Chapter Two

“What took you so long there? And what happened? Why did you run?” Jaira asked me. “Just focus on driving fast, okay?” I answered. I am hoping that the man in the bar earlier didn’t follow us anymore.

“What really happened there, Andricia? Can you please explain to me?”

“I just encountered a really weird guy inside the bar. I couldn’t see you because you left me there. That’s why I roamed around the bar again to find you and I bumped into a real maniac guy. That’s why I ran to avoid him. I don’t want to be involve in any trouble now. Especially since the pre-final examination is coming,” I said, lying to her.

I don’t want to tell her that I got a revenge to one of her guys for her. She might laugh at me for doing that. Ugh! My blood is boiling whenever I think on how that guy tried to seduce me. As if he can kiss me and do something with my body. I will kill him first before he can do that thing to me. I am not an easy-to-get woman. Unlike the women surrounding him earlier! I hope we wouldn’t cross paths ever again.

When I got home, I said goodbye to my best friend and sent her home. I immediately took a shower and after that, I laid myself to bed. He was the first guy who didn’t respected me at all. Or maybe because I just barged into his private room, even though we didn’t know each other? Ah! I will just forget about him. He’s not worth thinking. I should be focusing on my studies. I am a grade conscious student after all.

***

The pre-finals examination was already done, and the results are out. My classmates immediately ran towards the bulletin board to see their ranks from the exams. But I don’t mind looking at the results anymore. I am confident that I aced the exams once again.

“Andri! Congrats! Well, I don’t think I need to congrats you because I know that you already expected the results. But I still want to congratulate you for being the top one again on our overall year level!” Jaira shouted and hugged me. I smiled at her.

“Thanks. It’s not a big deal anymore. I already knew that no one could beat me here,” I answered. She rolled her eyes because of what I said. “Fine, fine. Whatever. Anyways, shall we celebrate now? I came top ten! I was in top fifteen last examinations.”

“You could be on the top two on our finals if you just study hard. If you reach the top two, I will hang out with you even more.”

“Is that your style to motivate me to study harder?”

I just laughed and pulled her. I will treat her now since I’m in a good mood. “Where are we going now?” she asked. “We will eat to a fancy restaurant. I will treat you. Why? You don’t want?”

I saw how shocked she was when she heard what I have said. “Oh, gosh! Really? You will treat me, and you will hang out with me?! That’s new, Andricia!”

“It would be for the meantime since pre-finals examinations just finished. I will start studying again for the preparation of finals.”

“Well, that’s understandable. I think I will get this opportunity to take you for shopping after we eat!” she said excitedly. Well, we can’t hang out always. That’s why I understand why she’s too excited now.

We went to a nearby fancy restaurant in our university, and we ordered every food that we like. She’s really enjoying my treat for her. Our orders arrived and we started eating.

“My mom asked me last time about why I am always bringing home too many gifts. I told her that it was from your suitors, and you don’t want to accept those gifts, that’s why I was the one benefiting from it. Then my mom just laughed and told me to be like you. Since you’re always focusing on your studies and doesn’t have any interest in men,” she started making a topic to talk to.

“As you really should do. Why don’t you want to be like me? Men are trash. They will just hurt you if you’re already madly in love with them. They are all the same. To be honest, I don’t want to marry anyone. I think no one can fit to be my husband, so I’ll just stay single forever,” I said.

She laughed when she heard what I said, “Are you kidding me right now, Andri? There’s no way that you can stay single forever. Whether you like it or not, you will find someone who you will love and will get marry.”

“How can you be so sure that I will marry a man? I really don’t want to get marry. Having a family is a pain in the ass and I don’t want a hard life after I graduate in college. I just want to work until I die. I will only love myself.”

“Well, you could say that for now. But don’t be so sure because time flies and your decisions can change anytime.”

I just shrugged my shoulders and didn’t argue with her anymore. But I know to myself that I will never let myself be in love to any man. I don’t want to suffer pain just because of love. I have seen many movies and read many books about love and it’s hard. Before reaching the happy ending, you will need to suffer and feel the pain because of love.

When we finished eating, we will about to go to the mall for shopping but I received a call from my mom. This is so random. My mom doesn’t call me. I think it’s important, so I immediately answered her call. I excused myself to Jaira and she just nodded.

“Hello, Mom? What’s with the call?”

[“I know that your classes are already over. Go home now. I have something important to discuss with you.”] I can sense how serious that important thing that she will say to me because of her voice.

“Can’t it wait? I was about to go to the mall with Jaira. We are currently celebrating the results of our examinations.”

[“Andricia, this is more important than shopping. Go home now. This can’t wait.  You can reschedule your bonding with your friend, honey.”]

Since I don’t have any choice, “Fine. I’ll go home now,” I answered. Then I hang up the call. “Why? Who called you?” Jaira asked me. She’s so excited earlier because we will about to go shopping, so I feel guilty right now to tell her that we have to reschedule our plans for today. But I have no choice but to obey my mom.

“I’m sorry but my mom called me and told me to go home now. They have something important to discuss with me immediately. I want to go shopping with you, but I can’t today. I’m sorry, Jai.”

“Hey, it’s fine! You should go now if it’s important. We can just go shopping next time, since you will have more time on me now, right? That’s what you said earlier.”

“Are you sure that it’s fine with you?”

“Of course! Besides, you already treated me earlier in a fancy restaurant. So, we can have another bonding next time.”

I nodded at her. Thank goodness that she understood my situation. “Thanks, Jai. I will see you tomorrow then. Take care!” We said goodbye to each other then I immediately drove my car away from the restaurant.

When I got home, I saw my parents sitting in the sofa. I kissed both of them in their cheeks and sat in front of them. “What’s this important matter that you have to discuss with me?” I asked.

“Don’t be shocked, okay?” Mom said. I just nodded and waited for what she will going to tell me. “You will be going to marry the son of Hilario’s, Andricia.”

“W-What?!”

“Me and your father decided to marry you off, since you’re already twenty-three years old. Andri, you know that we care about you right? That’s why we already found the man that we can entrust you with. We want you to marry the son of the Hilario’s.”

“Mom, are you kidding me? Why would I marry a stranger? And I don’t want to get married! I’m still a student and I’m trying my best to graduate as a summa cum laude, so that you will be proud of me, and you won’t try to marry me off to someone I don’t know personally. I knew that you would do this someday, but I didn’t expect it to be this soon.”

“You need to understand. We’re already old, Andri. We can’t take care of you forever, so you need to marry someone from a wealthy family. In this way, we are sure that you’re safe in the hand of a right man,” she said. I laughed unbelievably because of what my mom said.

“Mom, do you even hear yourself? How would you know that the man I will going to marry is the right man? I bet that you also don’t know him personally. You’re not concern about me. You are concern about your businesses. And you’re using me to keep your businesses more successful. I don’t care about what you will going to say to me, but I won’t ever marry any man.”

I stood up and was about to go to my room when my father spoke. “You won’t be able to continue your study if you don’t want to marry him. You won’t graduate and you’re grounded. That’s the consequences if you disobey our order to you,” he said seriously. I almost cry because of what he said.

“I don’t need anyone to stay by my side. I can live in this world by myself and without the help of others. So why should I get marry? I don’t understand!”

“You already said it yourself, we care about our businesses. And I will use you no matter what to keep my businesses more successful. You are born in this world for this, accept it or not.”

I can’t believe what just my father has said to me. Marrying is a choice and should not be forced to someone. But why am I born from a high-class family that only cares for the business and not for their daughter? I hate my life! I hate that I was born in a high-class family. I hate that they are controlling my life, which is not right. I could be any help to their businesses, especially since I'm a genius person. But they don't let me help them in ang way, except being married to a wealthy man.

I really hate to be committed to any one. I just want to flirt around and have fun using men. But what now? I will going to get marry soon? I guess my parents doesn't care about my feelings at all. They just want to control me, to benefit their businesses and companies. I can't handle this kind of situation, but I don't have any choice. I'm their daughter, so I must follow what they want me to do. I guess I will just live like this.

Who would be the man that I will going to marry soon? Is he worth it to marry?