Chapter 11

 "Why don't you just tell him the truth instead of making excuses for him? Instead of him liking you, he might even be turned off by your lies."

 All I've received from my friends are lectures. They're my go-to when I have problems because I know they're the ones who can help me. I thought everything would be easy for me when I got Mahana to agree to pretend to be my wife, but it wasn't. She's slowly bringing misfortune to the things I cherish.

 "She's going to understand me, bro, I know Misty." I just said to ease my anxious feeling.

 "So what exactly did she and Mahana talk about?" Rhaiven asked, sprawled on the single sofa. We're here at Chris's condo because we helped him plan his proposal to Jaime next month.

 "Mahana doesn't want to tell me. That damn woman! She's really a troublemaker. She's exactly like that back in high school. So irritating."

 I remembered again the countless nonsense Mahana did to me back in high school. From sending letters, making a scene in the classroom during our vacant time, during the school fair when she was a regular at the wedding booth and then having her friends stop me so it would look like we were getting married. From the day she did nothing but make trouble to get my attention, that's when I felt irritation because she wasn't funny. What for now that we're really married?

 "You should really be worried if she badmouths you to your grandma. She might even expose to your grandma that you're just putting on a show when you're with her because you're so thirsty for the reward she'll give you." Chris suggested, which the two agreed with.

 I'm thinking about that too, Mahana can easily gain the trust of my family and I don't know how. She's good at approaching people so maybe she's not having a hard time. She's quite sharp-tongued so I'm afraid that she might tell Grandma that we're just pretending.

 "Tsk! She better try it. Her going abroad depends on me. Well, if she does something wrong, why should I give in, right? Tit for tat if that's what she wants."

 I know Mahana's weakness, I know she'll do everything for the things she wants. I got her to agree because she's eager to leave the country for reasons I don't know.

 "By the way, Kenneth, what's the news about Jade? Have they tracked down where she's hiding?" I changed the subject when I saw Kenneth in the corner, holding his phone and smiling.

 "Not yet, that one's slippery, looks like she knows you're looking for her so she found a more hidden lair." He replied.

 "And about Mahana's departure, do you already know the reason? Have you gotten any information about it?" I asked again.

 "She's too private so I'm having a hard time." He replied, so I just nodded. "Why don't you just ask her instead of me having a hard time looking for details. After all, you live in the same house."

 "Tsk! That one's presumptuous, she might think I'm interested in her. You know her personality, she immediately jumps to conclusions." I replied irritably while playing with the Rubik's cube in my hand. "She's so annoying. She always wants to have her way. And besides, even in fighting over the bed, she doesn't want to lose."

 The three of them laughed at what I told them about what happened last night. Rhaiven said that instead of fighting, why don't we just sleep together in the bed. As for me who's irritated with her, I don't want to. I might not be able to sleep if she's beside me. I might even have nightmares instead of a good sleep.

 "To make everything easier for you, just go along with her. Think of your reward, Luis. Swallow all your pride and annoyance with Mahana for the sake of your dream restaurant. Well, you have no choice."

 Kenneth and Chris even gave each other a high five because of Rhaiven's suggestion. I was showered with teasing because maybe now we can start our love story with Mahana from high school that was carried away by the wind. Yuck! Even if she's the only person left in this world, I'd rather be bitten by a shark than be with her for a long time.

 * "Trust me. I won't do anything that will make you angry. As if I would! Misty, after all this time I've been waiting for you, would I do something foolish now? I love you too much to hurt you. Don't panic, okay? I'm still into you even at the worst time. Okay, take care. Bye."

 I wiped my face after getting through with Misty about me and Mahana. I told her that Mahana was drunk so she didn't know what she was saying when they talked. It seems I convinced Misty so I was able to breathe a sigh of relief. It's true that even the cleverest monkey can be tricked.

 "Oops! You can't lie down there yet. Find out your fate tonight first." She raised the coin again as if she's angry with me because I always lose.

 "Tsk! I just sat down, even that's not allowed?" I replied irritably.

 "You're not allowed so stand up there and pray that tonight this bed will be yours, which I know God won't grant you because you're a demon. Hmp?" She replied arrogantly, making me curse inwardly.

 "What's your pick?" She asked before doing the ritual that we do every night.

 "This time, I'll go for tail."

 Heads seem to be unlucky for me and I've had several losses. Maybe I'll win now that I've changed my pick. May fate agree with me.

 "Are you sure about that? No crying when you lose."

 "You're more likely to cry because I'm sure that tonight, you'll be the one sleeping on the sofa." I defended, as if I was sure that I would really win tonight.

 "Well, let's see."

 She tossed the coin as usual and then caught it and placed it on the back of her hand and covered it with her other palm. I think I've called on all the saints just to be granted this night because my back hurts every day from sleeping on the sofa.

 "Shit!" I punched the air when I saw the head of the coin after Mahana removed the cover. I cursed loudly while she was going wild with joy.

 "Yay! I'll be sleeping on the bed again. Sheesh!"

 "Wait a minute, you're cheating. How can I not be unlucky when you're always the one holding the coin? I'll be the one to toss it." I snatched the coin from her because I feel like she's doing something tricky to me.

 "Okay, prove to me that you're not really unlucky." She replied, adjusting her sitting position on the bed facing me.

 "I'll still go for tail.." I replied and she nodded.

 I did the way of tossing the coin and covering it after placing it on the back of my hand. I slowly removed the cover with one hand while my heart was beating fast with nervousness.

 Please, just this once.

 "Uy! Head, you lose. Hahaha!"

 "Damn it!" In annoyance, I threw the coin I was holding into the air. She laughed at me and almost cried with laughter.

 "My goodness! I think I'll just take this bed home. I'm always the one who wins." She even hugged the bed like a fool. I couldn't do anything but grumble in annoyance as I went to the sofa where I would sleep.

 Sigh! When will I ever win against this woman?

 * "Damn it! Time is running out, Kenneth. I need to fix this before Misty goes home to the Philippines."

 I walked back and forth in front of Kenneth while thinking of a good way to get evidence about our accidental marriage with Mahana. It's been almost a week but I still haven't gotten anything. I can't let this last for another month.

 "What can we do, Jade's hiding." He replied. "Calm down! I've been dizzy from what you're doing there."

 "Ken, I need your help. Please."

 "Where's Mahana? You seem to be alone now?"

 "Tsk! That woman won't do anything but give me a headache. Besides, we'll both be free now because my family flew to America because they have something to take care of there with Grandma. No more pretending for now and I want a peaceful life without that woman."

 Ken stood up and put his arm around my shoulder and then guided me to sit on the sofa and then he spoke. "How can you think well if you're always fuming with anger? If you want, let's go to a bar and drown ourselves in alcohol to relax. What, let's go? I'll call Rhaiven if you agree."

 He removed his arm from my shoulder and then took out his phone from his pocket. I was stopped by what he said, and it was as if an angel whispered the word 'bar' to me.

 "Shit! Why didn't I think of that sooner?" I kicked the Rubik's cube scattered on the floor after realizing what I should have done a long time ago.

 "Huh? What are you saying?"

 I turned to him and grabbed both of his shoulders. "You're so smart, Ken. You're really heaven-sent, damn you." In my extreme joy, I kissed Kenneth on the cheek, and in disgust, he pushed me away from him.

 "What are you talking about? What didn't you think of sooner?" He replied confusedly, then angrily wiped the cheek I had kissed.

 "Ken, if we can't find Jade, then we'll go to the bar and then we'll ask for a copy of the CCTV footage from the night Mahana and I got married. Isn't that strong evidence?"

 "Damn it! You're right." Kenneth and I high-fived because of the joy we felt. I felt like a thorn had been removed from my side because of what I thought of.

 "Let's go! Invite Rhaiven so I have backup."

 I picked up my phone that was lying on the center table and put it in my pocket. I waited for Kenneth to call our friends before we finally left his condo.

 Shit! I hope we can get a copy of the CCTV footage so I can get rid of my ties to Mahana. Even if I don't win in fighting over the bed with Mahana, as long as I get that copy.