CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

SAPPHIRE was not avoiding Hapi, but her busy schedule made her do so. Well, being the class representative was a good excuse, though. Since it was her department’s week, she was busy roaming around to check how the event was going so far.

She was heading to the café booth to grab a drink for herself when she bumped into someone.

“Oh, I’m sorry,” she said and looked up.

Her nose crinkled when he saw the face that never failed to annoy her. But when she noticed his sleepy eyes, she realized it was Piewie.

Thank God it wasn’t Mobi…

She heaved a sigh. “I thought you’re Mobi.”

“I’m Mobi,” he said in a low tone.

“Funny,” Sapphire said and faked a laugh. “You and Mobi enrolled in different courses. He’s probably on his class right now.”

“Anyway…” Piewie brought out a pair of handcuffs from his pocket.

“What is that for? And where did you get that?” she asked out of curiosity. As far as she remembered, they don’t have a jail booth. But his next move surprised her. He handcuffed her hands right away. “What the hell, Piewie?”

“I’m sorry, Sapphire.” He tugged her in the direction of the marriage booth.

There, she saw Hapi being dragged by his friend Clover. But unlike her, he seemed to be willing as if he already knows what would happen. And her assumption was confirmed when Clover made him wear the white tuxedo.

“Aya!” Piewie called. “Come over here and prepare the bride for the wedding. Hurry up!”

If only Sapphire and Hapi did not quarrel last time, she would probably feel delighted.

“This is a forced marriage,” Sapphire retorted.

Piewie just laughed as he handed her the bouquet of flowers.

“There you go,” said Aya after successfully putting the veil on her.

“I hate you all,” Sapphire said with a sour face.

Piewie walked her to the aisle and handed her to Hapi at the altar.

“This the end of our deal,” Piewie said with a grin.

She looked at him with furrowed brows. Piewie said it again. What does he mean by that? How many deals do Hapi and Piewie have? Most of all, why was she always involved? Was it something she should be afraid of?

“Sapphire…” Hapi took her hand.

“You should ask me first if I want to marry you.” She scowled at him.

The smile left his face. His eyes were not clouded with guilt. Well, maybe he realized the weight of defending Amethyst.

But despite the hatred she felt for Hapi, she accepted his hand for that fake marriage. For the sake of fun.

I don’t wanna be labelled as a killjoy…

She heaved a sigh to compose herself.

REN, one of Sapphire’s classmates, was the officiating officer of the wedding. And it did not take long since it was just for fun.

“I now pronounce you husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride,” Ren announced cheerfully.

Sapphire gasped when Hapi grabbed her shoulders and lowered his face on hers. She could only stare at his mouth-watering lips.

Oh, God…will he kiss me for real?

If Hapi kisses her in front of the crowd, she will pass out!

She closed her eyes tightly and waited for the kiss to happen. But it did not happen. Hapi only kissed the side of her lips, which made it look like they really kissed. Sapphire did not know if she would feel disappointed or thankful.

“It’s time for the wedding picture,” Ren said afterwards.

Hapi went to her side and pulled her closer.

She looked at him. Hapi seemed really happy. 

“Say sex!” said Clover, the one behind the camera.

Sapphire could not help but wince.

“Smile, Sapphire, or you’ll look like a ghost bride,” Clover teased.

But she kept a straight face. She looked at Hapi instead. He lowered his gaze on her, and that was when the camera flashed.

“Perfect!” Piewie said as he clapped his hands exaggeratedly.

AFTER the fake wedding ceremony, Sapphire went away. She wanted a breath of fresh air, so she went to the back of the gymnasium. It was one of her secret hideouts on the campus. But she was startled when she found Rinbie there.

“You scared the hell out of me,” she said.

He looked in her direction and smiled. “Really?”

“Yeah.” Sapphire sat on the other side of the bleacher. “What are you doing here anyway?” she asked after a short while.

“Hiding.”

“Hiding from your responsibility as the class representative? What a shame…”

“No.” He looked at her with a bored look in his eyes. “I’m hiding from those girls who wanted to marry me at the booth.”

“Ah…” I should have hidden too.

She looked up at the sky and turned to Rinbie again when she heard his stomach rumble. He palmed his tummy and looked at her awkwardly.

“You seem hungry.”

“Yeah. I skipped my breakfast this morning.”

“Then, why don’t you grab a meal?” She checked his wristwatch. “It’s almost lunchtime now.”

“Care to join me for lunch?”

She looked at him and smiled. “Why not?”

HAPI had been searching for Sapphire since she left after the wedding. He even skipped his next class because he wanted to talk to her. Hapi wanted to talk to her about a lot of things. But he could not find her. He brought out his phone and decided to call her.

He just hoped that she would answer. Sapphire had been ignoring his calls and texts for a week now. Maybe she really hates her now.

Yes! 

Finally, Sapphire answered his call.

“What?” she asked coldly.

“Where are you now?”

“I am here at Restaurante de Amethyst for lunch with your friend. Why?”

His forehead knotted. “Who’s that friend?”

“Ah, wait…I shouldn’t be talking to you because I still hate you.” Sapphire hung up.

“What the…” He tried calling her again, but she was declining his calls again.

Hapi went to the parking lot. He got in his car and sped away. While on his way to the restaurant, he called his friend Koby.

“Who’s with Sapphire?” Hapi asked the moment his friend answered his call.

“What? I don’t know. I haven’t seen—”

“She’s there right now!”

“And so?”

“Koby!” he snapped. “All I ask is for you to check who’s with her now!”

“Whoa, easy, easy! You know that I’m always busy in the kitchen.”

“Then get out of that damn kitchen.”

“I’m not your slave, Hapi.”

“Fine. Then I’ll tell Amethyst—”

“Here I go! I’m gonna check on Sapphire. Wait a second.”

He heard chattering noises in the background. Koby must have really gone to the dining area of the restaurant. After a short while, his friend spoke to him again.

“Hapi, I think it’s better if you come over. See it for yourself.”

His chest tightened upon hearing what he said. Hapi has a bad feeling about it.

“I’m coming.”