Chapter 01

"Celes, baby, me and your daddy want to tell you something."

 I looked at mommy and daddy who were in front of me when I heard mommy's voice. I put down the pencil I was holding and stopped drawing on the wide canvas to face them.

 "What is it?" I asked them carefully.

 Their faces were serious. I rarely see the two of them being serious, so that means that what they're going to say right now is also serious.

 I looked at mommy and she just gave me a meaningful look as if she was saying, "Brace yourself, my dear daughter."

 I turned to daddy when he coughed and took a deep breath before speaking, "You're getting married, Celes."

 The word daddy dropped was only four letters but it felt like a cold water was poured on me when I heard it.

 I can't move where I'm sitting. What he said still hasn't sunk into my brain.

 I? Getting married? Is this a joke?

 "I beg your pardon?" I blinked. I can't process what he'd just said in my mind. His words keep repeating and repeating like a broken projector but I can't just process it.

 "You're getting married, Celeste," daddy repeated.

 I closed my eyes and spoke with trembling lips, "B-But I'm still too young to get married, daddy. I'm not ready yet." I even looked into daddy's eyes while saying that, just in case he takes back what he said.

 "How old are you now, my daughter?" mommy asked.

 Although confused, I still answered, "26."

 "See? You're already at the right age to get married, my daughter. You're not getting any younger," she said and gave me a sweet and reassuring smile.

 I looked away. I want to sulk with them. I want to say no but I can't do that to them. I don't want to disappoint them.

 They're my parents. I know they know what's best for me.

 "When?" That's all I can say. 

 "As soon as possible," was all daddy answered before they left the room.

 I heaved a sigh and stared at my empty wall when I'm all alone inside my room. It's not that I haven't dreamed of getting married but I'm not really ready yet.

 I've never even experienced falling in love, how will I know what I am going to do once I got married?

 Even if I don't want to, I can't go against my parents' decision.

 They are the one who raised me since I'm a fetus, they are the reason why I am here today. Without them, I wouldn't exist either.

 I know they are doing it for my own good, but is it really for my own good?

 I don't want to be tied to a man I don't love. How can I get along with him? I don't want to enter a loveless relationship!

 I sighed, losing hope. I didn't even ask who and what the name of my soon to be groom would be.

 I tried to finish what I am drawing so that I could have something to entertain myself somehow. I don't want to leave the room even if I'm hungry.

 I can't face them yet because what else can I say? I don't want to. 

 I don't want to get married yet.

 But wait..

 I immediately looked at what I was drawing, I cringed when I just made it look ugly! 

 "Oh, gosh! What did I do?" Panicking, I took the eraser on the table and tried to erase it but it only ruined the drawing even more. 

  I let out a frustrated breath.

 I closed my eyes for a moment and took out my cell phone that was on the bedside table to call Ericka- my one and only friend so I could talk to somebody somehow. I just want to rant and let out what I am feeling.

"Hello, Celes! How's your love life?” She was smiling when I saw her face on the screen.

 I winced at her question and dropped the bombed without giving her a warning. "I'm getting married."

 Her jaw almost dropped from what I said. “W-What? Uhh can you say it again?”

 "I said I am going to get married, Ericka."

 She blinked and my forehead creased when she laughed so hard. "Come on? You're not joking aren't you? You...getting married all of a sudden? But you don't even have a boyfriend! How is that possible? I- I can't believe it, how…”

 "I can't believe it either, Ericka. Mommy just told me earlier and I'm not ready yet. What can I do?” I said worriedly while looking closely at the screen, hoping that she could give me some advice.

 "What's the name of the man you're going to marry? If you don't want him, give him to me! I bet he's handsome as smoking hell. Uncle won't like to have a ugly son-in-law right?" Her joke seemed to make me feel better.

 I laughed shortly and made a face. "You're really something... But what am I going to do?"

 "Just go with the flow, can you say no to your parents?"

 I shook my head. I can't, I love them too much for that.

 "Then, that's it. You need to marry him. By the way, just trust them, Celes. They won't make a decision that can hurt you, especially your mommy. Mom knows the best, right?" She smiled at me, a genuine one.

 I smiled back, somehow, feeling better.

 We said goodbye to each other before I turned off my cell phone, just in time for my stomach to growl.

 I'm really hungry.

 I stood up and decided to go down. I was about to open the door when it opened and I froze on my feet when I saw mommy looking at me worriedly. She also had a tray full of food on her hands that made my stomach rumble even more so we laughed together. 

 Suddenly, my sullenness melted away. I'm really soft when it comes to my family. I couldn't get mad at them. I can't resist them.

 "I thought you wouldn't come down. I'm really sorry, Celeste. I'm sorry if it's sudden, it's for you too," her voice was careful and sincere. I looked at her face and caught a glimpse of her smiling warmly at me.

 "I understand, mommy," I just said.

 I invited her inside. She first put down the tray on my bedside table and sat on the soft mattress of the bed.

A moment of silence engulfs for a second and I was the one who broke it. "But mom, how can I live on the same roof with him? I don't want to tie a knot with a man I don't even love," I initiate out of nowhere.

 "My dear daughter, I'm really sorry but this is your father's decision and I agree with him. This also for you, you are the only child we had and we don't want to risk you. This is for your sake, Celes. Just trust us on this. We have tons of enemies outside and they want to take you away from us. And this man who wants you to marry is powerful and can protect you more than what we can do. I'm sorry, baby. Don't worry, he's a good man and I'm sure he can take care of you. We only want what's good for you. You know how much we love you, right? Always keep in your mind that we love you so much." She caressed my soft cheeks and kissed it before she gave me a reassuring smile.

 I nodded my head. Okay, I'm seventy-five percent willing but.. "Can I still visit you and daddy? I don't want to be separated from you. I can't live without seeing your face for a couple of days, mommy," I said and cutely pursed my lips at her. 

 Mommy chuckled at me.

 Well? What can she expect? I was sixteen when I left their room, at first I couldn't sleep but later on, I got used to it.

 I'm just not really used to being away from them because I really can't.

 Mommy laughed and hugged me. "Of course, baby, you're just getting married, right? You will not be kidnapped away from us."

 She let me eat first and when I finished eating the food she made, I asked her again right away.

"Mom, who am I going to marry? You didn't say anything about him earlier," I asked while smiling shyly.