"There's no painful than being consensus to something you're not informed and having no idea about. "
—
"My grandson is right. You two already arranged for marriage, "said the oldest.
The words he declared are kept running in her mind. Echoing like it was a process of circulation, that continues and not sure when to stop.
"What?!" There are so many words she wants to say but it turns to be a simple question. The board of directors only nods their heads.
"But..why? I'm still young, and not capable of that thing. I know I'm 17 but not in my life I have ever thought of that. Can we at least try another way?"
"No Miss Alfios, there's no other way to try and never we will contravene the old tradition. Remember it also happens between your parents. "
"But...them is a different case. They love each other."
"It's because they realized the true meaning of love—protection of wealth and reputation. "
"No that's not true. They love each other for who they are, not for what they have. And why are you the ones who explain this to me? This responsibility is supposed to be for them."
"Well, you got it Miss Alfios. We take the responsibility because they might struggle on how to explain it to you, like what we are up to right now," said the oldest not throwing any glimpse to her.
"If you're going to fight for your undying desire now, maybe we can proceed to another thing and forget about it in the meantime. But still, the choice is not yours," he added, not pleasingly but authoritatively.
She faced Amanda but even she can't do anything about it. 'I'm just a server ma'am Sha, I have no idea for these. ' that's what you can read by just looking at her.
"But why? Mom says I only have to go back here and continue my studies. She and dad did not mention it," she said explaining the sake.
"That's my point Miss Alfios. I couldn't find the exact words for you but the choice is yours anyway, whether you think of them as liars or something who knows what's best for you." An anonymous person replied.
For now, mixed emotions surrounded her calmness. How can a person with innocence bear with this one?
"No, they only did this because they want what's best for me—going back to where I belong but you!" she paused pointing everyone. "You are the ones who lie, no...there's no marriage to occur and I won't let you destroy my thoughts. End of discussion!" she exclaimed before leaving them struck.
"Apologies to you all, maybe she's not fine yet. You can talk to her—I mean let me talk to her in the meantime. Sorry for what she did. I have got to go ." said Amanda trying to cover Reissha's fault.
"Admonish that brat, I don't like the contours of her mouth. " Mon senior's inherit before she took the leave.
Amanda quickly ran upstairs and walked towards Reissha's room. She was screaming for her to open the door that was purposely locked.
"Ma'am Sha, please open the door. It's me, Yaya Amanda! Whatever you need, I'm here for you," she said before her belle open.
The moment she came in, the adolescent take the chance to embrace her worried Yaya. She also did the same. They both hug each other and feel the comfort between them.
"Yaya," *sniff* "what do I do? They're going to engage me, please tell me am dreaming, please. " Reissha mumbles while hugging her with tears.
"Shh, you don't have to do anything. If I would ask, I swear, I'll never agree but this is your fate. And..even I can't do about it."
"But why? There are so many girls in our clan. My cousin Styxia, her sister Ataxia, Marshall, Phinna, of all people why me?"
"Reissha listens, they chose you because you're the heiress of your clan. You're the best and suitable for this compared to them," she explains but seems like a cloud of smoke being exhaled by a smoker immediately passed through Reissha's front.
"I don't think I am Yaya," she said frankly. Amanda pats her back and listens to her rants although she doesn't know how to help.
A while ago, Reissha's phone vibrates, a sign that someone's calling her. She look who it was and found out to be her mom.
"Sweetie? I'm texting you many times yet you're not replying. Are you mad at mommy?" she asked sweetly at the line.
"I'm not mom, I just forgot to pick this. I bet you know about what's happening still you don't like to tell me, do you?" her voice becomes intimidating to her mom's next words.
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to hurt you, sweetie. Could you please open your laptop for Skype? I and your dad want to see your face. "
Despite having resentment about her parents, she still obeys them and prepares herself.
"Thank you for obeying me. So let's start with the commitment and—" her words cut by the gasp of her daughter.
"Please don't mention that word again," she pleased.
"Okay, okay my bad. So I mean let's talk about the thing they have told you. Dad, please come here!" Suddenly, her dad appeared and sat beside her mom.
"Hey sweetie, you okay? As what they have told you...it's true. We didn't mean to stun you because we all know you aren't too aware of this but hopefully, you'll understand our side. This is the only traditional family way to gain more assets not the reason but to protect what we have."
"But mom, dad, you know me. No matter how you explain, I can't understand especially when my heart doesn't belong to it. And do you want my life to be miserable? Mom, you're committing to someone I don't like," said Reissha trying to convince them.
"Yeah we know that but see us now, did we become miserable? Look, that's us at first but we learn how to love each other and there it goes...we built a family full of love. " her mom added.
"I don't think we can. You know love isn't something you can learn, you just feel it. But with that Elijah? Nah and never I would like him."
They then laughed as if it was a kind of joke. So Reissha's reaction confused.
"You're talking about Won as if you knew him well. Remember that love takes time. You'll probably find him attracted once you start observing. Did you know that you're main purpose is to observe him make you fall not just only to settled with arranged marriage thing?"
"What? Me observing that guy? No!"
They laughed again. "Look at you, you're overreacting. Please don't be like that. Don't conclude for now, the more you hate, the more you love." They teased her while laughing.
"Eww. Let me rephrase it, mom. The more you hate, the more you despise. "
"Whatever you say, big girl. Please think about it, okay? Love can wait as well as him. Don't worry to open your heart and fall in love—to fall for him. Hope you'll follow me this time, observe Elijah and you'll know why we want him for you. Love lots!"
They bid goodbyes and close her laptop to face Amanda who's patiently listening to their conversation.
"Are you done?"
"Hmm," she replied.
"Any further pieces of information would clarify yourself. Whatever your decision is, I'm with you."
"Thank you Yaya Amanda!" she offers her another hug.
"Anything for you my belle."
"I'm so lucky to have you. Rather good 'cause you understand me, not like them."
"No ma'am Sha. We all understand you but in different dimensions, " said she humbly. Something pops her mind and decided to tell Reissha. "Have you forgotten that when you're still a kid, you used to call me "dada" because you can't utter my exact name haha?"
Reissha deemed it and started to speak. "Yes, I do Yaya. Of course, how can I forget it? Does this mean I'm not allowed to call you one because I'm now a teen?"
"No. You can call me even you became an adult."
"That's my dada haha!" The room get well and energised with their smiles and laughter.