GERALD
My memory of last night was more of a cloudy fog as I opened my eyes, welcoming the splitting headache that sent me falling back into the pillow.
Damn, it hurt. My head hurt like hell, and images crashed through without mercy as if to remind me of the position I was in. I couldn't piece it together yet, so I groaned softly as I sat up, blinking repeatedly. With my back on the headrest, I was able to collect myself, and everything that happened started seeping into my mind.
The most important of them all was I wasn't alone in this house as I'd always been for years now. I had a woman in the opposite room who'd regard me as her husband from today. The thought brought more weight than I expected.
My hand instinctively found its way into my hair, and I ruffled it, another tired sigh squeezing out of me. I messed up last night by drinking, and I remembered it vividly.
How I'd almost kissed her- the woman I'd married and called the name of her sister in the spur of the moment. The one thing that had refused to leave my tongue, though it had been years since Julie died. I was stuck on that one event, and the void had been wickedly caved inside of me.
There was a big black and empty hole where my heart was supposed to be, and I'd stuffed it with work, nothing more. Any form of emotional bearings would ruin me. Years had passed, and it finally played out to me that I wasn't a man to love or be loved.
Hence, this union would go on as exactly what it was, a mere contract. A pact formed by two business partners to prevent the order from crashing into empty dust. How tiring.
I scooted out of bed and headed into the bathroom, where I splashed water on my face to wash whatever was left of the drunken veil that lingered. With every movement, I was reminded that there was someone else inside this home besides me.
I'd never felt more uneasy. I stood by the door and fiddled with the knob. For so many reasons, I didn't want to see Rosaline or have any conversation with her. Nothing would make me happier than us living in understandable silence.
If she was smart at all, she'd realize that this wasn't a marriage. It was pure business tactics. They should have at least told her that much. I pulled the door open and made my way to the kitchen for a cup of coffee.
Rosaline's room was locked, and I couldn't sense any movement from inside. It wasn't my business anyway, so I brushed it off and went my way. I hadn't told her the set of rules that I'd listed for our living together either. There were so many things that I needed to speak to her about when the time was right.
The next figure my eyes landed on as soon as I reached the kitchen caused me to stagger backward, appalled by the sight of Rosaline on the floor, next to the kitchen counter.
She wasn't asleep, neither did she look conscious enough to notice my presence, leaving me torn between the decision to walk away or ask why she looked like she was about to star in another season of the Walking Dead series. I looked down at her, observing her pale face and chapped lips for a moment.
What happened to have made her sit behind the kitchen counter, staring into an empty space? I didn't ask. Instead, I slipped past like I hadn't seen her there.
For this- whatever it was to work out, ignorance was bliss. I'd barely taken a step away when it struck me. The papers. Damn it! I had left them on the counter yesterday. She wasn't supposed to find out this way.
I turned around to see Rosa was already up on her feet, glaring at me. She looked different from yesterday- a lot more different. Her lips looked thinner, and the dark circles around her eyes were no longer hidden by the shades of colors.
Those brown eyes were drenched in red, swollen, and teary, and she flung the paper in my face. "Explain!"
Her voice, although low, carried weight. It was as light as air, yet dense and imposing. Just one word. It almost got a chuckle out of me. My eyes flicked from her face to the paper. "Explain what?"
"This!" She flapped it before taking a step closer and slamming it into my chest. "What the hell does this mean, Gerald? Cause I spent the entire night staring at these papers, and I c-can't seem to make out meanings from them!"
I examined the paper, perusing it. "Funny, cause... it's written in English. What part of it is so difficult to comprehend, Rosa?"
She watched me like the disappointment sunk deeper. Her lips twitched, and she eyed the document, which was now sprawled across the floor. "Tell me the truth. Tell me everything, what this marriage is. Tell me why you got down on one knee and asked me to marry you!" Rosa yelled, her voice breaking mid-syllable. "Tell me that those documents were forged and- and it is real! The signatures aren't real! Tell me, Gerald!"
Pathetic little thing. Her body had begun to physically shake that I'd have loved to offer her a seat. It was just that she looked like she could murder me if I as much I minced a word.
I didn't know this side of Rosaline existed. For some reason, I was awed. "I can't lie to you," I began. "But you don't look like you can handle the truth either."
"DO I LOOK LIKE THAT MUCH OF A PUSHOVER TO YOU!" Rosa raged, her scream filling every corner of the room. "Do I look that pathetic!"
"I don't think you'd want me to answer that. Look, woman, you want the truth? Yes, this marriage was a sham. But really, how could you not tell? I am your dead sister's fiance. Didn't it seem unusual that I'd ask you to marry me so out of the blue, Rosa? I barely even know you!"
"But I know you!"
"As what?" I scoffed and tilted my head to the side. I clenched my fist and jaw so tight that a muscle ticked. "All you know about me is the information the internet provided you. Hearsays from people and the idea of me you had from your family, possibly Julie!"
She shuddered at the sound of my voice, grabbing her chest. "Uh.." The sound came from her, a stifled cry as she listened to me.
"You really thought I fell in love with you overnight and decided to go on with marriage?" I scoffed. "You-"
"Enough! I'm leaving. I'm getting out of here!" Rosa announced as she charged towards the door, and I went after her, pulling her arm. "Let go of me, you jerk!" She cried as she yanked her hand out of my grip.
"You really don't know anything, do you? I see why it's easy for you to get deceived like this!" I yelled at her. "What? You're leaving? Did you stop to question why your parents went on with this deal in the first place? Do you even know how important it is to them!?"
"It doesn't matter! Let go of me; staying here with you disgusts me to my depths!" She screeched as she burst into tears that stole her words. Her voice was hoarse, and her eyes tired, but I needed to make her understand everything. Whatever decision she made then, was up to her.
"Look at me," l crossed her part, cupping her cheeks to ground her into place. "Listen to me, Rosa! Get it together. This is not about you anymore! I loved Julie, yes. She's the reason our companies are acquainted in the first place. Then came her accident, and everything fell apart! I crashed. I'm in grief, too, and hell, the thought of marrying someone else sickens me to the gut, but I did it anyway. Do you think I chose to? Do you think I wanted to get married to her sister? You!? This marriage is the only thing that sets everything right for everyone!"
"Go straight to the point," She blinked back tears. "I don't need these stories; just make me understand whatever is happening!"
"Your family's business is barely hanging by a thread. They're broke, Rosa. Do you know where all the money they've made for the past few years, all their efforts have gone into the investigation."
"W-what? What investigation?"
"Ah..." I hesitated, knowing that I was about to hit the hammer on the nail. "Julie's death."
"No, no," Rosa shook her head vehemently. "It's a closed case. They told me it was a closed case. They found the killer! It was a hit and run, a-and they found the driver. He's... serving time! He's been apprehended and trialed!"
"Your parents must have told you that to rid you of the burden of knowing Julie's killer is still out there."
"No, that's not- That's not true." She pressed her hands against her ears. "It's not true!"
"Rosaline, you're married to me to save your family. The pact had already been made by both companies to save West Royal from dying into dust. If this marriage gets called off, best believe, the life you are acquainted with will no longer exist. So tell me, do you want to be the one that ruins your parent's chance at a fresh start?"