Chapter 1 - There's No Way I'm Going To Marry This Guy

"You're kidding, right?" Shenise said, smiling at her father.

When Heath Mien stayed quiet, sitting straight while looking at her, Shenise's smile disappeared as she laughed loudly.

"Cut it out! You got me there. Fine, it's funny." She raised her two hands in surrender but the man still didn't speak. That's when she panicked.

"You're really serious?" Shenise stated with wide eyes, staring at her father's serious expression for a few seconds. Oh my Gosh! He's really serious! Shenise doesn't know if she should laugh or cry.

"Sweetie, stay calm and sit-"

"No, I will not sit down, Dad!" She blurted out, then paced angrily around their living room. "Let me get this straight. You want me to marry someone that I haven't seen even once in my life? That's hilarious!" Had her father gone senile? Maybe she should call their family doctor to check her father up.

"That's not true, Sweetie. You were playmates before you turned one year old-"

"Oh, that's great. That makes him my first friend then." She sarcastically commented. "What kind of lousy argument is that, Dad?"

The old man sighed which caused Shenise's brows to furrow. Never had her father ran out of what to say- may it be an abandonment case, the weather or the latest cellphone model. She halt in her steps and asked, "What's wrong, Dad?" Concern was etched on her face.

"Shen, you haven't even seen the guy. Why not give him a chance?"

Shenise smiled despite herself. Whew! Her Dad's fine.

She kneeled down in front of her father and held the old man's hands. It had been a long day and she was tired from taking care of the abandonment cases where she works. She's out of strength to duel with wits and charm so she dropped the game and went straight to the point.

"Dad, I don't know what kind of badly rotten food had entered your system to cause you to think like this, but.." She looked straight at her father's eyes. "..there's no way I'm going to marry this guy. I don't know him, I feel nothing for him, he's probably dating someone else and I also happen to like someone else too..."

Gosh, she really can't believe this. Heath Mien had always been on the side of angels and justice, fighting for the rights of those who were abandoned and abused and against abusive capitalists. She doesn't understand how could this same man wanted such an injustice to his only child.

"It's not fair, Dad." Shenise tried to cover the hurt in her voice. "It's not right to force people to do things they don't want to do, specially when you know that it will have a big effect in their lives. You're the one who taught me this." She said with conviction.

"I'm sorry, Shen. This is your mother's dying wish; to marry you to her best friend's only son. Gaville's mother and your mother- they were inseparable. This is their wish. I kept this from you because I want to spare you for as long as I can. But I have to do this or else, I won't be able to face your mother in the afterlife." Mr. Mien closed his eyes looking really tired.

Shenise felt nervous. Last month, her father suffered from a heart attack and he became kind-of weak since then. Is this because her Dad feels like his time is running out? So he wants to fulfill her Mom's dying wish?

"You okay Dad? Wait, I'll call Dr. Chen." Shenise said, about to get the phone on the desk.

"I'm okay, Sweetie." Heath pulled Shenise's hand. "I know that this isn't right, but Shen.." Shenise could not believe her eyes; her father was close to tears. "I can't break my promise to your mom. I am deeply sorry." Shenise was stunned. "I've never asked you for anything before, have I, Shen?"

Shenise closed her eyes and tried to absorb what was happening. It's true. Heath never asked her for anything. Ever since Eris died twenty-three years ago, Heath became her father and her mother. The man spent all of his time on her and on their family business. The man had no vices other than to help other people. Heath had this superman syndrome, like he wants to save the whole world. He would never want to harm anyone, specially not his Shenise.

Shenise opened her eyes and stared at her father. She can't recognize the man in front of her. Here is her Superman, head down and shoulders sagged.

"You can't do this to me, Dad." Shenise was helpless.

"Shenise, please." If only what's in front of Shenise is her brave and confident father, she would argue and stand her ground. But the image of her old and frail-looking father was breaking her heart.

Don't you dare! Don't even think about it, Shenise. This is your life! Shouted her brain.

Yes, this is my life, but he is my father. And the truth is, he is my life. Her heart answered.

"I'll think about it, Dad."

"You will Sweetie?" Heath looked like a thorn was taken out off of his chest.

"I'll think about it."

*****

Tip # 1 : Look ugly. Try to look as unattractive as you can. More often that not, men don't like their partners looking like a weirdo. Even you, for sure, wouldn't like someone who looks odd.

That's the first tip that Shenise had read in a magazine article. It was entitled, 'How To Turn Someone Off'. So, she picked a shapeless, baggy jeans and a plain bright orange, oversized turtle-neck to wear on that fateful Saturday night. She separated her hair in the middle of her head and flattened it on her forehead. She put on a big, thick, black rimmed glasses that almost covers her whole face and then, she went out of her room.

Shenise and her father arrived ten minutes early at a very expensive hotel-restaurant. Deive Eclaire was the person who chose the place because if Shenise and Heath will pick a place, it will be a less expensive but cozy and warm restaurant. Shenise felt disgusted just by sitting there. A meal in that place will reach four digits while in the everywhere, a lot of family don't even have a single amount of money, or much worse, don't have food.

She knows that her father also thinks the same; Heath looked very uncomfortable just sitting there, feeling as out of place as Shenise was.

Shenise sighed. Looks like her father is really serious about fulfilling her mother's last wish if he's willing to endure this.

"They're late." Shenise said, trying to sound annoyed after twenty-five minutes of waiting, but the truth is she's happy and she's even praying for the Eclaire father and son not to arrive.

"Yes, Shen, but they're here now."

Shenise stiffened, then shot her eyes at the doorway. Her vision was met with two guys, walking toward them looking like Gods from Olympus who just took the day off to try and live the lives of normal mortals.

In a different situation, Shenise would've liked the old Eclaire. In her opinion, the man is just the same age as her father and like Heath, Deive was also tall and had an easy smile. Too bad she was determined to hate him- he and his son.

The younger Eclaire was tall, short black hair, perfectly chiseled features, deep set of warm brown eyes... He had to admit, the guy was quite a looker. Well, okay, that was an understatement. He was actually devilishly handsome.

But so what? Shenise knows that there are much more important things than the physical attributes of a person.

She hadn't noticed that her eyes had stayed on the guy longer than necessary. She caught Gaville's gaze then the guy surveyed her from her boringly flattened hair to her red sneakers. Gaville scoffed.

Shenise's eyes widened. She doesn't know if she should laugh or get annoyed. But the better side of her took control. Easy, she told herself. This is exactly what you want- to disgust him and send him running off.

"Heath, it's good to see you again." The old Eclaire greeted them.

Her father smiled then extended his hand to offer a handshake to the two men who had just arrived. "Yes, indeed, I'm happy that you're back."

"Heath, we deserve more than a handshake." Deive gave her father a hug. Then, he turned to her. "Well, this must be your Shenise."

No, I am the waitress. Who else would I be?, Shenise wanted to sass, but instead, she extended her hand to him for a handshake.

"Yes, Sir, I'm Shenise Mien."

From the corner of her eyes, she saw Gaville snap his head towards her, wide-eyed. Shenise brushed it off as nothing.

Deive held her hand tightly but gently. "Has anybody told you that you look exactly like your mother?"

Before, comments like that always makes her happy, but now, upon learning that her mother set her off to marry someone, Shenise felt a sudden hostility towards her. "So they say, Mr. Eclaire." She just said.

"That's too formal. Call me 'Uncle Deive' for the time being while you two haven't tied the knot yet. You're my goddaughter after all." Deive said, smiling before introducing her to the devil.

"This is my son, Gaville Eclaire. Son, meet your future wife and future father-in-law."