The universe really loved mocking me. Maybe I was it's favorite punchline. Because how else do you explain this? Me, married. Against my will. And not just to anyone - but to my sworn childhood enemy. I hadn't even fully processed it.
Still buffering, still loading, as I stood at the altar in a crisp white suit, bowtie sharp, yellow hair styled to perfection. I knew I looked handsome as hell, but the glare on my face probably ruined the effect.
Across from me, Radrien Ashford stood tall in his black tailored suit, smirk plastered on his stupidly handsome face like he owned the world.
The hall buzzed with chatter and gossip, though it wasn't even crowded - half the people there I didn't recognize.
Our parents, however, looked thrilled, as if world peace had just been signed. Before I knew it, rings were on our fingers, vows sealed, and I had apparently gained a husband.
I muttered under my breath, "I can't believe I'm doing this, with you."
Radrien tilted his head, voice maddeningly calm with just a hint of tease. "Neither can I, but it's the truth. We might as well accept it with joy."
I scowled harder. "Oh my god, I'm actually married to you. And now we have to live together."
I dragged a hand down my face in despair.
"Yes," he said smoothly, lips quirking, you'll get used to it soon honey.
My head snapped up. "Don't you dare call me those nickname things!" I jabbed a finger at him.
Radrien raised his hands in mock surrender, still grinning.
I just sighed, already mourning my life choices. I still can't believe it - our parents actually did this. Turns out, this whole marriage thing happened because of business.
My father's company was sinking fast, and in desperation he asked for help from his old friend. That friend just so happened to be Radrien's father. And apparently, instead of money or shares, the man wanted one very specific reward: his son married off to me. Like, seriously? Yes, I know his parents - especially his mother - always liked me a little too much.
They'd joke endlessly about having me as their "future daughter-in-law." I mean, I'm a guy, but sure, let's laugh it off, until suddenly it wasn't a joke anymore.
They didn't even care about the whole same-sex marriage thing. They just shoved me straight into the role of son-in-law without blinking.
Meanwhile, my parents were stressed out of their minds about business, and since they also liked Radrien, they couldn't refuse.
And me? I agreed. Only because both sets of parents looked so happy about it, and because they promised - once the business was stable again - divorce papers would be waiting for us.
That's the only reason I said yes. Still, there's this nagging feeling. The whole thing felt too sudden, too neatly arranged. Especially since, right after our campus trip, everyone started acting weird - giving me more attention, treating me differently. My parents. His parents. And worst of all him. But I shrugged it off. No point overthinking.
It's just a contract marriage. With my stupidly good-looking, annoyingly smug enemy. And from the way he's smirking through all this, one thing's for sure: Radrien is enjoying this way too much.
"Stop grinning already, idiot." I almost kicked him.
Radrien chuckled, low and amused. "How can I not? Watching the great Lenny Browns sulking like a puppy who lost his favorite toy is my new favorite pastime."
I didn't even let him finish breathing - I stomped on his foot, hard. His growl of pain was very satisfying. "I'm not frowning, and I'm definitely not a puppy," I shot back. "It's my first marriage in such a grand place, so I might as well enjoy myself."
Before he could throw another smirk, I spun on my heel and marched to the DJ booth where soft classical music was droning.
Without hesitation, I shoved my phone - playlist already open - at the poor guy running it. "Play this. Loud. Bass maxed." He nodded quickly, and seconds later the opening beat of Fire by BTS blasted through the speakers.
"Yippee! Now this is what I call a fun wedding!" I crossed my arms, smug.
The reaction was priceless. Elderly guests looked horrified, clutching their pearls. A few younger ones - mostly my family and workers - cheered and started bobbing along.
Meanwhile, I couldn't help noticing the odd absence of any school or college friends. Not mine, not Radrien's. And the strangest part? I couldn't even remember who I should've invited. The thought unsettled me, but I shoved it aside. Instead, I smirked at Radrien, making sure he knew I wasn't letting him have all the fun. He just gave me a tiny disbelieving shake of his head, a faint smile tugging at his lips - a smile filled with something I couldn't quite read. That made me even more determined.
Laughing, I let the music take over, moving with reckless energy. And somewhere in the middle of dancing, it hit me - a weird, unexpected relief.
At least it was him. At least I wasn't being forced to marry some stranger I'd never met While I danced like an idiot, I didn't notice, Radrien's gaze softening, his smirk slowly turning into something almost, warm.
Later, when the wedding finally ended thank god, we were spared the whole "you may kiss the groom" disaster. Instead, Radrien pressed a kiss to my forehead. My lips were safe, though I would absolutely not admit that my heart went crazy at how gentle it was - that sense of warmth and familiarity flooding in. No. Absolutely not. That was for AC only.
Our parents fussed around us, acting like they'd just successfully traded Pokémon cards instead of marrying off their children. My father-in-law blessed us with a smile and dropped a pair of house keys into my palm. The metal was cold against my skin. He told Radrien to drive us to our "new home" - their big wedding gift. Wow.
Which is how I ended up now: sunglasses on, strawberry smoothie in hand, sitting in the passenger seat while Radrien drove in his sharp black suit, sleeves rolled up, hair perfectly styled.
The car AC was blasting.
Everything was fine. Perfect, even. We hadn't argued in ten whole minutes, a new record.
I was even enjoying the stars through the window when he ruined it.
"Where to head now?" His voice was calm, steady, and instantly suspicious.
I froze mid-sip, straw still between my lips. Slowly, I pulled it out and blinked at him. "Excuse me, what? You're driving us to the new house."
Without so much as twitching, he replied, "Where's the house?"
My eyes widened. The house. The one his dad had literally given him the address for with a don't-you-dare-lose-this look.
"Don't tell me-"
"I forgot the address," he admitted, completely deadpan.
The smoothie almost flew out of my hands. "YOU WHAT?!"
"Relax." He stayed unbothered, hands steady on the wheel. "It's somewhere, north-ish."
"NORTH-ISH?!" I slapped his arm. "That's not an address! That's a pirate treasure map!"
He finally glanced sideways at me, lips twitching into a faint smirk. "What? You don't trust my instincts?"
"I don't trust you," I snapped. "You're my enemy. For all I know, you'll drop me off in the middle of nowhere." He chuckled lowly, and I hated it - hated how the sound sent warmth spiraling into my chest.
His gaze flickered toward me, steady and unreadable. "Right, enemy," he murmured, like the word meant something else entirely.
My annoyance only deepened when he casually reached over - still driving, mind you - and plucked my smoothie right out of my hand. "Hey! That's mine!" He took a sip like it was nothing, then handed it back with the most infuriating smirk. "It's our smoothie now, honey."
I narrowed my eyes. "Oh my god, I told you to not call me that. And give it back."
I lunged for the cup, but he pulled it just out of reach. I stumbled forward, landing dangerously close to his face - our noses almost touching.
My eyes went wide. My heart did a thing. And I immediately shoved myself back into the seat, trying to act like nothing happened.
Radrien, however, looked just as rattled. He gulped, sipping the smoothie way too loudly to cover the silence. Both of our ears burned red, though neither of us said a word.
"Stop driving already!" I snapped, desperate to break the weird tension. "Don't get us more lost - just call your dad and ask him for the damn address."
"Good idea," he said smoothly, pulling the car over in the middle of the empty road. He dialed his father and put it on speaker.
"Hello! You two just got married and you're calling already?" His father's voice was light, teasing, like he assumed we were just enjoying our honeymoon phase.
Before Radrien could speak, I yelled, "Father-in-law, your son here forgot the address! Where the hell are we supposed to go?" Radrien shot me a long, slow stare. His father only sighed, sounding disappointed but not at all surprised. "Where are you now? I told you, it's fifteen minutes away if you take the right road."
Silence.
I clenched my fists. "Damn you, Radrien Ashford! You've been driving the wrong way for twenty minutes!"
Before I could keep going, Radrien calmly clamped a hand over my mouth. "I got it, Dad. I'll call once we get there." Then he hung up, meeting my glare with irritating calmness. "What do you think you're doing, shouting in the middle of nowhere?" he said smoothly. "People will think we're ghosts." His hand stayed against my mouth, firm, yet gentle.
I let out muffled protests, glaring daggers at him. He only smiled, clearly enjoying himself. "Aww, honey, are you mad? You're already starting to fulfill your responsibilities as my wife."
That was the last straw. I sank my teeth into his palm.
"Ouch!" he yelped, pulling his hand back.
"I'm not the wife," I snapped, rubbing my mouth. "You are, you toast head."
Radrien just chuckled, shaking his head as he turned the car around to finally drive the right way.