CHAPTER 13: THE WEDDING

The simple wedding took place in a small church in Tagaytay after a couple of weeks. Rodney agreed with his grandmother’s wish, in return, the older woman will take whatever treatment is necessary for the possibility of curing her illness.

Like what Shelley, Rodney and I agreed upon, we will not file the marriage papers after the wedding. He will see to it that the documents will not reach the civil registry.

There's nothing special in the wedding. Rodney did not talk much, except his ‘I do' and the dictated statements.

Even I avoided looking him in the eye. There was nothing there but indifference. Rodney did not even smile once. Lola made a scene when Rodney did not want to kiss me when it was time to kiss the bride. Her blood pressure shot up and Rodney had to give in.

I felt like crying. This whole mock-wedding makes me feel like a trash. I can feel his repulsion towards me. But I couldn’t show any emotion or reaction to any of these. I will always wear a triumphant smile, even if I feel defeated.

I leaned in and kiss him. I felt his resistance, but he didn’t move and just let me kiss him.

"Smile, Honey. It's not as if it's the first time that we will kiss," I remember hissing at him. His face turned grim and he glared at me.

The day was uneventful, except for the small reception for very few visitors. There was no grand honeymoon afterwards, there was no cheerful laughter. In fact, we’re in his condominium unit now, together with Lola.

"Well, let's have a toast before I leave you both to yourselves," Lola said and approached the mini bar. She filled three wine goblets with the alcohol and handed one to each of us. The she raised her glass.

"For your marriage."

"For our DEAL," Rodney retorted sarcastically. He quickly drank his wine and swiftly snatched the one that Lola is holding in her hand. "You can't drink this, old lady. And I need more of this."

He drank it in one gulp while Lola looked on. She smiled smugly afterwards and told us that she needs to go home. I was left puzzled.

"Don't forget your treatment tomorrow," Rodney reminded.

I smiled at that. Rodney may be mad, but he cannot really stop his concern for his old folk.

Even if this will be hard for me, and even if I know I will be hurt in the process, I feel like I made the right decision, after all. In the end, I know both of them will be happy.

When we were left alone, Rodney’s phone rang.

"Hello."

I couldn’t hear what the person from the other line is saying, but I can see how his expression changed.

"What the hell-! How did she know? How..?"

He suddenly dropped the call and gave me a deadly glare that I couldn’t help but swallow in nervousness. What did I do again, this time?

In big strides, he moved towards me. I involuntarily took a step back when he gripped my arm and moved his furious face near mine. This level of fury is scary.

"Did you..?" he started.

"N-Ney, you’re hurting me.." I squawked.

His pupil dilated in anger.

"Don't dare call me Ney! Did you tell her?!"

"Tell who what?"

"Did you tell Lola about the plan of not filing the marriage papers??"

"What?!" my eyes grew wide.

“Don’t pretend that you don’t know! How the hell would she know about it if no one told her?!”

“B-But Rodney.. I really don’t know..”

"Sure you do."

He pushed me violently and I felt my body’s impact against the sofa. I watched him walk back and forth, clueless on what to do next.

"She took it! She took the marriage papers from my staff and insisted that she will be the one to file it to the registrar! Do you know what it means?!"

He came over to me and shook me again. "Do you know what it means?!"

I closed my eyes tightly and tried to calm my nerves.

‘Wear your triumphant smile. Fake your happiness.’

I smiled smugly at him.

"Of course I know what it means, Rodney. It means you and I are married. FOR REAL."

If anyone can look more murderous than him right now, I wouldn’t know how to describe that. I doubt anyone can look at me with more contempt than he currently does.

I prepared myself to be treated like a villain for the rest of our lives. To suffer his anger, to receive whatever punishment he wants to exact from me.

But I am not ready to see the Rodney that I know slowly vanishing in front of my eyes. The Rodney who is gentle and rational. The Rodney who is willing to dance and make himself look stupid just to make me feel better. The Rodney who will stay up late at night to help me cook.

I don’t want him to disappear.

"Shelley shouldn’t find this out!"

I smirked. “Convince me, then. Convince me not to tell her.”

He glared at me again.

“What do you really want? What will you get out of this?”

"To fill you in, Lola promised me she will give me her farm in Tagaytay if I marry you," I said.

"All for that? You’re willing to ruin someone else’ life just for money?!"

“You can say that because you are rich yourself. You don’t need money. But you know, I am so tired being Shelley’s slave. You think it’s okay hearing her talk down on me day in and day out?”

“If you just told me, I could have given you a better offer!”

I just looked at him.

"Well, I don’t think you can give me a better offer. She still owns majority of you family’s wealth at this point. She said she will give me more if she can see that we are happily living together."

He returned my smug smile.

“Really? What then if I do not cooperate with you?”

“You know I am holding the aces, Rodney. Remember you are trying to convince me not to tell Shelley the truth.”

He stopped on track. So I pushed further. "Let's make a deal. You pretend to love me in front of your grandmother. And I will not meddle with your affairs with Shelley as long as you are discreet about it. Your relationship should not be known to Lola. It's brilliant, isn't it. Win-win situation. You'll keep me mum, and I will get my farm."

"You've been planning this all along, right? How shrewd."

His voice sounded calm but poisonous. If stares could kill, I am probably dead by now.

"Thank you for the compliment, Honey."

"I accept the deal. But let's set this straight, Mira. NEVER. FALL. IN LOVE. WITH. ME." He smirked at me as if saying I wouldn't have a chance in his heart.

I steeled myself and returned the mockery. "That's too cliché, Rodney. You know what happens when a guy tells that to a woman? They fall in love with each other." I spoke the last statement slowly for effect.

He narrowed his eyes at me, as if just the mere suggestion of him falling for me is disgusting. I acted as if I don't care.

‘You can't beat me at acting, Rodney. It's my cup of tea.’

"So, here's the news: You're the one who should watch out," I added. "I have nothing to lose falling for you. But I have a lot to gain making you fall for me." I smirked, taunting him.

Hatred flared in his eyes. The very same eyes that used to look at me gently with kindness and fondness.

‘I'm sorry, Ney. I have no intention to hurt you.’

"I didn't know that the person I thought was a friend, is in fact, a cunning wench."

Rodney gritted his teeth tightly that I almost feared he might break some.

"Oh, the truth is, Rodney, you know nothing about me."

Disbelief, betrayal, pain. They are clearly shown in his eyes.

He grabbed my arm and looked at the bracelet on my wrist. He shook his head.

"Such a precious piece of shit for a worthless woman."

I winced inwardly even though outside, nothing gives way of the emotions making havoc inside me. Thankfully, my tear ducts remain cooperative today.

Without warning, Rodney ripped the bracelet from my wrist and threw it on the floor. He stomped on it as if he wanted it to break.

"Friendship? What friendship? I regret having met you."

I just watched what he is doing. We both know that it will not even scratch the bracelet, but what he is doing is symbolic of him scrapping whatever friendship we might have forged recently.

That’s when tears started to sting my eyes. I blinked furiously to stop the tears. I should be stronger than this.

When Rodney was contented, he left the bracelet there and headed for the door.

"Where are you going?"

“Wherever, as long as you’re not there,” then he pulled the door violently.

It did not budge.

"Shit!" he cursed. He tried to pull again. It remained close.

I made him hear my laughter as I watch him.

"Hmm.. Seems like we're meant to be together tonight. Your grandma is a genius, isn't she?"

"Damn!" he kicked the door in irritation.

When he realized that he is just wasting his strength there, he walked to the landline. There was no dial tone. He grabbed it and threw it against the wall.

He reached for his cellphone and dialed. But apparently, the battery got drained.

"Where's your phone?" He asked me.

"It’s in my bag. And I don't have the bag right now."

It was not intentional though. Lola held onto my bag earlier, and I forgot to get it back.

He grabbed his hair in frustration.

"Wow, it's just you and me here now. Why don’t you just help me undress? This gown is uncomfortable, you know."

"Shut up!" he hollered.

“Huh?! Why are you getting mad at me again? This is not my fault. I have nothing to do with Lola’s plan to keep us here tonight.”

"Do you enjoy this? Do you enjoy this game?!"

I sighed.

"This is not a game, Rodney. This is our life now. You better accept the truth that we are married now. Isn’t it our honeymoon tonight?"

"Wench.."

I started unzipping my gown.

"What are you doing??"

I rolled my eyes at him.

"I’m going to change my clothes, duh!"

"You don’t have other clothes here."

"I know. But you have. Just like the old time, I’ll borrow yours."

I walked to his room. I did not turn on the lights, but I kept the door ajar.

"Close the door!" I heard him groan.

Hmm.. Effective.

I was shaking my head to myself. What am I even doing? Whatever naughty thoughts am I entertaining?

When I cannot locate a shirt because of the darkness, I turned on the light. I gripped the gown against my body to stop it from slipping down.

"Aaaahhh!" I heard Rodney from outside the room. I took a peek and saw him jogging back and forth. I frowned. What is happening with him?

He removed his long sleeved polo as if he’s on fire. His well-toned muscles rippled against the light.

My mouth went dry at the sight. Why is it hot? Did Lola also tinker with the air conditioner?

I started sweating but I still couldn’t stop staring at Rodney. He is tall, maybe more than six feet. His body is well-proportioned with the right muscles.

I held my breath when he started undoing his belt. I wanted to turn around but I also couldn’t. He removed his pants and left just his boxers on.

Thankfully, his back is turned towards me, because I wouldn’t know how my body would react if he is facing my direction. I swallowed several times and turned around, holding my chest. I can feel my heart beating loudly against my rib cage.

‘Really, Mira, what's happening to you??’

This feeling is foreign to me. It feels like I do not own this body anymore, it wouldn’t follow my will and just kept on responding to the sight of almost naked Rodney. I tried to close my eyes, but the picture of him remained in my mind.

I heard him groan loudly again. He sounded frustrated. Then I heard a load thud so I ran outside the room.

“What happened?”

He looked at me and suddenly turned his back when he saw that I am still wearing the gown that is almost slipping from my body with its zipper open at the back.

“Don’t come near me. Stay where you are!” he shouted.

“Why? What happened? Why did you kick the chair?”

I stepped towards him, but he moved away as if he’s scared of me.

“Rodney what is happening to you?”

He did not answer but he pointed at the direction of the minibar. I moved towards that while he kept moving away from me.

On top of the minibar, besides the bottle of wine, is an empty capsule.

Wait-!

“Whose medicine-?” I turned to Rodney, puzzled.

He approached me as if irritated.

"Aphrodisiac, Mira! Aphrodisiac! And she had the nerve to just leave the evidence lying around here!"

What? Tch! Grandma is definitely cunning. She really did something like this? Such a bold move.

I grinned at the thought.

“What are you smiling for?!”

“What? I am just admiring your grandmother. She sure has a lot of tricks. I can learn a lot from her.”

Irritated, he left me without answering.

I playfully chased after him and blocked him.

"Hey.." I hooked my free arm on his nape and slightly pressed my body against his. I can feel him.

Hard.

I smiled up at him and watch him swallow several times.

"Why don't we just do it..?" I whispered in his ear, making sure that my lips will touch his skin.

He went rigid, clenching and unclenching his fists.

I stared in his eyes and watched it turn smoky, his pupils dilating as our eyes met.

I halted. That expression looked familiar. I saw it on his face before. It was my turn to swallow. I am getting nervous, but I will not back out.

"You can still help me remove my gown, you know," I teased.

He closed his eyes tightly to control himself.

"No!" he pushed me away and went to a corner.

“Are you afraid of me, Ney? Hmm?”

He glared at me. I wanted to laugh at his expression, but I chose to just sit on the sofa and watch him.

I saw him jogging in place, pushing up and jumping to divert his attention and energy.

“Aaaaarrrgggghh! It’s painful! I hate you Jasmine Alejandro!!!” he shouted, referring to Lola. “I hate you, Lola! Why are you punishing me like this?!"

He looked like a kid throwing tantrums. I can no longer contain it, I burst out laughing at him until my stomach ached of laughter.

I only stopped when I heard a slamming of the door of his room where he went because he got irritated with me.

"What the hell-?!" I heard him curse. He’s been cursing a lot today.

I saw him holding the door and looking at the place where there should have been a lock as if by merely staring at it, the door knob will miraculously appear. I didn’t notice earlier that it was missing.

Did Gran anticipate Rodney's reactions?

I laughed at him more. I followed him but he pushed the door so that I can’t get inside.

"Go away!"

"You’re so childish," I taunted.

"Stay away from me!"

I heard something scraping the floor as if he is moving something heavy. Apparently, he put a cabinet or maybe the bed behind the door to secure it.

I just sighed and went back to the sofa. It was my turn to kick it.

I grimaced in pain and jumped on one foot. Lola should have just removed the whole door.

I glared at the closed door. How will I change clothes now?

Annoyed, I spread myself on the sofa.