HER

RULES FOR A YEAR

MUNA’S POV

Never in my life had I imagined marrying Ted. Sure, we’ve known each other forever, half our lives, actually... and yes, we’re still in each other’s lives.

People always assumed we’d end up together. Cute, right? Well… not to me.

And then Alex walked into our lives in the third year of high school. I’d loved him from the start. Ted knew it too. Hell, everyone knew it. So why on earth is he suddenly pushing for marriage?

I didn’t stick around to hear the rest of that ridiculous conversation. I locked myself in my room, away from him and his nonsense. He was outside, still trying to “explain.” Was he serious?... Explain what exactly?

"Mun, can you at least give me a chance to explain? I swear I had no idea what my mum said. You have to trust me," Ted’s voice pleaded through the door, the knocking soft but desperate.

"Just leave me alone, Ted!" I shot back.

There was silence. A whole second of it, I almost thought something had gone wrong with his voice. Not that I cared, actually.

As if he hadn’t pissed me off enough already, the door clicked open. My head snapped up from the bed where I sat.

"What the f*ck, Ted? How the hell did you get in here?" I snapped.

He froze in the doorway, scratching the back of his head like a guilty schoolboy.

"I’m asking you a question, so you’d better answer before I throw you out the window."

"Uh..." he started, his eyes darting past me.

"I gave him the key to your room," my mum’s voice cut clean through the air.

I turned toward her. She walked in like a princess ready to give a verdict, her face cool and composed. Ando of course, she turned to Ted with that infuriating smile. I wish I could rip off her face if she weren't my mother.

Ted gave her a small, awkward smile back, glancing at me like he was checking how much trouble he was in.

"I’m trusting her with you," Mum said, taking his hands like this was some sappy wedding rehearsal. "I know she’s stubborn, but you’re the only one who can handle all her tantrums. And just so you know, I’m not against you two getting married. I’m rooting for you, Ted."

Ted laughed nervously, rubbing the back of his neck again. "Uh… thank you, ma’am?"

He peeked at me like he was waiting for me to explode.

"MUM!" I barked.

She turned to me slowly, with that sharp ‘don’t try me’ glare in place. "You better not push him away this time. We’ve already spoken about this, so… deal with it."

And with that, she marched out, leaving Ted in my room looking like he’d just walked into the lion’s den and realized the door was locked behind him.

"What now?"

"Can I sit?" he asked, and the moment he caught my glare, he took a step back like he’d just remembered the window was right there.

Maybe he finally realized I wasn’t bluffing about tossing him out if he pushed his luck.

"Just get on with it. You didn’t come here to sit, did you?"

"Yeah, that’s true… uh… I was thinking this plan I have could work for both of us, if you’d just be patient enough to hear me out."

"Well, as you can see, I’m already patient enough to give you space to talk. So… shoot."

"Thank you," he said, like some obedient schoolboy, which only made me roll my eyes harder.

"I think we should really… get married."

My head snapped toward him instantly, but before I could unload, he rushed in,

"Only for a year! Just until you get my mum’s approval for the company contract. I know you want it, Mun, you’re just too proud to admit it. This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, and your parents see it too."

He edged closer, reading my slightly softened expression like it was a green light.

"I’m staying over just for a year. We’ll work on expanding your brand through my connections, obviously... and after that, you can ask for a divorce. I won’t force you to stay. I just don’t want you to lose this chance. You’ve always dreamed about it, Mun."

His hands landed gently on my shoulders, but there was a hesitation in them, like he was bracing for me to suddenly flip.

"What do you say?" His voice was calm, his eyes locked on mine.

"I can ask for a divorce after a year" I repeated.

He nodded, his gaze steady.

"Fine. But… I make the rules if we have to live together as a ‘couple.’"

His eyes flickered, just for a second, before he masked them with a stiff smile.

"As you wish. And… I’m sorry for coming in without your consent. I just wanted us to talk."

I didn’t respond, I just brushed his hands off my shoulders a little.

"I’ll come pick you up tomorrow then…" he said.

I gave a small nod.

And then, of course, he didn’t leave without taking his shot. A soft kiss landed on my forehead before he finally walked out.

Heat rushed to my cheeks, but I couldn’t tell if it was pure anger… or something else I’d never dare admit.