2 ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????!!!

"Mah!"

My father called me once again, a little bit louder, but not enough to be heard from outside the living room.

Once I enter the room, my eyes meet the back of my father, staring outside the window. I walk closer, sharing the scene in front of us. The guests are exchanging pleasantries, obviously enjoying themselves.

Some are mingling with other guests. The kids are running around. Some parents are busy feeding the small ones while having conversations with those sitting close to them. I do think that the gathering at weddings can be considered as another type of reunion but with a different theme and with an air of grandeur.

Standing here quietly, it looks like a TV scene minus the background music and clear dialogues. They don't have any clue that this wedding ceremony might end early without completion. I shake my head, frustrated at this absurd situation.

What are we going to do now? That question was at the tip of my tongue, but I forced it down. I don't want to trouble my father any more with that kind of question. I just stood there patiently, waiting until he was ready to talk.

A few minutes of heavy silence passes before he turns around and faces me.

" The groom family has already arrived."

I nod, acknowledging his statement. Closing the four fingers of my right hand and raising my thumb, I pinpoint over my shoulder toward the door and raise my eyebrows.

"Yes, they are the ones from the groom family."

So it was the groom family as I thought but, where are the parents?

"With your sister still missing, we only have one choice."

I nodded again. It's true if the bride is still missing, how can the wedding still continue? It's not easy to cancel the wedding and leave unscathed. Losing face can't be avoided.

But what is the best way to minimize the damage? I was deep in thought, racking my brain to help my father find the best solution. I'm jumping a little bit when I'm surprised by my father grabbing my shoulder.

"Will you?"

"Will I what?" I asked stupidly.

My father's shoulder sagged down and he gave out a deep long 1,000 years worth kind of sigh. I know right now I'm wearing a distressed expression with his reaction.

"I'm so sorry father, can you repeat it again? From the beginning?"

My father raised his head and granted my request.

"Your sister is still missing"

I nodded a few times.

"We are left with one option."

I nodded again. I agree with you, dad. I know it's not easy to cancel it without losing face. I acknowledge it in my heart.

"Will you replace your sister?"

My mind came to a screeching halt. I'm probably too tired due to the vigorous exercise earlier. I shake my head a few times to clear my mind.

"Father, the last sentence. Can you repeat it again?

My father answered by punctuating every single word.

"Will.You.Replace.Your.Sister?"

Loud and clear. Yep, I didn't mishear anything.

"ARE YOU FREAKING KIDDING ME????!!!"

If I said that to my father, I would be totally out of my mind. I'd be literally asking myself to get a beating from my father for being such a rude daughter. So, of course, I rephrase my sentence even though I was flabbergasted when he blurted out that unexpected request.

"Father, are you serious?"

I know my father. He never jokes about a serious matter. Thinking again, he never jokes around his children. In my eyes, he is a very serious but loving person. A patient parent too when handling a scatter-brain daughter like me.

Apart from that, he never demands anything out of his children's ability. So why now?

Don't panic. Don't panic. I repeated this mantra inside my head.

"Calm down father. This is not a simple matter. What is on your mind, actually?"

I can't read his expression. Is he seriously asking me to do that? Father remained silent while watching me. And my poor mind was playing havoc with my emotions.

If this were shoujo manga, anything would be possible but this is real life. My life.

But if this were a shoujo manga with me as the mangaka (comic artist), of course, there would be certain criteria for the heroine to accept this absurd request.

First. The groom must be very handsome.

Pass with flying color with a rainbow on the top. All the three guys outside already blew the handsomeness chart level. Especially the one in the middle.

Second. He must be coming from wealth.

Pass, I think. Judging from what I've heard (eavesdropped, to put correctly). But I don't know details. YET. I mean, it's not like I'm materialistic. I'm just being realistic and sarcastic. If I was demanded to follow through this bizarre plan, then I must also counterattack with an absurd requirement. Honestly, if this was my real marriage with the man I loved, who was in love with me as well, wealth would not be an issue.

Third. He must be smart or must possess unique talents.

I don't think any three of the men outside are dumb anyway. Because if they are, this story might end in tragedy. And also, I don't think my sister has poor eyesight when choosing a husband. Who in their right mind, would want to saddle for life with a dumb groom for no reason, and out of blue? His talents? I don't have a single clue.

Fourth. ULTERIOR MOTIVE maybe with additional "s" behind the scene?

What reason do I have to follow through with this? Do I even have one?

It's not like I need someone to cover me up because I'm secretly pregnant out of wedlock.

Because the main character here, obviously me, (rolling my own eyes) am still a virgin!

Debt? We are having none. House mortgage and car loan have already been settled.

Protection from bad people? Hey, we are not a criminal family or anything related to that. We are the law-abiding family type after all. So what is left?