Fake marriage

Zephaniah🌙

I woke up feeling pain in my neck. It was probably caused by me sleeping sitting up with my head on the bed.

I looked around, there was no Gray in the room so I stood up.

Don't you dare...touching me..you're not my wife!

I suddenly remembered what he told me earlier.

What does he mean?

I was stunned when the door opened, Gray. It's just home, it has no school today because it's Sunday.

"Grey..."

I called but he didn't even look at me.

"Let's go to him, Mommy." I said.

"Here you go." we answered together and took something from the drawer.

"You're not coming?" I will ask.

"I'm tired." answered it and went out.

I took a deep breath.

I just went downstairs and caught up with Mother Amelia who was cooking our lunch.

It's good to be twelve.

"What would you like to drink? Coffee or milk?" it asked.

"Just coffee." I answered and he smiled at me and he made me feel good.

"Ma'am, I'm going grocery shopping. Are you going with someone?" this question stopped me.

"Can I come along?" I asked, it looks like I'm not going to visit Mommy first because I'm sure she'll wonder why I'm not with Gray.

"It's okay, Ma'am." this answer made me nod.

I went back to the room and put on a blazer even though I was only wearing pajamas and a T-shirt, I fixed my hair and took my bag and went downstairs.

"Mahal..."

I couldn't finish what I was going to say because he didn't seem to care.

Mom and I got into this called Taxi, we have a car here but I don't know how to drive.

"I thought you were coming home this Sunday?" Mother Amy asked me.

"Not now, Gray is tired now." I answered and faked a smile.

Mother Amy did not answer and looked outside.

After we arrived at the Mall, I immediately pulled a cart and we went around.

I was in the meat shop while Mom was in the vegetable section when someone approached me.

"Zephaniah!" it called me and I looked at it.

Dark!

Grayson's brother.

"What are you doing here?" it asked.

"I just went with Mom Amelia to go grocery shopping, you?" I will ask.

"Mommy took me shopping." he said to my surprise, Mommy Beatrix was there.

"Wait, there he is." pointed at Mommy Beatrix who was busy choosing vegetables.

He invited me to come to Mommy and I followed.

"Mom." he called and turned to us.

"Zeph, you're here? Who's with you, huh?" this is my question.

"Mother Amelia and I are shopping, because the stock at home has run out." my answer.

"Aren't you with your wife?" he asked and looked around.

"He's at home..he's tired because of the amount of work he did on weekdays." I just answered.

"But you should still be accompanied." he answered and I just smiled and I saw Daddy Toni approaching us so I immediately bowed.

"Oh you're here, Grayson?" it asked.

"I'm your eldest, Anton! His wife didn't accompany him." Mommy said annoyed and I saw Daddy shaking his head as if he was disappointed with Gray. It's gone!

After we finished shopping, Mommy offered to take us home and I would have refused because our house is far from theirs if they would have taken us, but Daddy Toni said that there was nothing I could do.

Dark is next to me now while Mommy is in front.

"I really hate your wife!" Mommy said annoyed that I was her daughter and Gray was her son-in-law.

Dark and I looked at each other and both laughed and shook our heads.

"Oh, tell nasi to prepare his ear." Dark said softly to me, laughing.

I did what he said but my phone wasn't in my bag so I turned to Dark.

"I don't have my phone, I left it at home." I answered and he handed me his phone but when I texted him it suddenly went dead. shock!

"I'm sorry!" he said scratching his head so I just shook my head.

After we arrived at the house, Dark immediately helped us take out the things we bought and Mommy rang the doorbell one after the other and after a while Gray looked up and was obviously surprised.

It came down and met us.

"Ma.." he said while kissing Mommy's cheek and he hugged Daddy Toni.

"Why didn't you accompany Zeph? You know he doesn't know how to drive and you just let him go grocery shopping with Manang Amelia." Mommy's sermon and Gray didn't answer and he just helped us with our shopping.

When we entered, he suddenly spoke. "Did you do this on purpose?" he said annoyed which surprised me. "Are you happy now?" he said and annoyed leading me to walk.

What is his problem?

We put what we bought in the kitchen and Mom Amelia started preparing food because this is where they will have lunch.

While we were in the dining room, I was quiet.

"Yes, by the way, it took me a while to ask you. When are you going to give birth?" Dad asked, so I looked up and saw Gray's expression.

"We haven't talked about that yet, Dad." it said.

"Why not yet? Grayson, you've been married for three years." it said annoyed.

"That's already a couple, and besides, Niah doesn't want that either, right Niah!" he said with emphasis on his words so I stopped and turned to them and waited for my answer.

"O-opo.. we're only twenty three.. maybe next year." I just answered so they don't ask anymore. I saw this smile that I didn't want to see.

"Okay, okay. But hurry up, I want grandchildren." Mommy said to us and I just nodded.

After Mommy and Daddy left, Gray came in first.

"I thought you were going home today?" this annoyed question.

"Next time, Gray. They'll just wonder why I'm not with you." I promised that he combed his hair.

"So, it's my fault?" he asked as if he was bored to see me.

"I'm not saying anything, Gray!" I said that he just shook his head as if he really didn't care what I said.

"Up to you!" he said and got annoyed going up.

Immediately I felt a hand caressing my back.

"N-Mom..." I said trying to steady my voice but I was disappointed.

"Leave him alone, Ma'am." he said to calm myself down but it didn't seem to reduce my anger at all. For almost three years he has been like that to me, as if he is not a wife.

Mom took me to our Garden and I felt a little better when I saw the flowers she planted.

"You know when I remember my son I hang out here, because my sadness is relieved because he loves flowers." he said so I smiled. Mother Amelia's son is in the states working as a civil engineer.

Mother Amelia is the type of person who even though she doesn't need to work because her children's lives are good, she still does, the reason for this is that she doesn't want to leave me.

What about me, maybe I will always cry in a corner because of my husband.

"Yes, by the way, I'm going on leave next week. My son is coming, he said he's on vacation here in the Philippines. I want---"

"It's okay. Go ahead, go see your son." I said smiling and he held my hand.

"Don't cry, ha. I'm only here for a week." Mom joked that I laughed softly.

"Sure, I can do it. It's been three years, maybe I'm used to it." I answered and he just nodded.

In the evening, I entered my room and as it happened last night, he left again.

I sat on the edge of the bed. "Are you leaving?" I asked bitterly and he stopped what he was doing and finally he looked at me but I heard no answer but a sigh.

"Do you love me, Gray?" I will ask. "Oh.. I-I'm wrong...r-right?" I added and he looked at me.

"Believe me, Niah. I don't want to be like you either. But, you know my reason." he answered looking straight at me.

"Was I stupid for agreeing to marry you even though I know you don't love me?" I asked and he answered and he seemed to be annoyed with me.

"You know...there's no point in our conversation!" he said and left me.

"I-I love you, Gray!" I said weakly.

"I know...that's why I'm even more annoyed with you, because I feel like you took advantage of our parents' wishes for us to get married." this is the answer.

"As long as possible I don't want to see you or talk to you, because I don't want to say bad things to you because I still think that you have become my best friend..." he added and he left me and I just cried.

𝗡𝗮𝗮𝗻𝗻𝗻𝗻

I'm on my way to my friend's Bar in Las Pinas right now.

I remembered the look of Niah earlier while I was talking to her, so I didn't want to look at her because I might not be able to handle it.

She's my childhood bestfriend after all, I can't change that. I don't want to hurt him, but if that's the only way to get away from me, I'll do it.

All of this wouldn't have happened if they didn't reconcile with us. Niah and I were fine then. It's very okay. We can't really be because I love someone else and that's his cousin Angelica.

We were getting along well then and I was about to court him but Daddy didn't agree because what he wanted was Niah.

He is currently in the states because his parents brought him because they found out that we both like each other.

That's what Niah doesn't know, our parents don't want to tell her because it's certain that she will object and won't let Angelica and I get hurt, she'll only blame herself, but our parents are too selfish.

I didn't even waste time letting him know because I was sure that even if we both objected, there was nothing we could do.

Until I did something stupid that I didn't know how to explain to him or our family when they found out.

𝗕𝗔𝗥✨

As soon as I entered inside, I immediately heard a deafening ringing until I saw Kalix waving at me sitting not far from me.

I immediately approached him and shook his hand.

"It's been a long time, pre." he said as he handed me a glass and I sat in front of him.

"Josh?" I asked looking around.

"Don't ask, it's buried." he said and shook his head.

"How are you, Zeph?" he asked while taking a sip of his glass.

"In house." I just answered.

"Still not, okay?" he asked and I shook my head.

"Why don't you just divorce him, after all, you don't really like him as--ay...sorry." he said while patting his mouth.

I took a deep breath. Yes, Niah is not really my wife. The one who married us was not a real priest, because I enlisted the help of my friends who also have a strong influence.

They made our marriage fake without their knowledge.

"But, pre. I just want to ask you, huh. Aren't you sorry for what you did to Zeph?" he asked and I bit my lip because I couldn't answer.

"I'm sure you'll feel sorry for me, three years, Gray. We only helped you because you said you'd find a way to tell Zeph right away, I just feel sorry for her. She's too kind of a girl to be hurt like that." he said and I was stunned because he was right, I can't hide the truth from Niah forever. I will hurt him too much.

We spent a few hours at the Bar before I said goodbye to go home.

"Alright, pre. Be careful!" he shouted and I went out.

𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔𝗔✨

After I got home, I found Mother Amelia working in the kitchen.

"Mom." I call

He turned to me and I saw that he was holding a basin and bimpo.

"Ma'am suddenly developed a fever, Sir." it said.

"It's just me, Mom. Rest now." I said and didn't act immediately so I smiled and Mom just smiled at me.

"It's up to you, huh." he said and I took the basin and bimpo and went up.

I saw there were medicines on the table next to our bed.

I immediately felt his forehead and he was very hot, he must have been emotional earlier.

This is what always happens when he gets emotional, his body can't handle it.

"G-Gray..." I heard him call me and I turned to him.

"T-Thank you...love.." he said while closing his eyes.

I took a deep breath and looked at the picture of our fake wedding.

I laughed remembering what happened that day. He almost cried when he didn't see the ring he dropped that he was going to wear on me.

I'm trying to get him to stay because the people around us are laughing. It's good that he saw it immediately so he stopped crying.

I got up and changed my clothes and after getting dressed I took a comforter and lay down on the couch and slept.