Chapter 3 Decision

“Why are you sending me here, Elle?”Cindy asked.

I sighed.

“Cindy…” I had trouble mentioning her name.

“You used to call my name, Elle. I've been asking you why you b me here, ”she said.

I stared at the white ceiling of my room.

“Will you tell me something, Elle. We've been here in your room for a few minutes, ”Cindy said impatiently.

“I need your advice, Cindy. I was confused, I didn’t know what to do. " I said.

“What kind of advice? Advice for falling in love? ”She asked.

“I just came home from Aunt Amy's house. And the situation is so chaotic now, Cindy. " I said.

"Why, then?" She asked.

“Our parents agreed to arrange  marriage for Harris and me,” I said. She was surprised by what I said and his brain seemed to be loading.

“Arrange marriage? Why would they do that? ”She wondered.

“It’s very complicated, Cindy. You know I love Harris but he doesn't love me. So, I still don't agree with that arranged marriage. ” I said.

“I can’t get it, Elle. Explain it properly, ”she said.

“Our parents agreed to marry Harris and me. Because they don't want Serah', ”I said.

“Why would they do that? Harris's girlfriend is Serah, ”she said and she's like confused.

“Serah is engage,” I said.

"What? Is that true?" Are they engaged to Harris? Cindy asked incredulously.

“With her fellow models,” I said.

"What do you mean, Elle?" Shw asked a confused question.

“Aunt Emy is investigating. And they found out that it had been engaged for a long time. And they want to take Harris away from Serah. That will only happen if I marry Harris,” I said.

“I don’t think Serah is that kind of person. Why haven't you told Harris yet? ” She asked.

“They can't tell Harris the truth. He loves Serah very much and I don't think Harris will really believe if we tell him that Serah is just fooling him, ”I said.

"But, Harris already knows that they agreed to arrange marriage for you?" She asked.

“Yes. He already knew and he was furious because of what he found out. I even went to our house to take them to their house, ”I said. My vision caught my wrist. Still blushing it's because of Harris's tight grip on me.

”But, I will just understand him. Anyone will be angry if they suddenly find out that he will marry another woman, ”I said.

“She still needs to know, Elle. What if your marriage continues after Harris gets even angrier with you,” she said.

“I don’t know, Cindy. I don't know what to do,” I said.

“Mom's  already knows about Serah's secret. My only concern is that we will be married in a month, ”I said.

“Even, I can’t believe it, Elle. If you and Harris have arranged a marriage, it means you can't back down, ”she said.

“I'm not ready to get married yet. What I want is for me to get married only if I have a man I love and I truly love, ”I said.

"Eh, it looks like Harris is the man assigned to you." Cindy said suddenly.

“That’s unlikely to happen, Cindy. If we are the ones who are set, why in this situation? ” I said

"We know Harris is your firstlove," she said.

“I don’t know, Cindy. I'll be honest with you, I'm not ready to get married yet. " I said.

“All I can advise you, my friend. Spend a few days and then talk to your future husband,” she said.

“I am sure that Harris and I will not continue our marriage. And besides, that won't allow her to marry me. If you were just at Auntie Amy's house, you would definitely be scared of Harris. ” I said.

I lifted my blushing wrist in front of Cindy. “Do you see it? Harris did that, the tightness of his grip so even now it's still red. ” I said.

It was depressing and seemed to be thinking of something to say to me. “If only what happened to you happened to me. I'm not sure I'll try to talk to him calmly. ”It said.

I did not speak. Soon we heard someone knocking from outside my room. I waited for the person knocking outside my door to speak.

“Elle, I'm coming in. ”We heard Mommy  say. I adjusted my seat, before speaking.

“Come in, mom. " I said. The door opened slowly until I saw mom  she carrying two glasses of juice on the tray.

She laid it on the mini table in my room.

“Cindy and I have a snack, Elle. ”Mom said. I nodded.

"Do you need anything?" I asked as I remained seated.

“Did Harris send you here? ”Mom said. It looks like Mom didn't know what happened before because it was obvious that no one knew.

I sighed before deciding to answer his question.

“Harris took me to Auntie Amy's house. He is very angry because he found out that he will marry me, ”I said and sighed again.

Mommy came up to me and sat down  beside   me. She grabbed my bed and squeezed it lightly. Mom smiled.

“Elle, your dad will forgive us. But, we also want to help Harris ’parent. I hope you understand us, Elle. ” Mom said calmly. I was about to speak when Cindy suddenly stood up.

“Elle, I'll probably go first. I still have work to do in my shop. ” She said and slung his shoulder bag over his shoulder.

"You just got here, Cindy." I said.

"I'll come here someday, you need to talk to Auntie." She said this and smiled. I remember nodding.

"Sure. Be careful when you go home, ”I said.

"Auntie, I'm going home."  She's saying goodbye to my Mom.

Mom left beside me and approached Cindy. Mom opened the door for my friend.

"Please be patient with me and I still bother you," Mom  said..

“Its okay, auntie. Elle will talk to you another day, ” Cindy said.

"I'm leaving," she just said and went out the door. Cindy glanced at me first before walking away from my room. Moments later, Mom's closed the door and came back to me.

“Don't apologize to me, Mom. Auntie Emy has already told me the reason why they thought of arranging marriage for Harris and me, ”I said.

"Emy told you?" Mom's question was unbelievable. I nodded weakly and averted my eyes from Mom. I don’t want him to see me having a hard time deciding and confused as to what exactly I should choose.

"It's been a month since you got married?" Mom said.

“Maybe there is another way to keep Harris away from Serah. Harris doesn't love me so we can't get married, ”I said.

“Nothing is impossible, Elle. Harris will also learn to love you. Maybe, it wouldn’t be easy for him to forget Serah. But, when you two get married, he might learn to love you.” Mom's said

“When is that, Mom? You know, he's treating me like a sister ”I said sadly. No matter how hard I try, he just treats me like a younger sister. I agree with everything. I couldn't understand then why they didn't like Serah so much that they knew her secret. But, even then I still have no right to judge him. Maybe, when Harris comes to find out his girlfriend’s secret I’ll find out what Serah’s reason is why she was able to cheat on Harris.

“Did you know that  Dad only arranged marriage for us? We intend not to tell you this, Elle. But, you need to know it. ” I was speechless at what I heard from Mom's mouth. My heartbeat quickened. I was shocked because as Mom's revealed, I can't believe that arranged marriage also happened to them before. But, I didn't know that they also arranged marriage because they love each other very much.

“When your dad married us because of our parents' agreement. It looks like the same thing happened between your dad and me, Elle. We didn’t get along and always argued but, as long as our marriage lasted. We realize that why, we don’t try to love each other. And forget the bad things that happened to us. Until you became  and  harm's your dad's life. So I hope you trust me  and of course to your Daddy too,  Elle. We will not put you in harm's way because you are our child and you are the result of our love for your father, ” Mom's said at length. It was as if my fears were suddenly relieved by what I had learned.

“Why did you just tell me today? ”I wondered.

"So, you know that nothing is impossible if you try to love each other when you two are married," Mom's said.

“What if Harris hates me instead of loving me? ”I was afraid to say. I was afraid to myself that if I loved him more I would be hurt even more if I was not the flesh of his heart.

“There’s nothing wrong with trying, Elle. It's not hard to love you, son. You are a kind and perfect woman. ” Mom's praises me.

“I don’t know, Mom. But, all I know is that he needs to know that Serah is just cheating on him but, I have no right to interfere in their relationship.” I said.

“You're right, Elle. But, you know that Harris is treated like my son. And I want to get him away from that woman. She doesn’t deserve Harris ’love, Elle.

“And you want to? Am I the one Harris loves? " I will ask.

“Not like that, Elle. Your dad and I just want you to be a decent man. What you can defend, make all people proud. ” Mom said, I gasped.

“We are not what awaits us in the future. But, what I am praying for is that Harris will not harbor resentment towards his parents, ”