=Hector's POV=
(Tuesday, 12/25/18-1:30 pm)
(Berk, Archia Isle)
(Haddock Apartment)

I am, sadly, at my wits end with Astrid's attitude over the forced marriage. I've been caring, kind, and respectful to her. I've helped with chores, cooking meals, and even money for bills. I try to spend time with Astrid and get to know her to maybe be friends through this endeavor. But no matter what I do, she's just cold to me. Cold and angry. I've done nothing to deserve it, but I'm starting to get mad about how she is. Astrid lost her job back in November, I've been covering her bills, plus mine, while she looks for another place to work. I've done the chores, but she won't help at all. I've asked her to just sweep or do dishes, she says she will, but doesn't. She doesn't cook either. I get home from work and there's a mess from the dishes she used, or they'll have been left out on the stove. Most times, Astrid doesn't even cook dinner for us both, just herself. I end up having to cook something when I get home at 9:30 pm. The food Astrid does leave for me to eat is uncovered and on the stove. I work most of the week now to make what we need for bills, and I mean, it's not like I do it by choice; the bills have to be paid. The part that annoys me is Astrid doesn't appear to be looking for another job. She tells me the same things; I put in some applications or no one has called me back yet.

Most of the week, we don't even share the bedroom anymore ever since the mini arguments started. She'd shut the door and I'd sleep on the couch, but one of the times she was out with the girls, I went and put a futon in my office. When we fight, I just sleep in there; sometimes I pull it out into the bed, but others I just crash right there as is. I've even moved most of my clothes into the closet. School has been interesting, we still hold up the act of happily married, but lately in the last few weeks; Astrid has shown her annoyance of the situation. I've caught her talking to guys outside our friend circle, and flirting with them. I've gone over and done the there you are thing, arm wrapped around her waist and kissing her cheek. Made sure my wedding band was in sight. Call it petty, but she can't be doing that. Girls I've slept with in the past have flirted with me too, even tried to get me to cheat and say that Astrid doesn't have to know, but I turn it down because I'm a married man and will act such. All of my former flings or hookups are happy to respect my current position, but remind me we're still friends and if I ever end up single again, they're around.

It sucks that I am married because I could do with getting laid since Astrid and I haven't had sex since our wedding night. I'm not ashamed to admit that I've resorted to masturbating on some nights. With school, now, we're on holiday break until January 7th, 2019. Today is Christmas, and we're supposed to be going to Astrid's parents' home for dinner with my parents too. Family meal and another time Astrid and I have to act like everything is just perfect between us. But Astrid and I do have to talk because if we're gonna live like roommates, she needs to do her part. It can't all be on me. We're supposed to go for supper at 4:00 pm, so I think I'm gonna go invade the bedroom and tell her we need to talk. Merge or not, I'm not gonna live as the only person doing something in this relationship and apartment. I sighed and finally left my office, though, it was practically my bedroom these days. I moved to the master room and knocked on the door, to be respectful, but I would have preferred to just walk in.

"What?" Came Astrid's snappy reply.

I rolled my eyes. "You decent for me to come in?" I asked.

"It's your room too, Hector," Astrid retorted. I walked in and found her sitting on the bed, watching TV.

"Indeed, that's why after most arguments; I'm sleeping in my office because you shut and lock the door to the bedroom we're supposed to be sharing, right?" I countered. I saw her look at me in surprise I sounded sarcastic and annoyed. "Whatever, rather sleep by myself than with someone who clearly doesn't give a shit about me or this relationship," I added.

"I-," Astrid started.

"Quiet, Astrid." I told her firmly and she looked so offended, like I'd slapped her or something. "We need to talk,"

Folding her arms, she huffed slightly. "Fine. What about?"

"This…Whatever the fuck we're calling it now because it sure isn't a marriage." I stated.

"We're roommates outside of school, with our parents, and public eye," Astrid reminded.

"Even roommates do more than you have," I remarked as she eyed me. "Roommates work together, and you're not working with me even though we agreed on that fact the night we got married. You don't pay your side of the bills-,"

"I lost my job!" Astrid defended.

"Two months ago!" I argued. "You lost your job at the beginning of November, Astrid. It's almost the start of January…You still haven't found another place?"

"I've put in applications, no one is calling me back for interviews or after interviews!" Astrid tried.

"That's because you're supposed to call them!" I narrowed my eyes. If this was really why she hadn't found something else, I was going to get mad. I had the right to. "After you put in applications, you're supposed to call them two or three days after and ask if it's been reviewed yet. Beyond an interview, you call to see if they're considering you for the position. You can't just put in applications and expect to get hired, Astrid. You have to show initiative and desire to work. No one is going to hire you if you aren't showing that you want to work and interested in the job." I explained.

"Oh, well excuse me. The first job I got, it was walking in and asking for an application, but getting hired on the spot." Astrid revealed.

"Because they were desperate for help, and it was just a waitressing job. It's one of the easiest things to do, and any male manager is gonna hire a pretty girl to wait on tables," I sighed. "Aside that, you're not helping around the apartment, Astrid," I paused as she glanced down. "You don't do laundry, sweep, mop, dishes, windows, counters, stove or microwave cleaning. You leave pots and pans you cook with on the stove or in the sink, but not soaking them to keep the food from sticking. Sometimes you leave food you made on the stove, uncovered. You don't take out the garbage. Hell, you're not even making the bed."

"I get to it eventually," Astrid commented.

"Astrid, apartment cleaning typically has to be done every day. Some things can be every other day, or few days…But some stuff, like dishes, has to be done every day to avoid it piling up, smelling, and attracting flies…" I informed.

"Well, when I get up, you've already done everything," Astrid stated.

"Because I do it all when I get home from work!" I raised my voice. "You're already in the room, claiming to be doing homework, or talking to friends. You say you'll do it, but don't. So I do it because landlords have the right to come by with only a warning text and do inspections on things. I don't want to get that warning message and not have the place be clean, or no time clean it." Astrid rolled her eyes. "You don't even care. Odin above, I know you hate this arrangement, but we're both stuck in it…So help me out. I work six days a week and have school. I manage to find time to do it all, but for fuck's sake woman…I'm only human and I'm tired."

"What do you want me to do?" Astrid questioned.

I groaned. "Anything! Do anything, Astrid. Put the food away after you cook, soak the dishes. Sweep, mop, vacuum, wash the windows, dust. Laundry, which means wash, dry, fold, and put away. Tidy up the rooms, except my office, because that's always clean. Just help me out, wife. I get up at 6 am every day to shower, eat breakfast, and get to school for 7 am. I go through the whole day there and typically have to get to work at 3 pm until 9:30. Whatever homework I couldn't do during a free period, or at work; I have to do at home. That's on top of usually having to make myself something to eat and clean the place before I shower again, and go to sleep for 11 pm or midnight," I told her. "On the weekends, it's more homework, cleaning, and working more than my Monday through Friday shifts. And I'm doing all that to keep up my grades, pay for this place, and keep it clean because I'm not getting any help from you!"

"Stop yelling at me," Astrid said, getting to her feet.

"It's the only way to get you off your ass to do something. You're not listening, or talking otherwise. Fucking gods…It's like I'm not even your roommate, I'm more like a sugar daddy that does everything for you to be happy, and usually, a sugar-daddy, at least, gets laid when he wants. I'm not even getting that, but whatever. It's not the point. What I'm saying is that's not how this is supposed to work, Astrid. We're supposed to be married, doing it together, as partners." I remarked. "That's what we agreed, and I've done my part…And since we moved in here, yours too. Now, with you not working, I'm doing everything. I'm not asking you to be wife of the year…Just work with me, and help out…"

"Okay, okay…" Astrid sighed like I'd asked anything big of her to do. "I'll help out more,"

"Thank you," I replied as I prepared to leave. "I'll see you when we leave for your parents' place at 3:45 then…" I walked out of the room and closed the door again. I sighed heavily and returned to my office. I had been reading up on some business stuff. I knew that was coming soon too, my father having me start working with him at the company to learn how to be the big boss. The CEO. I was sure dad wanted me to start in January, when the merge began, so I could be part of everything. Dad already knew that I needed to paid because I'd have to leave my job at the auto garage to work with him, we figured all that out, though; he promised that I'd be making money alongside him to support my family. I hated when he worded it like that. After the argument Astrid and I just had, it feels like we're just two people who got stuck living together and one doesn't want to do anything. Who was I kidding, that's exactly what it was. Astrid said she'd help out more, so we'll see.

I, unfortunately, didn't have high hopes after the last three months, but I'd give her the benefit of the doubt. Maybe I got through to her this time, but if things didn't change…I didn't know what I would do. Merge or not, divorce was looking like the better option for both of us. I didn't want to resort to that, but I wouldn't live like this the rest of my life.

. . .

=Normal POV=
(Friday, 1/4/19; 7:00 pm)

Astrid was still without a job, even with the advice Hector gave her to call places after submitting an application for employment and she was still not helping around the house. A few improvements, but it was still bad. Astrid would make dinner for them both, but obviously, Hector would have to get it out of the fridge and heat it up himself. Astrid washed her dishes, sometimes, but anything she cooked with was usually left in the sink, soaking. Astrid swept sometimes, and only vacuumed her bedroom. Astrid was also washing her own clothes, but usually never folded or put away. Hector was still having to do most of the work to keep the place clean. Hector and Astrid still didn't have sex, Hector was set to start working at his father's company learning to be CEO in March, when he turned eighteen. Legally, he couldn't work in the office until then. There would be off the record training on the weekends, but Hector still worked at the auto shop until he turned eighteen at the end of February. Astrid seemingly stopped flirting with guys at school, but Hector had suspicions that she was finding other ways than physically, in person, to do it. With technology today, Astrid could easily be sending videos and texting other guys. Hector was, again, hoping that wasn't the case because he was being respectful to her by not going after girls who threw themselves at him.

Tonight, Hector was exhausted. It had been a busy day at the shop as he'd worked ten hours today, needing the extra money for household bills and also Astrid's car needing a few repairs. Now, this was his wife's vehicle, so he wasn't charging labor, but he had to order parts and couldn't get those for free. Discounted, but not free. Dragging his sore body, he only hoped Astrid had cooked dinner for both of them and done some housework so that he could just eat, grab a hot shower, maybe a bath and then relax for the night. Hector noticed another car, not his own and not Astrid's since hers was in the garage for a few days. Astrid never mentioned anyone being over and it wasn't a car belonging to one of their friends. Remaining calm, Hector turned the handle and walked into the apartment. Immediately, he saw Astrid. On the couch. With another guy. And they were clearly making out. What was worse, neither one of them had stopped and noticed him standing there. Folding his arms over one another, Hector's eyes narrowed dangerously thin with anger and betrayal.

Finally, after a few moments, Hector cleared his throat to get their attention. "Oh, don't mind me. Just coming home from a long day of work to find my wife straddling some guy's hips and sucking his face." Hector remarked coldly.

Instantly caught, Astrid whipped her head around to see Hector there and crawled off the guy's lap. She looked shocked and obviously guilty. Astrid bit her bottom lip, glancing down and unable to meet Hector's stare on her. "Hector, I-," Astrid started.

"You," Hector pointed to the male, who tensed. "Get out." The male needed nothing else as he quickly got off the couch, grabbed his backpack, and rushed out of the open door. Hector closed it and flipped the lock. "You know…I had my suspicions, and I left it alone thinking there's no way you'd cheat on me. Clearly, I should have trusted my judgment." He spoke.

"Hector, wait…Just let me explain," Astrid got to her feet.

"Explain what?! That you didn't tell me someone was coming here? That you weren't straddling or making out with him?" Hector glared. Astrid flinched a bit at this anger. "I can only imagine what would have happened if I had worked till close. You probably would have fucked him!" He yelled. "Am I right?!"

"N-No. I wouldn't…Dare to that!" Astrid attempted to defend herself.

"Then don't you dare lie to me, Astrid. You stammered, and hesitated…Would you have screwed him if I hadn't come home when I did?" Hector asked.

In shame, Astrid lowered her head. "Yes…"

Hector stared at her for a moment, then he just closed his eyes and shook his head. "If ya wanted sex that bad, Astrid, you have a more than willing husband to give it to you," He commented, trying to control his anger. "I know this isn't the best arrangement, but again…We agreed to make it work, together, for the best of everyone involved. You're the only one not trying here!"

"I have to! I-I've helped with the chores, and made sure you have dinner…" Astrid tried to counter with.

"But you're not working with me, Astrid! And that's what it takes for a marriage to be successful! I'm glad you're finally doing housework, it only took me yelling at you like I am now, after three months of nothing." Hector reminded. "You're still unemployed. When you do dishes, you only do yours, not all of them. You only vacuum your room, not the whole house. You only do your laundry, not all of it. And half the time, you leave your stuff in the washer or dryer!" He listed, using his fingers to keep track. "When I make breakfast in the morning, I always ask if you want anything, and happy to make it for you. I bring you coffee, already made the way I know you like it. I switch your clothes for you, so they won't get moldy from staying wet, or end up wrinkled. If I go to the store, I ask if you need anything. I've picked up tampons and snacks for you when you have your period. I've taken care of you, like a slave, when you got sick…"

Hector paused a moment. "I'm even fixing your car, taking you to school, and interviews around my overly busy schedule, to which is only so crammed because I have to work like hell to make the money to keep this place afloat financially, with side bills," He stopped again as Astrid felt awful. She really had been horrible. "I go out of my way to do anything you want or ask because I'm trying to be a good husband in this…But you can't do anything of what I've done for you, for me. I know it was forced, and I know it sucks, but we knew that when we got married and agreed during dinner to work together. You're not trying, and I'm fucking tired of it."

Astrid tensed up at his words. "What…Do you mean?"

Hector lowered his hands to his sides and sighed, but his eyes stayed serious. "I mean that I can't keep doing this, Astrid. It's exhausting, and I'm sick of putting in effort when you won't do the same. And now, aside all that you won't do…You were willing to and going to cheat on me." Astrid held her breath, his eyes staring into hers. "I won't live like this the rest of my life. I won't do this anymore…" He paused. "I'm done. Merge or not…I am so done, and I want a divorce."