Bargain Wedding

Hiding Things Over Speaking Truth

Since the day of Aokis' business remodel party, Jona has been aching to talk to Axel about the fuzzy slopes of their relationship. The uncertainty was giving him an upset stomach. Physically, he was healing from the pain, but it was all haywire deep inside, worsening mentally. As he pulled away, Axel embarrassedly looked at the ground. He calmly held her palm without uttering another word.

The small aesthetic palm trees that surrounded the yard of the pool area were propped with lights at the lower, cylindrical branches. They were sparkling and glinting reflections on Axel's face, rendering Jona powerless to pry his gaze away from the woman in a red dress.

They took a short walk towards the satin-cushioned chaise lounge that was located a few meters from the pool. Axel often sat there in solace at the crack of dawn, but today, Jona was with her to make the spectacle worth watching. "I hate that your exams are approaching too soon," he complained, the suggestion of amusement in his words while he held onto Axel's hands and made her sit while he perched on the handrest of the lounger himself.

Axel looked up at him, at his pink glossy lips that were somewhat parted. Jona's intoxicating breath conducted mesmerization. The way Jona's black hair flew haphazardly, and then he took command by brushing them up by interlacing his fingers in them, made Axel mesmerized.

The natural blush was highlighted on Jona's face, his defined Jaw, sharp eyes, soft gaze, and an equally serene and sweet smile made Axel want to try and gently pull him down to connect their lips. Her gaze slowly drifted down to observe their clasped hands and the sight made her feel a sense of security and belongingness aside from drunken butterflies.

Meanwhile, Norin had cornered Hana, and the lady was throbbing to run from there. "Why is it taking so long?"

"I am working on it." She shot back bitterly.

"How much more?"

"It will take time. There is security inside out. It's difficult," Hana threw anxious glances at the door as Norin perked his unimpressed and threatening brow at her. "I have been trying to draw out Axel for a long time now. I even struck her allergies, but things had gotten worse. Jona installed cameras in there. I had to hit a pause for some time. Who knows, maybe Jona has cameras on his floor. No one is allowed there except a few maids. Your papers are not the only ones I have to get my hands on."

"DAD!" Norin heard Aimi call for him.

"You better work on it soon because if you don't... Well, you know," Norin pulled back, leaving Hana to blink apprehensively and breathe sharply, rethinking her decision.

☘

"I have always been a fan of taking exams, but these are going to be hard for me for so many reasons," Axel easy-smiled at Jona, who kept his fond stare at her. "I didn't know you had this baddie side to you." She jested, unable to forget Aimi's words easily.

"And I didn't know you had a soft side to you," Jona pressed his lips together while Axel gaped at him, yet the blonde failed to hide his smile.

"What do you mean?" Axel chided in a faux provoked tone.

"For most of our conversations, you either yelled at me or threw sarcastic jabs at me. I had to nurture an image in my mind of you smiling." Jona gave Axel's hand a little squeeze. The adorable sight of her just looking baby-like when curious arrested his heart.

Jona's steady gaze caused Axel to lick her lips nervously, also realizing that he was right. She really didn't talk to him for weeks months. They either talked about business or they fought. There was nothing in between. She'd thought hard, but could conjure no memories of what she did with Jona after getting drunk. The realization made her feel pressured for the days to come. "Jona," She called slowly, and the man swore again for the nth time, his name never sounded better coming from anyone as much as it did through the gentle pink lips of his wife. "I am really scared."

Jona quickly rose from the handrest and sat beside Axel. He pulled her close and let her rest her head on his shoulder. "Why are you scared? You are safe here... I am always here to listen to you if you need to share anything. No matter what it is," Jona wondered if Axel was in a dilemma of choosing to hold back certain information from him. He soothed her back and her head. "I will always trust you and listen to you. Talk to me anytime and you will know."

Axel pulled away, being conscience-stricken by the words. Jona deserved to know, but she couldn't say anything. She wanted to, but with the new development of her being selected by the entertainment agency, she was confused, knowing she might have to be away from Jona, and she didn't want to change the dynamic of their current relationship.

"It's going to be okay, Axel. I know you have a lot to do. I can understand if you don't want to go away from home, but you still have a week to decide," Jona only hoped that Axel wouldn't leave, but he couldn't be selfish as it was her dream. "But even if you do decide to go, I will be there, and I will make sure that new place is as comfortable for you as it is here at home." His hand ran up and down her back.

Axel closed her eyes. Jona remained in the same position, holding Axel close and comforting her while the 20-year-old woman's eyes started to feel heavy. She felt like she could sleep sitting against Jona's chest if it was not for the waiting guests. "You are right," she mumbled in a small voice after minutes. "I don't have to be scared, baby steps." She reminded herself of Tetsuo's advice.

Jona pondered if he should also tell Axel what he was holding back, out of many things. This information could put Axel to relief if it was to be unveiled. "Yeah, baby steps. Focus on your exams first and... I don't know if I should tell you this, but Green Dot is my company." He decided to come clean.

Axel's brows furrowed before her eyes shot open. Did she hear it right?

"What?!" She pulled away with a scowl.

"Green Dot is my ancillary company. I just didn't tell you before because I didn't want you to think that you received the invitation because of me. In no way do I influence their decision. I own it, but they work independently. I never stepped foot in the company except for one time. I am sure they don't know my ties with you either because of your surname." Jona explained quickly before he thought Axel decided to supersonically punch him.

The younger had no words. Two surprises were not what she expected from the day. "Are you angry?" Jona asked cautiously but with a trace of a smile on his lips.

"I am just letting everything sink in." The cherry-haired female replied.

☘

"Jona, how far along till the inauguration of the hospital?" Norin asked as they ate.

"It will be up soon. Coco is working on it," Jona replied while he cut a sliver of the medium-rare steak.

"I am sure the board's 8 percent shares helped." Norin chuckled and Axel's head suddenly whipped up at them.

"They definitely did, but let's not talk about work now. I want to hear about you and Aimi," Jona smiled. "You vacationed in Paris, isn't it? What did you do there?"

"Bro!" The young cousin stopped eating to respond. "I think you and Axel should totally go and check out this place. They had the most amazing food and wine. I didn't do much except eat and drink. Especially from this one personal head chef we hired. His food was just so arresting that I forgot to breathe while eating." Aimi gushed, thinking about the taste of food.

"Then I should definitely take Axel there. Do you have a name?" Jona asked casually and Axel's ears burned, hot-to-trot, involuntarily.

"I don't remember, it was a 7-star for sure. The guy is a Korean though. He has his recipe books published. I even got one back at home, but I couldn't recreate the magic that the man has in his hands." Aimi was simping hard over this Korean chef who worked in Paris. Jona was engrossed in the conversation. Hana and the family were as usual, not interested in anything, or at least that's what it seemed, but Axel's mind and heart were ticking off. Many thoughts were floating inside her head. Was that it? Did their little talk mean that things would change for her, sexually? What did Norin mean by 8% shares? Jona told her that the board held 18 % while Jona held 36%, and she had 35% in her name. The remaining shares were public and Axel knew about that. If Norin mispronounced the number, why didn't Jona correct him? Or did Jona simply say it wrong before? And last but not least, why was Cloudy barking so much?

"Axel?" Aimi's voice broke her out of her trance. "When are you leaving for LA?"

"Oh," Axel's eyes looked up at Jona, whose gaze was already fixed on her. "I haven't responded to them yet. I still have one week to decide if I am going."

"Is there even anything to think about? Just go, dude! It's LA we are talking about. If I knew how to sing, I would have never gotten stuck in this groggy business and would have busked across Europe all my youth long."

"I hold the chamber in court, and she wants to become a corporate lawyer." Norin shook his head unbelievably. "And now, she doesn't even want that."

While Axel laughed at the remark, knowing she also had dreams similar to Aimi a few months ago, but right now, she couldn't imagine herself going away from Jona.

☘

As days went by, Axel's anxiety piqued and Jona's curiosity.

One week later, Axel was busy preparing for the exam. Jona even slept in a different room for the last four days just to give enough space for Axel to sleep with her books. Today was the last day for her to respond to Green Dot, and Jona was itching to ask her about her decision.

Although they were on a better note, they still had many things to sort out and talk about. The unfortunate and untimely detour to LA seemed like a bitter and edgy seed that came into Jona's mouth while he was trying to savor tangy-sweet citrus pulp of their budding intimacy.

Axel hadn't gotten out of her room the entire day and Jona was getting worried. He was dawdling around in his separate room, wanting her to take a little break from studying and hit refresh.

Suddenly, he got up and walked up to their bedroom, knocking before entering. As presumed, Axel was knee-deep in her books. Her hands were scribbled with ink spots and so was a portion of the bedsheet where Axel had placed a lot of uncapped pens.

"How is it going?" Jona leisurely walked towards the bed and sat after moving some books.

"It couldn't have been better." The younger replied and quickly stacked a few notebooks to make more space for her husband.

"Did you think about it? You need to have them informed by tonight." Jona couldn't beat around the bush.

"I... Have. I've already sent them confirmation. I am going." Axel replied with a sharp breath and examined Jona's expression. They turned grim for a split second before Jona wore the same smile he always had while talking to her.

Jona sighed deeply as if forming words to say. "Congratulations," he beamed finally. "Make sure to take care of yourself, otherwise you are coming right back."

Axel flashed a tight-lipped smile at the older person. She hated to do this, she hated to go away, but she had to. It was her career, her own identity that was waiting to welcome her. She couldn't abandon an opportunity as great as this just because she couldn't stay away from Jona for three months. "You said you would come to see me every weekend. You can see it for yourself if I am taking care of myself or not."

As if Jona read many things in Axel's witticism, he held the girl's palm. "Come with me."

Axel curiously looked at him, clueless about what Jona he would do. The older walked towards the windows and opened the balcony door beside it. A puff of cool breeze decided to whip their faces. In a half-sleeved t-shirt, Axel sagged her shoulders a bit and trembled. "It's cold."

Jona smiled as he took off his jacket and wrapped it around her. He quickly walked back into the room and Axel turned to look while rubbing her palms together and blowing on them as she waited. The man soon returned with a beanbag in one hand and a guitar in the other.

Axel's lips stretched apart into a grin. "I am seriously rusty. I cannot play." She shook her head while chuckling, and Jona let the big fluffy bag fall on the marble.

"Sit." He pointed at the bag, ignoring all her pleas.

Axel's chuckle turned into a high-pitched laugh while she plopped down.

"Who said anything about you playing it?" Jona wriggled his brows.

Axel's fit of laughter ceased. "Are you-?" She stopped speaking abruptly. The swift wonderment she felt for Jona evaporated and Aimi's words zapped her mind. Jona had many sides she was not aware of. She smiled and tried to get up, but the man sat down on the floor, facing her.

The lights beamed in the yard and around the pool that Axel saw from where she sat. There was also a prominent full moon that suddenly contributed to creating an atmosphere so serene that she inhaled a deep relaxed breath and exhaled. "I am serenading you. I hope you don't mind me using your guitar."

Axel leaned forward so their faces were only inches apart and shook her head slowly, dazed.

Jona smiled as he held the colorful fulcrum between his thumb and index finger and rested the guitar on his left hand diagonally, all ready to play.

Axel anticipated the composition and suddenly it felt all too romantic. Jona strummed the chords and the tune resonated through the air and reverberated in Axel's heart.

Saying "I love you"

Is not the words I want to hear from you

It's not that I want you

Not to say, but if you only knew

How easy

It would be to show me how you feel

More than words

Is all you have to do to make it real

Then you wouldn't have to say

That you love me

Jona's soft and soulful voice brimmed Axel's heart and the words touched her soul. Her eyes wanted to tear up, but she didn't want to miss a single note of Jona's voice, which was similar to an angel's harp.

She keened her senses to the feeling that engulfed her. Jona was looking down at his hands, and then he looked up to smile at her. She reciprocated hesitantly with a small smile.

'Cause I'd already know

What would you do

If my heart was torn in two

More than words to show you feel

That your love for me is real

What would you say

If I took those words away

Then you couldn't make things new

Just by saying "I love you"

Jona encouraged Axel to chime in and they both chorused together, their beautiful voices harmonizing the magic. If the world heard them sing together, it would be cured of all ailments.

La di da, da di da, di dai dai da

More than words

La di da, da di da

"Jona..." Axel held Jona's hands and the music suddenly stopped.

Jona gulped at first and was quick to realize that Axel's body was flaccidly coming forward. He cupped her face to push her back, but the guitar in his hand was coming in between. "Axel? Baby? Open your eyes. Don't close them." He shook Axel's face roughly and the younger clenched her jaws shut.

"f**k!" Jona got rid of the guitar, throwing it away. "Axel! Sweetie?!" He quickly cradled his hands under the cherry-haired female's thighs and her neck. As he pulled her up in his arms and walked in, Axel started trembling severely and her teeth clattered.

☘

Everyone was asleep, and the lights were turned off except for the main entrance. While Jona was rushing out to go to the hospital, someone was inside the house, lurking in the dark. Security was alerted after Jona raced out. The security personnel got inside the house and stood guard on Jona's floor.

Obasaan woke up, and she sat in the living room. No one had a clue that there was also an intruder inside and that he would unleash chaos on the family.

The doctor was running at the front while Jona and Coco were on either side of the stretcher where Axel lay unconscious. She was shaking vigorously. Her mouth was visibly stuffed with a thick cotton cloth between her lips to prevent her from biting herself. "Please wait here." The doctor stopped the two men outside.

Jona was breathing heavily, and his red bulging eyes were on the verge of releasing tears. "What happened?" Coco asked now.

"She had an epileptic fit." Jona roughly grabbed his hair with both hands and yanked them away as he pranced around.

Coco had to trail beside him to have the conversation. "Does she have attacks often?" He held Jona by his forearm and steadied him.

Jona exhaled and nodded dumbly, his face dejected and his throat sore. "I was told by mom and dad about her condition before marriage when I visited them for one of the wedding customs."

"Is it serious, Jona? Why didn't you tell me?" Coco brought Jona back to sit on the couch and sat beside him while holding his hand.

"It is kind of serious. Axel has been getting these episodes since she was eight. She gets head drop seizures, paralysis tic from Tourette's, and even a closed seizure like she is having right now." Jona kept pushing his hair around roughly.

Coco thought for a moment. "If you knew about it, why didn't you take any prophylactic measures?"

"That's the concern, Coco. Mom and Dad have already taken the best advice from medical specialists. There is no cure except that Axel needs to be stress-free. Somehow, overthinking or stress triggers it for her."

"Did she have any episodes before? You know, after the wedding?" Coco asked cautiously.

"It's the first after the wedding," Jona looked at his hands, "this was the reason why I never let her sleep in a separate room, even though I knew it would add to her discomfort. The situation was pretty stressful for her during that time and I wanted to be there in case she had an episode."

"Thank goodness you were with her."

Jona sighed with a gloomy look in his eyes. "Mom told me about how Axel is very self-conscious and ashamed of her condition. She didn't want her to tell me anything."

"There is no need to be ashamed. Why is she-"

"I know, but she thinks like that," Jona interjected. "I hope she doesn't think too much when she wakes up." He stood up and walked towards the glass door of the ward, peeking inside at his unconscious wife.