Smell of Pink Tulip

I went out with the black umbrella and walked into the house, I left the wet umbrella outside the house, and when I entered there was no light in the whole house. Maybe Dad was awake, until now he still didn't accept anything that is the course of his life every day. I turned on my phone to use the flashlight. I went up the stairs and went into the room. I turned on the light and only my room was bright in this three-story house. Even if I can choose the life I want, I prefer to stay at this house with no life. Someone knocked at my door and I stood up to open it. "Ma'am, Mr. Arellano is calling you to his office" I raised my two eyebrows. I don't want to be called to his office because, for two reasons, when I did something wrong or he did something wrong. I nodded and walked out of the room, my heart beating fast as I touched the doorknob of his office. The room was dark and there was only one light, a candle. "You can't pay our debts until you die," he said, and I frowned. "You're at the right age to get married, Ashanti. You're the only daughter I have and the only daughter can continue my closed business" He added and I listened quietly to my dad when he turned around and sat in the swivel chair while I saw the smoke from his cigarette. "On Saturday, I'm looking forward to meeting Zaijan, she'll be your husband" I raised my eyebrows and looked into my father's eyes, there is no love in his eyes, full of anger and doubts "But Dad, getting married isn't that easy, the two people should be deeply in love-" He cut me off. "There is no real love in this world! I'm running out of time! I don't want to die without money, I don't want to continue to die for all I've worked for 20 years," he explained. He was always there, always with business, always money, he never thought that all my life I was worried about him, but sometimes he never crossed his mind to support me even though everything I sacrificed was not for me but for him. "Your silence means yes, get out to my office" And then, even if I speak, I can't because he's the only one who can follow so it's better to be quiet because he knows if the final decision is up to him. "Good night, Dad" I said in the most respected tone. I walked in the hallway and walked into my room, I just cried the whole night, as if I had a choice to decline. I woke up with red eyes, I couldn't sleep last night because I just thought about Dad's decision, how long will I be my Dad's hand? How long I will wait to survive to this dark times of my life? I just got ready to go to the clinic, even if I wanted to just cry all day, I needed to work. Today is Friday, there are many patients on Fridays. My schedule is too full starting Monday and then I will set aside one more day for the man I don't know, but will be my husband?. The world is too cruel to me. I arrived at the clinic and there were already many people in line, they greeted me and I just smiled. "Doc, Doc. Guerrero has already taken the patient on the waiting list" Doc. Robert said and he gave me the chart. And there are many patients waiting in line. "Why did he only take five? We have flood patients in the chart. Where is Doc. Tolentino?" I'll ask him. "He's going to be late, Doc. There's an emergency" He answered. I face the flood patients we have today. And my whole body hurt afterwards, just me and Doc. Guerrero is available now so we have no choice to end it. I put the coffee on the table and leaned on the swivel chair, someone knocked into my door and it was Doc.Robert he gave me an invitation "Doc, come to my son's birthday tomorrow " Doc. Robert mentioned and I smiled. "Oh, baby Thea is 1 year old. I have plans for tomorrow, Doc. Sadly I can't go" I said, I can't pretend, Doc will understand but Dad doesn't, I need to follow his orders more than anything. "It's okay, Doc. Next time" He said and I smiled. "Thank you, I'll just buy her gift" I answered and Doc laughed. I log out and stop at the convenience store to buy some alcohol. I want to forget the my problems now. I chose a carton of beer and paid, the cashier even looked at me for a few seconds and I raised an eyebrow at her to avoid it. I left the store and put the shopping in the front seat. I drove home because I had nothing else to do. When I arrived, I just went straight to the room and got dressed, I locked my door and started drinking. I drank the wine until I fell asleep. I woke up because of the sunlight in the window, s**t! I didn't close the curtain last night!, I have a hangover!. I dressed in an oversized t shirt because I was wearing fitted shorts. I'm sleepy but I need to sip hot soup to get rid of my hangover. "Manang, why the lights are on—" I freeze for a second when I see a man sitting on our sofa. He has this perfect forehead that matches his face-shaped. An eyebrows that are black and thick, has blue eyes, narrow nose and a pink lips. He looks so neat, you can see how straight the iron of his formal suit is from the height to the pants he is wearing. He has this rolex watch, a masculine body that you can see because of his muscles and chest. "I'm sorry Dad" I said weakly and walked back to the room. I just sat on the bed and waited for them to finish, I can't hear them. I waited for more than an hour, I peeked outside and saw that the lights had already been turned off. I went out and cooked mushroom soup. After having breakfast, Manang gave me a letter. "What is it for?" I asked. "Mr. Arellano said, just read it" He replied. I unfolded the folded paper. And this is a Hercruise Ship reservation, the biggest Cruise Ship in the world is in the Philippines? And Zaijan Vixlivth Hernando has a signature on the lower part of the letter. I walked into the room and sat on the swivel chair. I type the name in the browser and its information appears. Oh my! He is the owner of Hercruise Ship, and he is also a famous businessman all over Asia, he also has Luxury Restaurant all over the world. He is 33, we are five years apart. But he looks young though, when I saw him earlier I thought we were the same age. And I got shocked for a second when I saw the time written on the invitation. 4 PM. f**k! I looked at the clock and it was 2PM, what time did I wake up earlier!. I showered and cleaned myself. I still have a long time to dress and get ready. I look at the mirror wearing a white maxi dress high waisted and has a diamond V-neck. I put on the white heels and took my small purse and left the house. I drove to the ferry terminal, hurriedly boarded the Cruise carrying the invitation card he gave. I showed it to the lady at the door and she let me in. I can't find him! What is he wearing, I turned to look around. "Ma'am, are you meeting Mr. Hernando? He is at the VIP Table, just enter through the gold double doors" The woman said and I looked at the door. "Oh, thank you so much" I answered and walked to the VIP Table. He looks neat again, wearing a formal gray suit. "I'm sorry I was late—" He cut me off. "You're the only ones asking for help, and you made me wait? You're 3 minutes late" He said but he wasn't looking at me, he was busy cutting the beef steak. "I'm sorry, I didn't see the time on the invitation right away" I said. I sat on the chair and he ate quietly, I also ate because there was food prepared in front of me. "Oh by the way, I'm so sorry if my Dad asks for help. Can you stop helping us? I can handle this but don't tell Dad, he will get angry—" He cut me off again. "The decision is on me, Miss Arellano, not your dad's. I bought you according to the price I will give your dad" I frowned at what he said. Did Dad already sign a contract? Why is this man so complacent? It's true that the decision is really up to him, but what he said is that Dad has already sold me, I'm not a property, or something to be sold just like that. "I'm sorry. W-what….what is it again?" I ask to clarify myself. "I bought you, so the decision is on me. m So pack your things in your house and immediately move to my house tomorrow, here is my address. Excuse me" He said standing up from the seat. He has attitude, he is cold with no expression shown.