Chapter 4 Part 4

"Do I have to tell you right now?"Bryant asked Wanda, he didn't look serious to tell a story, but more like he wanted to tease Wanda.

"In the morning,"Wanda mumbled for a moment before continuing her sentence, "as soon as you're ready. There's been a lot going on today."

"Oh, great. You're so understanding," Bryant complimented, "you seem really helpful. You've already helped me twice today."

"Yes, of course, my hands are too light," Wanda replied nonchalantly, looking down at the palms of her slender arms. "Can I take the laptop now? And let me spend one night in the hotel room across the street, feeling safe and comfortable?" continued Wanda.

For God's sake! She really needed to finish Her script tonight. She was already starting to feel uncomfortable because her purse kept vibrating earlier. Wanda doesn't think it's a good thing, like an alarm clock or a YouTube video notification from her favorite YouTuber.

"Sure, go ahead."

Just as Wanda was about to leave Bryant's room, the man stopped again, "Of course, after you change and I go with you."

Wanda almost gaped. Wanda wanted to refuse immediately, but Bryant spoke again, "This is the best decision for both of us at this time. Traveling alone is much better than being alone, isn't it? And remember, prejudice can come from anywhere."

Wanda could only nod resignedly. Maybe this is the feeling of the main female character in every novel she reads. Not stupid and resigned, but really can't disagree with anything the male protagonist says. Now she really seemed to be in the world of novels she often read. Wanda hoped she would have a perfect ending.

It turned out that the sentence she had read so far was true. You will never understand until it happens to you.

***

"Is that where you lived?"asked Bryant as the car pulled away from Wanda's apartment complex, which was rather dim and looked unsafe.

"Yes, I live there," Wanda replied briefly as she was busy checking messages that turned out to be from the script editor! What a nightmare. What answer can he give? Or is it better if he just reads it? At least Wanda could feel a little relieved now that the laptop was on her lap.

"With whom? Is it safe? The building itself is bright, but the surroundings are not," Bryant said. He was busy observing the area around them, which still showed no traffic jams. This area is completely deserted. Of course, considering that this is a newly built area, it may be a few years before it gets crowded and occupied.

"It's safe, the two security guards on duty there will be around every thirty minutes. They are also willing to escort pedestrians to the front of the apartment building," Wanda explained. Her eyes were a little dazed because the light from the phone was so bright in the dark car.

"There's such a security guard?"

"Of course there is," Wanda answered briefly, not trying to explain further to satisfy Bryant's curiosity. Suddenly, the matter of her fake marriage crossed Wanda's mind and she immediately looked at Bryant. Bryant raised an eyebrow as if to ask what Wanda wanted.

"I know what to do about the fake wedding," Wanda said, trying to sound a little less excited.

"What can you do?" Bryant crossed his arms over his chest, trying to find a comfortable position to listen to Wanda's advice.

"What if you explain that I will continue my education abroad? Continue my master's studies, perhaps?"Wanda suggested. She held up her index and middle fingers simultaneously, indicating the number two.

Tony looked through the main mirror at Bryant and Wanda sitting behind him.

"Isn't that a great idea, Tony?"asked Wanda, trying to find support from Tony, who she found to be very rational.

Come on! Of course, when we tell a story, we know for sure that our opinion will be approved by those who hear it. Why tell a story if we are going to be scolded and even made to feel uncomfortable in the end?

"Sure, that would be an excellent problem solver," Tony replied, giving Wanda a faint smile, still through the main mirror.

Wanda immediately turned her eyes to Bryant, who seemed to be thinking long and hard.

"I think that's a good idea too,"Bryant paused, seeming to think more deeply, as if considering something, "but..."

"But?" asked Wanda, waiting for the continuation of Bryant's sentence.

"But this proposal doesn't solve the problem. This problem will come up again in the next two years, when you should have finished S2," Bryant explained with a sigh.

"That's true,"Wanda immediately sat down, leaning weakly on the soft couch of Bryant's car. Her head leaned back lazily.

"But wouldn't that at least be a good idea? We could say that we divorced two years later because of incompatibility. We've been apart too long."

"That's fine,"Bryant said, nodding his head, not thinking such a possibility could happen.

"Okay. Married, two years apart, then decided to divorce because they were too far apart and couldn't feel the vibrations of love like husband and wife,"Wanda said these words while imagining how the story would be written in a novel! What a drama!

Tony cleared his throat, "Actually, Miss Wanda's idea was very helpful, but wouldn't it hurt Miss Wanda because she is known to have been married?"

Bryant studied Wanda's shocked expression. He had not considered the risk when he asked Wanda for help. Indirectly and unintentionally, he had ruined Wanda's life.

"It's okay," Wanda said with a smile, but not a full smile, "life is not just to please other people with explanations they don't necessarily want to understand.

After these words left Wanda's lips, the ride back to the hotel was silent.

***

"Please come to your room," Tony said to Wanda. The three of them stood in the middle of the hotel hallway with no one taking the initiative to enter first.

Wanda shook her head, "You two go in first,"

Bryant ignored his. He decided to turn his back on Wanda and Tony and face the door to his room, both hands in the pockets of his cloth pants.

"Do I have to go in first before you guys come in?" asked Wanda, "I have no intention of running away if that's what you're worried about."

Bryant and Tony did not answer Wanda's questions. Bryant cleared his throat and asked Tony to open the bedroom door with his head slightly raised toward the bedroom door.

Tony immediately stepped in front of Bryant to place the hotel room card before opening the door for Bryant. What they didn't expect was that at the same time, Bryant's parents were at the door to open Bryant's door!

"Dad, Mom!"

"Great ladies and gentlemen!"Tony and Bryant greeted each other simultaneously.

"Hey, Tony. Hi, Mom's boy!"A middle-aged woman appeared from behind the broad body of a man who looked neat and well-built, even though his estimated age was five or more.

"Hi, Mom. Have you been waiting long?"asked Bryant as he hugged his mother, Lina, back.It didn't take long, but mom and dad almost came home because they thought you weren't staying in this hotel anymore, maybe you moved?" Lina answered. Lina looked at the back of Bryant's body, or rather at Wanda, who looked at her awkwardly.

"Tell Mom, how was it?" Can't Selena be at your wedding?"

Tony smiled weakly while blocking Lina's view.

"Mr. and Mrs. should go back into the room so that this conversation is not overheard by people who are not interested."

Lina nodded obediently, then entered the hotel room, still hugging Bryant from the side, while the man Wanda had just recognized as Bryant's father extended his hand and signaled for Wanda to enter first, then herself and Tony. what a gentleman!

Just as they sat down on their respective couches, Lina had started the conversation by squeezing Bryant's thighs and looking worried.

"Mom didn't think Selena would have the guts to call off your wedding. She hasn't shown the slightest sign of it."

"How can Selena not run away, Mom," Rudi, Bryant's father, gave a knowing look, "when Bryant always refuses to go out with him? Selena also took care of their wedding plans."

"Do you know where Selena is now?"asked Lina to Bryant, who just shrugged indifferently.

"I have been unable to obtain any further information as to Miss Selena's whereabouts, except that she has returned home. The news about the cancellation of the wedding was spread by Miss Selena, supported by evidence that the main source of news are journalists who are often employed by Miss Selena to cover up her own conflicts,"Tony explained while reading the text on the tablet screen he was holding.

Lina nodded her head.

"And who are you?"she asked. Lina's eyes went to Wanda, who looked down in embarrassment.

"You were Bryant's bride before, right?"

"I'm Wanda, Auntie,"Wanda replied briefly, trying to smile at Lina.

"I'm Lina, Bryant's mother. This is my husband, Rudi, Bryant's father," Lina introduced herself and her husband to Wanda.

"What did Bryant do that you ended up accompanying Bryant to the wedding? Bryant's friend?"

Wanda looked at Bryant for help, but Bryant looked at her instead, as if Wanda would have to find answers to her mother's questions herself and wouldn't mind any answers.

"Just asking for help,"short answer, but feels right. Don't give too much information and don't be too ignorant.

"Auntie, I'm sure it's not as simple as asking for help," Lina says. There is little blame in his sentence.

"If it's true that you're helping Bryant, you should think more deeply about whether it's worth it or not,"Wanda laughed, how could Lina talk as if Wanda's actions in helping Bryant could harm Wanda? Even if it had to do with the good name of his own family.

As if he understood Wanda's confusion, Lina straightened up. Her eyes were on Wanda, but his hands were on Bryant's thighs. "Marriage is not an easy thing, and I only lived to help people."

Lina turned to look at her son while gently squeezing Bryant's thigh,"The same goes for you, Bryant, you brought Wanda into this marriage. What will happen to her after she helps you?"

Lina sighed, then looked away as if to clear her mind for a moment. After a while he looked back at Bryant with a more serious and warning look. "What are you going to tell Wanda's parents about this marriage? You're asking their daughter for help?"

Bryant looked at his mother, "We're trying to figure it out now, Mom."

"Now?" Lina gave Bryant a look of disbelief, "Now you are trying to think of an answer? And wasn't that before you dragged Wanda into the wedding that was attended by many people?" Lina shook her head in frustration at Bryant's behavior. All this time she thought Bryant was old enough, but he wasn't.

"What is the point of this conversation?" lBryant asked curtly.

"Your marriage to Selena has not been registered at the courthouse, even though you both signed the document. Selena withdrew it just before the document was in the clerk's hands. So in the eyes of the law, the two of you were not legally registered as husband and wife,"Rudi said.

"Wouldn't that be great for Mr. Bryant and Miss Selena?"he asked.

"Considering the cancellation of their wedding."

"Yes, that's good. So now,"Lina took an envelope from her handbag, folded it in half, and placed it on the table in front of them all, "you two need to fill out your information and then legally become husband and wife. You must be responsible for the fate of Wanda, who many people and the media already know as your wife.