awaken | th x reader

proposal

Your POV:

"I'm sorry but who is it that's getting engaged?"

"Don't be silly, Y/N. You are!"

The forced grin slid off your face faster than you could even think to stop it. This had to be a joke. A very cruel, rather convincing one, but a joke nonetheless. You looked back to the boy across from you only to realize he'd gone a little green.

When the silence had stretched uncomfortably long and the group didn't break out into knowing laughter, you finally accepted the fact that this was really happening.

"But-" You started incredulously, "I haven't even graduated yet! I'm 17! I cant get married!"

When the clearly tipsy woman across from you began to laugh, you felt yourself relax slightly. Hope swelled within you, but one glance at your parents's faces snuffed it right out.

"We, along with the Holland family have decided that it would be best for everyone if the two of you marry this summer following your graduations." Your father said tightly.

"Why?" You blurted out, unable to stop yourself. This was all too much. Surely there was no way this was just about the tattoo.

The other man in the room stepped forward, speaking for the first time since you'd come into the room, "We felt that this was the best way to solidify the recent partnership between your family's company and Holland Enterprises. What better way to ensure loyalty than with a marriage?"

And finally it all made sense. The company. Your entire life up until this point had revolved around it, so it was only natural that your future would too.

You grew up being primed to enter the business world, in hopes that you would one day take over your father's million dollar company. To your parents, the fact that you had very little interest in inheriting a company was seemingly irrelevant. You had a part to play, yet somehow, your performance was always flawed. There was always an issue, always a disappointment. You went years trying and failing to meet your parent's unreasonable expectations before you finally just stopped trying.

The rebelling started almost immediately after you hit puberty and only escalated over the years. You had thought your parents had given up on their dream of making you an heir—the company's influence on your life finally over. Evidently, you were wrong.

"Oh, don't look so distraught you two." the woman who must have been Mrs. Holland said. She grinned, patting your supposed future husband's clasped hands. "Tom, go ahead and show her the ring."

"Uh- right." He nodded, awkwardly sliding out of his seat and onto one knee. The entire room stilled as the clearly uncomfortable boy pulled a small box out of his pocket, "Do you... wanna marry me?"

You stared at the ring in horror. It was gaudy—the biggest diamond you'd ever seen aside from the one on his mother's finger. It was flashy and expensive-looking and represented a future you'd fought so hard to get away from. It didn't help that not only was the person holding the ring a complete stranger, but he looked like he was silently willing you to say no.

"Do I have to say yes?"

Your parents laughed, pretending you were making a joke. The slightly inebriated Mrs. Holland quickly followed suit, "She's right, dear. I didn't mean for you to propose right now."