Chapter 6 The promise

• MIA FRANCISCO
• "What do you mean by that?" I asked him.
• Chris leaned closer. "Let's talk as two responsible adults okay?" He said and I nodded my head.
• Trust me when I say I do not know where he heading but I hope it wasn't something that would make me angry.
• "Our parents arranged this marriage because they think we are both in love with one another, I mean are we in love?" He asked and I kept mute because I did not know how to answer his question.
• I like Chris and I know he likes me too. I mean he might not be the friendliest person on earth but has shown me that he feels the same way form although he did it sneakily.
• He stole my first kiss from me on my sixteenth birthday and told me he was trying to get a reaction from me and to annoy which was his excuse when I asked him why he did it.
• Was it all I lie? I thought to myself. I have never been so confused before in my life. I didn't know what to do and all of a sudden, everything seem to spine all around me.
• "I do not love you Mia and I know the feeling is mutual so that is why I want you to tell your parents that you are not interested in this marriage. I mean for once, choose yourself and not your parents," he said, holding my hands that were on the table.
• I closed my eyes, controlling my breath and emotions. I didn't want to cry. It hurt so much. I mustn't be hearing him speak correctly, I told myself to reduce the pain I felt in my chest.
• The knots in my stomach tighten and my chest felt as if it was burning.
• I slowly removed my hands from his hold and kept them to myself. 
• My mother and father announced to me two days ago that Darren and Elsa, Chris's parents have asked for my hand in marriage on behalf of their son as he was too shy to confess his feelings to me.
• Trust me when I say I was really happy. Ever since Chris returned to the country last year, I have not been able to see him. He wasn't where to be seen at his welcoming party which his parent threw for him and trust me when I tell you that I was disappointed when I didn't get to meet him.
• I looked forward to seeing him every day but that opportunity came. Knowing that I would be meeting him today, I took extra time to take care of myself and to look my very best, all for him and now he was telling me he doesn't love me.
• I shook my head, trying to get rid of the negative thoughts and energy. I do not understand him. And want does he mean by an arranged marriage. I must be hearing him speak in German because he asked for my hand in marriage and I agreed although he didn't come to me directly.
• "What do you mean Chris? Your parents told my mom and dad that you wanted to marry me but you do not dare to which is why they are doing it on your behalf," I informed him.
• If he doesn't like me then why did he ask to marry me?
• "What?" He gasped.
• I was taken aback by his reaction.
• "You didn't tell them so or you did, which is it?" I asked him.
• "It is simple." He sighed as he placed his both hands on the table. 
• "My parents set this up. I have no intention of marrying you, Mia. I never asked for your hand in marriage, I mean why would I? I am just twenty-four and too young to get married," he answered.
• I was shocked by his response. If he didn't ask for this then why did his parents say he wanted it.
• "Then why did they tell my parents that you wanted to marry me?" I asked.
• He shook his head as if he was tired of me asking questions. "Have you been listening to what I have been saying to you, Mia? My parents think that we are both in love and so they decided that I got married to you," he said but I did not understand him.
• "I do not think that is the reason and I do not understand," I told him sincerely. "No parents will just decide that for their child? Stop confusing me, Chris. Your parents would never force you to do things that you do not want. I know them well enough," I retorted.
• I knew his parents and they won't tell my parents if he didn't say so.
• "If you are trying to get a reaction from me as you always do then please don't, this is a very rough play," I told him firmly.
• "I will come clean to you okay? I do not want to get married at this age Mia," he said.
• "That's fine, we don't have to get married now," I told him.
• "It's not that Mia. I do not want to marry you at all," he said.
• "What do you mean by that?" I asked. Trust me when I tell you that I completely had no idea what he is saying and where he was heading to.
• "You want this?" He pointed at me and then at himself.
• "You mean you have no issues with marrying someone you do not know?" He asked, speaking in a calm tone now.
• "What do you mean by someone I do not know? I know you, Chris," I answered.
• "You do not know me. I mean take a look at me, am I the Chris of the past?" He asked.
• I signed "We could get to know each other. I mean people start by knowing each other," I suggested but Chris found my response funny.
• "You are one funny human being," he clicked his tongue.
• "I thought you asked for my hand in marriage, if you didn't then why did your parents tell my parents that you wanted to?" I asked.
• "It is because they want to punish me and at the same time they think they are not punishing me because they believe I love you," he answered.
• "And why would they believe so if they didn't see it?" I countered.
• Chris has always been adamant. He would deny his feelings and is very good at acting as if he doesn't. He almost had me fooled that he doesn't like me.
• "Do you like me?" Chris asked all of a sudden, taking me by surprise.
• I felt my heart skip.
• "Do you like me, Mia?" He asked again.
• I took in a deep breath and exhaled. "Yes," I answered truthfully.
• I mean what is the use of denying it. I was no longer a teenager who was shy about talking about her feelings. 
• "I mean, you do like me as a man would like a woman?" He rephrased his sentence.
• I pause for some seconds before giving him a reply. "Yes."
• He seems to be taken by surprise by my response. He pinched the bridge of his nose as if trying to think of what to say to me but he couldn't at the same time.
• "Are you serious about it?" He asked.
• "Yes, Chris. I have always liked you. I know I might not have shown it as a little girl but I am no longer that girl anymore. If that is what you are afraid of then you do not have to worry about anything. I have the same feelings as you," I confessed. 
• CHRIS LYON
• I must be hearing Mia speak in a foreign language because if not, then I do not know what to say or how to react.
• Mia just confessed to liking me and wanting to marry me and I, on the other hand is speechless.
• I do not know what to say to her or how to react. Never in my twenty-four years of living did I ever imagine Mia to be the type to confess her feeling this way.
• Was I angry? No. Was I happy? No. I was just in-between, thinking of how to handle the situation.
• Not only did she just confess her feelings for me but she believes I feel the same way for her.
• Do I feel the same way for her? That I am not sure of. 
• I mean no matter how I denied it, I did have feelings for her when we were younger but now, I do not know.
• I came here with the thought of telling Mia to refuse the marriage but now that she has just confessed to liking me, I do not even know how to go about it anymore. I do not have enough balls to tell her the real reason why my parents had asked for her hand in marriage.
• I didn't have enough balls to tell her of the ultimatum my father gave me and It was either I got married to her or I got disowned by him and I couldn't afford that. 
• "Mia, do you want to marry me?" I had to ask her.
• I wanted to hear her answer.
• "Yes," she admitted and at that moment, all I wanted was for the ground to open and swallow me.