Asin.
~
We arrived at the hotel we used for the event.
I was nervous but .. she was quiet.. probably nervous as well.
But she had nothing to fear.
I knew newlyweds usually.. get together after the wedding, but I would never force anyone into such a situation.
We didn't say a word as we rode up the elevator and inside our room.
I took off my suffocating jacket and checked the time. 9 : 45 pm .. a little late, but I can still make it with ease.
The route came in earlier, and the start was actually.. a little tricky.
I had to swim.. the was chosen with that in mind..the freaking ocean was just outside. I had to survive for a mile or so, land on the beach opposite the hotel .. that's where my crew waited to take me to the actual starting of the race.
It's summer .. I was thinking of looking out into the ocean. I probably survive.
" So what do you say we sit down a little and take a load off? " I asked, hoping my voice was heard.
No answer. I went and found her .. sitting on the bed.
She was really nervous about it, huh?
A small part of me wanted to tease her, but I had no time for such foolishness.
I decided not to talk about the contract.. and also keeping all my secrets as well.
Try a real marriage but let her in my life gradually.
She still didn't move, and it started to worry me.
" Marie? .. Are you okay? "
I walked closer.
She put her hand up, stopping me from a few ft from her.
" I can't do this. "
She spoke in a low tone .. a little shaky. I smiled, trying to ease her worries.
" What ..oh the first night thing? Listen, we don't have to do anything. "
" No .. n-not that. "
She choked on her word and I had a bad feeling... it was heavy and quickly settled in the room.
" What are you trying to say? " I asked, kneeling in front of her.
She finally looked at me.. her eyes filled with hostility that wasn't there before. Her hands in a tight knuckle... she was close to crying.
" This .. the marriage! .. I can't be.. don't want to be married to you. "
Huh ..
I got up .. and slowly accepted her words.
Of course..
" Can I ask why? "
She didn't look into my eyes, just kept staring at my chest section.
" You basically bought me .. like cattle. I'm sorry.. I know this is..
I walked away and out to the balcony before I showed even more weakness. The warm breeze hit my face .. I started breathing like it was the first time ever. Tried to make sense of what I've heard.
Like cattle, huh?
What a fool I've been!
How could I let myself get caught up in the moment like this!? .. MEEE!??
Damn you, Oliver .. damn you, Dede. The hell with you all!
I heard footsteps behind me as I undid a few buttons on my shirt.
" Asin? .. Listen ..
" You wait here .. "
I walked past her and straight to my suitcase wanted to walk out immediately.. but instead, I took a moment and sat down.
It's all my fault.
No one forced you to make up some silly fantasy in your head and then forget that what you basically did .. is to buy a wife. I got informed about her .. made a decision, my family paid..
Like cattle indeed.
Stop feeling like this .. just stop.
——
Marie.
~
The ocean was calm, and even the clouds decided to hide.
' Father got a house for you in the capital .. we all moving there after the wedding .. I'm sorry Marie .. his family bought and paid for you. '
I wiped a tear out of my eye and stilled myself.
But he looked so heartbroken ..
Like I shattered something important and now .. I was feeling a little ashamed.
" Marie .. "
I got spooked a little, hearing his voice, but after wiping my eyes again, I turned around.
He was wearing different clothes. Light black shirt and shorts.
" Can we talk for a little? Please? "
He smiled sadly, but the light I saw since I walked down those stairs last night in his eyes were gone.
Gather yourself, Marie.
I nodded silently and followed him inside.
He sat down the couch and pointed at the opposite side.
" Please.. this won't take long. "
He was holding a stack of papers.
" I would like to offer you .. a deal. Nothing shameful or indecent. A simple contract. "
He opened the stack of papers and pushed a few towards me.
I was baffled as if what was happening. But the situation became like this .. I took the papers.
I skimmed through, but the gist..
" A fake m-marriage contract? " I looked up.
He nodded without smiling.
" Please understand this .. " He put up his hand before I could refuse.
Because I was going to refuse.
" .. This is not some silly gag or some .. indecent proposal. I would like us to be married for 6 months.. After that time, we would have an amicable divorce and go our separate ways. "
" .. H-how dare you!? To think that..
He looked at me with such a sharp expression. I had to shut up.
" I understand if you say no. " He continued.
" You are free to do so.. but understand the properties, money, and everything else you or your family may have received are yours. "
He tapped the table.
" Can't be undone or given back. But please consider your family as well. Divorcing immediately would tarnish their names .. and put you in a bad light. " He finished carefully.
I did my best to comprehend what he just told me, and instead of immediately answering, I took a minute and considered the crazy what he was proposing.
" Go on .. "
If he was surprised, I couldn't tell.
" Unfortunately, I can't explain everything in detail.. but the contract was drafted with all that in mind. Please, I ask you to read it.. and that's all. If you say no after that, we wake up tomorrow and tell our parents. "
He waited for my answer.
I checked the papers .. boy, it's quite the read.
" Alright.. I .. I will read it and give you an answer. "
" Very well .. " He got up and grabbed a backpack. " I will be back no later than 6 am.. please, if anyone comes in my absence, tell them I'm sleeping and don't let them in. "
He opened the backpack and rummaged through, put a water bottle in, and checked the time.
" Marie? Did you hear me? " He asked without looking.
" Umm y-yes .. okay .. but where are you going? "
He put the backpack on and turned to me, his eyes filled with indifference.
" Goodnight, Marie. "
I watched him walk outside and into the sea.. he swam away into the darkness.
Went outside myself still in my wedding dress holding a contract I didn't fully understand.
What the hell is going on?
——
Oliver.
~
Sobering up ain't that hard.
A cold shower and some hot coffee will always help the situation.
We were facing a bit of a situation this morning when we couldn't think of a place big enough to hold the man and the equipment during the race.
That's when Asin comes up with something smart.
We rent the biggest room available in a hotel close to the route sent. In this case .. it was the presidential suite.
It cost us a pretty penny, but still, it was big and fully loaded with goods and amenities. The staff never asked questions from people paying that much and.. it was by far the most comfortable way of running an empire.
" Are we ready, people? "
""" Yes, Sir. ""'
I sat down watching the organisers place their private bets in real time.
" Leyla .. time? " I asked my assistant.
" 25 minutes countdown Mr, Aster. "
" Any news of Asin? "
" Not yet, Mr Aster. " She shook her head.
Hurry, brother.. stop cuddling your wife for a few hours, and let's blow this little town off the map.
Leyla touched the earpiece she wore and gave me a big smile.
" Sir .. I just got confirmation. He is seen on Lavima beach.. "
He was right. We lived more interesting lives than some action heroes.
I called him.
" .. "
" Talk to me, brother.. "
" I'm good to go .. "
His voice came through a little strange..I was about to remind him to connect his vitals so we could monitor him, but to my surprise, he remembered.
His heart rate was up, but that was normal before a race.
Our resident doctor gave me a thumbs up.
" Vitals are accepted .. he is good to go. "
I nodded to the teams to prepare and took him off loudspeaker.
" Listen, Asin.. how did it go? " I asked, smiling.
" .. I tell you tomorrow, Oli. Give me 2 minutes' warning. "
He disconnected immediately after.
Something happened. I took one more look at his vitals.. maybe it's not the race.. or the wedding.
——
Marie.
~
I read everything in that contract.
He was right. There was nothing indecent involved.
It was all carefully worded and phrased. As in an actual lawyer wrote it. Which was most likely true.
The wind picked up.
I looked out into the dark waters .. but no sign of him ..
He just swam away! .. walked outside and was gone.
Asin..where did you go?
I got up and walked inside the room ..
The contract.. I don't know.
But what he said made a lot of sense.. just imagine my parents' face tomorrow. If I were to tell them, I would divorce because they got everything they asked for, which was a terrifying prospect.
I sat down inside the room and remembered what Ayshe said .. how much it hurt to hear the sadness in her voice. I took all that sadness and mixed with all the bitterness I felt.
I felt tears rolling down my face .
It's fine .. It's not like it's his fault.. or mine.
Couldn't help but compare the Asin that's left .. and the one I met before.
The one who smiled happily at our ceremony.. seemed so genuine.
But this contract is proof it wasn't.
This has been written in advance, a well thought out ploy that allowed him to get out of an unwanted marriage. Then, an evil voice in my head started with the questions.
Did he look like someone who was forced?
No.. but if his demeanour proved anything, he is a very good actor.
Did he flip on a dime?
No .. I broke him. Now, all that's left is the bitterness and unfairness of it all ..
And this contract will bind me to him for half a year.
Does he try and take my freedom?
No .. read that contract and even if some parts were hard to understand.. I got the gist of it.
I can do whatever I want, really. He would help in whatever goal I'm aiming at.
That was literally word by word.
He wanted me out of his life from the start.
Maybe he changed his mind..
Maybe he did, and you ruined everything.
Maybe ..
Maybe ..
–—
Ayshe.
~
At home, the celebration continued.
My parents and Asin's were still at it.
Especially his grandfather. He was overjoyed from the prospect that he could possibly play with his great grandkids.
My own grandparents bonded with him on that fact.
I checked my phone it was 11:01 ..
I wondered what had happened. Marie looked heartbroken when I left her.. she was so happy before I dragged her away and unloaded my frustration and pain on her.
I felt a terrible heavy invisible rock in my chest.. I hope she was able to sort things out in her head and didn't do something.. something.
My own thoughts made me nervous.
Contemplated calling her .. than all the teasing from her friends resurfaced. What if they are together..
I had an idea.. I called the hotel and asked them to disturb the newly wed couple.
I made sure no one followed me and dialled the number.
" Yes, Hallo.. I would like to get information on your honeymoon suite... Marie .. Martell. I'm her sister.."
After some time, they informed me that they were both in their room.
I see .. closed the phone.
" Ayshe, come and celebrate with us, my beautiful daughter! "
I waved at my father and walked back. Lilly and Henny were watching their phones on the stairs.
" Hey .. what are you ..
" Hush .. "
I frowned but got curious and walked behind them so I could see.
I opened my mouth in awe ..
It was a live feed of another GOD event.
But what's even better?
" This .. that is West Bay Canyon. " I leaned closer.
A place 5 miles away from my house.
" Can you believe an event of this calibre takes place in our town, and we know nothing about it? " asked Lilly without looking back.
The race was strange.. and dangerous.
" What is that called.. what are they doing now? "
I knew they named every race, but I had never seen this before.
" It's the first ever ..called drifting. "
Looked like an incredibly dangerous stunt .. must be exhilarating..
" Where is the masked driver? " I asked.
" The black car in the front .. as usual. " Henny sighed.
As always, he was in his element. Took every one of those snake turns with ease, creating considerable distance between the pack.
I admit .. even for someone who knew little to nothing about cars .. watching these live races, with real stakes and danger.. it was hard not to enjoy these shows.
As we were watching, the masked driver was overwhelmingly in the lead.. the new event was a hit .. 11 million streaming and counting.. the chat was blowing up as well.
As usual, they wanted to know who the mysterious driver behind the mask was. They had questions about the race and the town it took place in.
I read some of the chat as it passed by.
* .. It's a small town on the North.. Konore, I think..
* What are they doing in a town like Konore?
* Probably for the route .. it's awesome. #maskon
* I bet you anything is one of rich guests .. from the Martell wedding. It was today!
Is it someone from the wedding?
I looked as the black car crossed the finish line and disappeared into the night.
There were no Rams in Konore, and normal police were like people on bikes to them, so there was no danger of that.
But drifting was hit in itself.
" Unbelievable... he always wins against new drivers every event.. and just disappears into the night.. ahh "
Lilly was having an out of body experience.
Henny and I kept on watching the end messages that sometimes appeared at the end of the streams.
( May GOD bless all unions made under his watchful eyes. )
.. and with that, the screen turned black, and the stream ended.
Clever .. so, even if not the driver himself.
But someone from GOD was here at the wedding.
But who?