One Dare, One Night Mistake

Chapter 2: The Arrange Marriage

"Care to explain, Mom . . . Dad. What does all that mean?"

I sighed upon asking them those questions as I sat heavily on the grey-single sofa here in the living room. They also immediately sat on the long sofa facing me with their bewildered looks mixed with sadness.

It's already past midnight, and we just got home because we attended a birthday party from one of my parents’ friend in the business industry — that supposedly it was his moment, but for some reason, all the guests' attention turned to me after someone announced to everyone that I'm getting married to someone that I didn't know or I wasn’t even aware of. And what surprised me more was that the wedding will be held next month, on July 25 — on my 22nd birthday.

I was so dumbfounded upon and after hearing that information because I wasn't really aware. So all I did at that time was just force a fake smile on everyone who greeted me, but the truth is that I wanted to walk out if I wasn't just thinking about my family's reputation. Because after all, that's still what matters—that's what they taught me.

I glared at them when I didn't hear any words coming from them. "So, let's just stare at each other here? You have nothing to tell me about what I have found out? Fine, sure!" I asked and said stupendously as I folded my arms and waited for them to speak at least one word only. I didn't care if I was getting rude to them. It was their fault in the first place.

I saw how Dad wiped his face with his palms. He was obviously holding back his anger at not being able to do something that could hurt me, even though he hadn't done that to me yet. However, why would he be mad at me? I should be the one to be angry with him — with them for what I found out.

Throughout my life, I followed everything they wanted even if I didn't want to or I couldn't. I never disappoint them because they keep saying to me that I was carrying their name that I didn't even wish for in the first place. They didn't want their name to be tarnished by anything that would probably damage their reputation, but they are also the ones who were making their own shame for themselves. 

That was also the reason why my Brother was forced to leave us, and go to the States so that he wouldn't embarrass the family's name, just because of his gender preference. But I don't think he was a hundred percent gay — like what Dad was thinking about.

He still preferred to wear manly clothes, which you couldn't easily identify if he was really gay or not. I've also never seen him use women's things like clothes, lipstick, and such. And the way he moved, it was so manly that you wouldn't really notice that he had a woman's heart, which was also the reason why it took a long time before we found the truth because of a CCTV footage that captures everything we needed to know.

In the video, we saw him kissing a well-known Actor here inside our mansion, when we were on vacation, and he chose just to stay here because he had important things to do — specifically with our company. 

But what he didn't know was that Dad secretly installed a CCTV before we left — probably because he felt something that he needed to find out l, and so I was, but I just chose to ignore it.

My brother introduced that Actor to us as his best friend, but the truth was, he was really his boyfriend. They were in a secret relationship for almost two years already.

Well, honestly, I couldn't find anything wrong with what they did or in their relationship. I was even thrilled after knowing that. Dad was the only one who didn't like or was against their relationship, so they had no choice but to end what they had. And whatever happened to my brother then, I didn't want it to happen to me either.

Why didn't they just let us do what we want? We were old enough to think about what was good and bad for us. We are no longer children for them to dictate what we should do. Honestly, it was tiring to always follow what they wanted, especially if you didn't like what you're doing. I swear.

I rolled my eyes when they still didn't speak. "So, you really have nothing to tell me? Is that just the way it is? For letting me marry a man you just talked to and agreed to marry me without my knowledge? What are really your plans, huh? Not letting me know, for one day, I’ll just wake up in front of the altar with a man I don’t know, where I don’t have time to retreat already? Is that what you want to happen?” I asked them.

I know they could feel the anger in my voice, and that was what I wanted in the first place. I wanted them to feel guilty for what they had done. But why couldn't I even see the conscience and remorse in their faces? They are so heartless!

I almost wanted to cry but I held it back. Then suddenly, I heard Dad sighed as he looked at me with his serious face.

"Now that you know everything, what are you going to do? Will you run away?" Dad asked even if he already knew the answer to his question. But I couldn’t feel any emotion in his voice. It shows no rhythm of delight or longing. It was so plain and dry.

I sarcastically laughed.

"Hello, dad! Of course. What else can I do, dad? I can’t imagine myself marrying a man I don't love and can't even know his name and appearance! But who's that lucky guy who for the very first time passes your tastes, expectations, and standards? Now, may I know who's gonna be my soon-to-be husband?" I bitchly said and asked.

They both fell silent and stared for a while, until no one answered my question, which made me so disappointed.

"So, you don't know who he is? That sounds so amazing, huh? I can't believe it. You are letting me marry a man you don't even know personally? You also don't know his name so I could search for him on social media?" I asked them, not because I already agreed with what they wanted to happen. I just wanted to know who that man was. 

"We still don't know him because we haven't met him yet, but he's the CEO of the iZy Phone Company."

I suddenly giggled at dad's answer. So he was rich? A CEO of a phone company? The famous brand of gadgets today? Now I know. Now I got it. They wanted me to marry that man because of the connection and money. It was so insane! They were all insane! Do they really think they could do that to me? Not anymore! I wouldn't marry that man or someone no matter how rich he was! 

I chuckled. "So, you haven't met him yet, then how did you manage to reconcile me with him?" I curiously asked. I'm so confused.

"He knows who you are. He’s been watching you from afar since the first time he saw you somewhere we didn’t know, as what his personal assistant said to us when we met last month. His boss wanted you to marry him and be his wife, which your Mom and I immediately agreed to. So, we immediately set a schedule for your wedding on that day also," Dad responded, which made me awe.

They were so great, ha? They already set a schedule for my wedding without my knowledge and consent. How could they do that? Damn!

"Then why are you asking that? Does that mean that you will follow what we want?" Dad asked. You can feel the strange joy in the tone of his voice, and even Mom was smiling because I somehow suddenly became interested in it.

But no! I won't marry whoever that man was.

I composed myself, ready to say something that could surely make them mad at me.