Chapter 4
Some one rang the door bell, and the guy's face immediately closed up, and his brow furrowed. The doorbell seemed to become some deja vu moment for me. It was like every new turn of events begins with the doorbell ringing. Almost as if the event was like announcing its arrival before coming into my life.
He turned away and ran a hand through his hair. He was mumbling something but I could only catch some words. "....shit.... why the hell.....so early..." Because he didn't look very enthusiastic at his guests' arrival, which means that he was expecting guests.
The bell rang again, with that impatient tone. The guy seemed at a loss as to what to do and grabbed me, pushing me up the stairs.
"Stay in there until I tell you to come out." He pointed to a room.
"Why?" I resisted. Did he think he could just order me around like everyone else? He seemed like someone who was very accustomed to getting his own way.
"Just because....? Please? We can work something out later." The guy seemed so desperate, I felt sort of bad for not helping him out.
"Okay, fine. But-" I couldn't even finish my sentence before he slammed the door in my face. Manners dude? I scowled at the door. So much for trying to be nice.
I pressed my ear to the door and heard the front door open and footsteps. "Wow, this place is really nice. Are you going to be okay here on your own?" a woman's voice said perkily.
"Stop it Mother. I know this isn't a house call. What are you actually here for?" the guy asked. That woman was his mum? She was speaking with a tone that bordered on politeness, as if she was making conversation for the sake of it.
"What im here for? Your father is dying in the hospital and his final wish is to see you get settled down!" Woah, seriously? This guy was getting married. That was kinda funny to imagine.
"God, not that again! I'm freaking seventeen! I do not have to get married yet! I don't want to settle down!" the guy yelled. He's sixteen and he's getting married? Wow. Nice family.
"Why cant you do something to make your father happy? Don't you care about him?" his mother yelled back.
"Make him happy? What am I, a slave, for you to play around? I have my own life you know! You always only try to make dad happy, don't you have your own life too?" I bit my lip. This was kind of personal, I shouldn't be listening, but even though I retreated to the other side of the room, I could still hear them yelling.
"Don't speak to me like that! I want your father to be happy even though he's going to die! That means youre going to find yourself a wife or I'm arranging something!"
"What the hell? No one gets married in high school! That's just bullshit!" the guy sounded frustrated.
"I don't care. You have a week." Loud footsteps walked from my left to the right and I heard the front door slam. I winced. That was harsh.
I went out and slowly went down the stairs. The guy stood in the kitchen cursing, running his hand through his head. I bit my lip again against the awkward tension in the air as I knew that I shouldn't have been privy to such a personal and private conversation.
I stood there until he noticed me. He turned his head slightly. "You heard that whole conversation didn't you?"
"Yeah." I dragged it out. I didn't know what to say or do. "I didn't mean to!-"
The guy laughed harshly. "Its okay. She's always like that." we lapsed into silence, looking anywhere except at each other.
"Where are your parents anyway? Don't you have a or family to go to? You can't have suddenly turned up at such a random place all of a sudden." the guy asked.
I felt angry at my parents suddenly. "my parents just died." I glared at the wall.
"Oh. Im sorry." The guy's tone softened as his eyes turned to pity.
"Don't be. They committed suicide." I suddenly felt comfortable sharing my life with this stranger who had just barged into my life. Okay, maybe it was the other round.
"And you have no where to go?"
"Mmhm." I nodded my head. Maybe he would be oh so kind and give me back my house! I silently prayed.
"This might not be the right time... but don't take this the wrong way..." I nodded and motioned for him to continue. I wondered what on earth he was gonna say.
"Do you want to marry me?"
"Wha...?"
"If you do, ill give you back your house after two years. How about that? we'll get a divorce after I turn eighteen. After that we'll never see each other again. You get your house back and I get my mother off my back."
I processed all this information. I was 50-50 on this. No harm could come out of turning him down right?
"You have no where else to go. Im offering you a free house, all expenses paid. Anyone would kill for this, and besides its only for my parents and not anyone else." That was another way to put it. And he could also tell I had no where else to turn to. Since I tried to come all the way back here. But first...
"How do I know im getting the house for sure? You might be out to trick me. You're talking two years of my life here."
"Fine. We'll....sign a contract." The guy sighed.
"Uh...." I still wasn't sure. I mean there was no one telling me what I should do. And I didn't even know this guy's name!
"But if you tell anyone about the contract or if we divorce before the two years is up then the contract is void."
"Why exactly two years?" I asked.
"Just because. My parents. And stuff. You saw the hardcore woman." Nice how he refers to his mum like that.
"This is a one time offer only. So?" the guy asked. It was clear from his tone that he needed, no wanted an answer now.
