1 Chapter 1: I’m Married?

I feel myself floating in the dark, a sweet, honey-like warmth spread across my body. I can't see anything, but I feel safe and secure deep in the abyss. This is, by far, the most at peace I've felt for the past months.

With that ass dumping me for that stupid barbie face, just because she has money, all the bills piling up, the unpaid rent, and my contract coming to an end, everything is in shambles. My life just gets messier every day. I want to disappear. Besides, no one will notice someone as unimportant as me if I'd be gone.

Maybe I'm dying right now? That's why it's so dark and I can't move? But is death really as peaceful as this?

If it is, maybe I should've died sooner. I think I like this feeling of death.

I suddenly heard a light buzz in my ear, breaking the peaceful atmosphere. An irritating sound that resounded in my soul. I tried to put my hands on my ears but to no avail. It was as if I have no control over my body.

The sound became more distinct and annoying. There was a deep seated itch that I wanted to scratch but I'm stuck in place.

I tried to open my eyes but failed, but I didn't give up. After many tries, I finally gained control of my body and slowly opened my eyes, only to notice something peculiar.

I felt warm and refreshed. My blanket isn't the thin, striped ones I bought in a bargain sale. The mattress isn't the rock hard futon that I've kept using for the past 5 years. Lastly, the ceiling isn't the same disgusting yellow color that I remember. There's an exquisite bedside table with a lamp and clock sitting on top, even though I don't remember having one.

Wait, I'm sure I don't have one.

The realization jolted me from my reverie and I abruptly sat up. I looked around the room, only to find myself in an unfamiliar place. The design is masculine and modern, giving a dark and mysterious vibe. For some reason, there's something about the place that gave me an inexplicable pressure.

My heart began palpitating as I shuffle around the bed only to feel something hard against the soft texture of the mattress. When I looked down, I felt myself pale in fright.

A tanned, muscular back faced me, reminiscent of the western models I've seen in magazines. His back seemed to be sculpted by gods to be praised by the world. I've only slept with one man my whole life and that was my now ex, Jin.

But Jin didn't have that kind of luscious back!

Jin isn't as wonderfully tanned as this man and the punk's hair was dyed blonde. It's definitely not like that luxuriant, black hair!

I tried to back away, only to realize that I'm stark naked as well. My heart began thumping and my breath hastened. Grasping the thick covers against my chest to calm myself, I tried to recall what happened last night.

I was drinking in a bar, then someone talked to me. I went to the bathroom for a while and when I went back and took a few sips, I started to feel woozy and forgot everything.

After a took a few sips…

Goosebumps flooded my skin in realization as I stared at the back of the man.

I was drugged!

Tears began pooling in my eyes as negative emotions that piled for the last few months came crashing on me.

What kind of rotten luck am I given?

I'm already losing my sanity from all the suppression and problems. I'm already worthless, alright? Now heavens played a joke and have someone take advantage of me as well? Can you be anymore heartless than that?

I tried keeping my voice down, but it seems like the man still heard it and turned, giving me the view of his face.

A pair of deep, dark eyes stared into mine. His eyes were like suctions that threatens to devour me anything it laid on.

But I didn't care about it and looked away. "Get away from me." A feeble voice escaped my lips and I scooted away, still holding on the covers.

…

The beautiful woman trembled under his gaze as tears fell down like waterfalls against her cheeks. The man didn't understand the reason why she started crying. He only woke up to the noise and turned to check up on her, only to see her in this state.

He reached out to try and hold her, but her striking eyes widened in fear and she scramble further away from him like a frightened cat.

"No, please no." the young woman pleaded, her voice trembling, giving a strange allure. "Don't touch me."

The man started to piece together what happened and what is playing on the young woman's mind, so he retracted his hand and examined her for a moment. "Don't worry, nothing happened last night."

She stopped sobbing and looked at him warily, as if not believing what he said.

"You got drugged last night by some fool and I stopped him. You were knocked out and I don't know where you live, so I took you to my place." The mistrustful gaze of the woman unsettled him, so he briefly explained the events that happened.

The woman sat still in her place, not believing the man in the slightest. He thought he explained himself enough and stopped talking. He went to get out of the bed when he heard a yelp behind him.

He turned and saw the woman with her eyes tightly shut and her face burning.

The man raised his brow in question. "Do you despise the sight of me?"

"NO!" the woman realized that she was a little rude so she toned down her voice. "I-I… You're naked…"

"So?"

"You… Don't you feel embarrassed?"

The woman still kept her eyes closed, but he could see the disbelief in her face with her mouth gaping like a fish.

"I slept like this because you puked all over my clothes and I just moved here, so I still have no change of clothes. Pardon me if I made you uncomfortable."

"Ah…"

Realizing that she's the cause of such situation, her face burned in shame and she buried herself under the covers. She dared not to open her eyes as the sound of shuffling resounded in the room. It was until the she heard the door shut that she took a peek under her lashes.

Upon seeing that she's the only one left in the room, she opened her eyes and heaved a sigh.

She held her head as the pounding ache from the hangover assaulted her temples. As she touched her head, she felt something smooth and hard on her hand. Her hand retracted and her eyes fell on an exquisitely made ring around her finger.

What is this ring? I don't remember having this. Did I snatch it when I was drunk?

She removed the ring and inspected it. The ring was a simple silver band with eight little jewels lining the ring with one big jewel at the center. She played around it for a while when she noticed a little engraving inside the ring.

Ayla Shen. 3.14.20xx

Her brows rose after reading. What a coincidence, she thought. To have the same name as the owner of the ring. Although the surname was wrong. Hers is Lin, not Shen. The date was from yesterday too.

I wonder what it means.

Ayla just shrugged and placed the ring on the bedside table but stopped. She noticed a black folder with a sticky note stuck in front. Yesterday's date is written on it, just like the ring.

She can't help but feel apprehensive about it and without thinking, she reached for the folder and placed it on her lap.

Yesterday, I was drugged. Yesterday, this man claimed to have saved me and brought me to his place. There seems to be something special about yesterday.

Curiosity took over her as she flipped the cover open and a document was revealed.

Office of Civil Registration. Certificate of Marriage.

Oh? Someone got married yesterday? Could it be that man?

Ayla's brows furrowed at the thought. If that man was married yesterday, then what is he doing saving a drunk girl, removing her clothes and letting her sleep on the same bed?

Her heart pounded at the thought as fright seeped into her body at the thought. Could it be that the mysterious man is actually married? I slept with a married man?!

This is not good. Am I going to be a mistress? But he said that nothing happened last night and he just tried to save me. As for being naked, he has no clothes at the moment, let alone clothes for me. If he lied and really took advantage of me, then I'll just report him to the police and find his wife to apologize.

Upon formulating her plan in her head, Ayla began inspecting the document. She wanted to find the wife's name and her contact details so she can tell her the truth.

Her eyes scanned the file but she found something that made her body rigid. Her hand began trembling as she read the sentence over and over, as if trying to convince herself that what she's seeing is real.

"That's… That's my name…" she whispered and held the document closer to her face. "What... is this?"

This certify that I, Luca Shen, and I, Ayla Lin, both of legal age, of our own free will and accord, take each other as husband and wife.

Ayla realized something and turned her gaze on the ring sitting quietly at the table.

Luca Shen.

Ayla Shen.

That ring... is mine?

I'm… married?