"I won't change your surname."
Eh?
"Amanda, remember this. You're our last hope. Please spread the history of the Asia clan to the next generation, don't let it end with your father."
I returned to my room and tried to figure out the meaning behind mother's words. She has never mentioned about me having the genetic disease before, and now she wants me to spread our history?
I went to my study room and searched for the history book of Asia. Among the books on the shelves, there was nothing about history at all. I never noticed that since I never cared to look for it.
Sigh. The hope was placed on me and it would also be me to break that hope. History has never interested me, why would I care?
I resumed my assignments in my room until I was tired and dozed off before I knew it. I woke up to the smell of food, only to see a plate of pasta on my table and the maid just left my room.
Oops. How long was I asleep?
It was already dinner time and my sister had gone to bed since she wasn't feeling well, that means mother ate dinner by herself? I felt guilty for some reason.
After I was done eating, I brought the blank plate to the kitchen. The maids were delighted to see me having an appetite since my sister didn't finish her food.
"Andrea doesn't have an appetite?"
"It's normal. She'll get better soon. My mother overheard me from the dining table. She was having a cup of coffee because she still has work needed to be done by tonight.
Ever since father's death, mother has been taking over his work. That was a good thing too because she wouldn't care about controlling my phone anymore.
I packed my bag to get ready for school tomorrow when I found the photo from grandma's mansion. It was confirmed to be Eric's photo, taken when he was little.I had totally no idea we actually met before, Eric didn't seem to remember either, since he never mentioned anything about it.
The next morning, mother was already at the dining table with breakfast served on the table. She told me not to wake Andrea as she was still in bed. I wasn't sure of the reason myself but the thought of my sister not being engaged suddenly crossed my mind when I chewed on my pancake.
"Mother, is Andrea not engaged?"
She placed her teacup down and shifted her gaze to me.
"There is no need to. However, I wouldn't stop her if she finds someone to marry."
I felt it was unfair for me. I was the only one forced to marry, and to someone who I don't even know?
"Alice, I'm ready." I buckled up the safety belt in the car before Alice started the engine.
As usual, I got off at the gate and was dragged into a girls' talk the moment I entered the classroom. I never had the chance to place my bag at my seat properly before their conversation started.
"Hey, it's almost autumn."
"Oh man, summer is ending already?"
"Time sure flies fast, we'll be in senior year soon."
Senior year, and I would get symptoms of the disease anytime soon. I was looking forward to it for some reasons, maybe it's because I didn't want to be left alone?
"Amanda, look!" Layla pointed behind me and I turned my head to see what it was. Frustration overwhelmed me when I saw Natasha busting my bag. Mia ran over to stop her but it was too late, she already took something from my bag.
"Oh~ Look at this!" She showed what was in her hand to Eric, "she has your photo, gross~"
Oh, that, I must have accidentally slipped into one of my books but that wasn't my main concern at the moment. My belongings spread all over my desk and Mia was cleaning it up for me with Carl.
On the other hand, Natasha was showing the photo to all the boys, trying to make them think ill of me. However, Eric had told them beforehand that we were relatives so they weren't surprised at all that I had his photo on me.
"Miss Nelson, please return it to her right this instant." Eric shot a death glare at Natasha, who was still running around in the classroom. She still had a gleeful smile despite having the whole class oppose her.
"Not until you call me Natasha- Hey!" Eric snatched the photo from her hand and gave it back to me.
"I refuse to address someone like you by their name, and I already knew about the photo a long time ago." I took the photo from him and he told me to keep it at home next time. I nodded in response before Mia hugged me until I could barely breathe.
"She planned to bust you, didn't she?" Mia snickered. "But since when did you have that photo?"
Ah, there goes Mia's curiosity. You can never flee from that curiosity of hers, or she'll haunt you forever until she gets an answer.
"Remember that one time I stayed at my grandmother's place? I got it from there." She had an 'oh' look and that cleared up her question of how did I know we were relatives when we didn't even know about it for so long.
Natasha was defeated and she returned to her seat when the teacher entered. She was sulking during the entire class.
During break time, I told Mia about my mother not changing my surname anymore and the reason she did that. Honestly, I prefer it that way. If anyone knew I was related to the Calnan clan, they would treat me differently, since Calnan was the founder of Calnan Academy.
"Well, isn't that great? I mean, Asia won't be completely wiped out if you remain your surname."
"But I'm not a guy."
"It's fine, as long as you're alive, you can continue the generation through your blood."
Well, I guess that makes sense?
"Mother, I'm almost entering senior year now, can't I meet my fiance yet?"
"You have met him," she said with certainty, "it's just that you didn't know his identity."
I have met him? Where? The only place I met boys was school, since I never went to public places.
I returned to my room after dinner and checked my phone. Eric texted me not too long ago, telling me not to care Natasha from tomorrow onward. Despite what he said and what happened this morning, I still can't bring myself to not care about her, even though I personally dislike her attitude.