THE REN UPGRADE: MONSTERS WITHIN

17: Operation Rebel 2.0

The wedding happened on Saturday morning. 

Hana showed up at the Shibuya city office at 10am, dressed in a simple, immaculate white dress and white stilettos. 

But—

Ren Carter was nowhere to be seen. Not even a whiff of him hung in the corners. 

After about fifteen minutes, Hana began to panic. She checked her phone about a hundred times. Different thoughts crossed her mind. Was she wrong? Did she hallucinate this whole thing? 

Ren did tell her that the wedding would happen today, at this very registry. He gave the time too... Did she hear him wrong?

A few moments of awkwardly sitting on the reception bench and having everyone throw her awkward glances, passed by. She was scared that one of these people might recognize her and tattle to her family. She couldn't risk that. 

So, she whipped her phone out and dialed Ren’s number.

A few rings later, the line connected. It was loud and chaotic on the other end. Followed by a loud whooshing sound.

“Hello? Mr. Carter?”

“Hana, I'm on my way!” Ren's voice rang through the speaker. “I'm so sorry to keep you waiting! I've been caught in traffic!” 

“Actually, this would’ve been avoided if you got out of bed early enough.” 

Hana did not recognize the second voice, but it was Juno on the other end. 

“Hush, man!” Ren hissed. “Are you on my side or what?” 

Hana heaved an exasperated sigh and rubbed her eyes. “I’ve been waiting for almost thirty minutes, Mr. Carter. Meanwhile, it was you who begged for a wedding.”

“I know, I know. And I'm sorry. I'll be there soon, I promise.”

Before she could say anything else, the line clicked dead. She tossed the phone into her purse and sulked for the next ten minutes.

After twenty, she contemplated pulling out of the arrangement and just going home. There was no telling that her family would not find out, one way or the other.

She knew she was just asking for trouble. 

So—

She got up, put on her sunglasses and walked out of the registry. But just as she stepped through the revolving doors—

A big, shiny black motorbike zoomed to the forecourt, stopping directly in front of her. She jumped back in surprise. 

Two men got off the bike and pulled the helmets from their heads. The driver, a charming blue-eyed lad with dark hair, in a long dark coat. The passenger, a looker in a decent black tux, hazel eyes sparkling with exhilaration.

“I'm really sorry, Hana,” Ren pleaded, hurrying forward. 

Hana folded her arms and glared at him. “Do you really want this? Or you just want to waste my time?”

Ren grimaced. “No, I... It's—"

“How can you sleep in on the morning you're supposed to get married?” Hana fired on, shaking with anger. 

Ren lifted his hand in an awkward move and scratched his hair. 

A gruff voice sang in his head: >>this one sure nags a lot>>

Shut up, he begged silently. 

Meanwhile, Juno looked around them with a cautiousness in his gaze. “Young Master, where's the fourth party?” 

Ren’s brow shut up. “Fourth party?”

Juno blinked and stepped close. He dropped his voice to a whisper. “We need two witnesses present for your wedding. You were supposed to ask her to bring someone she can—we can trust.”

“Oh, fuck.” Ren smacked his forehead, avoiding their hot and steady gazes. 

“Did you forget?” Juno demanded, his tone dripping with slight disappointment. For a split second, he wondered if Ren was really suitable for the leadership role of the academy. 

Hana watched them silently, despair swirling in her chest. Maybe this was really the time to turn back before they further embarrassed her. “What's going on?” she asked quietly.

Ren cleared his throat and rubbed the back of his neck. “Actually, do you think you could invite a friend to stand in as a witness of the marriage? Someone we could trust?” 

Hana stared at him, unblinking. She could not believe her ears. 

“I mean, it's one of the requirements for—”

“Are you serious?” she cut in bluntly. “We were supposed to get this done by 10am. It's almost 11. And you want me to find a witness from some magical land? Someone we can trust?”

She scoffed, shaking her head. “This is unbelievable.”

“Listen, I know. It's fucked up, disorganized. But we need that witness if we're going to get married.” Ren twisted his lips in a brief moment of thought. “You can invite a female friend if you've got one you could trust.”

Hana heaved an exasperated sigh and began a restless pace. 

This was so impromptu and discomfiting. In moments like these, there was only one person who she knew could come to her rescue. 

With trembling fingers, she pulled out her phone and made a call. 

“So?” Ren wiggled his brows as she returned to where they stood by the wall. 

She shot him a peeved glance. “This story better worth my freaking time.”

Ren snickered, hazel eyes flashing. “You should be grateful you get to do a story on a powerful entity as myself.”

Hana frowned, confused. “Excuse me?”

Juno stepped in quickly. “Ignore his sharp tongue, miss.”

Hana eyed him warily. “Who are you again?” 

Juno straightened and offered a handshake. “Juno, the Young Master’s aide.”

Hana was even more confused. “Young Master?” 

“Yes, miss,” Juno replied with a straight face. 

The next twenty minutes was an awkward one. They all kept to themselves. Ren wondered how he could get around to being in control of the loud-mouth that dwelt inside him. Juno weighed the odds of the success and failure of the Nakim Academy with Ren’s leadership. 

Hana wondered about the mystery surrounding the young intern who survived an explosion and rose to the top, all in one night. 

Ren broke the silence with even more awkward words. “You look great, by the way.”

Hana’s gaze shifted to him. Her brows pulled into a small frown. “Well, thank you?”

Soon, a sleek black car pulled to the curb. All three of them watched as a gorgeous woman stepped out of the car and strutted towards them. Red hair floated in the wind behind her. Green eyes sparkled with a mix of delight and surprise. 

“You never cease to amaze me, Hana Blackthorn.” Zara Meadows grinned as she pulled Hana into a hug. “Getting married to the young doctor who just got out of prison?” she whispered in Hana’s ear. “What are you thinking? Your father would—”

“I know,” Hana cut in with a sigh. “That's exactly why I'm doing this.”

“But you don't know this man!” Zara lamented, sneaking Ren a wary glance. 

He leaned casually against the wall with Juno beside him. A leery grin painted his lips. Juno whispered. “Isn't she the doctor from the penitentiary?"

“Apparently,” Ren murmured. 

“Come,” Hana pulled Zara towards a grinning Ren. “I'll explain after the wedding.”

“Hello,” Zara greeted the men with a tight smile. 

“Ms. Meadows.” Ren leaned forward and took her hand without warning. A swift peck on her fingers followed, shocking everyone. “What a beautiful surprise.”