Sofia Hayes

<<Sofia>>

It had taken a while for me to get Mia to come on a double date with me and Carl. 

She had no idea who Carl was and I had to break it to her slowly. But she had fallen in love herself before Clark at arranged the proposal in a way that it made it look like the families had arranged their marriage.

We promised our mother to be back before the curfew, made up a lie, and left.

Clark was already at the diner waiting for us. Even though he was Mia's fiance, our parents would throw a fit if they knew Mia was meeting him alone. They were afraid that she might say something that might ruin the relationship before it had begun. Especially when they had taken such a huge loan, with interest, for her wedding.

We said hellos and Clark went back to his gobbling his order. Mia and I shared a look. I made an expression that said, "Are you going to wait for him to be done eating? Start talking now."

Mia took a deep breath and started, "Clark, baby, I told you before our engagement that I was going to keep working after marriage. And you know Dad is under so much debt. It can't work out without my support."

"It's not your duty to help with the debt. You have a brother and sister. Tell them to pitch in. Baby, you know my mom is not going to agree to a working daughter-in-law. We are going to live in their house since we can't afford our own. So, we have to live with their rules. And how would you help around the house if you'd be working at your office all day? Mom's getting old, Mia. She needs a helper." Clark replied and went back to his pasta.

I gave an exasperated look to Mia that said, 'Is this seriously the guy you fell in love with? A broke mama's boy?'

Mia sighed. It was too late. If she broke off the engagement, the debt would still be there and she would have to answer to her parents as much as her parents would have to answer to the society they lived in, why their daughter's marriage didn't happen. Their parents were old-fashioned people. Once they had committed, it was Mia's duty to see it to its end. No matter the price she had to pay. Poor people only had respect. She couldn't let her family lose that too.

Carl finally showed up looking as handsome as ever and Clark introduced himself, "I am Clark, the fiance. You must be Russell, the fiance." He assumed.

"I am Carl, a classfellow of Sofia." Carl introduced himself and we all sat down.

"How are you?" Mia asked and started chit-chat before Carl nodded to me that we needed to ditch Clark so that we could talk openly.

"Carl, you came for the project, yes? Let's discuss it at that table." I grabbed her bag and stood up. Carl followed suit eagerly.

"Clark, I have to go help them out a bit. I'll be back in a minute, yeah?" Mia told Clark who nodded absentmindedly, more focused on the pasta than on his fiance.

~Narrator~

The three sat far enough from Clark so that he couldn't overhear their conversation. It was about time that someone from the family met Carl. It was one step closer to them realizing their dream of marrying each other and proving that they were serious about each other.

"So, how long has this been going on? She never told me anything." Mia smiled at Carl.

"She didn't tell you about me at all? She's told me about all of you. I have all the tea about the family." He smiled back humorously.

"Really? And do you have a big family?" Mia asked.

"Just me and my mom and my three younger sisters. We moved to Australia from Brazil after my dad passed away a few years ago." Carl told.

"My condolences." Mia quickly said.

"Thank you." Carl sighed and kept talking, "Obviously, now I am responsible for my sisters and mom."

"Yes, of course. You are their brother. It's their right. But make sure this one (she pointed at Sophia who was silently watching the interaction with a smile and sipping her coffee) doesn't up grey-headed waiting for you to fulfill your responsibilities." Mia spoke the truth with a laugh so that it might not sound harsh.

 But Carl understood the innuendo, "You know, I have never hidden anything from Sofie. She has known all about my situation and circumstances from day 1." He confessed seriously.

"And let me guess, this one didn't care? I know my crazy sister." Mia glanced at Sofia affectionately like older sisters do.

"You know, there is no issue, of course. Except a family friend, Russell. He is an issue." Mia told Carl clearly about Russell's infatuation with Sofia over the years. She sighed before speaking up again, "May I give some advice?"

Carl nodded in hesitation and Mia resumed, "See, when there are too many obstacles to get to the destination. One should avoid such a path. It makes life too hard. And, it hasn't been too long for you two. Your scars will heal eventually. Think about it." She was serious and Carl sat up straighter. The advice was sound but he loved Sofia dearly.

He glanced at Sofia who was shaking her head at her sister's words and making expressions at Carl to not take her sister seriously. Sofia was so sure of her love and was stubborn in her feelings.

~

When they returned home, it was an hour past curfew. They knew their mother would be furious. 

Tip-toeing towards their room and carefully avoiding their brother who had no idea that they weren't at home, the girls had almost made it when their mother emerged from their bedroom, hands on hips, frowning.

"Mom, it's too late. You should take care of your health and sleep on time." Sofia spoke with a laugh. But their mother's frown was not going anywhere.

"Both of you will go straight to the kitchen. Do all the dishes, and clean up well. Only then can you go to sleep. This is your punishment." Their mother declared.

"Like we don't do that daily anyway," Mia muttered so that only Sofia heard but not their mother.

Once their mother was gone, Mia turned to the kitchen to do as told while Sofia tried to bribe her sister, "I'm so tired, Mimi. Do the dishes today and I'll do them all by myself tomorrow. My lovely sister, I love you."

But just as Mia shook her head knowing her sister's antics and Sofia turned to head to bed, their mother returned and one look from her was enough to turn Sofia back on her heels to do as told begrudgingly.