thoughts
narration
'speech'

I was sitting at those second-last seats in the bus that are beside the windows as I looked out at the sky filled with clouds. I sighed as I couldn’t see the smallest sign of the clouds moving away. Today was gonna be another wet day.

I easily catch a cold when my head is exposed to rain water. And today was gonna be no different than yesterday. I'm just gonna have to run as fast as I can as soon as I get off the bus. Why the hell do I always forget my umbrella?! I thought as the bus slowly came to a stop and it was running time…*sigh*

As I closed the door to my house and opened my shoes, mom called out from the kitchen, “You forgot your umbrella today, too, Scarlet.”Yeah, right. As if I don’t know. I never got wet in the rain today so I didn’t notice!! “I know, mom. Sorry,” I called back. What else could I say?

I went up to my room and took a shower. Great. More water. But this time it felt better as the warm water slowly soothed my body. I got out and pulled on my “boyfriend jeans” and a white shirt. I usually don’t wear these but I heard a guest was coming. I hate guests. Can’t they just stay at their own houses?!

I dried my hair and left it open. As I sat down to brush it, I looked at my face in the mirror. Hm…short, neck-length jet-black hair with bangs in front, a small nose which is perfect for my face, and a face which made me look too innocent. Perfect. My eyes were,like my dad’s, deep black and that made me wanna look at them all day. I know it’s weird, but there seems to be no end to the depth of the blackness.

I heard the doorbell ring and guessed that it must be dad with our ‘guests’. Mom called out from downstairs, “Scarlet, come down here and meet the guests.” “Coming, mom!” I called back, but that wasn’t my intention at all. I always go downstairs late so that the ‘guests’ are close to their departure when I meet them.

After ten-twelve minutes of listening to music in my I-pod, I lay down on my bed, my stomach resting upon it, and closed my eyes. The wind from the window pushed my shirt up, exposing my back a little, but I didn't care. Who would see it, anyway? Just then, I heard a voice say, “Nice room you have here.”

I turned around and pulled my shirt down. I was staring at a boy of about 20, two years elder than me, who was leaning against my door frame. He was a brunette and had honey-colored eyes and a really handsome face which, unlike mine, said “I don’t care what you think”. He was just standing there, looking at me and I felt his gaze burn through me. I sat up and crossed my legs.

“Who’re you?” I asked. He obviously had no manners.

“I'm Damien Lee,” he said. No apology. I was right.

“Why’re you here in my room?”

“Your mom sent me upstairs,” he replied.

“WHAT?!” I blurted out. How could she send a boy into my room?! I hate this!!!

“She said that you wouldn’t come downstairs easily so my mom suggested that since we’re going to be seeing each other from now on, I might as well introduce myself personally.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, narrowing my eyes at him.

“Ask your mom and dad, sweetheart,” he replied.

Sweetheart? He called me sweetheart? Oh, he earned himself a slap, but I’d rather ask mom and dad what’s going on.

I brushed past him through the door and went downstairs and without even noticing the two people sitting on the couch, I stood in front of dad and asked him, “Dad, what the hell is going on?!”

“Do not swear in front of guests, Scarlet!” mom shrieked.

I didn't care. I repeated myself, “What’s going on?” I noticed Damien come and stand beside me.

Dad hesitated. Then mom spoke up, “Fred, you better go out with Leon and Damien.” I guessed that the man sitting on the couch who was about 46 must be Leon. “Yes, we women can explain to her properly,” the lady beside spoke. Dad nodded and led Damien and out of the room. Then the lady spoke up:

“You don’t know who we are, do you?”

“I have no (fuckin) idea!” I replied

“Well, you see, we are very close friends of your mother and father. I am Gloria Lee and the man there is my husband, Leon Lee.”

“So what do you want me to do about it?” I asked.

“Be patient, Scarlet,”mom said.

“Mrs. Lee, I am very sorry to be so rude, but, could you just tell me what’s going on?”

She sighed. “Okay, here it goes…we are your future in-laws.”

I looked at them for about 4 minutes…then I looked at mom. “You wanna get rid of me, don’t you?” I asked with a voice that seemed hurt. But I had no intention of being hurt, I hated my parents like hell at that moment…

“Oh, honey, it’s nothing like that. It’s just that we are worried because of the promise you swore,” said mom.

Yep! I had sworn never to like a boy for the rest of my life and then I had changed it to till I’m 18, and now guess what? I am fucking 18!

“You don’t need to be worried, mom!! Why’d you arrange for me to marry a total stranger?!?!?!?!”I asked,practically yelling at her.

“Your parents were worried that you won’t be able to choose the right guy for yourself-” Gloria began.

“-and they thought they could?!”

Silence followed for a few seconds. Gloria spoke:

“When I heard about you, I thought that Damien did have some hope. Don’t think me wrong, he is fine, but he is what you call a playboy. I know I am insulting my own son, but he just can’t stick to one girl. He says that every one of them are just the same. But I thought that you’re not and I was right. We’re not forcing this marriage upon you, it’s just that we both made a commitment to your parents about your and Damien’s marriage and so did they to us. We’d like you two to respect it.”

I was calm by then. Maybe my parents really were trying to help me. But I was still angry at them.

“So…Damien’s my fiancé?” I asked with no kindness.

“You may take it that way…” Gloria replied.

“I'M ONLY EIGHTEEN!! HOW CAN I BE ENGAGED ALREADY?!” I yelled.

She looked at my mom as if wanting her to take over the situation.

“Look, honey,” mom said, “you two have plenty of time to know each other better. It’s obvious that you two won’t be married now. It’s going to take place at least after three years.”

“Then why the hell are we meeting now?!”

“Because we wanted it that way. You swore something to yourself and we respected your decision and now we all expect you to respect ours,” mom said, sternly with finality in her voice.

I felt my eyes get filled up with tears. Just because they want it doesn’t mean I’ll go around obeying them. It’s so wrong!

“Oh, Scarlet, don’t be sad, dear,” said Gloria, “just give it a try. We won’t stop you if we have any objections later on, but now you should listen to us.” She stood up and slowly removed my hair from my face. “Do you agree, dear?” she asked.

I thought for a moment. Maybe if I give it a try I can say no in the end. There’s no use arguing. “Alright,” I said and then I went up the stairs as I heard Gloria say, “Marvellous!”

Hmph. This sucked.

A/N: I'm really sorry if this story seems to suck, I really am. But this one means a lot to me! I love the name Damien! Hehehehe...