Chapter 3: Finally Meet You

Three hours had passed, finally it was time for the bell to go home. All the students scattered out of their classes and rushed to go home. While her classmates drove their own car or got picked up on their way to and from home, Airyn was unlike the others. Each day she always took the bus to go to and from school.

Once she got home, she found her parents discussing about serious subject in the living room.

"Airyn, can you come here for a moment?" said her mother, Caroline. Without responding, Airyn moved toward her parents and sat some distance away from them.

"Airyn, we both decided to fix you up with the son of my colleague," said her father, Giovani, to the point that suddenly made her eyes widened.

"B—but, Dad—" Her rebuttal sentence was interrupted by her mother's words.

"No buts, Airyn. You must respect the decisions we have made carefully," said Caroline firmly.

"I always respect you, right? But why don't you ever respect me at all?" Airyn replied softly with her head bowed.

"Forget it! You shouldn't argue with your mom and dad, Airyn," Leona who had come down from the second floor just chimed in.

"This evening, their family will come here. And tonight, you'll also have a marriage proposal. So, make sure you dress up beautifully tonight," said Caroline and then went up to her room in the second floor.

Airyn also got up and went to her room with a mixed feeling. Inside her room, she locked the door and sobbed as she sat on the floor.

"Why do I have to live like this?" Airyn asked to herself. Her life was hard enough every day, and now she had to get hitched to an unknown man at very young age, even underage.

***

"Zavier, we'll fix you up with the daughter of my colleague." Rainer said to the point that suddenly made Zavier eyes widened.

"What are you talking about?!" Zavier asked in disbelief.

"Sorry, dear, but it's our decision," said Zivanna, which made Zavier displeased.

"Why don't you guys discuss it with me earlier?!" Zavier replied with darkened face in anger.

"Forgive us, Zavier. We're sorry that we didn't discuss it with you earlier, but we'll have to offer a marriage proposal to her tonight." Rainer replied, which made Zavier burst in anger. Even Revan, who had been watching, did not dare to do anything.

"Are you guys crazy?!" Zavier said unrestrained.

"Zavier, please mind your words." Revan chimed in that made Zavier swiftly looked away, who was now glaring at him fiercely.

"Shut up! You better stay out of it!" said Zavier increasingly inflamed.

"Forgive us, Zavier. Please calm down," Zivanna said, crying.

"Auntie, please get his medicine right away," Rainer said to Auntie Sumi, a steward in their family.

"Yes, Sir. Here is the medicine." Auntie Sumi said while handing over the syringe containing a sedative to her master.

"Okay, Auntie, thank you. Revan, please hold him down," Rainer said.

"Okay, Dad," Revan replied and held his younger brother tightly. Carried away by his anger, Zavier continued to struggle to the point that Rainer was finally able to inject the sedative to him. As he had been injected, he immediately stopped screaming. Once calming down, Revan immediately took him to his room.

"Honey, is that okay?" Zivanna asked to her husband.

"It's okay, dear. I'm sure he can accept everything. And I'm sure that it's the best decision," Rainer said, wiping the tears that falling on her cheeks.

"I hope so ..." Zivanna said with anticipation.

On the other side, Airyn was all set up with her pink-peach dress and light makeup that made her even more gorgeous. Not to mention, her hair tied up in a high bun made her long neck and shoulders clearly visible.

"Miss Airyn, the guests have arrived... are you ready, Miss?" Auntie Mina asked from outside. Airyn saw herself in the mirror with wistful gaze, and then she opened the door.

"Yes," Airyn replied by forcing a smile.

"Oh my God! Miss, you're so beautiful ..." Auntie Mina flattered Airyn while staring at her in amazement.

"Thank you, Auntie," Airyn replied.

"Well then, let's go downstair, your future husband is so handsome..." Auntie Mina tried to make Airyn more cheerful to cast away her gloominess.

"Ah right, I better get going now. But will you go with me?" Airyn requested with anticipation.

"Of course, I will. Come on." Auntie Mina replied and then led Airyn downstair to the living room. When she came down, everyone seemed stunned by her beauty, except for her father, mother, and younger sister.

"Airyn, it's my colleague, Mr. Rainer and his wife, Zivanna," Giovani introduced them, once Airyn stood beside him.

"Good evening. I'm Airyn," Airyn said respectfully by forcing a sweet smile.

"Good evening, Airyn. You're so beautiful," Zivanna said, while staring at Airyn with a flattering look.

"Thank you, Ma'am," Airyn replied politely.

"Well, then everybody, please sit down," Caroline said to everyone.

"Okay, then let's go straight to the point. The intention of our coming here is to arrange marriage for my son Zavier, with your daughter, Airyn." Rainer said blatantly to Giovani.

"Ah right, Zavier, Airyn, we all have been discussing this matter for long time. And we just hope that you can accept it sincerely," Giovani continued.

"Oh, as for Zavier, don't you have to propose a marriage for Airyn tonight?" Caroline asked Zavier.

"Yes," Zavier replied briefly by sweeping his gaze on Airyn. Meanwhile, when Airyn realized that she was being watched over, she could only lower her head.

"Okay, because it's already late, let's just start the engagement. Zavier and Airyn, please stand up." Rainer said, and they both followed his instruction right away.

"Zavier, please put the ring on her finger," said Zivanna. Zavier just took out a ring box in his coat pocket and came near Airyn to put the ring on her left ring finger. Once they exchanged the rings, all those who witnessed it clapped their hands.

"Alhamdulillah, okay then let's just fix the wedding day," said Giovani, as everyone gave a nod in approval, except for Airyn, Zavier, and Luna.

"Ah that's right, when will the soon-to-be bride be ready?" Rainer asked.

"How about this Saturday and Sunday?" Giovani proposed that made Zavier and Airyn stare at her in disbelief.

"Isn't that too fast, Gio?" Rainer asked after noticing his son's flushed face for holding back his anger.

"Isn't it sooner the better?" Giovani replied and raised his eyebrow.

"But their school just started," said Zivanna who was worried about her son.

"It doesn't matter, they will be absent only for a day," Caroline replied that made Rainer and Zivanna stare at each other.

"Ah okay, we both agree ... but it's good if we ask them first," said Rainer.

"Hm, what do you think, Zavier? Are you ready to marry my daughter this Saturday?" Giovani asked.

"Yes," replied Zavier briefly. This time he was holding back his anger so that it will not explode all at once.