Chapter 5: What is he? A dragon?

~How silly, she thought to herself to let one boy's opinion of her ruin her mood. How completely and utterly preposterous to give him so much power.~

Hannah would come home only deep at night when everyone would be sleeping. She was trying her best to avoid the situation from repeating again. She was unaware of this fact too that her marriage had been fixed. As a result, a week went by and it was already a weekend. After that day, she didn't come in front of her stepfather. But today, it was a weekend and she had no choice but to face him.

Fortunately, her mother and her little brother Joon were home too. Joon is 16 years old and a 10th grader. He does not know what really happened between Hannah and Daniel but he has the idea that the intentions of their father is not good for her.Daniel was injured. His rib was broken but Anna made her come to the dining table for breakfast.

Hannah helped her mother and when they sat on the table, she avoided eye contact with him and because of him she has stopped wearing any skirt or revealing clothes even at home too. The look in his eyes just disgusted her. It scares her.

Even now, she has started to think of every man as a hungry beast who is ready to tear apart his prey. She just started to eat when the mother Anna announced, “I have fixed the marriage of Hannah".

That a bolt out of the blue. Marriage??? Did they hear her right?

Hannah was shocked by her words and the chopsticks from her hand fell on the table with a clattering sound. But someone else besides her was more than shocked.

“What are you saying, Eomma (Mom in Korean)?” Joon asked Anna. “Yes, what are you saying? She is too young for marriage and also underage. They might be legal problems......" Daniel started to complain but one glare from Anna was enough to shut his mouth.

Anna wanted to slap him hard. Hasn’t he come back to his senses yet? This is because of him, that she has taken this dangerous step.

“You..” She pointed at him, “Stay away from our matters. It is just enough for you to know that she is getting married and Hannah I am not listening to no. It has been decided and that’s it. It is my final decision". Anna made it clear to everyone in the room.

“Eomma, marriage is not the part of my plans”. Hannah felt this so unfair. Why is she suffering because of this shit? This is not her fault. She tolerated all the harassment and now marriage too.

Why?

Why is every coming problem bigger than the previous one?

Is there any peace in her life?

“I said it's been decided". Anna emphasized each word while looking at her daughter.

Hannah lost her appetite. She got up from the seat, put her bowl in the sink and went to the library.

She wanted to cry but there was no one who would comfort her? Thus, she dropped the idea and opened her books.But her mind was filled with a lot of unanswered questions. 'Who is the man?' She thought. 'He must be someone old and ugly.' She answered her own question. Otherwise who will agree to marry an under age? 'Maybe Eomma had gotten money from him. Maybe she is selling me.' She started to suspect her mother too.

'She is also bad.' A drop of tear fell on her book, staining it.

'Why is there no peace in my life?' She hid her face with the palms. 'I will run away from home. I will live on the streets but I will not marry him.' She decided and this rebellious thought sparked a glint in her dark eyes.

She was curious about him too but her heart was not calming down. The restlessness and anxiety was surpassing everything. She was feeling more and more depressed with the passage of time.

The time passed by in the blink of an eye and she did not learn a single word. If she does not get good grades then the dream of studying in an international university will blow away and she will be stuck here.

But she does not want that at all. Secondly, it is not all about getting admission. She has to get a scholarship too. Since she cannot afford the expensive tutoring.But her current situation was affecting her mentality too much.

Hannah called it a day and wrapped up her things and went to the part time job. The day passed by and when she went home at night, Anna came to her room.

As soon as Hannah saw her mother she said, “Eomma we need to talk". She uncontrollably cried to see her mother.

"We really do, Hannah”. She said, looking at her daughter with pitiful eyes.

“Who is he?” She asked the most important question first.

“Zion.” Anna answered in a single word and that single word was enough to take away the earth under her feet.

Hannah is quite close with Angela. Angela is a nice and kind lady and she likes her a lot. Due to the close connection with her, Hannah is aware of Zion. Angela always talks about him.

Once, Angela was talking with Anna on a video call and Hannah came to say hi to her. But at that moment, she caught a glimpse of him.He was wearing black pants with white shirt. His sleeves were rolled over till his elbows. However, she couldn't see his face. The camera was facing his back and with long strides he was climbing up the stairs. Maybe going to his bedroom.

One more thing, he said "Good night" to his mother at that time too. Unconsciously, those two words sent butterflies in her stomach. His deep, hoarse and sexy voice was enough to weaken the knees of all. She has never felt so attracted towards anyone this much before.

Only his voice was enough to stir so many emotions with which she was unfamiliar. Without his knowing, he definitely has shaken up her entire word. If his voice has so much impact on her, then what will happen when they will really talk to each other? Face-to-face?

She has never seen him but she has always been curious about him. Angela always tries to make a good impression of him all the time.

"Eomma. What are you saying? Isn't he also 19? And has he agreed?" Deep down in her heart she prayed for his affirmation.

Wait!!!

Just a few hours ago, she was planning to run away from home instead of marrying. Now, what happened?

"Yes, he agreed. He is a good boy, Hannah. Angela also loves you. You can finish your schooling here and take admission in Manchester with Zion. They are more than willing to help you and it was the idea of Angela. She proposed this solution when I told her about the behaviour of Daniel towards you." Anna paused to observe her closely.

"Don't worry, Hannah. They will take better care of you than me. I assure you." She held her hand, "And forgive your incompetent mother. I couldn't protect you." Her old eyes filled with tears.

"Why are you saying this? You have done more than enough for me. You don't have an idea how thankful I am towards you." She calmed down her mother even though she needed to calm down first. But Hannah thought of something else.

"Eomma, why marriage? I mean, they can just help me in taking admission at any university in Manchester. It is not necessary to be bound in a tie."

She asked."I know it is hard to accept it but I cannot trust the world anymore. You are not safe in your own home, how can I rest assured that you will be safe miles away? I cannot make them responsible for you without any relation. That will be so shameless of me. Even though I am selfish right now." She explained.

Anna was right. If Hannah will be the wife of Zion they will all protect her in a better way. Rather they will think of her just as the daughter of a friend who came abroad for the studies. Naturally, Hannah is an independent girl.

Mother knows that she will never ask them for help that way too. With the knot of marriage, she will live with them and they will take better care of her and she will be assured of her side.Everything made sense to her now.

"Hannah, you have no objection, right? I am sorry if I am forcing you." Anna said to her.

Hannah shook her head in no. Her life is already on the verge of collapsing. It doesn't matter anymore if another thing becomes a part of it. Probably, it is also the start of a brand new life which she always hoped for.Anna left her room.

Hannah immediately locked the door and laid on the bed. It especially felt like a long day. Her brain was getting clouded with his thoughts. She grabbed her phone and logged in to Instagram.

She has an account with a username "Lost in the unknown." Hannah does not have any friends so it is a public account. But she does not post her pictures there. Most of her posts are environment related. Like the pictures of sky, trees, birds, water or falling leaves, flowers etc.

On the day of the accident when she was going to school on the bus, the weather was very cloudy. She took a picture of it and posted. But after that day, she got no time to open it. There were few notifications. She clicked on the one that showed she had received a comment. "Then go and die. What are you waiting for? Or should I tell you the ways to die painlessly?"

She read once.

Twice.

Thrice.

Was it for real?

She read the user ID.

It was a bit unusual. "Knight rider." She mouthed the name.

"Who is he? A dragon?" She pointed at the knight rider in 'How to train your dragon.' She opened his account. I

t was private and the profile picture was too dark and smoky to see his face. He was smoking in the picture. She hated all the smokers. Daniel (stepfather) also smokes. Unconsciously, whatever he does makes it disgusting for her. Her english is quite good.

Thousands of miles away, a phone beeped.