Chapter1
After graduating from college, I finally succumbed to my parents' constant prompting and decided to return to my hometown to look for a job.
Yet, on my first day back, as I was unpacking my bags, my mom dropped a bombshell about a blind date.
"Guess what? Your neighbor Mrs. Duckworth's nephew is single! She told me that he just graduated, comes from a good family, and is a nice guy. I've seen his picture, and I think you two would be great together. I already made plans for you both. He'll come to our house in the morning to pick you up. You can catch a movie, take a stroll in the afternoon, maybe catch another film, and then have dinner together. Afterward, he'll bring you home."
Mom looked at me with a proud smile. "So, what do you think? My plan isn't bad, right?"
I was at a loss for words.
Panic began to rise within me.
"Mom, I have job interviews scheduled for tomorrow morning and afternoon! You're making this so complicated!"
But my mom didn't seem to care.
"You can always find a job, can't you? But finding a partner is a once-in-a-lifetime chance. If you pass it up, it's gone. Besides, you're a girl. Why worry too much about work? It would be better to find a reliable man to marry and save yourself some years of trouble."
I was fuming. When they convinced me to return home, they clearly promised not to interfere with my job search or pressure me into blind dates or marriage.
But now that I was back, my mom couldn't wait to show her true colors.
Seeing my mom's determination, with my dad nodding in agreement as well, I let out a long sigh and chose not to argue further. I turned around and began quietly repacking my things.
If I could, I would have liked to just run away at that moment.
"You always give us that long face whenever there's something you don't want to do," my mom's voice came from behind me, filled with dissatisfaction.
She continued, "Haven't your dad and I done enough for you? We've been doing everything for you since childhood. Now that you're grown up, you want to go against us, huh? You're such an ungrateful daughter. I've already talked to Mrs. Duckworth about your blind date tomorrow. Whether you like it or not, you're going. This could lead to a marriage, and if her nephew changed his—"
"That's enough!"
I dropped my clothes, stood up, and faced my mom, who was standing in the doorway.
Still, she had a point.
I had indeed grown up and become more independent. I wasn't the little girl afraid to push around anymore.
Thinking about all the plans my parents had made for me under the guise of "for your own good" filled me with a surge of anger that spilled over.
"A blind date? Whoever wants to go can go, but not me!"
