My Teacher, My Mate?

Bound By Promises

FLASHBACK

Around 17 years ago, Angela and Maria were in the hospital. Angela had been born just 5 hours earlier and they were visited by Michael's mates, who were a married couple with a young son.

" I promise that when my daughter, Angela, turns 17, I will arrange for her to marry your son, Charlie, " Michael said as he held the sleeping Angela, while Maria, weak on the hospital bed after giving birth, simply watched and listened without saying anything, as did Wilson Dean's wife and Charlie, who were also present.

" I also promise that if Charlie succeeds in his studies, I will unite Charlie and Angela with a lawful bond and I will not let any other girl come into Charlie's heart except for Angela, " Wilson Dean said, making an agreement with Michael.

FLASHBACK CLOSE...

" That was so quick, darling, " Maria said.

" Well, what can I say? In a few months, Angela will be turning 17. Whether we like it or not, promises must be kept and cannot be denied! " Michael replied firmly.

" Promise? What promise? " Angela asked her parents, not realizing she had been standing there without Michael and Maria noticing.

" Since you're here, I want to have a yarn with you, " Michael said, looking at Angela. Confused by her father's intentions and keen to know what he wanted to chat about, Angela asked directly.

" Yarn? What yarn, dad? Mum? " Angela asked, eyeing both of her parents.

" This concerns your future and your future partner, " Maria added, making Angela jump at the mention of it.

" 17 years ago, about 5 hours after you were born, I made a deal with my mate who now lives in the United States, " Michael took a deep breath before revealing the matter to Angela. " I promised to set you up with his son, Charlie, the son of Wilson Dean. "

" WHAT?? AM I GONNA BE MATCHED UP? NO!! I DON'T WANT THIS! " Angela vehemently rejected her father's plan to set her up with the son of his friend whom she had never met.

" Whether you like it or not, you have to accept it, don't go against your parents' decision! " Maria said firmly to Angela.

" But I don't want to be set up to marry your mate's son, I'm still young! " Angela protested and refused.

" I know you're young and want to live freely but when it comes to agreements! An agreement is an agreement, it can't be denied, Angela! " Michael said firmly, while Lucille, Jessica Henry, and Juna, who overheard their serious conversation, immediately appeared.

" What's happening, why all the commotion? " Lucille asked.

" Yeah, what's happening, Angela? " Henry also asked Angela. But Angela ignored the questions, her eyes still fixed on Michael with a look of disapproval.

" You're the one who made the agreement, not me! Why do I have to be the one arranged? Why not Aunty Lucille instead? "Angela asked.

" Lucille is already getting on a bit, not really suitable for her young son! " Michael replied, looking very stressed dealing with Angela's behavior. Meanwhile, Maria just chuckled at Michael's comments about Lucille.

" Hey, don't go calling me old!! You're the old one, and so is your wife! Not me, I'm still young, you know! " Lucille retorted with a slightly harsh tone, not accepting being labeled as old.

" I don't wanna, Dad, I don't wanna! " Angela said again.

" Alright then! You're not keen on this arranged marriage, aye? " Michael asked again, it seems his patience with Angela has run out. " So from now on, you're not allowed to eat and drink in this house anymore, I won't give you any pocket money for three years, and you have to do all the housework by yourself without anyone's help! " Michael said very firmly while imposing a punishment on Angela who dared to defy his words.

Accepting her arranged marriage to the son of her father's friend was extremely difficult for Angela, especially since she had never even thought about it, let alone with someone she had never met before. Whether she liked it or not, she had to give in especially now that her father had imposed a somewhat heavy punishment on her if she refused the arrangement.

" Man, I could legit die if Dad lays down that harsh punishment, what do I do? " Angela pondered, feeling totally lost about her next move. Her folks had just walked in, leaving only her, Lucille, Henry, Jessica, and Juna in the lounge.

" Thinking about it, I reckon you should give the arranged marriage a go, " Lucille said to Angela.

" But I don't wanna get hitched young, aunty! " Angela replied.

" Angela, I know this is really hard for you but what's wrong with following Dad's words. Moreover, you don't have to marry that person right away, just get to know him first, right? " Jessica said to Angela.

" But sis, it's still considered forced! You know that I'm not ready for that yet?! My future is still far away and I don't want my future to be ruined because of something 'silly' like this! " Angela said again.

" Angela, listen up! A child should not turn down their parents' requests, especially for their own good. When you say 'No' to Mum and Dad, that's seen as disobedience, " Henry said to Angela in a preacher-like manner. " Maybe this arranged marriage is a good thing for them, you once said you didn't want to disappoint them anymore but why are you disappointing them again? They just want you to fulfill one request but you don't want to, even though they have fulfilled many of your silly requests and your needs all this time, why, Angela?! Now, think whether you're willing to be punished or accept the arranged marriage! " Henry advised Angela at length, then he returned to his room.

" Tonight, think carefully about what's best for you, " Lucille said, then she also returned to her room.

" They're right, think about what's best for you and all of us, " Jessica said as well.

" Angela, let's have some meatball soup, aye?! " Juna, who was confused about what was going on, said.

" I'm not hungry, " Angela declined Juna's invitation. " They're correct, I can't be selfish but this is about my life and my future! If I refuse the arranged marriage, Dad will punish me severely!! Ugh...such a mess!! " Angela thought to herself.