God's Bargain

(2)

yibo was already 23, a fine two years away from reaching 25 and his parents won't stop asking him when he planned to get married

he's not out yet, no one questions his sexuality and just term him as a workaholic that seems to date papers instead of people. it might sound crazy but yibo actually thought of such possibility, working until he was buried 6 ft below the ground

It's not that no one approaches him, there's a man and woman and all but he never really entertains them especially the latter. he's not the type to do one night stand and such and rather crave for something that will last forever, even how cliche it sounds

and that makes him single leading to be the best participant to be qinyang's groom

"come on yibo~" she's been in his space as early as 4:30, banging at his apartment before the sun can even touch the horizon, and its already 11:15 and she seems to be not having the headache he is currently experiencing

yibo shrugged her off, then he looked at her dead serious, "qinyang!" he warned

"I know, i know. it's just that, i-i dont have the courage to reveal my true self. they don't know that im like attracted to women and now they want to marry me off on that guy. yibo please, just think of it as platonic marriage" she begged

the thing was, qinyang's mother was diagnosed with a disease that will take her life in no time and begged at qinyang to get settled and have a family of her own while she could still witness it

qinyang grew up in a broken family with only her mother raising her and now that she was on the verge of dying, she at least wants to see her daughter having the best life before she passes away

she was then planned to marry off to a man she doesn't love

"pretend to be my boyfriend that is now my fiance and that we're getting married" she added

"do you want to lie to your mother on her death bed?"

"i don't want to of course, yibo you know me and I'm not like that but I don't have a choice! I don't want to be a miserable wife of that man! yes, she's my mother but i won't let her control me and my life! i love her but-"

qinyang was now on the verge of crying but she's a tough woman, she held it in

she then stepped backwards, away from yibo, then shook her head as if finally getting her head cleared and realizing her mistakes, "im sorry, i know this is madness, i am truly sorry yibo. i would leave now" she said, accepting defeat

but then yibo spoke, "fine!"

~

the reason why yibo found himself, standing at the altar, watching qinyang as she walked down the aisle. marry your daughter playing in the background

qinyang's mother was on her wheelchair, tearing as her daughter approached yibo, who she believes, was the love of her daughter's life

yibo held her hand as they faced the priest all together

they exchange their vows

"you may now kiss the bride" the priest announced

yibo did take a mouthful of oxygen into his lungs and he couldn't help but to take a glance at the way where qinyang's mother was. she was smiling and glowing and all. and suddenly her image became blurred with the unshed tears on his eyes.

"yibo" he heard qinyang mumbled and he pulled his gaze away from qinyang's mother to look at her

she's crying and maybe also he is

"don't be shy now young man" the priest smiled at him and Yibo couldn't give it back

he gulped and raised the veil covering qinyang's then he leaned in, albeit slowly, and kissed her on the cheek