Chapter 3

Maureen was pensive in her room, while staring out the window.

"So, a man who will be arranged marriage with me, is my boss. Someone who looks as if he hates me" she muttered, looking ahead, with a blank look.

When she found out, the man who had arranged marriange with her, that's was her boss, she immediately thought about rejecting the arranged marriage. Because she didn't want to marry with a man, who seemed to hate her so much.

"Maureen, one day, you will marry with a man, whom I have arranged marriage with you. That man, is the son of my best friend. We are sure, you will live happily with that man."

But suddenly, she remembered what her father had said. Remembering that, made her immediately close her eyes for a moment.

Then she opened her eyes, and look toward to the nightstand. There, she saw a frame, and inside the frame was a picture of her and her parents.

Immediately she walked towards the nightstand, and stopped her steps near there. Then she took the frame, and pay attention to it.

"Father, Mother, do I have to accept the arranged marriage, which you have already planned? What if I refuse?" she said, while continuing to pay attention to the object, "Because, the man who will be my husband is a man, who is the boss of the company where I work. For me, he is a man who is arrogant, even very arrogant. And honestly, I don't like him, and I don't. want to have a husband like himself, even though he is so handsome, and charming" she continued.

Slowly, she rubbed the photo that was in the frame, and said, "May I not comply with your request, just this time?".

.........

Arthur and his parents had just finished, having breakfast together. Last night, his father's plan to invite Maureen to have dinner with them is keep running, only Arthur doesn't participate, because after saying that, he just went to his room, and didn't come out until Maureen came home. Because of his attitude, his father felt bad to the girl.

"So how, you will still accept the arranged marriage, right?" asked his father.

Arthur's face immediately turned flat, after hearing the question, which was asked by his father, "Sorry, but I can't accept the arranged marriage," he replied.

"Why can't?" asked his father again, frowning.

"Because I don't like that girl" replied Arthur, with his head down.

"You don't like her, because she did something wrong to you? By accidentally bumping into you, on her first day of work," said his father, squinting.

"That's one of them" said Arthur, nodding his head.

"But that's just a trivial matter, Arthur" said his father.

"Yes, I know that. But somehow, I don't like her, Dad. In fact, just looking at her face, I don't want to" said Arthur, raising his head, and looking at his father.

With a little heavy, his father sighed, and looked away, "But unfortunately, you still have to accept the arranged marriage, Arthur" he said.

"But Dad–"

"You don't like her?" his father said, turning to him, and cutting off his words, "I don't care, whatever the reason, you must still accept the arranged marriage. Because I don't want to break a promise with my best friend, who is Maureen's father. Especially if I remember, he that is gone," he continued, looking ahead.

Hearing what his father said, made Arthur annoyed, then he lowered his head, and said, "Why do you always force me, to do what you want?".

"Because you are my son, so you must obey all my injunction. Besides, it's for your good" replied his father.

"But sorry, for this time I can't do what you want" said Arthur, as he got up from the chair he was sitting on, and just walked away.

"Fine, it's okay. But after this, you have to prepare to be homeless, and leave this house, without bringing anything" said his father.

Arthur immediately stop his stepped, and became a statue, after hearing what his father said.

"Because I will take everything I have given to you, Arthur" said the man in his 50s, staring at the back of his son, "And remember, you are nothing without me," he continued.

Arthur snapped out of his reverie, after hearing what his father had said. But he just sighed, and rolled his eyes, without saying anything.

"So you should think about it very well, don't let you regret because following your egoism" said his father.

But Arthur just sighed again, and resumed his steps, without saying anything.

.........

"Maureen, are you all right?" Sophie asked, looking at her co-worker from the side.

Maureen woke up from her reverie, after hearing the question, which was asked by her friend, "Yes, I'm fine" she replied.

"Then why are you silent, and daydreaming? Are you in trouble?" Sophie asked again, staring at Maureen from the side.

Immediately Maureen shook her head, and smile, "Nothing," she replied, deliberately lying. Because she couldn't say what she was thinking, to that co-worker. Especially if the remember, she only knew the woman a few days ago.

"If there isn't, why do you keep daydreaming? As if there's something you're thinking about," Sophie said, frowning.

A smile forced to be carved by Maureen, then she shook her head, and said, "But I really don't have a problem, and I'm not thinking about anything. It's just that today I'm in a bad mood, but I don't know what the reason".

"Is it true?" Sophie asked, and Maureen immediately nodded her head, "Okay, but if you want to tell a story, then don't feel embarrassed, because I will be a good listener. After all, we are friends, it's appropriate to share stories" she continued, nodding her head, and looked away.

Maureen immediately gave a smile, and turned to her friend, after hearing what the woman had said. Then she nodded her head, and said, "Okay, later if I need a place to pour my heart out, then I will definitely tell you."

"It has to be, because we are friends," Sophie said, turning towards Maureen, and looking at her from the side, "And, I will do the same, if I need a place to pour of my heart out later," she continued, smile.

Maureen just smiled, and nodded her head, without saying anything. But in her heart, she said, "I'm sorry Sophie, because I can't tell you, what I'm thinking. Besides, we just met, so I can't trust you completely".