North Star

Chapter III

I was in the middle of the meeting when my mom called me. I exited the hall and answered the call.
"Hello,mom."
"She's in the airport right now. Do you have time to pick her up?"
"What? Wait-- who's she?"
"Finn Montenegro is here!"
"What? The lady in the Philippines!!"
"Yeah,be good to her. She is your wife now. Don't forget that." I took a deep breath. They helped me to fix my problem.
I went back to the meeting room. We finished it and headed to our own room respectively.
I called my mom.
"Mom,why you dragged her here. I can fix my problem. I can tell them that it is not true."
"Proving what is true will make things complicated, remember that,Theo. Just be with her."
"What about Hana?"
"Will you stop mentioning her name?She is not good for you. She is just happy go lucky daughter of a wealthy man."
"Mom,she's my girlfriend for Christ's sake!"
"Then,why don't you marry her. She's older than you. "
"Okay fine. "
"What? Are you gonna marry her then?"
"No,"
"Then let's have a deal. Finn will be staying in my place."
Actually,Hana is my best friend. She's kind too. We pretend to be in a relationship so that they would feel I am fine. Hana is the daughter of my dad's  best friend. She's happy go lucky. Yes,that's true. Only the two of know this secret. She has real boyfriend and he is Japanese. He is in Japan. Since my family and relatives dislike her so we don't feel bad someone would tell her boyfriend.
I went back to work and tried to forget what's going on with my life now.
I am Mattheo Falcon. I am one of the best finance manager in our firm. I focus my life with my career only. I don't have  time to have fun and hang out with my colleagues. I usually do overtime and went home late. I have my own condo unit in Stanford. It is near in my company.
It's seven in the evening. I arranged my things on the table and get ready to go home. I want to take a rest early.
"Did she grow up well?" My mind is thinking about Finn. We met during my grandfather's burial. She is young and still high school student. She was talkative and charming.
I went to my parent's home. I want to see her with my own eyes.
It's one hour drive.
I went inside since the lights are still on. My parents are still in the living room.
"Oh,I thought you have overtime today."my dad told me. He was drinking his usual tea. I sat on the sofa.
" I did. Where is she?"
My dad put his teacup on the table.
"Finn is not the same as Hana. I want you to treat her differently."
I stood up and went to my room to change my clothes. There are suitcases inside. I'm sure it's hers.
I lie down on the bed.
I'm always tired so I haven't enough sleep recently. I closed my eyes and tried to sleep for a little while.
Few minutes passed by, the door opened.
"This is terrible. I want to go home." I pretended to be asleep. She sat next to me.
The next minute she was crying already. Oh what the heck------
"I miss my place." she said in between her sobs.
I got up.
"Omo! What the hell are you doing?are you gonna kill me due to heart attack?" she shouted at me. She has white complexion. Her hair is brown and short. She grew up very well.
"I slept but you disturb me. You're blabbering around. Why did you come here if it against your will?"
"Do you know me?"
I was dumbfounded when I heard what she say. Her eyes were just clueless who am I. Is she really serious? She doesn't recognize,does she?
"Don't you know me?"
She nodded her head.
"Why are you here? This room is supposedly my husband's room. Will you please get out? "She said while showing me the way to the door.
I got up. Husband?Is she serious?
Why can't she recognize me when she usually talk to me when we met? Oh c'mon. This is not funny anymore.
" wait,did they give you a picture of your husband?" I smiled sarcastically.
She stopped for a while and looked at me intently.
"Yah,whatever. " I walked to the door and before I opened it,she called me.
"Are you the owner of this room?" She said in a low tone.
"Tsk, nonsense. You sleep now. Don't even cry and miss your place. This is your new home now." I went out and headed to the kitchen. I want to drink water. I can't still move on of what was happening. She forgot me. She didn't remember me either.
"Why are you here? Didn't you meet her already?" My mom entered the kitchen wearing her favorite pajama.
"Hmm.I did."
"I let her use your room since you are her husband now."
"Mom,why she agree with this set up? I think she's not that naive not to accept your favor. "
" She must think that her family owes a lot from our family. So she decided to marry you. Please forget Hana now."
"Mom."
"I see her as my daughter.  She's considered as your elder sister."
"Mom."
" Do you love her?"
"Hana is just a friend to me. We pretended to be in a relationship because of you. You arranged me in many blind dates and I don't like it."
"I want you to be happy. I want to assure the woman you love is worthy to be called my daughter in law. And I see that to Finn. She's good for you."
I drank the water in my glass.
"When I see her in their house,I can assure that she can be a good wife to  you. She's hardworking too."
"Whatever. I still don't feel like she's here already."
"Do you still remember her?"
"Hmm." I said shortly since even the glances we had before I can still remember. I closed my hand firmly.
"Really? She's so fond of you before. I could see that she always talk to you. She's really charming."
"Mom,I will still live in my condo."
"Sure. Don't worry. "
"Maybe the town officer won't visit me there right?"
"Yeah,probably."
"But what if they would? What should I say?"
"You can tell them she visit in my house."
"Really?"
"Hmm. Or you can live with her starting tomorrow. I'll visit her everyday for familiarizing some important things related to you."
"What?"
"Why are you surprised?"
"I'm going to sleep now,mom."
"You can use your brothers room. "
I went out from the kitchen and climbed upstairs. I went to my room to get some of my personal things for tomorrow.
I saw her sitting on the bed.
"You are Stephan?" She asked me. I looked at her. I put my two hands on my pocket. I smiled.
"Why are you asking?"
"It's been fifteen years passed I never saw you. Do you think I couldn't forget your face?"
"Fine, I am."
"Nice to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too." I got my clothes for tomorrow. She stood up and walked to my wardrobe. She stood next to me.
"What are you doing?" I asked her.
"What are you doing too? Let's talk. I have many things to say to you."
She closed the cabinet and sat down on the sofa in front of the bed.
"Since I'm new here,I want someone to be my tour guide."
"And I'll be that tour guide?"
"Will you stop interrupting me?"
"Don't be so bossy here. I easily get mad. " I told her.
"Fine,I'll be studying in Stanford university while posing as your diligent wife. I don't want  just staying in your house alone and doing nothing."
"Okay,"
"You have to pick me up and send me to school everyday. You have to cook your food and not me."
"What? It's wife's duty to cook for their family."
"We are married in  papers only. Don't be ridiculous. I can't do anything beyond that "
"Were you just telling me now your rules?"
"Hmm."
"Me too I have. You have to comply them too."
"Fine,lay it down now."
"Don't do anything stupid behind my back. If my coworkers are asking about our relationship,you should tell them you love me since we are young."
"I love you?"
"I'm sorry I don't ."
"Yah!! I didn't say I love you. Are you crazy? " she stood up and walked away. I smiled and looked at the door where she went out.
"Crazy!" I lay down on the bed waiting for her to get inside.
It has been an hour after she left.
Where did she go?