Chapter 10 Forced To Accept The Desicion

Aldrich and Jimmy were eating their dishes served by the waiter before Edo came to Fuchsia Cafe, while Edo was still waiting for his order with Jessi at another table.

Curiosity approached Aldrich who had wanted to get to know Jessi.

'Who is she? Why are you so close to Edo?' thought Robert.

Not long after, a tall, and slender waiter brought food and drink to Edo's table.

"Thank you, waiter," said Edo to the waiter.

"You're welcome, Sir." She replied.

Then Edo called his friends to join him at table number 15 as if he wanted to tell him something important.

"Jim ... Aldrich ... let's eat together at my table."

The call also turned towards Edo's seat enthusiastically.

"Wait a minute, Do. It is a shame the food is about to run out," said Aldrich.

Meanwhile, Jimmy could not speak because his mouth was still full of food.

"When you are finished, come straight to us. I want to talk to you guys," replied Edo, putting on a serious look.

"Okay, Do," concluded Aldrich.

Minutes passed, without realizing that both Jimmy and Aldrich had finished their respective lunches. After that, the two people approached Edo and Jessi at table number 15.

"By the way, what is going on, asking the two of us to join you?" Jimmy asked curiously while sitting in front of Edo and Jessi.

"Relax, Jim. I will finish eating first, okay?"

"Okay, I will wait," said Jimmy

"You want to get married, huh?" asked Aldrich.

Jessi's face turned red when she heard Aldrich's outspoken question. She felt that Aldrich was too nosy and pretentious.

"Patience, Drich. You will find out later, let them eat first." Jimmy said.

"Next month, I also want to marry Laura," said Aldrich without responding to Jimmy's words to him.

Instantly, Edo's throat constricted because he was surprised to hear Robert's sudden statement.

"W--what?? D--drink...." Edo asked Jessi for a drink.

Jessi immediately gave a glass of water to Edo, who had difficulty speaking. Edo's heart was beating fast as if he had just seen an apparition.

"Drink first, Ed."

Edo took the glass from Jessi's hand and took a sip of water slowly.

"Well Drich, it is because of you that the food got stuck," said Jimmy.

"I am sorry, I didn't mean to," replied Aldrich regretting what he had said to Edo.

"It doesn't matter ... I also want to tell you that Jessi will soon be my fiancé," explained Edo.

"Congrats, Do," Jimmy said sincerely.

"Thanks, Jim." Edo smiled happily.

"You don't want to introduce your fiancé to us?" Jimmy asked, glancing at Jessi.

"Jes, they are my college friends, Jimmy and Aldrich."

"Hi, Jes. Nice to meet you." Jimmy reached out his hand and shook Jessi.

"Nice to meet you too." She concluded shyly.

"Hi, nice to meet you, Jess." Aldrich greeted Jessi.

After the meeting ended, Edo and Aldrich exchanged stories about their respective engagement and marriage.

"So you see, I want to marry Laura because she was terrorized by a vampire," saidAldrich seriously.

"Ha, ha, ha ... vampire ... made this up. It is like being terrorized by vampire in the movies." Jimmy laughed at his friend.

"Is it true that your girlfriend was visited by a vampire? It doesn't make sense," said Edo, who doubted the truth of Aldrich's story.

"If you don't believe it, just ask the person yourself," Aldrich said annoyed.

"Okay, who's afraid? Later in the afternoon, Jimmy and I will meet Laura at her house, how about that?"

"Alright, no problem. Then why do you suddenly want to be engaged?" Aldrich asked back to Edo.

"Actually, it is not sudden, my parents have been planning this for a long time. Jessi is the daughter of my dad's college friend, that's why I came here late because I picked her up at the hotel first," explained Edo at length.

"Well, are you not a native here?" Jimmy asked Jessi.

"I am not a native here," answered Jessi.

"Jessi lives in Birmingham, Jim," explained Edo.

"By the way, how is your thesis going? Tomorrow afternoon can you come home, can't you? You too Jim," said Aldrich.

"Tomorrow, I will see my schedule first because my future in-laws are in London, so it's likely to be busy all day," replied Edo.

"Tomorrow afternoon I am not going anywhere. I will tell you later, okay?" Jimmy replied.

"Then let's just go home," said Aldrich to his friends.

"Okay, Jess, let's go home."

"Yes, Ed."

"See you tomorrow afternoon, Aldrich," Jimmy said.

"Bye, Jim, Edo."

"Bye," they replied in unison.

Then the four young people returned to their respective home and hotel after paying for their orders at the cashier.

At first glance, Jessi and Edo's relationship looked like a brother and sister and they were envious of Robert.

******

At 2.15 pm, Arthur, Ghea, Sisca, and Deanna arrived home after taking care of the James family's hotel business.

Aldrich was deliberately waiting for them in the living room while watching tv, that afternoon would be a decisive day for his future with Laura.

Ghea and Deanna entered the living room first to unwind and tired because there were so many problems at the hotel during this pandemic.

Aldrich also swiftly brought them some cold drinks which he placed on the tray.

"Mom, Sis Ghea, I am making a favorite drink for Mom and Sis Ghea."

"Thank you. You know if we are thirsty ... or maybe you want something, right?" joked Ghea.

"What do you want to talk about with me?" Deanna felt Aldrich's attitude had changed 100 percent, her thoughts in sync with Ghea's.

"Come sit near me, Aldrich," said Ghea.

"So this is it, Mom." Aldrich kept his tray on the table and sat down next to his sister.

"Your face is very serious, what's wrong?" asked Deanna softly.

"Uncle Wallace and Aunt Vienna want to marry me to Laura immediately," Aldrich answered without preamble.

"I beg your blessing, Mom," continued Aldrich

"Dad has approved your and Laura's marriage, Aldrich." Arthur suddenly appeared in the living room with Sisca.

"But I am not ready, Dad. I still--"

"You have to be ready, sooner or later Laura will be your wife and I really expect a marriage between you two." Arthur's attitude changed completely towards Aldrich.

"If that is what Wallace wants, what can we do? They are the biggest investors in our hotel," said Deanna.

"That's right, Deanna. We'd better do what they want, I will contact Wallace right now."

Finally, Aldrich was forced to accept his parents' decision even though it was difficult because after marriage he and Laura had to move to Guangzhou.

In that city were Vienna's siblings and Laura's grandmother who were Guangzhou natives[1].

Both Arthur and Deanna didn't know the real reason why Wallace suddenly wanted to marry off their children.

******

Notes:

>> 1 Guangzhou is the largest city in southern China and the capital of Guangdong Province. Guangzhou was the largest city in the world in the early 19th century.