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Chapter 01
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2025-04-01 10:45:37The very highly finished mahogany table was cold on my trembling hands. My relatives were seated in front of me, faces twisted into practiced complacency, the smiles strained, set on the parents of my so-called 'bride-to-be.'
It was one of those situations you view out of a history film, the only difference being we were greeted with the dignified silence of an upper-class dining room instead of a quill and parchment. An arranged marriage. The words still echoed in my mind as a grim joke. How many times had I pleaded with my parents, explained, even shouted, that I did have a girlfriend? A woman I loved, fiercely and irrevocably. The possibility of being bound to another, a stranger, made me shiver with icy fury. Whatever this woman was, desperate enough to take on this ancient trade-off, I vowed to torment her life. "Mrs. Alcantara, my sincerest apologies for my daughter's tardiness," Mrs. Andal's awkward politeness pushed through my simmering rage. "Jarros, where's MJ? Do call her." Jarros, her husband, got up to stand, his face set in a hint of annoyance. His movement was checked by his wife's gentle hand. "No need, she's here." We sat with our backs to the door, and the Andals stood facing it. I turned around, my heart pounding with a mix of fear and determination. Two women entered. One, a vision of beautifully crafted glamour, was dressed in a red sheath that hugged every curve, her blonde hair beautifully styled, her face a work of beautifully painted cosmetics. The other. She was the very opposite. She was wearing faded, filthy white jeans and a peasant top, intentionally sloppy-looking, her face uncovered, without even the smallest degree of artifice. "Who is she?" I asked myself, peering at her. "MJ!" Mrs. Andal's high-pitched, relieved voice was heard echoing from the room. The jeans girl appeared, her face a perfect imitation of a blank. She floated over, an unspoken self-confidence that was even more disconcerting than the professional cool of the other woman. 'Okay. So, she's the one.' "Mr. and Mrs. Alcantara, sorry I'm late," she said, her voice smooth and controlled. It's okay, dear. Have a seat," my mother replied, her voice insincere. "Come, MJ, meet my son Lyron Renz Alcantara," my dad insisted, his tone brooking no argument. "Megan Jessie Andal, but you can call me MJ," she said, extending her hand. I took it, our handshake firm, a silent expression of my frustration. I was aware that my dad would murder me if I made an unwanted scene. Now that you have been properly introduced, let's proceed with the discussion of your upcoming marriage," my father continued, his voice heavy with unspoken expectations. I gazed at MJ, searching for a flicker of nervousness, perhaps even a hint of excitement. What I received instead was an arched eyebrow, and then a covert challenge hurled in my direction. I turned away, a queasy discomfort building in my belly. She's not like that at all. The conversation afterwards was a mix of dates, locations, and arrangements. The Andals and my parents huddled together, their voice thick with the undertone of forced cordiality. Finally, the sitting came to an end. The Andals and my parents stood up and departed, leaving MJ and me alone. "Gonna stand there and stare at me all day? I might just melt," she replied, her voice crisp, a twinkle of amusement in her eyes. I snapped my head away, my cheeks flushing. "Tsk," I managed to get out, a low growl of irritation. "I want you to understand, If you think I wanted this arranged marriage, you are very wrong." she told me firmly and clearly before she turned around and walked off, leaving me dazed. "But nevertheless, you agreed. What is the difference?" i complained to myself before getting out of the restaurant.
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The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 02
I was driving to the bar where my friends' and my regular meeting place, when the city lights smeared outside the windows, familiar but doing nothing to soothe the knot curling in my stomach. My mind was a jumble, still replaying the awkward, stilted encounter with my so-called 'future in-laws.' My phone had rung, the insistent ring cutting through the whine of the engine. It was Josh. "Hello, bro!" his booming voice came over the speaker. "Yeah?" I replied, my voice flat. "We're at the bar, come on down?" "I'm coming." "Alright, we'll wait for you." I floored the gas, the car speeding ahead. Luckily, there was light traffic, and I reached the bar in a minute. It was still early afternoon, but the early birds had already occupied the joint, the atmosphere humming. My group and I were virtually regulars, or at least a few of us were. "Man, Here!" I heard a shout from across the way, and I spotted them, gesturing towards our regular booth. "So, what's this all about? W
Last Updated : 2025-04-01The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 03
The beams of sunlight shot through the window into my face, and dragged me from a heavy slumber.I groaned and opened my eyelids with sort of difficulty. As I tried to rise, a lightning bolt would wind its way between my temples—a cruel reminder of the night before "What the hell happened?" Confusion engulfed me. This wasn't my room. A man made it with the sterile modern designs and minimalist furniture screaming 'not mine.' Panic started to tickle my consciousness. I hurriedly checked my clothes. I was clothed- simple white shirt with grey sweatpants. Still, the question gnawed on me; how? “Tell me that I didn't have a one-night stand, please.” There was a woman with her arms crossed and leaning against the door frame when it creaked and opened. She wore a dark blue shirt with white sweatpants. The long cascade of black hair draped down her shoulders, while her facial expression did not suggest that very friendly. "You awake, huh? You can leave now," she informed, her tone abbre
Last Updated : 2025-04-01The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 04
After a shower, I picked out a simple white shirt and black shorts. I looked into the mirror, studying myself, trying to decide if I looked fairly decent. Like I really cared how I looked, of course. I'm smilingly good-looking. I caught myself glaring into my mirror, and frustration came sweeping back as memories of last night unfolded. I sighed and dropped down onto the side of the bed. 'Why in the world did she do that?' I hadn't done anything to make her doubt me. She had even said to me that she believed in me, that I wouldn't cheat on her. And I believed her. I believed she would not go look for someone else. But, before we even were through, she was with someone else. A two-timing cheater. 'Is that how women are these days?' Three rapid knocks sounded from the other side of my door. I sighed internally, dreading another round of questioning from my mom. But when I opened the door, it was not my womanizing buddies standing there. "Hey!" CJ said, beaming at me. "Lyron, my b
Last Updated : 2025-04-01The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 05
The summer haze has lifted up and replaced itself with one crisp, almost electrifying, energy of a wholly new academic year. Old books intermixed with freshly waxed floors filled the air while traversing the hurrying corridors of the university-a forced marriage, a confusing encounter with MJ, and a painful breakup with Karen: all of these left a bitter aftertaste at the back of my throat, and I was determined to bury myself in my studies as if in search of some remnant of normalcy. This first day, an unbearable cacophony of introductions, syllabus distributions, and inevitable small talk dawned like wild. I went out staring like in some daze, having my mind replaying the past few weeks. It was during this most incredibly boring macroeconomic theory lecture that I actually spotted her. MJ. She was seated a few rows before me, correcting her posture, and then devoting her attention to the professor. Instead of letting dark hair hang loose, it was slickly pulled back into a ponytail
Last Updated : 2025-04-01
Latest chapter
The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 05
The summer haze has lifted up and replaced itself with one crisp, almost electrifying, energy of a wholly new academic year. Old books intermixed with freshly waxed floors filled the air while traversing the hurrying corridors of the university-a forced marriage, a confusing encounter with MJ, and a painful breakup with Karen: all of these left a bitter aftertaste at the back of my throat, and I was determined to bury myself in my studies as if in search of some remnant of normalcy. This first day, an unbearable cacophony of introductions, syllabus distributions, and inevitable small talk dawned like wild. I went out staring like in some daze, having my mind replaying the past few weeks. It was during this most incredibly boring macroeconomic theory lecture that I actually spotted her. MJ. She was seated a few rows before me, correcting her posture, and then devoting her attention to the professor. Instead of letting dark hair hang loose, it was slickly pulled back into a ponytail
The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 04
After a shower, I picked out a simple white shirt and black shorts. I looked into the mirror, studying myself, trying to decide if I looked fairly decent. Like I really cared how I looked, of course. I'm smilingly good-looking. I caught myself glaring into my mirror, and frustration came sweeping back as memories of last night unfolded. I sighed and dropped down onto the side of the bed. 'Why in the world did she do that?' I hadn't done anything to make her doubt me. She had even said to me that she believed in me, that I wouldn't cheat on her. And I believed her. I believed she would not go look for someone else. But, before we even were through, she was with someone else. A two-timing cheater. 'Is that how women are these days?' Three rapid knocks sounded from the other side of my door. I sighed internally, dreading another round of questioning from my mom. But when I opened the door, it was not my womanizing buddies standing there. "Hey!" CJ said, beaming at me. "Lyron, my b
The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 03
The beams of sunlight shot through the window into my face, and dragged me from a heavy slumber.I groaned and opened my eyelids with sort of difficulty. As I tried to rise, a lightning bolt would wind its way between my temples—a cruel reminder of the night before "What the hell happened?" Confusion engulfed me. This wasn't my room. A man made it with the sterile modern designs and minimalist furniture screaming 'not mine.' Panic started to tickle my consciousness. I hurriedly checked my clothes. I was clothed- simple white shirt with grey sweatpants. Still, the question gnawed on me; how? “Tell me that I didn't have a one-night stand, please.” There was a woman with her arms crossed and leaning against the door frame when it creaked and opened. She wore a dark blue shirt with white sweatpants. The long cascade of black hair draped down her shoulders, while her facial expression did not suggest that very friendly. "You awake, huh? You can leave now," she informed, her tone abbre
The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 02
I was driving to the bar where my friends' and my regular meeting place, when the city lights smeared outside the windows, familiar but doing nothing to soothe the knot curling in my stomach. My mind was a jumble, still replaying the awkward, stilted encounter with my so-called 'future in-laws.' My phone had rung, the insistent ring cutting through the whine of the engine. It was Josh. "Hello, bro!" his booming voice came over the speaker. "Yeah?" I replied, my voice flat. "We're at the bar, come on down?" "I'm coming." "Alright, we'll wait for you." I floored the gas, the car speeding ahead. Luckily, there was light traffic, and I reached the bar in a minute. It was still early afternoon, but the early birds had already occupied the joint, the atmosphere humming. My group and I were virtually regulars, or at least a few of us were. "Man, Here!" I heard a shout from across the way, and I spotted them, gesturing towards our regular booth. "So, what's this all about? W
The Unwanted Marriage Chapter 01
The very highly finished mahogany table was cold on my trembling hands. My relatives were seated in front of me, faces twisted into practiced complacency, the smiles strained, set on the parents of my so-called 'bride-to-be.' It was one of those situations you view out of a history film, the only difference being we were greeted with the dignified silence of an upper-class dining room instead of a quill and parchment. An arranged marriage. The words still echoed in my mind as a grim joke. How many times had I pleaded with my parents, explained, even shouted, that I did have a girlfriend? A woman I loved, fiercely and irrevocably. The possibility of being bound to another, a stranger, made me shiver with icy fury. Whatever this woman was, desperate enough to take on this ancient trade-off, I vowed to torment her life. "Mrs. Alcantara, my sincerest apologies for my daughter's tardiness," Mrs. Andal's awkward politeness pushed through my simmering rage. "Jarros, where's MJ? Do call he
