I Will Wait For You 100 Years - Hmong Sad Love Story

Chapter 4: Please Tell Me This Is A Joke

2 weeks later, I went to the place where me and Npaim always meetup after school and went to the park. Surprisingly, she wasn't here. I waited and waited but she never came. I then went back home and went to visit her that night. As I approached her house, I noticed that there were a group of men and young boys outside her house. I got curious and went to go ask one of them what was going on. One of the men then says. "We are here to have a marriage agreement between our son and the young girl inside that house." My heart dropped as I started to panic. There was no way they were trying to force a marriage on Npaim. Even her parents knew that me and Npaim are a thing. "Which girl? And what's the name?" I asked with a shaky voice trying to control my breath. The man looked at me with a confused look on his face. "This is none of your business son, this has nothing to do with you." He says before all of them went inside the house closing the door on me. "No, this can't be right! Me and Npaim are a couple!" I shouted before banging on the door. None of them took any action, I tried to listen to what they were saying inside the house but I couldn't hear anything since the walls were made out of bricks and it was too thick. I couldn't believe what was happening. My mind was going crazy but there was nothing I could do other than ask Npaim tomorrow when she comes to school. I then start to walk home feeling like my heart just got crushed thinking about what me and Npaim promised. The next morning during school, I saw Npaim walking in class as she sat down next to me with a sad and stressful face. I looked at her and she laid her eyes on me. "Npaim.....is all of this true? Are you really getting married?" I ask. She looks down on her desk before looking back at me and says "Yes, my parents had a marriage agreement with them and my parents agreed to it." She says with a sad tone. "But what about you? What did you say?" I ask. "Of course you know I wouldn't agree since you're the only person I love, but my parents are forcing me to marry them because my parents think if I marry them, I will have a good future and be rich since that family is rich." She says. This isn't right. Why are they forcing her to marry someone just because they got money? I couldn't do anything, I just wish I could do something to stop this but I had no money and I'm just a basic person compared to that other guy. "Don't worry Npaim, I'll find a way to figure this out." I say. "There's nothing we can do at this point. My parents already agreed and took the money that they gave. Kub, if you really love me, you will run away with me right?" She asked. I look at her with a shocked and surprised face. Did she just ask to run away with me? I would but where would we be running to? Plus they can easily find us with that many people they can hire. "I will run away and take you with me Npaim, but where would we run to that they wouldn't be able to find us?" I ask. "Right now, the choice is yours. I don't know this city that well but you lived here for many years so you should know right?" She asked. I think for a second before saying. "How about this, give me some time, I will go find some place and farmhouse that we can go hide at." I say. "You have to hurry Kub, time doesn't wait anymore." She says with a worried face. "Yes I will, just give me some time and I hope the marriage won't start too early."