him as if I was so tired that I could no longer raise my voice.

He nodded. “Make sure you'll be there tomorrow so that people can see you. Please fix what you are wearing as well.”

I want to peel this man alive and throw him on the fire. I'm so annoyed at him. He sees that I'm still a mess with everything that's going on, and now the number of things he orders me can literally make my brain stop functioning.

I can't imagine living with this man for even just a day and listening to all of his non-stop commands. I don't know how someone can last with him.

“When will you pay me?” I asked him.

I have made too many mistakes overnight. At least I have something to gain here.

“After your job is done.”

I gave him a sullen glance before I left the City Hall without looking back.

All the stupid things I did here just reminded me of my hometown and my family there.

I wonder what they would think when I didn't go home as they expected.

I planned to start again and have a new life here in Denmark, but whatever happened tonight; I don't think that I started it all right.

I'm inside the taxi now and I'm just looking outside watching the quiet and uncrowded road.

My vision slowly blurs and I can feel the warmth of my eyes. Something just dripped on my hand so my gaze shifted to take a look at it. As I lowered my head, the tears flowed even more. I instantly raised my head again to slow the dripping off them and I didn't bother to wipe it off and just looked back outside.  I took a deep breath and let it out loudly through my mouth. In the dimming of my eyes, only the light on the road reflected it.

This quiet taxi and the dark surroundings it passes through reminds me of all the things that happened yesterday, the last day I was in New Jersey.

Before I left that country with no plans in return...