Chapter 4

"Welcome to our family, Mahana..."

From here at the main door of our house, I could clearly hear Mama's joyful response. I ran to the living room and saw the woman Mama was hugging. She was wearing a baby pink dress and her hair was down. I couldn't see her face because she was turned away from me. Papa then welcomed her, followed by Alyssa who was holding back a squeal.

"What welcome?" I interrupted their attention and that's when I saw the woman's full appearance. Psh! Just like before, still ugly.

"Hi there, son.."

Mama approached me and hugged me very tightly, you could really feel the joy in her arms. Even without her saying anything, I knew and felt the joy in her heart that finally her biggest dream for me had come true, and that was to get married.

"Why are you welcoming that woman?" I asked with raised eyebrows, I looked back and forth between the three of them and finally threw my gaze at Mahana who seemed innocent in her appearance. I felt even more annoyed.

Why is this woman here? What is she doing here?

"Luis, why are you talking like that? Gosh! You didn't tell us you got married last year, we could have prepared for it."

The joy could be seen on the faces of every member of my family, especially Mama who almost tore her lips apart with joy. I looked at Mahana who still had an innocent aura. It's annoying.

"Ma, let me explain everything, okay?"

Mama raised her right hand, signaling me to shut my mouth.

"Oops! No need, Mahana already explained everything to us. Calm down. If you're thinking we'll be angry, son, no. Actually, we're even happy because finally, our only son and eldest child has a wife."

Mama even pinched me and I just felt my cheeks throb from her pinching. Of all of us, I was the only one who couldn't manage to smile because I didn't have even a shred of joy.

"Son, we understand why you hid this from us." Papa put his arm around me and spoke. "We know that you're not yet ready to settle down, but at least, your Mama and I will be at ease because finally you have someone to get inspiration from."

"Pa, it's not what you think.."

Papa cut me off, causing me to let out a deep sigh.

"It's okay, what's important now is that you already have a wife, that's what's important to your Mama and me. Can't wait to have my first grandchild, Luis." Papa even winked at me and then gently tapped my shoulder.

"What the hell?"

I wanted to curse loudly until I could pour out all the anger I was feeling. I wanted to scold Mahana because she did nothing but sip juice on the sofa while sitting elegantly. Seriously? She didn't even argue that we didn't want that marriage and she just stared blankly as if there was no problem?

"Hey! What did you tell them about our fucking marriage?"

I got her attention after Mama said goodbye that they had something to take care of before we ate dinner. Mahana and I were left here in the living room and I immediately approached her to confront her.

"Juice?" She offered me the glass of juice she was holding.

I sighed deeply because my blood was really boiling at her. She's still acting normal while I'm being consumed by nervousness knowing that my family already knows about our marriage.

"Can you be serious?" I gently pushed her hand away from in front of me and looked at her badly.

She frowned at me and continued eating the pizza that Mama probably prepared for her.

Damn it! She really doesn't care oh!

"What did you tell Mama that they're so happy?" I asked again and I was about to explode with anger.

She glanced at me and it took a while before she answered. She first put down the glass of juice she was holding on the center table and then took a tissue to wipe the side of her lips. Then she looked up at me and I really got even more annoyed because there was no hint of stress or worry to be seen on her face.

"I said that you were very eager to get married so we got married suddenly last year without them knowing."

My eyes widened in shock at what she said. I almost punched her for what she answered me but I made a great effort to restrain myself because she's a woman.

"What? Why did you say that? Do I look eager, huh?" I replied aggressively in a somewhat low voice because Papa might hear us who was just in the kitchen.

She shrugged. "They didn't want to believe me that we accidentally got married by Mayor Queja at that bar, so that's it, I just made an excuse. I was hungry earlier, they probably won't give me snacks if I don't say something that will make them happy so I had no choice but to say that you were eager to get married.."

I wiped my face because I felt like I had no escape from this problem especially since even this Mahana will add to it. Damn it!

"Why did you say that? You should have just insisted that we accidentally got married at that bar.."

"They don't want to believe it, what can I do? Even if I shout to the world that we didn't both want it, they won't believe it."

I noticed on her face that her patience was running out with me. Wow! She even has the nerve to be annoyed. Really, ever since. Damn it!

"What the.. Argh!" I massaged my temple because of the annoyance I was feeling. I almost didn't know what to do, this woman even added to it.

I looked at her badly but she was just there, staring blankly, biting the end of her nail, as if there was no problem.

"What bad wind pushed you and you even came here?" I asked annoyedly.

She glanced at me. "To ask for help from your parents, I was hoping that maybe they could help us fix our accidental marriage. I didn't expect that instead of being angry, they would even be happy."

I cursed loudly and clenched my fist. I was really trying hard not to raise my hand to her because she's a woman. As long as I can restrain myself, I will.

"You should have looked for me first before you came here. You don't know what you're doing. Damn it! You're making my life more miserable because of what you did." I replied to her with glaring eyes.

She fought my gaze, her right eyebrow even rose slightly. "Do you think it's just you? I won't be at peace because of our marriage so I came here. Hello! You're not that special for me to waste my time on, no. Your parents are more reasonable to talk to than you so I didn't waste saliva or time to look for you."

"What do you think, it's just you? Hey! Even me, I won't waste time looking for you. What are you, gold?"

Mahana sighed deeply and spoke again. "What are you getting angry about there? Can't you just be happy like the reaction of your family?"

"Your Mama is happy!" I retorted, making her frown.

"Lovers, excuse me, come to the garden.."

Our argument was interrupted when we heard Mama's voice approaching our location. We acted normal as if we didn't argue.

"Why, Ma, what's up?" I asked.

Mama was about to answer when someone caught all of our attention coming from the main door of the house. And my jaw almost dropped in shock when I saw the figure of that person.

"My only grandson.."

No way!

I was like a statue in my place when I felt Lola hugged me very tightly. If how strong my heart was beating earlier, it got worse now. Shit! I have no escape anymore.

"W-why are you here, La? What's up?" I still managed to ask that even though the answer was so obvious why she was here.

I noticed at the door that some of our other relatives on my father's side had just arrived. There were my aunts, my cousins, and their children. I had no idea why and what was going on now.

"We all rushed here when your Mama informed us that you got married last year. Well! We should celebrate that because finally the only man who will multiply the Arevalo clan has a wife."

I didn't know what reaction to make to what Lola said. I looked at Mama who was so happy and she was almost crying. Shit! Why did I forget that aside from Mama, my whole clan is also excited that I will get married?

Lola left my embrace and approached Mahana and welcomed her like what Mama did earlier. Our relatives did the same. Greetings there, pictures here, crying there. Of all of us, I guess I'm the only one who's not happy with what's happening.

"We've been waiting for this day for a long time, we couldn't stop ourselves from rushing here just to congratulate you two."

We were at a long table here in the garden that Mama had prepared for the gathering with our relatives, including Mahana. And as I expected, Mahana and I were side by side and she was really doing her best to act like his wife to me, which annoyed me.

"If you had told us last year, you would have had the most lavish wedding in the whole world. With our family's wealth, we wouldn't waste time squandering money to give you the grand wedding you deserve." Lola continued.

Because I was so annoyed, I almost didn't touch the food on my plate. Mahana noticed it, so she subtly nudged me with her elbow, but I just rolled my eyes at her.

"Oh! Lola, it's not necessary, what's important is that we got married." Mahana retorted, making my eyes widen in shock.

"Don't talk, can you?" I whispered to her subtly because I felt like I was getting closer to misfortune whenever she spoke.

"No, it's okay, hija. Luis is my only grandson, so if it's necessary for his wedding to be grand, I will definitely do it." Lola replied and looked at me. "Now that you have a wife, Luis, your Mama and I have decided that you should live separately so you can learn."

I frowned. "What do you mean, Lola?"

I also looked at Mama, who seemed like they had already planned everything.

Papa answered my question. "You and Mahana will live in your condo so you can start as husband and wife. You won't get a single cent from us anymore, you have to work for everything for your family. You need to learn how to manage life because you are already a full-fledged head of the family."

"What? Seriously? I'm going to work not for myself but for my....No way!"

"You should, that's part of married life, Luis."

I wiped my face. No way! Aside from not wanting to work, I also don't want to be with this woman in the same house. What will my life be like? Shit!

I signaled Mahana to stop what Mama wanted, but I was even more annoyed when she said...

"Thank you, Ma, Pa, and Lola. That's a good idea for the family that Luis and I will build." Then she hugged my arm and I just cursed inwardly.

Damn it! Instead of helping me, this woman made it worse! Damn it!

"If you become a good husband to Mahana here, the reward you've been asking for, Luis, I will give it..That's a promise.." Lola said, which stopped my world.

Shit! My dream restaurant.

What am I going to do? It's been my dream since then to have my own restaurant and Lola can give it to me without any difficulty. But, why does it have to be in exchange for being a good husband?

What am I going to do?