Stout Little Heart

Chapter 17

"WHAAAT? DADDY! How can you betroth a three-year old child! How?" I remarked, almost screaming. How dare them lead my life!

My father sighed. "Well, you aren't supposed to marry him actually because he was also betrothed to a girl. But then something happened and now, you're next in line." He explained.

"Who the hell is this guy? Why the heck am I going to marry him anyway? Besides, I have a boyfriend Dad; you can't make me marry him." I stood up and stormed off the room. This is insane! How can they make me marry some arrogant dude I don't even know? And to think I'm just a second choice! HAH! I went upstairs, still fuming mad, and laid my body down my bed. Gosh, I'm tired. I closed my eyes and when sleep was already pulling me, my phone rang. I reached for it and then saw Len calling. All traces of sleep was immediately gone and I answered it excitedly.

"LEN!"

On the other line, Len seemed sad. "Hi sweetheart." He sighed.

"Something wrong?" I asked, noticing how stressed he sounds.

"Oh no, nothing. It's just…." He sighed again. "Actually, I have a problem. My dad's betrothed me again. I really don't want to be married to any other woman except you but….." He left the sentence hanging.

I took a deep breath. "Me too Len. Dad told me just a while ago that I am going to be married not later than this month. I can't marry off some dude who picks me as a second choice. Maybe he's an arrogant bastard just full of himself."

"What? Second choice? Why?" He asked completely aghast about the thought. "How can someone choose you as a second choice? "

"Well, my dad said he was betrothed too and was about to marry a girl and then something happened to I was "next-in-line". Hah! Can you believe it? Insensitive brute!" I complained. God, I was still mad about the thought!

Len got silent on the other line. After a few minutes, he suddenly said his goodbyes and hung up. It was weird. I shrugged it off and tried to sleep. Luckily, sleep did visit me.

I was woken up by the my mother's frantic knocks outside my room. I groaned and lazily got up my bed to open it. I saw my mother's excited face hovering over mine. I grunted.

"What?"

She looked at me from head to toe. She snorted. "Rin! How can you dress like that knowing you're going to meet your fiancée? Gosh honey! Now go!" She glanced at her watch and shoved me back inside my room. "Ready yourself already! They're going to be here in twenty minutes!" She slammed the door shut and left me alone, astounded. Great, now I need to meet that stupid insolent bastard who I am about to get married to. With reluctance, I took a shower and prepared my worst clothes. Maybe by the time he sees me in this clothes, he's going to back out. I smiled at idea.

Fifteen minutes later, I was already dressed up. Well, more like dressed down. I was wearing a really large three-fourth sleeved purple blouse with ruffles and an ankle-length brown skirt with hideous back pleats. I looked at the mirror and was satisfied with my looks. To finish it up, I pulled my hair up in a tight chignon and put on heavy make-up. I smiled at myself. Let him bleed his eyes out!

Two minutes before 6:30 PM (the agreed time), my mother fetched me to see if I'm already dressed up. Her mouth went wide open when she saw me. I grinned at her and turned around.

"Looks great right?" I asked, still grinning at her.

My mother shook her head. "Great? GREAT? What the hell are those stuff? Are those even clothes? My God! Come here! Change those awful clothes!" She entered my room and rummaged through my closet. I let her and glanced at my alarm clock. A few seconds more. Looking back to my mother, I saw her holding a Venus-cut pink chiffon gown in her hand and a pair of dangling earrings. God how I hate pink! She handed me the clothes and rattled about my fashion sense. I was about to take off the blouse when an car stopped in front of our gate. I smiled. This is it!

"Mom, we don't have time anymore. Maybe he'll understand why I look like this wouldn't he? After all, he's going to be my husband anyway. He should accept me no matter how I look." I stated emotionally but inside I was beaming. I bet he'll puke when he sees me. I laughed devilishly inside.

My mother sighed. "Maybe. Let's go already." She started towards the staircase first and left me to face the music alone. I took a deep breath and braced myself for the upcoming unpredictable events.

When I arrived downstairs, I saw my father talking to a man. Is he going to be my husband? Naaah, he's too old for me. Maybe he's the father. I shrugged and smiled when my father saw me with his mouth open. Just as I thought. He stood up and introduced the man to me, who was also surprised with what he saw. I smiled sweetly at him.

"You're daughter's a …. beauty Kyoto." He said politely. I smiled at him again but inside I snorted. Plastic.

"Well Rin, I'd like you to meet my son," He gestured towards the door where a tall guy appeared. My heart skipped a beat when I saw him. That golden head, those hazel eyes, that pair of pink lips and that aquiline nose. How could I mistake that face?

"His name is Len. Hope you'd have a wonderful married life." His father said. I looked at him and hugged him tightly to the surprise of everyone. I looked at Len and smiled at him lovingly. I was about to approach him when I remembered what I'm wearing. What the heck? I blushed and excused myself to go upstairs but Len stopped her and smiled.

"No need. You look lovely." He muttered. I smiled back.

"Okay then. Let's all eat and discuss the preparations over dinner. I hope you like the food."' My father said and led us to the dining room. I don't care about the food. I don't even care about the preparations. Just as long as Len's beside me and I'm already complete

Epilogue: New Life

Three years after the wedding, we are still living happily together. We're taking up college at the same school and now on the third year. My father offered me a work in his company but i declined. It's always my dream to have my own business and now i have my own flower shop! Not later than this year, Len would inherit his dad's company after his twenty-first birthday. Our married life, though we still have those petty quarrels, is doing really great.

Ever wondered what happened to Meiko? Well, we are still communicating and next year, she and her boyfriend, an American-Japanese she met in America named Hakuo Yowane, are already planning to settle down. She's having a great life and would you believe? Gakupo's already her best friend aside from me. I'm jealous. Haha, just kidding.

Speaking of Gakupo, I found out he really married Miku and now they have a baby. A cute little girl they named after me. I was so honored then that i threw a really late baby shower for Miku. She was so glad about it, she asked me if I could be a godmother of Rin. Of course I said 'yes'!

Every time I think of what happened three years ago, I just smile. It was really a story worth telling to my children, grandchildren and great-grandchildren. I would like them to - ooops! Just felt a kick in my tummy. Guess why *wink*