Modern Arranged Marriage

Chapter 1:Arranged

"Thalia! Here!" Ivan calls to me while waving.

The whole place was really full of people. Fortunately, I was able to reserve a seat.

I dragged Daphne and went to the two seats I was reserving for Ivan, one of my suitors. I didn't entertain him though and I don't entertain suitors ever. Like everyone else, he was deliberately dry because he knew I wouldn't let him know.

Aside from the fact that I have no interest in them Aldrin is what I like and they know that. But they were zealous and said they would wait until I regained consciousness. That's if my feelings will still change. This admiration I have for him has been going strong for years so they are just sorry because they have nothing to gain from me and they have no right to criticize me in the end because I keep telling them that I'm not up for a relationship if it's not Aldrin.

"Thanks, Ivan."

Is he so patient that even when I support my crush, he also supports me? Well, I don't feel guilty. If Aldrin was the reason, anyone else I would step on and hurt, I wouldn't mind.

"Anything for my love," he winked at me.

I smiled at him and rolled my eyes when I looked away. Yuck!

"Why did you take so long? I thought you wouldn't watch Aldrin anymore, eh!" He said with a smile.

There's no way in hell I would miss his game!

"Uh, I even picked up Daphne at their building,"

"Oh... okay!"

I was cheering so loud with the crowd everytime the ball is in Aldrin's hands. When he can shoot, I jump for joy. I don't mind if my 'suitor' is beside me. He should deal with it since he's insisting it.

"Sister, sit down! It's embarrassing!" Repeated litany of my sister is really kill joy every time I jump around.

This girl! Where did Mommy conceive her and why does she whole being seem to be full of bitterness? She is beautiful and many also show interest in her but like me she doesn't get along well. Well, at least I have a reason why but her? She's now 17, goodness! And let her not make me feel sorry for the longevity of her life. She's very prim and proper unlike me who's so loud especially when I'm with Brent. We're completely opposite but I still love her. Even kill joy is still reliable.

Everytime she stops me, I'll just look at her sharply then continue with what I'm doing. No one can destroy my mood when Phillip Aldrin Villacorta's the subject.

The game ended with Aldrin's team winning. And of course, he did! My! I just like him more. My MVP.

"Get in the car first. I'm just going somewhere for a while." I told Daphne as we were about to leave the gym.

Her eyes narrowed. "Where?"

Here she goes again. My investigator-like sister.

"Just,"

"Sis..." She warned.

I rolled my eyes at her. "Don't worry, Sis. I won't do anything that will put your name into shame. Now, go ahead," I gestured out to her with one eyebrow raised.

She sighed heavily and shook her head slowly as she went out.

I followed her departure with my gaze and when she got away I gave an evil smirk.

Now, where is Aldrin?

I went inside the gym again but the players were no longer there. Is it in the men's locker? It's embarrassing to go there. I will still look like a pervert!

Just when I was about to give up on looking for him, I spotted Aldrin on the pathway, with his teammates. They were laughing at something.

My smile widened. All my hesitations were set aside. I approached his group and they calmed down. Someone else whistled. When he saw me, his smile faded. He immediately stared at me sharply even though I was not doing anything. Or should I say, nothing yet?

I approached him and swallowed hard before speaking. "C-Congrats, Aldrin!" I tried my best to make my voice clear.

He did not react. He just looked at me darkly. I lowered my head for the surely another moment of embarassment from him.

"Thanks," He said coldly.

I lifted my gaze at him, eyes twinkling. He talked to me again!

"Oh!" His teammates are jealous.

They knew that Aldrin was rude to me and to most women.

"Thalia, why are you the only one congratulating her? The whole team won, here. The trick!" Brix groaned as one of his teammates.

My cheeks got hot. Is it too obvious that I love him so much?

I turned to them. "Of course, you too!" I said smiling.

Aldrin sneezed so I turned to him. I was surprised when the near soft eyes he had before turned dark again. Dead! What did I do wrong this time?

"Let's go," he said and passed me.

I was stunned there. The speed changes the mood, huh?

"Uhm, Thalia, thanks by the way? We're first!" Brix again.

I just nodded, still unable to recover from what happened.

When I recovered I smiled and walked to the car. Nevermind the rude part. The important thing is that he's not that cold to me yet.

My smile faded when I saw the number one playboy in town.

Jared Arevalo, in his badboy slash playboy attire is flirting with not just one, two nor three but four cheap and desperate girls.

What a sight before going home.

I wonder how long his arms are and he can handle them all. two girls on each side! Meanwhile, the four minions' hands are all over his body while they were walking along the school grounds.

Didn't the officers catch it? What they're doing right now is very unethical!

These girls, really. We are all aware that he's a womanizer but they're still sticking into him like it's an honor for them to be one of his girls. They didn't even care that there were four of them now on his arm, huh?

After all, if they're equally flirtatious, well, they really don't have a boyfriend anymore. And it's not just these four who are obsessed with him. Literally all of the girls in the campus drools over him except me.

I get it that he's good-looking but there are so many other handsome people out there who are cleaner than this man! Maybe because he's rich and powerful? His family is well-known.

Whatever. It's none of my business, anyway.

When he turned to my band our eyesight was right. I raised an eyebrow at him and then stared. The sight of them flirting in public almost destroyed my day. It's time to leave!

I turned my back on them and walked away but just a few steps away something blocked my path.

"What the hell?" I frowned and looked up at whoever was blocking me and my blood boiled even more.

The bastard followed me and is now blocking my way!

I crossed my arms and raised my brow at him.

He whistled. "Hi, Miss! I can't believe a beautiful girl like you is walking along the campus alone."Dramatically he shook.

I rolled my eyes. Can someone tell me how this asshole became a playboy? I mean, it's just his lines, that's corny!

"Can I? Don't make fun of me there! I'll never give in to your old-fashioned moves!"

The thing I hated the most since I went to college is this. This man has been trying to flirt with me since the entrance. He keeps on approaching me with his usual playboy moves. He's sorry but the news that he's a playboy can't escape me. Changing fling every day. Yes, just fling, no more girlfriends As if I'd fall with his moves' no! How dare him think that like all the girls in this school, I'll drool over him. Never! And if this is another moment of him pestering me, then I'd fight him back!

"Aww!" He touched his chest, looking hurt at what I said. "I'm just concerned, you know? It hurts you to speak." He laughed.

My blood boiled even more.

"Can you please stop pestering me? You're so annoying!"

But instead of getting serious because of my anger, his laughter only got louder.

"Easy, Thalia. I like you even more when you're angry and you blush. It's like you're blushing because of me." He said with a smile.

My vision darkened. Can't he take things seriously?! Here I am and my cheeks are blushing with anger but he seems to be even happier! It's been said that it's really wrong to cut this moron because I'm the only one who will be plagued in the end!

In my anger I tried to strike him but he caught my wrist.

"Oops! You've already hurt me emotionally today. I'm not yet ready for physical pain, Miss." He winked at me.

I struggled and he did not fight back. He just ruined my day!

I stopped speaking and my chest heaved. My stare at him was very sharp.

After a while, his face became serious. I should've just walked out a while ago. Now I feel like I have taken root in my position because of my anger.

He let out a deep sigh. "Sorry for annoying you. I won't do it again, I promise."

I didn't say a word, my gaze remained sharp on him.

He sighed heavily again. "Alright. Where's your car? I'll take you there."

My strength returned. "No, thank you!" I said emphatically then he passed.

I close my eyes emphatically. What's wrong with that idiot? If he thinks that I can be one of his girls by doing those cheap moves, don't waste his time! Isn't it enough that he has a lot of twisted and naughty women now? Gosh I'll never be one of those! Those cheap and desperates!

"Hey, Thalia! Are you going home?" Anne, my classmate in a major subject.

I fixed my angry face before and then faced her.

"Yes why?"

"Nothing. Belated happy birthday by the way, I'm sorry I didn't go last night. Someone is taking care of it!"

"No, it's fine. I understand,"

"Oh... okay. I'll take care of you... bye!"

She waved.

"Bye!" I waved back too.

Yesterday was my 18th birthday. A grand debut was prepared by mommy and daddy for me which was attended by my friends, classmates and family even though I didn't ask for it. A dinner with them is more than enough for me but they insisted so I have no say. Maybe they want to show off and I have no comment on that since I was happy last night. I wonder if Daphne will agree to have a grand debut next year, too? That's it anyway. He was a very simple girl. And yes, we are only a year apart. She's now in grade 12 while I'm in first year college. We both agreed to take business administration since there is no one else to manage our business in the near future but us. But I think, Daphne will take the higher position since she's more passionate about business and I don't mind it. We are not jealous siblings. She will spoil me with whatever I like and I will do the same to her too. That's what I'm so greatful for. To have her on my side without any insecurities.

"Sis, why are you taking so long? Mommy is calling me! We're having dinner tonight, remember?" Daphne's irritated introduction to me as I entered the car.

Of course! Daddy said this morning we were going to have an important talk tonight so we should be complete at the table. What could that be? About business? Oh please, I'm just studying!

"I'm sorry, okay? I just came across an asshole coming here." I rolled my eyes as I remembered my encounter with Jared. That bastard!

"Huh?"

"Nothing. Let's go, Edgar," I said to our driver.

"God, where are you two from? Mommy and Daddy have been waiting for you for a while!" Nanny Gina's hysterical introduction to us.

She has been Daphne and I's nanny since childhood. She is in her mid-40s now.

"I told you, Sis," my sister whispered.

I raised my brow at her then turned to nanny. "I'm sorry, Nanny. We'll have to explain."

"Hmm... I'll have your things and get dressed. Your Mommy and Daddy will also come down,"

I looked at my wrist watch and saw that it was six thirty at night. We left school at five o'clock but because it was rush hour we were in traffic on the road. Maybe we won't be reprimanded. Besides, I'm eighteen. I can do that myself.

Daphne and I went to our rooms and got dressed. I wore a dress because I felt dinner was important to them later.

When they arrived at the table, the three of them were already there and I was the only one waiting. I kissed my mom and dad's cheek then sat beside Daphne's chair, facing my parents.

My Mom, even just at home can't not be without make-up or even just lipstick, highlighting more her Spanish looks which we both inherited. She's very sophisticated, a thing that I got from her while Daphne is the simple one but still, she is beautiful.

Dad, on the other hand, even in his 40s, you can't deny that he is handsome, especially when he was young. His deep set eyes tells us that he is a cassanova back then.

As parents, they are not too strict and not to lose. That's right. But for their daughters' lifetime decisions, they will really mingle. Just like the school we will attend, whether we are willing or not, they will insist on that not in a forceful manner but through encouraging us. I don't mind it anyway. Maybe we can't make good decisions without parental guidance. I'm sure they know what's best for us.

"Let's eat," Daddy said.

We ate quietly at the table making me more curious. Did I think we were going to talk? Maybe after dinner? Though silent, I enjoyed eating with them together. We only complete the table once because they are often out for business and Daphne and I are the only ones left. But we're not holding anything against them. We fully understand what they're doing. It's for us also. They never failed to support us, anyway.

"What's your plan now that you're already eighteen, Thalia?" Dad asked when we had finished eating.

I wiped my lips first before answering. "Uh... study? Why?"

Mommy looked at them.

He let out a deep sigh. "If you don't have plans, then we have plans for you,"

I frowned then turned to my sister but she just shrugged.

I turned to Daddy again. "What's that, dad?"

He removed his eyeglasses and put it on the table. He faced me again.

"Since you are now in legal age, we are going to arrange your marriage."

To be continued...