"Chapter 24- Runaway from Marriage"

[Tristan's POV]

Another lonely day; just staring at the window without Klein, what should I do know, it's been a week without him but it already feels empty, what should I do...

I played with the pen in my hand while rolling around in my office with my revolving chair, "Tristan Obelia!" my mother shouted my name while she slammed my office door open, she went inside stomping towards me, "how many times do I have to call you on your phone!?" she asked furiously as she slammed my table, "I'm busy," I shortly answered knowing she will continue to nag me in my office, "the disrespect! you're busy? like every single day?! you haven't visited us for a while!" she said while looking at me,

"do I have to?" I said bluntly, she inhaled to calm herself, I looked at her exhausted in the eye, "do... you know the reason why I called you, Tristan?" she said while taking a seat on the sofa in my office, "I don't know, you tell me," I said checking my nails while avoiding her stare, she sighed loudly and held her forehead, she seemed so done with me... that's good news,

"I'm setting you up on a blind date," she said while smiling as if I already agreed on her plan, "no," I said as I stood up from my chair, "why is that?" she asked me with a frown on her face, "I'm still young," I excused while arranging the papers in my desk, "you turned 28 on April, and you identified yourself young when you're about to turn 30?" she crossed her arms with disbelief in her look,

"Hey, I haven't reached 60 yet, so Identify myself young," I said while still avoiding her stare, "unbelievable! I'm working hard to set you up a blind date! and you'll just refuse?" she said with a loud voice which echoed in my office, "then why don't you ask me what I want in life, maybe I'll consider your hard work once you prepare what I want," I said finally looking at her in the eyes, she looked damn old with those eyebags, oh wait... she's already old,

"What do you want then?" she asked bluntly, "I want to marry whom I want, and I don't want you to interfere with my love life," I said while smiling knowing she will just burst out of the office, "then who's the lucky woman you're marrying?" she asked with disbelief in her face as if she's doubting my taste in woman, "It's not a woman," I said honestly,

"..."

she went out of the room quietly, I thought it was over but it's not,

'DING!' a notification popped in my phone,

"Come home for dinner. do not refuse," my mother texted, I stared at my phone with a fishy feeling, but I didn't mind it and went along.

***

[7:20 pm]

I went into the estate listening to someone laughing, I think there's a visitor in the house, I went to the room as my mother looked at me with plastic joy, "Ah! my son came back! come, come sit here, you came early, dinner isn't ready yet," she said patting the space beside her, I wonder who is she talking to I looked at the dignified woman sitting in front of my mother along with a middle-aged man, Father along with my sister was sitting in the same room, as I sat beside obediently she brought up a topic I wasn't ready to hear,

"Cindy, meet my son, your future husband," she smiled disgustingly as she looked at me, I stood up from the sit, "I told you, I'm not ready to marry a person!" I exclaimed while stopping the urge to clench my fist, "but, but- isn't Cindy a beautiful woman? she's also perfect and it fits every man's standards," she said looking at Cindy while pointing her, my Father and my sister sat quietly an inch away from us,

The woman named Cindy looked forced, she looked like she's about to tear up from the way the man grasped her arm, "why are you forcing me to marry someone whom I don't like?" I asked her, "have you ever asked me what I truly want?" I asked her again with pain in my voice, "I don't want my son to be gay! it's a disgrace!" she shouted as she slapped me, "I need a son who can carry our name high! but you're such a disgrace! marry her, or that man won't last in this world!" she said as her voice echoed in the room, the people in the room didn't move an inch and sat there quietly,

"How can I call you my mother when you can't even handle my small wish," I said while looking at her, "no wonder Father left you-"

"Don't even talk about your Father!" my sister immediately grabbed her arm before she landed another slap, 'Wooosh'

"stop acting foolish, mother," she said as she tighten her grip, making sure it won't be able to be yanked easily, "Foolish!? What do you mean by 'Foolish'? I am protecting our lineage from your homo brother!" she yelled while pointing a finger at me, she looks at me in the eye up and down, "you infected your sister with your germs!" she yelled again while stomping towards me, I backed a few steps wanting nothing from a fight,

"Father!" my sister called him trying to restrain her, she yanked his arm making him stand up from his chair, "Father! do something!" she begged as mother kept screaming and slapping me, while the two visitors sat there helplessly, foolish sister... Father won't help her, she stared at her Father with widened eyes as she saw his disgusted expression while looking at both of us, "what in the-" she stepped back and ran towards mother trying to restrain her,

"Call the butlers!" she ordered the maid who came inside, but the maid stood there silently watching the scene, "you stupid servant," she mumbled as she finally grabbed mother's wrist, mother grunted as soon her wrists has been caught, "What do you want me to do then! Rheanne!" she screamed her name as she tried to yank her wrist, "Stop it! all of you!" Father shouted while he held his head, his shout caught our attention, we glanced at him as my sister let her wrist go, "Tristan, do as your mother says," he calmly said while rubbing his forehead from a headache, mother smiled and glanced at us showing a sneer in her face