CHAPTER 5

I stood in the doorway, my arms crossed as I glared at Michael. "I'm sleeping in the bed," I

firmly, trying not to let him get under my skin.

Michael smirked, his eyes crinkling at the corners. "No way, I'm the groom," he replied, his voice dripping with amusement.

I raised an eyebrow. "This is ridiculous. We're adults. We can share a bed," I suggested, trying to reason with him.

But Michael just shook his head. "You think I'm sharing a bed with you? We're pretending to be married, not actually married."

I tried to sneak up on Michael, pillow in hand, and gently push him out of the room. But as I made contact, he spun around, his eyes flashing with annoyance.

"What's your problem?" he asked, his voice low and irritated.

“You can’t sleep here,” I added, ignoring his already agitated face.

“You work for me, you know, and you must act like a worker!” he snapped.

Before I could react, he grabbed the pillow and pushed me back into the room. I stumbled, my anger rising, as he strode back in, pillow in hand.

"Game on," he said, his eyes glinting with determination.

“You can go sleep on the couch,” I said, jumping on the bed. “I’m a big girl… i need my space,” I added, spreading my legs and hands on the bed.

“Let me remind you, I’m paying for all of this, including this bed, and most importantly I’m even paying you, so that means……”

“Oh really now? One moment,” I said, interrupting him. “Yes, you’re paying me because I need your money… But if not for me, you wouldn’t even have money. So bottom line is, you need me more than I need you,” I added, pointing at him with my finger trembling with excitement.

“Am I right? I asked.

I was expecting him to say something, but this time he was surprisingly quiet.

“OMG with that kind of face it’s confirmed that you need me more than I need you,” I uttered, laughing and kicking my feet in the air.

“ I will set a few rules and regulations, defining the rules clearly leads to a happier life together, as said by senator Miriam,” I said, grabbing a paper and pen.

“Number one… a happy wife is a happy marriage, if you don’t want to have problems, you must always keep me happy, okay? Agreed?” I said looking at him for a reply.

“Okay fine!!!” He replied, almost yelling.

“Number two… I can add more rules whenever I want to.” I continued.

“That’s not fair, I object!!” He blurted.

“Oh please refer to rule number one, which you just agreed, that you should always make me happy.” I replied showing him my jotter. “Rule number three which is the most important rule.. as quoted from the movie NO OTHER WOMAN, don’t you dare fall in love with me,” I added.

“Are you serious? That’s not going to be a problem.” He replied confidently.

“Don’t underestimate my charm.” I said, placing my hands below my chin and looking at him with my puppy eyes.

“Anyways, you need to sign here before you change your mind, “ I muttered, handing the jotter over to him.

“Okay, fine, give me that,” he said, grabbing the jotter from my hands forcefully. “If it’s the only way for you to shut. Here, signed,” he added.

“And I’ll add more tomorrow. Like 82 more.” I said.

“So leave the bed now,” he said.

“No!!!” I yelled, “you’re sleeping outside, remember?”

“It’s just the first night… can we just settle this with a coin toss?” He suggested. I could already see the frustrated look on his face.

“Okay, fine let’s do that. I don’t want you to say that I’m unfair.” I replied, bringing out a coin from my purse.

“Now, heads, I sleep on the bed and tails, I sleep on the couch. Deal?” He continued, he was almost acting like his life depended on this bet.

“Okay.” I answered. Nodding my head in approval. This was fun to me, I was eager to see where it’d end.

“Now I’ll toss the coin,” he said.

“Tails!!!!!!!!!!” I shouted in excitement. “Now get out,” I uttered, pointing at the door.

He surprisingly left without uttering a word.

I was happy, the bed was mine for the night.  I rolled on the soft and fluffy bed till i fell asleep.

***********************

I woke up, stretching my arms above my head, and was greeted by the unfamiliar room. The events of the previous night came flooding back - the fake wedding, the argument over the bed. But as I sat up, a pang of guilt hit me.

I had told my family I was in Hong Kong for work, and instead, I was here, in this fake marriage with Michael. The weight of my lie settled heavy on my chest. I missed my family's warm smiles, their loving words, and their comforting presence.

I reached for my phone, hesitating for a moment before scrolling through photos of my family. Seeing their happy faces only made the ache in my chest worse. I wished I could tell them the truth, but for now, this secret had to remain hidden.

I stood up  looking around the room. That's when I felt it - something sticky and dark on my face. I rubbed my nose, and my fingers came away with black smudges. I sat up, horrified, and rushed to the mirror.

My reflection showed a crude mustache and goatee drawn on my face in thick black marker. I gasped, my eyes wide with shock and amusement. I looked ridiculous. I turned to see if Michael was nearby, but he was nowhere to be seen.

A note on the bedside table caught my eye: "You're even more beautiful with a beard 😊". I couldn’t help but scream his name.

“ Michael!!!!!!!”