Bargain Wedding

Everyone's Common College Crush

The crowd began to mingle and disperse. Many came over to Aokis' to congratulate them on Axel's win. The participants who were backstage, now entered the auditorium to finally be with their families. Axel also came running to her parents. "Congratulations, honey! You all did wonderfully." Her father intonated with happiness.

Axel had unadulterated euphoria sparkling from her eyes. "Thanks, Dad. I am glad you came," she smiled brightly while hugging her mother's torso and Mr. Aoki looked at his wife before gathering the courage to join the hug freely. Jona felt his heart rupture with joy and the warmth spread to his insides as he looked at the father and daughter reconciling. He missed his father at that moment.

"I will go get my trophy and say bye to my friends." Axel beamed before she hurriedly bee-lined towards the stage.

By then, it was already getting dark.

As Jona continued to talk to his parents-in-law, a few minutes passed, but Axel didn't return.

Meanwhile, Axel was in the make-up room where crew members were winding up everything. She thanked all the background dancers hurriedly and looked for Minhaj to talk to him when Botan grabbed her. "That Jona is so fine. Is he single? Please tell me he is single. Can you get him my number?" He chirped.

"Jona is not into boys," Axel was exasperated with her eyes on the floor and Botan pouted.

"How about mine? Take my number and give it to him." Krystal, her female friend uttered with zeal.

"Guys, I am not giving Jona anyone's number. Don't embarrass me. I have to leave. My parents are waiting!" Axel frowned but Krystal hid the trophy behind her back.

"Please Aku, I will owe you big time. Please get my number to him," Krystal pleaded with an amused expression, inwardly all serious.

"I won't!" Axel curtly replied as she crossed her hands over her chest with a stoic expression.

"Why?"

"I just won't," she slowly inched closer to Krystal and towered over her in a tight corner, successfully snatching the trophy from her hands before she stormed out towards the corridor to leave, hearing the whining people behind.

Annoyed, she was on her way toward the stairs when Minhaj caught sight of her.

"AXEL!" He hollered, causing the girl to stop and look back.

☘

"Jona, can you go check up on Axel? Where did she get lost?" Mrs. Aoki asked.

"Please wait by the front office. I will go check," Jona obeyed.

Asking a few girls the way to the make-up room, which they told easily, Jona sauntered ahead. The girls squealed and jumped with joy when Jona surpassed them. A few even followed him, but the man kept his gaze focused on only one. Suddenly, he seemed to become the common crush of all university students.

He finally spotted Axel, who was happily hopping her way downstairs while her eyes were fixed on her trophy with an adorable smile when someone called her name from behind. She stopped. Jona was two stair sets below Axel, and so he kept climbing up, unaware of who the owner of the voice was.

He had no clue who had just called Axel, but he abruptly stopped when he overheard the name. "Yes, Minhaj?" Axel turned around to look at the older boy.

Jona halted on the square set of silent staircases from where he could see and hear everything. "I need my answer now. You promised me that you would come to find me after the finale and here you are, running away as always."

Axel sighed. The two were so immersed in their conversation that they didn't see Jona standing below their level.

"I do have my answer," Axel admitted, and Minhaj impatiently waited for her to continue, "I am sorry, Minhaj. We can't be together... That's my answer."

"But why? Do you like someone else?" Minhaj asked defensively, wanting to know the reason behind the rejection from day one of his confession.

"I don't know, but I know one thing. What I feel for you is not strong enough to make me choose you," Axel replied with honesty.

"What do you mean by choosing? There is someone else. Isn't it?" Minhaj scoffed.

Jona's heart went heavy, and it started racing in anticipation of Axel's answer. Although it would not be addressed to him, it would be meant for him. "I have circumstances which you wouldn't understand." The cherry-haired woman mumbled.

Jona kept intently listening to everything from a short distance. He even debated inwardly if he should stand there or leave, but he got no response from his mind, neither could he move a muscle in his body.

"What if I make your feelings strong enough? Will you stay then?" Minhaj asked as he held Axel's wrist while Jona just watched.

"Leave my hand, Minhaj," Axel asked politely, "and no, nothing and no one will change what and how I feel now." She assured.

Jona wanted to hear something. Perhaps, Axel's confession of love for him, but Axel neither brought his name nor her marriage. Out of nowhere, Minhaj crashed his lips on Axel's, catching her off-guard.

Jona's face distinguished into indignation as he took one step ahead to take the matter finally into his hands. He didn't care if he had to disclose his marriage or face the consequences of raising his hand on the student. He knew one thing — Minhaj wouldn't go back home walking on his own feet.

But then he suddenly saw Axel pushing Minhaj hard enough for him to stumble back.

"I CAN'T! I AM f*****g MARRIED!" Axel cried, and the words struck Jona's mind, carrying an effect of ecstatic numbness that dissolved into his soul, putting him into a frenzy. His legs abruptly stopped moving. He looked up with teary eyes and saw Axel panting.

"Don't be ridiculous, Aoki." Minhaj rebuked as he straightened up and slowly moved to capture Axel again.

The young woman took out her wallet and out came the ring. She put it up and showed it to Minhaj. "Here, I am not lying. I am married." She said, and she finally slipped the ring on her finger without any fear.

"I appreciate the detail you put into this rejection plan. As much as I want to say I am impressed, I am really not. Do you think I believe your fuckery?" Minhaj spat.

"I don't care if you believe it or not. It is the truth, and I am done," Axel declared and turned around to descend the stairs where she would meet Jona, but Minhaj tackled her again and pressed her against the wall.

This time, Axel was not having it. Minhaj groaned as his body collided with the floor with a harsh impact, and he held up his hand to hold his head from where blood was spilling out after Axel banged the trophy there.

Axel's eyes were brimming with tears in anger, "I said. I. Don't. Want. To. Do. Anything. With. You... I didn't choose you," she said, gritting through her teeth. "Don't f*****g touch me again, or you will die." She warned the boy before quickly descending the stairs, whizzing past Jona on her way down, not even noticing the man in her burning state of fury.

Jona stood there, contemplating and replaying the words in his mind even after Axel was gone. The heart that earlier was on fire was now extinguished, and he felt the intense urge to hug Axel and kiss her.

☘

There was a room with bright daylight seeping through the windows that were partially hidden behind bright white curtains, sluggishly swaying in the air. Axel woke up and found Jona on the couch to her left with her eyes closed, and her head rolled back on the headrest. Her gaze turned to her right side where she saw catheters and glucose drips attached to her skin.

"What the f**k!" She panicked as she jolted upright.

She was in the hospital.

At Axel's voice, Jona immediately rushed to her. He saw her trying to desperately get the needles out.

Axel has always been afraid of needles and hospital settings. It wasn't like needles hurt her that much, but rather the idea of falling that sick where she would have to be dependent on others, creeped the bejesus out of her.

"Hey, hey. Stop, Axel... Please." Jona held her left hand firmly.

"What is all this?" She asked with a worrisome face, her brows drawn together and eyes exhibiting sheer unsettling feeling.

"Easy now, you lie down, I will tell you," Jona helped her lay in the hospital bed again.

"Why should I lie down? I am completely fine. I want to go home right now!" Axel resisted her tears and almost looked like she would make a run for it.

"We will go back soon," Jona said, stroking the younger's hair and sitting beside her hurriedly to comfort her and also hold her in place.

"What happened?" Axel asked with his fear-stricken face.

"You have exerted yourself so much physically. You should have taken it a bit easy, Axel." Jona uttered, not quietly meeting her eyes.

Axel sighed. "I had a few things to think about, but it is fine. Everything is fine now. There's no stress anymore," she answered, looking at her thighs and then shifting her gaze to Jona, "please take me home."

"I will," Jona caressed her hair again, "let me go and check with the doctor." He stood and unintentionally pressed a kiss on her head without even realizing it.

Jona left the room while Axel traced her hair where she had just been kissed. It brought a sweet smile to the corner of her lips amidst her chaos.

A few moments later, Jona came back with Dr. Choi into the ward. "How are you feeling now, Axel?" Dr. Choi asked as he monitored her vitals and scribbled on his pad.

"I am perfectly fine," Axel replied, clearly not wanting to stay in the hospital anymore.

"I believe you," Dr. Choi replied, flashing her a smile.

"You can take her home. Make sure she rests well for at least a few days." The doctor instructed Jona.

"Thank you, Dr. Choi." Jona shook hands with the old man. The doctor then gently removed the needles from Axel's right hand, causing the younger to frown, perhaps because of pain.

The doctor then put a bandage on the skin where needles were injected. "You will be perfectly fine in a few days," he assured Axel, and the latter now smiled, already feeling better that the needles were gone. The first interaction of Dr. Choi with Jona made her furious on the very next day of their wedding, but today, she didn't mind the doctor instructing Jona to take care of her.

Neither Jona nor Axel realized how far they had come in four months. It was as though she accepted the man and trusted him with her body. After the doctor patted his shoulder and left the ward, Jona smiled at Axel. "Ready to go back?" He asked, looking all excited.

"But my clothes?" Axel looked at herself as she realized that she was in a hospital gown.

Jona bent down and opened the dresser by her bed. He pulled out a small duffle bag and handed it to her. "Here..."

Axel took the bag and bestowed her best smile on Jona, causing the chestnut-haired man's heart to feel tingly and warm. "Thank you."

"I didn't bring it, your dad did. You should thank him," Jona managed to reply.

"Was he here?" Axel asked, the smile disappearing from her lips.

"Yes... I brought you here last night. I couldn't leave you alone and go back to bring your belongings, so I had to ask Mom and Dad. They visited last night but I sent them home. If you want to see them, I will have them picked, so they can come home, okay?" Jona asked and Axel nodded her head slowly, realizing that Jona didn't go back home and spent the entire night on the couch, which must have been uncomfortable.

Then again, Jona slept on the couch every night, but the couch back at home was at least big and comfortable. She felt a burning sensation in her chest just as the thought crossed her mind. She took a mental note to ask him to share the bed with her.

As she got up, Jona held her. "Can you walk?" He asked.

"I don't know," Axel smiled while Jona was examining her body, and raised his eyes to see her face at her remark. Axel was beaming, "I will know for sure if you let me walk." She jested.

Jona smiled while retreating his hands that automatically came to hold her before letting her go to the bathroom on her own. Axel slowly walked away and shut the bathroom door. She found her phone inside the bag with many notifications. Minhaj had spammed her phone like anything with numerous missed calls and texts. She felt awful for hitting someone whom she once had feelings for. She looked at the texts.

I want to talk one last time and apologize.

Axel, please.

I am begging you. I just can't accept the fact that you are married.

No, Axel. I know you are lying and there is a reason.

Please, baby. Let's talk.

Axel ignored them all, not responding to even a single one. She got out after she got changed and saw Jona standing a little ahead of the bathroom door. "Jona," she called the man's name and the husband immediately walked up to her.

"What is it?" He asked worriedly.

"It turns out, I can walk," Axel replied with a sheepish grin.

☘

Jona asked the maids to bring Axel's food into the room, so she wouldn't have to move.

"Jona, it is just one set of stairs," Axel opposed the idea and her tone had a pinch of whine to it. It melted Jona's heart instantly as he smiled adoringly, but he couldn't let her walk around.

"No."

"Come on! Okay, how about... I take the elevator," Axel asked next, hoping he would say yes.

The way Jona kept smiling at her, she was convinced that she would get an affirmation, but looks could be deceiving. Jona refused it again, chuckling.

Coco was looking at the love birds being all lovey-dovey. He had come to see Axel after Jona informed him about her condition and also applied for leave for himself for the next three days.

Amidst their squabbling, the maid made her way with a tray of food in her hand. "Come in," Jona let her in as Axel sighed defeatedly.

She put the food on the table and turned to Jona, " Would you and Master Coco also like to eat in the room?"

"I am not hungry yet," Coco articulated.

"I will eat later," Jona politely replied, too, dismissing her.

Coco noticed Axel's smile was brighter than usual, or how she couldn't stop stealing glances at Jona while touching her nose unnecessarily. He smirked at Axel's nervousness. "How are you feeling now?" He asked, sitting beside the bed on a high stool.

"I am healthy as guacamole. Don't worry about me," Axel replied, bringing the tray of food closer to her body.

As she began to eat, Coco looked at Jona, who had moved to the study table. "I have an idea, how about we go clubbing?" He asked.

Axel was perplexed by the sudden recommendation, but she nodded regardless. Coco clutched his nape when a thick tissue box hit his head which was thrown at him by none other than Jona from behind. "What is wrong with you, Pal?" The man snickered as Axel broke into fits of laughter.

"She exhausted herself from dancing and passed out, but here you are... Asking her to go clubbing? Don't you have anything better to propose?" Jona quipped, unamused.

"I meant once she was completely fine. Not right now." Coco picked up the same box and threw it back at Jona, who caught it and trudged towards them.

"Coco-San. I am fine... Really," Axel said as her little pout came out to play.

"No, you are not," Jona cut her off, "and you..." He pointed at Coco. "Get out. Now."

Coco stood up, grinning coyly before he started to walk away. Though he halted at the door and said, "again, I am not doing this for you. I am doing this for her. Bye beautiful," he addressed Axel, "take care of yourself." He added a wink towards the end before disappearing.

"THANKS, COCO-SAN!" Axel shouted.

Jona kept working for quite some time. When his attention drifted to Axel, he found the younger person sleeping.

He realized that it had been two hours since he had been working. His stomach growled suddenly. Setting aside the laptop, he walked downstairs to eat. The maid served him food when Hana found her way to the dining table as wll. "You are late today," she stated.

"I forgot to eat." Jona laughed at his response.

"How about Axel? Did she eat?" She asked in a concerned tone.

"She did, mother. I made her eat first." Jona replied, smiling, "How are Lohan's studies going?"

"You know he isn't the smartest kid in class. He might fail again, and his classmates would make fun of him. He is not interested in studies at all and doesn't want to go to school even," Hana replied worriedly.

"Well, why don't you get him a full-time home tutor? He doesn't have to go to school if he doesn't like it, and the home tutor will be dedicated to only him. That way, his grades might improve." Jona proposed the idea, which was an agreeable one even to Hana.

"I like the idea. Can you get it arranged?" She asked, but suddenly a thought came to her mind.

"Sure, mother. I can find a tutor. Rest assured." Jona nodded.

"Well, how about Axel?" She asked.

"What about Axel?" Jona heard Axel speak from behind, which startled both of them.

"You have to tutor, Lohan," Hana told Axel as Jona just stared at her.

"Wrong choice of words, madam. Firstly, you should have asked me about my opinion before telling me about your decision that I will teach Lohan, and second, No. I am not interested in babysitting anyone," Axel was suddenly fuming with anger.

She wouldn't have been this blunt, but she remembered the drama from last time, which only contributed more to her dislike for the fake Suzukis. She has already been pissed at her since the last time. Moreover, how could anyone other than herself make decisions for her? It was not at all acceptable to her and if Jona countered her right now, she wouldn't spare him either.

"How disrespectful of you! Do you speak to your mother like this?" Hana gasped and exclaimed.

"Well, my mother does not impose her choices on me, so... No," Axel retorted.

Jona knew better than to interrupt Axel, but he also didn't like the fact that someone older was getting disrespected in front of him, especially when he never talked back to Hana like that. But mostly, Jona didn't want Axel to exert herself out there as he was concerned about her health more than anything.

"Well, your marriage was nothing but an imposition." Ms. Suzuki took a lower road.

Axel closed her fists in anger and looked at Jona to back her up, but soon realized how Jona, being the gentleman he was, did not say much. To Jona's knowledge, Hana was still his stepmother in Axel's eyes, but that ship had sailed a long time ago, thanks to Mr. Coco Kimura.

"Mother, I think that is it. I don't want to hear any more words from either one of you," Jona spoke and Hana instantly realized that she had made a mistake saying that in front of him.

Axel glared at Jona momentarily and strode back to her room.

"What was that, mother? You are elderly and if you want someone to respect you, please earn it and behave like your age." Jona questioned her and she started to tear up.

"I am so sorry, son. That was not my intention." She tried to hold on to Jona's arm, but he retreated.

"It might not have been your intention, but it was in your thoughts and, I am sorry to say, it was improper. I don't want to see any such thing happening in my house again," Jona demanded before going after Axel.