Chapter 2: Arrange Marriage

Third Person's POV

Mortana sat on her bed, stunned, her head leaning against the edge of the window, her eyes peering out. It's been two days since she and Ely split up, and the events of that time are constantly replaying in her memory.

Flashback~

After she posed the question, the entire room fell silent, and the man was unable to answer. Ely instantly knelt in front of Mortani and caressed her palm on his broad face.

"B-bhie, I'm so sorry... Please let me explain," he pleaded.

Mortani began to cry as she witnessed the shocking revelation: her lover is gay.

 "You two are such pigs!" she exclaimed, her voice breaking with emotion.

"Bhie, listen to me first," Ely urged as she held his hands.

"Listen? For what? To give you a chance to lie to me and flip my head?" she laughed.

"Bhie, it's not like that," he murmured, kissing her hand.

"What the hell! Stop it!" she yelled, releasing her grip on Ely's hands. "And don't ever call me bhie!! Because from now on, we're breaking up! Go to hell you two!" she exclaimed as she grabbed up her bag and walked away.

End~

 She sobbed again, collapsing down on the bed and contemplating hurling her hatred upon the pillow. But she abruptly came to a halt, regained her composure, and wiped the tears from her eyes. Lydell's wig was on her bedside table, so she reached for it. She didn't realize she was still holding this wig until she arrived home since she was so eager to leave the hotel.

"B*llsh*t!" she exclaimed to herself as she tightened her grip on the wig, alluding to its owner.

"If I hadn't typed this hair style and color, I would have thrown it away," she added as she combed her fingers through the wig. "You're still useful, so I'll just hide you; I'm sure I'll need you one day," she says.

When there came a knock on the door, Mortani hurriedly hid the wig under the pillow. When the door opened, her Grandfather Tassio emerged, bearing a tray of food.

"Grandpa, you don't have to bother yourself!" grumbled her. "I won't eat that either because I don't feel like it." And hid under the blanket.

Lolo Tassio sat next to her, and she felt the bed move.

"Tani, you haven't eaten properly for two days, and you've always been locked up here," Grandpa Tassio stated, his voice concerned. "Don't torture yourself any longer, don't waste time you should be devoting to other things, including yourself; you've already wasted five years; don't waste your time any more," Lolo Tassio continued.

 "It's because it's very painful, Grandpa!" Mortani exclaimed as he began to cry. Grandpa Tassio helped her sit up by removing the blanket she was hiding under. She hugged the old guy tightly while sobbing like a child who had been battered by a friend and recounted the incident to her father.

"And remember, the right person for you will come at an unexpected time, season, situation, and opportunity," the old man stated.

"Yes, grandpa," she responded as the old guy hugged her.

"By the way... I made your favorite food," Grandpa Tassio added graciously.

"The... Ultimate special noodles?" she inquired, smiling.

The elderly gentleman nodded and handed over the tray.

 "It smells delicious," she said as she began to eat. Grandfather Tassio also exited the room to continue his work.

She was compelled to get out of bed and leave the room after eating to wash the dishes. While walking down the stairs, she noticed her granddad on the phone. She was taken aback when she overheard her name used in their chat.

"Tomorrow soon?" inquired the elderly gentleman.

 "But I'm not sure we'll be able to go," "Yes, I know they're already at the right age," the old guy said. For a brief period, he remained silent, as though listening to the other person. "My granddaughter just broke up with her boyfriend, she was very hurt... I don't want to surprise her with this arranged marriage, Joaquin!" he groaned.

When he heard plates breaking, Grandfather Tassio looked around. When he noticed Mortana standing there listening and shocked, his eyes widened.

"W-what arranged marriage are you talking about, grandpa?" the beauty inquired.

 "Joaquin, let's talk another time... I'll call you," Lolo Tassio said as she hung up the phone and entered the living room. "Come here, Tani, let's talk," his grandfather summoned her. She walked and sat on the sofa quietly.

They had a long conversation, and she discovered that it was her grandfather's best friend. Grandpa Tassio and his best friend had previously agreed that their children would marry when the time came, but they both had daughters. As a result, they decided to keep this pact going until Mortana's generation.

She walked to her room silently after their chat. She couldn't think because of all that had occurred to her. She wanted to take it easy first.

That night, she reflected on the arranged marriage.

 "Grandpa, can I talk to you?" she asked her grandfather, who was putting away the dishes from the customers. The old man nodded in response.

"George, please continue this!" Lolo Tassio said to his right-hand man, a man in his forties.

"Alright, Mang Tassio," the man said, and he complied.

Tassio and Mortani made their way to the kitchen.

"Grandpa, I'd like to talk to you about the arranged marriage—" Mortana was cut off.

"I know Tani, I told them you're not ready, especially since you're still going through something," he said as he held his granddaughter. "I don't want to put any pressure on you," the old man added.

 "Grandpa, please let me finish what I want to say first," Mortani replied nervously, pulling away from the hug. The elderly gentleman grimaced.

"Grandpa, I would like to meet with them tomorrow," she stated emphatically.

"A-are you sure?" the old man worriedly inquired, not wanting to force her to agree to that deal, but Mortani smiled and nodded.

"Alright, I'll let them know," Lolo Tassio responded.

********

"Owshiee, sis, is that you? You're so beautiful!" Desiree exclaimed. Since they relocated to the province, she has been Mortani's best friend. They will attend school together from elementary through high school, thus they are quite close and appear to treat one other as siblings.

"It looks like I've been slapped a million times!" exclaimed the beauty to her pal. Desiree performs as her make-up artist and outfit designer because she lacks these skills.

"Slap? Oh, stop complaining! I just put a little blush on... you should at least be thankful to me!" She then reached for Mortani's wig. "Where did you get this?" she said as she combed her wig.

 "To the siren," she replied flatly.

"Sheesh! By the way, don't worry, karma is real!" Desiree first adjusts her friend's hair before donning a wig. "Woah! Let's see if your soon-to-be husband doesn't fall in love with you at first sight," she triumphantly exclaimed.

"Insane!" Mortani exclaimed as she glanced in the mirror. She smiled seeing her own reflection looking so gorgeous.

She is now prepared to attend the arranged marriage meeting.

"My grandchild is beautiful," Grandpa Tassio exclaimed as Mortani approached. Mang George stared at her as well.

Just in time, a black automobile came. The driver, who appeared to be Mortani's age, came out and opened the passenger seat door for them.

 "Oh hey, sis, be careful on the way, and don't forget to spill the tea later," Desiree giggled quietly.

"Yes, bye sis... bye Mang Geor—," she exclaimed in surprise when she couldn't see Mang George. "It's weird," she murmured as she climbed into the car with Lolo Tassio.

Their journey was peaceful until they arrived at the specified meeting point. She was almost taken aback by the elegance of the location, which appeared to be a traditional Japanese restaurant. It includes a big koi pond outside, and each hallway has hanging Japanese lanterns that light up the corridor.

 She cautiously followed Lolo Tassio and the driver. She was at a loss for words when she discovered she was going to meet a wealthy family. She knows nothing about proper decorum in high society.

"Here we are," the young driver said as he came to a halt in front of a sliding door.

When the driver opened the door, they saw an elderly guy in his 60s and a woman in her 30s seated on the zabuton (floor cushion).

"Tassio my friend! It's good to see you," the old man said with a smile.

 "Joaquin! We haven't seen each other in a long time!" smiled Lolo Tassio. 

 Mortani bowed quietly and accompanied her grandfather to the zabuton. She was lost in the room's aura, as though she wished to run back to their house.

"Is she your granddaughter?" Lolo Joaquin inquired. Mortani attempted a grin as she raised her head.

"G-good day, Sir, Ma'am, I'm Mortani Bartolome!" she said as she introduced herself to the old man, then turned at the woman next to him and hastily bent down in shame because she was staring at her. "What is it?" she said to herself, stressed by what was going on.

 "She's already grown up, and she appears to have inherited her mother's beauty," the old man exclaimed joyfully.

"Of course, our race is beautiful and handsome," the two adults exclaimed unexpectedly. "By the way, where is your grandson?" Grandpa Tassio inquired.

"Hayst, that boy, grew up stubborn... I already told him that he should come here early, but look at him so far!" Lolo Joaquin complained.

The door swung open unexpectedly.

"I'm here grandpa, good day everyone," the young man said as he entered. He frowned at the woman with the hazelnut-colored hair on her back.

 "I'm glad you're here; please sit quickly," Joaquin urged his grandson. The young man sat down on the zabuton in front of Mortani, and the beauty remained bowed due to nervousness. "Oh, what are you waiting for, introduce yourself," he continued.

"Sorry for the inconvenience, my name is Clyde Louis Contreras, and I'm 24 years old," Clyde introduced while Mortani closed her eyes and listened to his panty dropping voice.

"His voice makes my knees weak," she thought. It was the first time she had experienced something like that, even with Ely.

"Tani, introduce yourself to him," Grandpa Tassio said.

 "Ah sorry, I'm glad to meet you... My name is Mortani Bartolome, and I'm 22 years old," she said, bowing. "This is it, let's just see if you don't fall for my beauty," she told herself as she raised her head.

Their happy expressions were overtaken by profound shock.

"You?!" they both exclaimed at the same time.