{DROPPED}An Arranged Marriage//(GIYUSANE)

Chapter 10 || 𝐌𝐀𝐑𝐑𝐈𝐀𝐆𝐄

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As I stood by Giyuu's bedside in the hospital room, a heavy sense of guilt and responsibility weighed on my heart. The image of Giyuu lying there unconscious, frail and injured, stirred a deep turmoil within me. It felt like I should be the one in that hospital bed, not him.

"Damn it, Giyuu, wake up already! It's been a week, and I'm starting to feel like I'm losing my mind. Every day, I come here, sit by your bedside, and watch you sleep. It's like I'm stuck in some weird, endless loop of guilt and frustration.
I don't even know why I keep coming back. Your own parents haven't been here as much as I have.
Just wake up already, damn it. I can't bear to see you like this. Just open your eyes."

I talk to him as if he's gonna respond, I just looked like an idiot, but.. I'm actually hoping that he can hear me right now.

"Sorry, I can't open my eyes... I'm still.. sleepy," a raspy voice mumbled, barely audible above the steady hum of the machines.

My heart leaped into my throat. Was I imagining things? Was my mind playing tricks on me? It couldn't be... It was impossible. But then, the voice spoke again, a little clearer this time.

"It's me, idiot," Giyuu's voice, weak but undeniably his.

"You're awake?!" I blurted out, my voice cracking with disbelief and a surge of relief that threatened to overwhelm me.

"Yeah?" he replied, a hint of amusement in his tone, despite the weakness in his voice.

"Fucking when?! And why didn't I get informed? I came here yesterday!" My words tumbled out in a rush, a mixture of confusion and anger.

"I don't know," he mumbled, his voice fading back to a whisper.

"Fuck you, forget what I said. Just fucking sleep again and don't wake up," I muttered, my frustration and fear bubbling over.

The shock of hearing his voice, the sudden realization that he was actually awake, was overwhelming. It was a whirlwind of emotions, a rollercoaster of relief and disbelief.

"Did you really visit me here more than my parents? Aww, you're really worried about me," he said, his voice soft with a hint of amusement. The words, laced with a playful teasing, struck a chord within me. I wanted to retort, to tell him it wasn't about worry, but about a crushing guilt that had been gnawing at me since the accident. But all that came out was a gruff, "Fuck no!! I'm leaving."

I turned to walk away, my steps heavy with a mix of frustration and relief. I was done with this emotional rollercoaster, with the confusion and the whirlwind of feelings that Giyuu's awakening had stirred within me.

"Hey!!" he shouted after me, his voice weak but laced with a hint of urgency. I didn't look back. I was done.

As I reached the door and pushed it open, ready to storm out, I froze in my tracks. Giyuu's parents were standing right outside, Their faces, etched with worry and concern, softened as they saw me.

"Oh, Sanemi? You're here! Did you and Giyuu talk?" his mother asked, her eyes filled with warmth and concern. Her voice, gentle and soothing, was a stark contrast to the storm raging within me. "Get back inside, son. Let's eat."

The sudden shift in the atmosphere, from the tension between Giyuu and me to the welcoming presence of his parents, caught me off guard. Despite my initial reluctance, I found myself hesitating at the threshold, torn between my pride and the genuine care in their eyes.

Taking a deep breath, I turned back to face them, a mix of emotions swirling within me. The guilt, the frustration, the relief, and the unexpected warmth of their presence all mingled together, creating a chaotic symphony within my chest.

As I stepped back inside, the smell of home-cooked food wafted through the air, mingling with the sense of relief and unexpected warmth that enveloped me in that moment.

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Giyuu's recovery means his discharge is imminent, and the marriage will proceed.

The ceremony itself feels like a formality, a mere signing of papers. No grand celebration, no lavish feast, just the official act of binding us.

I find myself strangely detached. No joy, no sorrow, no anger. Just an empty void where emotions should be. It's as if the weight of the world has settled on my shoulders, leaving me numb.

This won't make my life any more of a mess, will it? After this, I hope we can simply go our separate ways. There's no need for us to grow closer, no need for any further entanglement. This marriage is the end, a full stop. Nothing more.

It's not as if this will give me any control over the company.

Afterward, at least I can have a drink with Obanai and Masachika.

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The ceremony was a stark contrast to the usual fanfare of noble weddings. No lavish decorations, no overflowing crowds, no music. Just a small, austere room with a single table, two chairs, and a stack of official documents.

Giyuu, his face as stoic as ever, sat opposite me, his gaze fixed on the pen in his hand. He held himself with a quiet intensity, his shoulders squared, his posture rigid. He seemed to be a statue carved from granite, unyielding and emotionless.

The official, a stern-faced woman with a sharp gaze, spoke in a monotone voice, reciting the legal jargon of the marriage contract. We both signed our names, our pen strokes precise and deliberate.

The ceremony was over. We were married, bound by law, but not by love. Just two figures, alone in a room, united only by a piece of paper.

I felt nothing. Like a hole was ripped out of my chest, leaving a big empty space where happiness should be. Kanae, with her sweet smile and her laugh that could light up a room, was the one I should have married. Just thinking about it, being with her, made me feel like the luckiest guy in the world.

This wasn't the marriage I wanted, but it was the one I got.

I was born into a wealthy family. What did I expect?

"let's get to know each other," Giyuu said, a hint of a smile playing on his lips. But the words felt like a punch to the gut. The last thing I wanted was to get to know him.

"Okay," I mumbled, the only words that came out of my mouth. I climbed into the waiting car, slamming the door shut behind me. I didn't look back as the car pulled away, leaving Giyuu standing alone on the curb, his smile fading into a stoic mask.

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The weight of the day pressed down on me as I slumped onto the couch, the cushions offering little comfort. I squeezed my eyes shut, trying to block out the images of the day, the forced smiles, the endless chatter, the suffocating sense of being trapped. It hadn't been a physically demanding day, but the emotional toll was immense.

A creak from the floorboards startled me, and I cracked open an eye. My dad was standing in the doorway, his silhouette a stark contrast to the fading sunlight. He moved toward the couch opposite mine, his footsteps heavy and deliberate.

"It'll be over soon," he said, his voice a low rumble, devoid of any warmth. "Just a year. Then you can marry the girl you want. If she'll still have you, after all she's in the same station as you now."

His words were confusing, and there was something about the way he said them that made me nervous. He was talking about the arranged marriage, the one I'd been forced into, only a year, but what did he mean about being in the "same station"? My heart was racing, and I was starting to get angry. Before I could ask him to explain, he turned and walked away, leaving me alone with my questions and a growing sense of unease.