Contractually Married

Chapter 8: Surprised

Rian's POV:

"So, where were you two have been?" I asked Nick and Jenny as soon as they entered our suite. We were currently watching one of the movie of our favorite Canadian actor, Nick Bateman.

"Uhm.. we've just got from our sightseeing, not that far from where we left you guys." Nick answered may be unaware that he's still holding Jenny's hand... and she's blushing?

"Yeah right. Sightseeing.... sightseeing each other's body." Cari suddenly came from Nick and Jenny's behind.

Jenny blushed in crimson red. We just shared a knowing look. Maybe Cari's right. I think.

"Ohh.. sweetheart, your lunch date is over?" Gavin teased her while taking her seat beside him.

"Yeah. We talked a lot. And when I say a lot... it means a lot." she said looking at me.

Like the first time we went to talk with Ryan, I think I already know what they were talked about.

"Hey, you two! Change your clothes. We're going to the beach." she pointed Nick and Jenny still holding each other's hands.

"But it's still hot outside and we just came from-----"

"Oh come on, Nicholas! Don't give me your shity excuses. Unless you already forgot that we came here in a group and not just the two of you!"

"Fine!" we laughed at him when he's not in our sight.

"Girl.. you're going to tell us what happened between you two." I playfully warned Jenny.

"Okay. But not now. When he's not around, I promised." and she giggled.

"You promised that, huh?"

"Yes, promise."

"Okay. But for now, let's change our clothes. I'm so excited to swim!" Cari squealed heading to our room. We left Gavin in the living room.

I just decided to wear my simple white plain two-piece swimsuit under my white spaghetti-strapped top and my short-shorts denim. I also wear some accessories and a brown hat on my head. I just let my hair down on my shoulders and shoved my phone in my pocket behind my shorts.

"I'm ready, girls."

"Wow!" Jenny gasped.

"You're in a nice outfit, girl. I like that. You looked hot without even trying." Cari sat on the end of the bed.

"I really like your skin. It's not pale. It's... what you called fair. My God! We're all Americans here. How did you get that?"

"Oh... you forgot girls. My mom is half Filipina and only half American. I probably got my complexion from her. Or maybe it's just blended well with my American blood from my dad. You know. " I just waved my hands in the air.

"And you know sometimes, I envied your boobs. It's naturally big. It fits your frame. And I love your cleavage." Jenny also sat on the bed beside Cari.

"Oh my God! What are you, lesbian?" I crossed my two hands over my chest to cover my boobs.

"You silly, woman!" she throws a pillow on me and it landed on the floor.

"I'm just admiring your body!" we started to laugh. "But, honestly... I wished I also have that boobs of yours."

I looked at myself in the mirror. Actually before, I didn't find myself attractive. It's just Cari who always remind me of what body I have. If your gonna ask me what my vital statistics are... let's say my boobs--36, my waistline--28, and my hips-- I'm not sure if it's 36 or 38. See? I'm not fat, right?

"Okay, let's go before my insecurities killed me. Hmmph!" I just laughed at Cari's reaction. We followed her in the living room where Gavin and Nick already waiting for us.

"Wow! nice outfit girls." Nick blurted out only looking at Jenny.

"Really, Nick? Was your question really for us three girls or only for Jenny? 'Jenny, nice outfit and a body you have." Cari raised an eyebrow.

"Oh, what I mean is... all of you."

"Yeah. As if we're five. Let's go guys."

Gavin stood up and we followed Cari outside.

"Nick, locked the door!" He shouted from his shoulder.

"Of course."

We left the two behind and started walking to the elevator. After a few seconds, they appeared in our sights and we pressed the elevator to the ground floor.

- - - - - - - - - - -

We started walking as a group but as usual Nick and Jenny run towards the water first... holding hands.. and left us all behind. And Cari also have another plan. She said she just has to talk to someone. Yeah, as if we are her children that she only needs to give us some candy and we will believe her in an instant.

"Yeah, whatever." 

"There he is. Ryan!" and we snapped our heads on him from the receptionist desk.

"Really, Cari?" Gavin narrowed his eyes.

"Trust me on this. He's on our side."

"What do you mean?" I asked her.

"We're going to show your jerk of a husband what he is missing for being an ass to you. Stupid ass!"

"Wow, Cari.. are you really playing cupid with Rian or you're just playing cupid to yourself?" Gavin said still narrowing his eyes on her

"No. Of course not."

"Cari, you don't have to do this." I'm not comfortable with this plan or whatever they were planning to. What if Alex find out? What would he say, that I am so desperate? 

"It's okay, Rian. You don't need to do anything." and she look passed me.. Ryan is walking in our direction.

"Hi, guys." He greeted us with his cocky smile. "Rian." I look at him and just nodded.

"Guys, if your plan didn't succeed, count me in for those who will kick your ass.!" Gavin grab my hand and we started to walk out of the building.

Anxiousness is now started creeping me inside.

"Relax, Rian. Just be yourself. I'll be here, I will be your back up." Gavin released my hand and put his arm on my shoulder. 

I really wanna thank God for giving me such a friend like them.

"Ahm... Rian." I turned my head around when I heard Ryan's voice. "Don't worry, I didn't mention to him that you're here. He doesn't know."

"You just have to be yourself.. Gavin, Rian. That will do." Cari added.

"Fine." we both said in unison.

"For now. Let's make this vacation happy and memorable."Cari excitedly squealed before taking Ryan's hand and they also run towards Nick and Jenny's direction.

"My God! What is this, Gavin?" I still can't compose myself with Cari's plan.

"I told you, relax. Okay? We can do this together. For now, we should trust Cari on this." we started to walk and watch those couples splashing water to each other's face.

We sat down in the sand where the small waves are trying to touch our feet. We talked about random things, his textmate who wants to see him in person and the other one who always called even 4 in the morning.

After almost an hour, we heard Cari's voice calling our names.

"What is it this time?" I asked Gavin.. annoyed. I didn't looked much at Cari's direction cause my attention goes back again to Jenny who's now running away from Nick. Who would have thought about this two would be a couple?

"I don't know. She's waving her hands. Maybe she wants us to join them."

"Okay. Let's call that inseparable love birds." 

He called Nick and Jenny and explained that maybe Cari wants us to join them.

"Okay. But, let's make a race." Nick started wiggling his eyebrows.

"What race?" Gavin asked.

"We will carry the girls in bridal style and then we will race towards Cari's direction."

"Okay game. What would be the price?" Gavin seemed excited.

"Whoever will lose on this.. would buy dinner for the group tonight."

"Okay. Let's start this over. Just make sure you keep your wallet on your pocket, huh."

"Of course."

Gavin turned to me."Ready?" 

"Yes." we all said in unison. 

"Honey, please pray for us." I laugh at what Gavin stated. He scooped me and I placed my hand on the back of his neck and the other one is on his chest.

"Pray for us? Why... are we going to die?" I can't help asking.

"You, silly woman! Of course for us to win!"

"Ohh..okay." we all laughed together.

And we started to race. Jenny and I can't help ourselves giggled and squealed on what is going on. People are watching us with an amused expression. And some are taking videos.

Cari's POV:

When I go out for lunch with Ryan, I asked him a favor about Rian's situation with her husband. At first, he didn't understand my point. But when I told him that my plan is on setting up the couple... he agreed. I also told him that I already knew who exactly is Rian's husband and their story from the very beginning. With that, he promised to help me and to execute my plan.

I'll talk to Rian and he's the one who will be in charge of his bestfriend.

He's now calling Alex and their friends to meet us at the beach. The plan is, he will introduce me as his girl and we were dating. And of course I will call my friends also to introduce to them. And we will observe what will be Alex's reaction when he knows his dear wife is my friend and when he sees her with Gavin who seems her real boyfriend. Haha. Exciting!

"So?" I asked Ryan after he ended the call.

He gave me his devilish smile.

"So... they're coming. Let's just wait and see."

"I'm so excited!" I clapped my hands and smiled at him... real smile. 

He just shook his head and watched me amused. Then he also smiled... real smile. I don't know how time has passed. We're just looking to each other and lost in our own world, until there is someone patted his shoulder.

"Hey, man!"

"Jack. Where's Alex?" he asked the man who's named is Jack. They do their weird friendship handshake and connect each other's fist.

"He said he's coming, just attending some phone calls. So, care to introduce me to a beautiful girl, here?" Jack looked at me and smiled.

"Jack, this Cari... and Cari, this is Jack one of my bestfriend."

"Hi, Cari.. nice to meet you. Hope you'll be the last one and who can tame the heart of this casanova."

I laughed and shake my head. I like this guy. He offered his hand for a handshake.

"What the f**k, man!" Ryan's nudged Jack's arm.

I gladly took it and say, "Same here, Jack. I hope I really can tame his heart. If not, I'm gonna chop his balls and feed it to my dog." haha..but I don't have a dog. I looked at Ryan and wink.

"Whoah! Feisty. I like this woman, dude!" we just laugh at Jack's comment.

"What's with this meeting, Ryan?" and there is a man ... walking towards our direction, only with his swimming shorts and his shades.

-"Whoah!'-

I mentally slapped myself. I almost drool with the sight in front of my eyes. My besfriend is so God damn lucky! He's a total version of Hercules.

"Alex!" Ryan greeted him and they also do their weird handshake and banged their fist. 

What's with these men always doing that 'banging'?

"So.. you've finally meet again new girl." 

I arched my eyebrow with his choice of words. What am I? a toy? a new toy?

"Is she the girl you've been talking about a lot lately?"

I noticed Ryan's tensed. Alex took off his shades and looked at me.

Gray eyes.. as Rian's description.

"Yeah. This is Cari, and sweetheart, this is Alex. Like Jack... one of my bestfriend." he pulled my waist towards his body.

-'sweetheart?'-

Alex smirked at what Ryan's did. "Nice to meet you, Cari." he said with a bored expression. 

I accept his hand, "Nice to meet you too, Alex." he didn't notice my hidden tone. 

-'Good! You wait and see. Jerk!'-

"Cari, how did you two meet?" Jack asked after a while.

-'It's showtime'-

I side glanced at Ryan and he tightened his hold on my waist. Signalling me that this is the start of our plan.

"We've met a few months ago in the mall, and recently in the bar with my friends," I added a little bit of cheerfulness.

"At the bar?" Alex raised his eyebrow.

"Yes. At the bar, maybe three months ago?" I said with a questioning tone in the end. "And I can say, I was really surprised... he already knew one of my bestfriend."

"Really? Three months ago?" Jack looked at Ryan. "Is she the girl you said you bumped with?"

"No. That was my bestfriend, Rian." then... I saw Alex seemed surprised by the name. "By the way, they were also here. Wait.. I'll call them." I act as if I am really looking for them, but the truth is they were just 15 to 20 meters away from us. "There... I can see them." and I started to call them.

"Gavin! Rian!" I waved my hands on them. Waving them to come over. And when I looked again at Alex, he's also looking in Rian and Gavin's direction with a furrowed eyebrows. Their back is facing us, so I'm not sure if Alex already recognized his wife's back.

We watch them stand and patted the sand on their clothes. For sure, they also called Nick and Jenny because the two suddenly run to where they're standing at. They talked for a while before the boys scooped the girls and carried them in bridal style. Jenny is with Nick and Rian is with Gavin who really looked like a true couple. And they started to run. They were racing towards us. We can hear Rian's giggle from our post.

And Alex facial expression switched. From surprised to pissed when he saw Rian was carried by Gavin.

-'Yeah... that's right, man. Be jealous, you stupid bastard!" I mentally smirked. 

But of course I will not just stand here not doing something. I need to put some salt on the injury.

"Wow! They are so sweet, especially Gavin and Rian. They really look good to each other. Can you see that, Ryan?" I simply looked up at Ryan's face to see him looking at Alex's face... smirking. Maybe we have the same thing in mind.

"Yes, babe. They are perfect." I smiled when I heard him answered. Alex turned to him with deadly glare but Ryan just ignored it and smirked.

"Oh my God! We won, Gavin! We won!" Rian jumped in surprised from Gavin's arms just to lunged on him again. And Gavin twirled her around after he caught her and kissed her forehead.

"Oh, because you cheated!" Nick said in heavy breathing. 

"We didn't cheat, you bastard!" Rian placed her two hands on her hips, still oblivious that her husband is standing just a few steps from her. "Jenny, I'm sorry if one day, I'll have to chop his balls in front of you and throw it on the beach!"

"Jeez!" Nick said in horrified expression. "No, you wouldn't dare, woman!"

"Oh...try me, bastard!" and we laughed all hard at their exchanging of words and horrified faces of Nick and Jenny. Well, except for Alex who is busy glaring on Gavin.

"Aherm.. guys." I called their attention. Rian, finally looked at me and asked.

"Cari, why did you call------"

She stopped in her mid-question when she finally see Alex standing near her. She looked surprised, but Alex is still busy on glaring Gavin who just raised his eyebrow. I think we don't need to to give him a short brief because he's acting is more than what we expected.

Rian's POV:

"Aherm.. guys." Cari called our attention.

"Cari, why did you call------ huh!" I gasped as I didn't finish my question, when I noticed that the last person I wanted to meet this day is now standing in front of me. My husband. How long has he been here? I felt the air passage in my throat tightened. And then I noticed he's not actually looking at me but for Gavin. No. he's actually glaring at Gavin, but why?

"Alex." I tried to call his attention.

"Rian." I swallowed the air that had been stacked in my throat. His voice. His gray eyes... now looking at me... pissed?

"You're here." although I already knew that he's also staying here.

"Yeah." He looked directly to my eyes, and I swallowed again. Gray. Those gray piercing gray eyes.. starting at me. Those eyes that haunted my thoughts for years. The eyes of my husband... but I can't consider mine.

I shook my head and shrugged the pain that is forming from my inside.

"I can see you're enjoying your vacation, here... wife." he muttered the last word under his breath.

"Huh?" I don't understand what he is pointing to.

"Spending time with your boyfriend!"

"He's not my boyfriend. And I am spending my time here with my friends." now I know what he meant by the word 'enjoying'. "By the way, meet my friends! Nick, Jenny and Gavin. I know you already met Cari. And guys, this is Alex... Ryan's friend." I said not looking at him. I focussed on my friend's face, especially those who don't know my status with him.

"Huh! Ryan's friend!" he repeats my words as if it tastes bitter.

"Yes, aren't you Ryan's friend?" I turned again to him masking all my possible emotions and tried to keep my face look blank.

"Yes, we are. I'm Jack, nice to meet you, guys." Jack offered his hand for a handshake and they gladly took it and introduced themselves one by one. While we still in our glaring competition.

I'm so done with his cold and dominant behavior.

-'Oh s**t!'- my inner mind screamed. I noticed what he is wearing. He's only in his swimming shorts, with all his muscles and abs were fully on display right in front of my eyes. 

"Ahmm.. guys, you want ice cream? I can feel the weather changed. Rian, you want your favorite flavor?" I break my eye contact with him to look at Cari's face. She has this grin that is really familiar with me. I raised my eyebrow and then suddenly her words earlier clicked in my head. So, this is a part of their plan? 

"Yes, please. I think I need that." I said taking a deep breath not looking anymore in Alex's eyes and in his body.

"Okay, let's go. I saw an ice cream shop near the coffee shop that we stopped by this morning." maybe Jenny also felt the tensions between us.

"Yeah, that would do. Let's go." Nick grabbed her hand and started to walk. 

As I was about to turn around, a strong hand suddenly grabbed my wrist and spin me around for me to face to face my jerk of a husband.