A mixture of anger and frustration gnawed at Darryl as he exited his parents’ house. His mother’s desperation was not news to him, but he had never imagined she would go this far just to see him get wedded. It is annoying that everyone around him desperately wants him to get married even if he isn’t interested in it.
He stepped on the gas as he sped on the highway. Driving at speed was the only way to ease his frustration. All he wanted was to get to his house even if there was nothing important to do at home.
Thinking about home, the thoughts about Vanessa crossed his clouded mind. Another wave of anger flooded him as he remembered he had invited her over to his house. He had totally forgotten about it, and he was ashamed of his action. With focused purpose, he fumbled for his phone without taking his eyes off the road.
Missed calls and unread texts welcomed him as he turned on his phone. He ignored messages from Tania, calls from his father and other texts. As he scrolled down, he found out he had missed Vanessa’s call. Instead of calling her back, he turned off his phone, returning it to the compartment of his car, where he had taken it from.
As he continued his drive home, he gazed and his eyes remained fixed on the road while he forced himself not to think about Vanessa or the recent events that had taken place around him. Steadily, he turned to the alley of the estate where he resided. From the entrance of the alley, he sighted two figures standing in front of the house.
Slowly but steadily, he drove closer to them. Strangely, one of the figures walked away while the other person remained on the spot. With a clear view, he recognized the person standing in front of his house. Guilt mixed with previously felt anger filled him as he saw Vanessa waiting for him in front of his house.
As fast as he could, he got out of his car. Taking a firm step towards her, he noticed her face was already pale due to the cold weather. Without thinking, he pulled her into a tight hug.
Vanessa, who was tired of waiting in the cold, stood frozen on the spot as Darryl pulled her into a tight hug. But her motionless act was short-lived when Darryl crashed his lips into hers.
Darryl brought one hand to her face, cupping it as his lips landed on Vanessa’s lips. He could not tell what he was doing due to his clouded mind, but if anything was clear, it was how his lips moved on Vanessa’s own.
Vanessa gasped in shock as Darryl pulled her into a kiss. Without delay, she freaked out. She ripped herself away from him and, without giving it much thought, her palm landed on his face.
“Are you out of your god-damned mind? What the fuck did you just do? How can you keep me waiting after disturbing my night’s rest? You still have the audacity to put your Godforsaken lips on mine.” She blurted out angrily.
Vanessa had it in mind to leave, but she couldn’t get Tania’s words off her mind. The only reason she had waited was because she thought he had an emergency.
“Fuck!” He let out. He was shocked by the slap and confused about what he had done to Vanessa.
“If you have nothing important to say, I will take my leave.” Vanessa said, determination laced in her voice.
“I need your help.” His voice came out low like a murmur.
Vanessa remained quiet, but her gaze was fixed on him. How could he need her help after delaying her for hours? How could he need her help after disturbing her at night? These questions flooded her mind, but a part of her still wanted to hear him out.
“How can I be of help to you?” She asked as her mind drove back to his words.
“Marry me!” He dropped the unreasonable request on her.
His words made her speechless. She couldn’t tell if she had heard well or not. “Pardon?”
“I’m asking you to marry me.” He repeated.
“Is this one of your childish games?” She asked, hoping it was.
“I’m fucking serious. I need you to marry me.” He told her again.
“No, you can’t be serious.” She said, taking a few steps back in disagreement.
He observed Vanessa’s step back, so he also took a few steps forward, closing up the space between them. Darryl didn’t know what had possessed him to kiss Vanessa, now he was asking her to marry him. Perhaps he was desperate to get Tania and his parents off his back.
Anger boiled inside Vanessa as she watched Darryl’s speechless face. “Indeed, you are out of your mind. Anyone could tell when you crashed your lips into mine.” She fired up. “How can you ask me to marry you without blinking?”
“I’m sorry for kissing you Vanessa.” He said as he took her hands in his.
Reacting to his touch, she yanked her hands away from his in annoyance. “Don’t touch me.”
“Listen,” he started calmly. “I really need a wife before next month.”
“And how is that my business?” She cut him off.
“I don’t know who else to ask. You are the only option I have.” He told her. “It won’t be a real marriage, it will be a fake one just to get my parents off my back. Just a year of being a fake couple.”
“Even if it was a prank wedding, I would never marry you, Darryl. Get that into your thick skull.” She voiced out.
“It will be beneficial on both sides. I will pay you every month until the year ends. I will be responsible for your bills and expenses as long as you stay as my wife.” Darryl elaborated on the offer he had for Vanessa.
What problem had Darryl gotten himself into? Vanessa wondered. He wondered how desperate he must be because he needed a wife. Vanessa was stuck in a state of dilemma, but one thing was sure, marriage was not her thing.
“Find someone else to play your fake wife. I’m not interested in marriage and I don’t think I would ever be.” Vanessa replied to him.