TWO

I stepped into the house feeling angry and annoyed. Mom suddenly called me and told me to hurry home. What's really going on with mom? She doesn't usually act like this. In fact, it was completely intolerable when I told my mother that I had to take care of some things at the hospital first. But my mother firmly told me to go home right now. No rebuttal, period.

“Laurel, huh finally. Mom has been waiting for you since an hour ago. Where have you been? What took you so long?"

It's only been five seconds since my feet hit the floor, and my mother has been bombarding me with all sorts of questions. What kind of mother is this? Mother should have greeted me with a sweet smile and a warm cup of tea, not with a series of annoying-sounding questions.

"What's wrong with you, mom? Why are you so noisy?" I asked lazily while still walking my feet into the house.

I purposely ignored the sharp gaze my mother gave me. Whatever. Mother has been the most annoying mother all day. I then threw my ass on the couch and lay down there with a feeling of relief rising through my body. I haven't felt this peaceful in a long time.

While I was relaxing on the couch, Mom followed behind me and also sat herself down next to me.

"Laurel, mom want to show you something," Mom said in a serious voice.

I glanced at my mother's face, and looked at her questioningly. It's really hard for my mother to say in a serious tone like this. Usually mom always says anything without my consent. Or maybe it's about the mother's deteriorating health.

"Mom are you okay?" I asked as I studied his face intensely.

There wasn't anything worrisome there. Mother is completely healthy and there is nothing to worry about. But what my mother said next was the exact opposite of what I saw.

"I’m not well."

"Mom, what's wrong? Are you sick? Mom, don't leave me. I... I can't live without you. I don’t want to lose you."

I rushed into my mother's arms and hugged the most meritorious woman in my life tightly. Ever since my father left us for heaven, my mother was the only parent I had. After my father died, my mother always tried to be a father figure and also a mother figure for me. That's why I've never lost a father figure in my life because mom is so smart in playing her role of being a father. So if mom leaves, I won't be able to live in this world much longer. The only reason I live in this world and become a psychiatrist is because of my mother. Mom is everything to me even though sometimes her behavior is very annoying ever miraculous.

“I feel sick. All my friends are busy talking about their children's wedding date, while me? I can only sit still while lowering my head because I don't have anything to be proud of like them. Laurel you should immediately find the right man for you and get married. Would you like it if I was constantly looked down on by Mrs. Jay? The woman is truly the incarnation of the devil who always corners me. Do you already have a lover?” asked my mom with a hopeful face.

I looked at my mother with guilt and anger. Why do you have to pay attention to what Mrs. Jay says. After all, I'm still very young, twenty-four years old! Why should I think about marriage at such a young age? I admit, I am indeed a smart and talented girl. Even at the age of twenty-four, I have become a reliable psychiatrist in my city. I haven't thought about marriage at all. I think I'm too young to commit to a man. Besides, I've never had a boyfriend. Once I liked a man, but my mother always messed up my date with that guy, until finally I never got close to any man again. And now, suddenly mom wants me to get married, hell no! It's not really easy to find a handsome and kind man. If finding a man was as easy as finding a flying mosquito, then I would have done it long ago.

“Mother, why don't you just ignore Mrs. Jay's words. After all, it's only natural that Mrs. Jay would marry off her child. Mrs. Jay's eldest daughter is already at the age of marriage, while me, I am still young. I'm twenty-four years old."

“No Laurel, I still want to get you married as soon as possible. I want to see you happy before I follow your father to heaven."

Oh my God, my mother's terrible disease has recurred. It's always been like this. Mom will pretend to cry and dramatize the situation to smooth out her plans. Huh, if it's like this, obeying every word of mt mom is the only way I can do so that she can immediately stop all her sickening skits.

“Mom, I can't get married as fast as you want. Don't you know that I don't have a lover yet. Then who should I marry?” I asked in a soft tone.

I can't fight my mother in a rude way and yell at her, because if I do that, then she will get angry and sulk at me. And in the end, I will be overwhelmed by the spoiled attitude of my mother who is very annoying.

“I have already chosen a suitable candidate for the son-in-law for you. Coincidentally, I met an old friend who has now returned from Australia. This afternoon, I exchanged stories with my best friend, and he said he was looking for a beautiful woman for his son to marry. Then I'm happy to promote you in front of my best friend. And it seems that my  friend immediately liked you after I told all of your achievements and showed your beautiful photo to my best friend. So as soon as possible you should meet each other to discuss your marriage matters.”

For the sake of the great God! What kind of crazy thing is this again? Why is mom so excited to promoting me to her best friend? I'm a merchandise that can be promoted to anyone? Oh my God, I didn't expect to have a mother with such amazingly miraculous behavior.

“Why did you do it, mom? I don't want marriage yet. My career is more important right now than marriage. I have a lot of patients who need me.”

“A husband is important to you too, Laurel!” said my mom fiercely.

I snorted next to her with a red face holding in anger.

“Laurel, the only thing that can make me happy is to see you marry the man of my choice. So I don't want to accept any kind of rejection from you. Tomorrow night you must prepare yourself to meet your future husband. Don’t even dare to planning to run away and try to avoid tomorrow's meeting. I don’t hesitate to cross your name from the list of heirs. Do you understand?" asked mother in a stern voice and a face as hideous as a monster.

Mom really can't be denied. There was no other way but to follow her will and devise another plan to influence the man I was going to betrothed to into rejecting this ridiculous plan.

"Okay mom, anything for you," I replied languidly.

How about Jared? I'm one step closer to the handsome doctor. If mom wanted me to get married as soon as possible, then my chances of getting close to Doctor Jared would be gone. Besides, I'm not sure about the man my mother proposed to be my future husband. He must be a lousy man and also ugly for not being able to find a wife for himself.

I think it's ridiculous that matchmaking is still being carried out in the twenty-first century like this. Shouldn't every man or woman have the right to find and choose their respective partners. So if this man wants an arranged marriage instead of determining his own woman to be his wife, it is certain that the man is a lousy and very ugly man.