Arranged Marriage

Chapter 2

"I already see Shan Shai." Said Liza. "Ling-Wa, please start the car."

Ling-Wa followed as the car started.

Shan Shai saw Liza's older brother's car. This is what her friend used when they were in college.

Shan Shai ran to meet the oncoming car, but she was on the side of the road.

"Shan Shai!" Liza shouted to her friend. She peeked out the car window.

Shan Shai quickly opened the car door at the back, she immediately got into the car. Liza got out of the car to change seats and sat next to Shan Shai.

"Thank you so much!" said Shan Shai. She hugged and kissed her friend on the cheek. "You are always my savior!"

"What happened?" Liza asked her and slipped out of her embrace.

"Liza, maybe I can spend the night with you even now?" She said to her friend with a sad face.

Liza hit her friend on the head.

"Ouch! It hurts," Shan Shai complained. She scratched her head which Liza hit.

"I'm used to that gesture of yours Shan Shai, don't feel sorry for that." It seemed ridiculous to her. "Even if you don't ask me that, you're always welcome at home. My parents are out of town now, my older brother and I are the only ones in the house."

"Thank you so much. Later, I'll tell you my problem when we get to your house."

"Okay," Liza replied. "Come on Ling-Wa, let's go back home."

The old man followed. He quickly sped the vehicle away from the area.

ARRIVING at the house owned by Liza's family, they went straight to her friend's room.

"Stay here in my room, I'll just get something to eat," Liza instructed her.

"Liza, maybe you shouldn't mention to your brother that I'm here with you now." She begged her friend.

"Why?" Liza asked her.

Shan Shai got up from her friend's bed.

"If my parents find out I'm not at home, I'm sure they come to your house first to look for me." She explained to her friend.

"Sure," Liza agrees. "I'll just get our food, then tell me the reason why you ran away."

Shan Shai nodded in response to what her friend had said. Liza turned around and left the room.

She was left standing near the window, looking up as she watched the stars twinkle in the sky.

Shan Shai sighed, she had to think of what she would do next so that her parents wouldn't see her. She needs another place to stay because she can't stay at a friend's house. It would be embarrassing if even her best friend was involved in the problem she was facing.

She needs to find a job no matter what, as long as she is away from her parents. She will stand to run away, just don't marry the man she doesn't love, over her dead body!

Shan Shai looked behind her when she heard the squeak of the door. She saw Liza carrying a large tray, behind her was a housemaid who was also carrying a tray.

"Wanwan, you didn't see anything huh? just pretend, you didn't see my friend Shan Shai in my room. When someone asks you, say you don't know or you didn't see anything." Liza told the maid that she looked younger than her and had just started working in their house.

"Yes, Mam," the maid replied politely. She laid the tray she was carrying on the side table.

"All right, you can leave now. I'll just call you later if I have to order something from you."

The maid turned around, holding the doorknob when Liza called her again. "Wait a minute, Wanwan,"

"Yes, Mam?"

"When my brother arrives, don't mention that I have a beautiful guest. Please tell your fellow maids as well. Thank you." Liza said.

"Yes, Mam," the maid replied again and left the room.

Shan Shai stepped closer to the bed where her friend was. Liza arranges the food she brought.

"You brought a lot of food, it's like we're going to be hanged tomorrow," Shan Shai commented laughing.

There is a small sofa bed in Liza's room. There they sit, to eat the food.

"We haven't done this for a long time. When we were still studying, we didn't even eat half of the food I brought tonight." Liza replied.

Shan Shai laughed at what her friend said. Liza is right, food is life is their motto. Because when they are always together their mouths are always full of food.

"Here are your spoon and fork."

"Thanks," Shan Shai replied while reaching for the spoon and fork that Liza had given her. "The foods look delicious, I'm hungry, I haven't eaten yet."

Menudo, chopsuey, and rice were served in front of them, then there were two more slices of chocolate cake and two cans of soda.

"Let's eat first," Liza said.

"It's even better because when my story comes first, I might lose my appetite," Shan Shai answered and scooped up the menudo and placed it on top of the rice on her plate.

They have already started eating, Shan Shai tries to get rid of her problem, she wants to enjoy the meal with her best friend.

She was very lucky with her friend Liza, she always looked forward to it. Her friend was always ready to help her and so was she to Liza.

If you look at her friend, anyone will think that she is mischievous and stubborn because of the way she dresses and speaks.

But if everyone only knew Liza's true attitude, many would be jealous of her, because she is her best friend. Rich, classy, and sassy but down to earth.

AFTER they ate, Liza started asking Shan Shai questions.

"Now, tell me the reason why you ran away?"

Shan Shai sighed before speaking. "Because of my dad,"

"What about him?" Liza asked.

"Dad wants me to marry his friend's son, it's like arrange marriage."

"What?" Liza looked shocked. "Is it true what you're saying?"

"Do I look like I'm lying?" She pointed to herself. "Will I jump out of my bedroom window, just to escape the house? If I was just lying?"

"But why would he do that, does he have a reason?"

"I don't know, he said nothing. As long as he wants me to marry the son of his friend, I don't like the idea of marrying a man I haven't even seen, met, and talked to." She said.

Liza stood up from her seat and took a walk back and forth in front of Shan Shai, It looks like she's going to get married because of her actions.

"Maybe because of business?" Liza guessed.

"Sit down, I'm sick of you." She commented to Liza

Liza sat next to her, they were currently in bed.

"Do your mom and sister know your dad's plan?"

"Yes!" She answered quickly. "They can't do anything either, because dad is always the one to follow, he is the law. That's why it's annoying, you know it's like dad runs our lives."

"Poor friend. If you want, you can stay here. It will be a long time before our parents can return here to the Philippines. My brother, on the other hand, is busy with our company. It's always night when he comes home." Liza offers to help her.

She was tempted to accept her friend's offer of help, but she could not stay at their house. Because she was sure that her family would pick her up to go back home.

"I can't," she refused the offer. "All I need is work."

"That's right, you're a fresh graduate. My brother needs a secretary in our company."

"I can't," she refused again.

"You're weird, you're the one being helped, you're still refusing," Liza said.

"Because when my dad finds out that I'm here at your house or that I'm working in your company, he will force me to come back home." Shan Shai explained to her friend. "I want to accept the help you offer, but I need a job away from my family so that they can't see me."

She saw Liza's eyebrows raise because of what she said. "Then, where are you going?"

Shan Shai shrugged.

"Do you think, it's easy to find a job especially when you don't have work experience yet?" Said Liza. "You don't want your family to see you. What job do you want, housemaid?" It was just a joke for Liza but Shan Shai liked what her friend said.

"Right!" Shan Shai's face seemed to light up. "I can work as a housemaid,"

"What?" Liza's reaction was unbelievable. She got up from the bed she was sitting on.

"Maybe you're not just crazy, you're crazy! You're just desperate?"

Shan Shai pulled her friend's hands and sat down again on the side of the bed.

"Liza, if I work as a maid, it means I'm always at home. Dad can't find me!"

"Silly idea!" Liza frowned. "You're a college graduate. You want to be a maid, while your maid in your house you are the one being served. What do you know about cleaning the house?"

"I know how to cook and you know that!" She seemed to be bragging about her answer. Her friend gave her a quick snort. "Cleaning is easy, just sweeping,"

"You thought maybe the maid job was easy. When you look like that, do you think someone will accept you? Maybe you'll even look like the boss in the house you're going to work."

Liza looked at her from head to toe.

"Am I not acceptable?"

"It's not like that. But, with your beautiful face and porcelain complexion, do you think anyone will believe you that you're going to apply for a housemaid?" Liza said, patting Shan Shai's right cheek. "Besides, do you think that your Dad won't be able to find you when they spread your pictures? There's even something written on your picture, missing person Shan Shai blah! blah! blah!"

"I'm going to disguise!" She answered without hesitation.

"Tsk! When it comes to foolishness you think very brilliantly!" Liza was still disgusted with her plan.

Knock! knock! knock! knocking from outside Liza's room.

"Liza," it was Liza's brother.

They looked at each other. In a panic, the two immediately searched for Shan Shai's hiding place.

"Under my bed," Liza whispered to her.

"I'm scared of the cockr---" she didn't finish what she's going to say when Liza covers her mouth. "The bottom of my bed is clean. Go ahead and hide, if you don't want my brother to catch you with me here in my room."

"Fine," she answered emphatically and started crawling under her friend's bed.

She had just entered under the bed when suddenly the door of Liza's room opened.

Shan Shai's chest seemed to throb with nervousness for fear that Liza's brother might see her. She was also afraid that she might see insects under the bed, especially cockroaches or lizards because she was afraid of them.

Liza pretended to be arranging pillows on her bed.

" I was knocking on the door, didn't you hear?"

"You're home!" Liza greeted her brother happily.