Chapter 3

Cassia couldn't help staring at her husband as her face softened. In her mind, there was a hidden thought. an 'if only' thought peeking in her mind.

Cassia quickly discarded the thought and thanked Thorn for being a good husband. They got married a week ago, and this was their first time sharing a house and a meal after their wedding at the restaurant because she still had many things to take care of at home, and this felt pleasant.

She was actually at ease and relaxed around Thorn, even though this was their first time being together. Maybe because he's gay and I'm not his type, it calms me.

Cassia's thoughts were interrupted when she tasted Thorn's baked tilapia, and the delicious taste gnawed at every corner of her mouth. She even stopped chewing, closed her eyes to savor the taste, and moaned at how good it tasted.

Seeing his wife's reaction, Thorn smiled. "Good?"

Cassia quickly nodded, then ate well. "It's sooo good!" Cassia exclaimed while eating heartily.

Thorn couldn't help staring at Cassia while she was eating heartily and praising his cooking. He is so used to receiving compliments on his cooking that sometimes the compliments he hears are no longer his. But hearing his wife praise him felt quite nice. It felt like he had accomplished something. Shaking his head, Thorn continued eating as well.

Thorn and Cassia had a small conversation while having dinner together; mostly, they talked about Thorn's cooking and the restaurants he owned that he was so proud of. It was a good conversation.

After dinner, Thorn and Cassia helped each other clean the dishes and tidy up the kitchen before Cassia went to their room while Thorn stayed to lock the doors. But even after securing every door and window in the house, Thorn couldn't make himself move from leaning on the kitchen's island counter to his room.

He was so bothered that he fished out his phone from his sweatpants pocket to ask his friends. Thorn was really hoping for a serious answer, but when did the lunatics answer seriously?

***

Handsome AND ELEGANT under-group chat

Thorn frowned. Huh? Who else changed the group chat name? If he guessed it right, it was Reigo's time to change the group chat name. Thorn just shook his head, then read the chats there before chatting.

Cali Sudalga: Thorny got married but didn't invite us. How rude.

Hence Vergara: I heard he got married in a restaurant? They didn't even bring us food.

Evren Yilmaz: Restaurant? What kind of wedding is that?

Calyx Vargaz: A very 'thrifty' one. Good thinking, @ThornCalderon.

Tyron Zapanta: Welcome to the Understanding Club, @ThornCalderon. May you rest in peace.

Pierce Muller: Would he be understanding, though? They are arranged marriages, aren't they? He definitely doesn't love his wife.

Thorn was stunned by what he read. Müller was right. He doesn't love his wife. He just met her. But even though there was no love between them, he still felt responsible for her. She was his wife after all, and he learned how to take care of her from his friends.

Sighing, Thorn continued reading.

Hence Vergara: Train and Krisz arranged marriage too, right? ??

Tyron Zapanta: It's different. Train already had a thing for Krisz before marriage. while our Thorn here didn't even know his bride.

Valerian Volkzki: I'm fucking sorry in advance.

Andrius Salazar: @ThornCalderon, be careful, bud. You are one of Volkzki's curses.

Khairro Sanford: Careful, @ThornCalderon. Volkzki's curse is true. Look at what happened to Andrius and me. We both waited years to have our happy ending.

Knight Velasquez: @KhairroSanford, what a happy ending! Your grave is still open.

Khairro Sanford: Come on, brother-in-law. Don't be mean to me.

Thorn laughed at what Sanford said. With Knight's attitude, that idiot is definitely bursting.

Knight Velasquez: Don't call me brother-in-law. It makes my hair stand on end.

Lath Coleman: Thorn, when are we going to meet the wife?

Cali Sudalga: Yeah, @Thorn. We're curious about who she is and what she looks like. I mean, you eluded marriage for years, and then you just agreed to an arranged marriage.

Thorn sighed. If you only knew what my wife thinks of me. I will be a laughing stock for years. That's for sure. His friends are still young minds.

Sighing again, Thorn finally sent a message to their group chat.

Thorn Calderon: How to be gay

The moment Thorn sent his message, everyone who was online and saw the message gaped.

Knight Velasquez: You need to be a butler????

Thorn Calderon: Oh?

KutongBoy; Pay me, and I'll tell you. I know a lot through experience.

Blaze Vitale: @KutongBoy?? the fuck? What experience? You've already got my sister! Don't you dare!

KutongBoy: Who the fuck changed my name again? Blaze Vitale: Don't change the subject, @KutongBoy?

Knight Velasquez: What will you do with the toy gun, @KutongBoy?

kutongBoy? : ???

Dark Montero: @ThornCalderon, why are you asking? Planning to be gay?

Beckett Furrer: How could someone 'plan' to be gay? Dark Montero: @BeckettFurrer, you have a point. Anyway, @ThornCalderon, I think no one can answer you here. We don't know how to be gay other than what we see on television, but if you think you're gay, then no worries; it's cool with me and with us. Be true to yourself, bud. We're always here for you.

Cali Sudalga:???

Lath Coleman: I think you have to be the same gender as me.

Lysander Callahan: I've met a lot of gay people here in Seattle. Some are girly, some are manly. I think it depends on the person. It depends on who they want to be. Why are you asking, bud?

Thorn turned his phone off and stopped reading the rest of the chats. His mind was more focused on what Callahan said. It depends on the person; that means there is no definite attitude or movement.

With that in mind, Thorn breathed a sigh of relief before running towards the room on the second floor of the house. When he entered, he stopped making noise when he saw his wife sleeping soundly while leaning on the right side of the bed.

Thorn remained standing and staring at his wife.

Wife. It's just a word, but it carries a huge responsibility.

Thorn took a deep breath before carefully and slowly walking towards his wife to fix the blanket around her body. Then he looked at his wife's sleeping face. After I earn your trust and prove to myself that I'm not a bad person, I'll tell you the truth. For now, if it makes you feel better, then I'll be gay for you.

Taking a deep breath, Thorn took off his shirt and walked towards the bathroom to take a bath. While his face was under the shower, a thought came to his mind.

But where the heck did Cinnamon get this ludicrous idea that I'm gay?