Chapter 3 Insistence

"Ernest! Don't daydream!" said a man to Ernest, who was daydreaming in front of the table.

Ernest, who had been daydreaming with his laptop, suddenly woke up from his reverie when he was awakened by a man who was a colleague of his who was also a doctor.

"Tsk! Surprised you, John!" Ernest chuckled angrily, looking at his friend sharply.

Johnny Erland-that's the name of Ernest's friend and colleague at his own hospital. And the man was usually called doctor John, while Ernest was usually called doctor Ryan, whether he was a patient or another co-worker.

Even though Ernest owns that hospital, he still acts like a doctor who works for his boss, like his friends or other co-workers. He was never arrogant or distinguished himself, and he incidentally owned the hospital.

So because of this, Johnny was not awkward and did not hesitate to ask his friends to joke or act like friends. Because Johnny was also Ernest's friend in high school,

"Haha, anyway, during recess like this, instead of eating or anything like that, you're actually facing the laptop while daydreaming. Take a rest, bro; health is important and expensive," Johnny replied after laughing softly. The man had also sat down on the sofa in Ernest's private room, located on the top floor of the hospital.

And Johnny was used to coming to Ernest's room during recess.

Ernest sighed roughly before wiping his face. He also closed the laptop after hearing what Johnny said; there was some truth in what his friend said.

"What's the problem? You really seem to have a lot on your mind," Johnny said again, making Ernest sigh again roughly.

Ernest shook his head. He thought there was no need to tell his friend about the problem that was more aimed at his sister's problem.

"Okay, er, if you don't want to tell me, I'm just here to give you this," said Johnny, who was so understanding and kind.

The man took out a wedding invitation paper and placed it on the table right in front of Ernest. "Don't forget to come; just be careful if you don't come to a friend's wedding yourself!" Johnny continued to make Ernest realize it, and he immediately looked at what the man had given him.

There, the look on Ernest's face was quite surprised to see the invitation; he immediately took it and read the name on the invitation paper. At that moment, Ernest stared at Johnny in disbelief.

"Since when did you come back with Chelsea? Why is it like this all of a sudden? You didn't tell me, did you?" Ernest immediately attacked Johnny with three questions.

Johnny chuckled at the question. And Ernest, who saw him, became a little annoyed because he just found out about Johnny, who turned out to be back and about to marry his ex-girlfriend, and that former Johnny was still in high school.

"Hehe, I apologize profusely to you, Er. I'll tell you everything tomorrow. Don't be angry because I have a reason why I didn't tell you!"

"See you; don't get annoyed with that face," continued Johnny before he actually left Ernest's room, leaving the man feeling annoyed.

"Tsk! It seems like I've never been considered a friend by him." Ernest chuckled angrily as he watched Johnny leave.

Ernest's private room fell silent again after Johnny left, and Ernest's thoughts returned to his younger brother. Ernest doesn't know what to do to help Cilla so that the girl doesn't have an arranged marriage with the child of her father's co-worker.

Since childhood, all the children of the George family were taught not to argue with what their parents said, so until now Ernest has felt bad for both of his parents.

This morning, after Ernest found out about the arranged marriage, he was so surprised and immediately asked his parents kindly not to force Cilla into the matchmaking plan. However, this morning Ernest could not understand his parents' decision to change; their decision seemed to have been unanimous.

"Huff! Yes, let's think about this problem again later; it seems I also have to tell about Cilla's arranged marriage to Sis William; I'm sure Mommy and Daddy haven't told Sis William yet." Ernest let out a rough breath before muttering. The man then chose to get up from the chair and go out of the room to look for food because, since earlier, his stomach had been struggling and asking to be filled.

At the moment, Ernest can't do anything to help his sister, but later he will try his best to cancel Cilla's arranged marriage. Because Ernest understands what it's like to have an arranged marriage without love, Cilla will definitely be under pressure if she marries someone not of her own choice.

***

After working half a day for the first time, Cilla came home from the office at ten minutes past six, and the girl got home at half past seven.

To be honest, what Cilla felt was exhaustion. Cilla had never tasted it before this, but now he got a taste of it after his foray into the world of work. It's a new experience for Cilla, but the girl feels like going back to her childhood.

Without looking at the atmosphere around the house, Cilla continued to walk into the house and then up the stairs to her room, and the girl only showed a tired face. Everyone who saw her would have understood and didn't need to ask anymore.

Bang!

There was a slightly rough sound of the door closing, and it came from Cilla's own bedroom door. I don't know; the girl's mood tonight is really not okay.

The girl immediately threw her body on the bed. She wanted to sleep for a while, but her body still felt sticky. He wanted to take a bath, but laziness dominated him.

Knock, knock, knock!

The sound of a knock on the door made Cilla get up again from bed. She snorted harshly because she was disturbed by the knock on her bedroom door.

"Who, really? I just don't know if I want to rest for a while," Cilla muttered as she walked slowly towards the door to open it for the person who had knocked on her door.

"Mommy, why Mommy?" Instantly, Cilla's face, which was annoyed before, changed back to normal when she found out that it was her mother who knocked on her door.

'Does Mommy want to talk about matchmaking?' Cilla thought suspiciously; if what she thought was true, Cilla's mood was getting worse and worse. The girl sighed heavily at her mother.

"Are you tired, honey?" asked Prana, looking at Cilla with a guilty look.

"Ah, no, Mom." Quickly, Cilla shook her head.

"What's wrong, Mom?" He continued asking again. Cilla was quite curious about the purpose of her mother approaching her in the room.

Prana looked at Cilla doubtfully, as if the woman was hesitant to say what she was going to say to her youngest daughter.

"You have taken a bath?" asked Prana politely.

Cilla looked at her mother with a frown, then shook her head. "What's wrong, Mom?" he asked.

"You take a shower there first! After you take a shower, get ready to wear decent clothes because tonight said the father of his friend and his son who will be betrothed to you will come," explained Prana, making Cilla silent. The girl's suspicion that her mother was right had nothing to say about matchmaking.

"Mom, I do not agree with the arranged marriage!" Cilla firmly dared to refuse.

However, of course, Cilla has the right to refuse an arranged marriage that is not based on love because she knows what her fate will be like if she only accepts an arranged marriage without love.

"Honey, please! Mommy can't change Daddy's decision. If you want the match to be cancelled, you have to persuade Daddy yourself, but for now, Mommy begs you to be there when Daddy's friends come," Prana persuaded at length in the hope that her daughter would melt and obey he said.

Meanwhile, Cilla, who heard that, sighed roughly, silent, trying to think about what her mother had said.

'Can I persuade Daddy or not?' thought the girl before she was awakened by her mother speaking again.

"Yes." In the end, Cilla answered with that one word. She wants to meet the person she is going to be betrothed to, but after that, she will persuade her father to cancel the match. Hopefully, the plan will work out the way the girl wants.

"Yes, what?" asked Prana, asking to make sure the result of Cilla's answer was not too short.

"Yes, I want to meet Daddy's friend's child later, but later I will try to persuade Daddy myself," Cilla answered, which made Prana's lips pull up to form a relieved smile.

Prana will not force Cilla to accept the betrothal if her husband does not force her to persuade their youngest daughter. So, Prana used a little coercion due to a request from Frans.

"Thank God, then Mommy will go down first to prepare everything. Okay, you also don't take long to get ready because maybe in half an hour Daddy's friend will come," said Prana, who was only interrupted by Cilla.

It was obvious that he was forced to answer his mother's statement. "Yes, Mom," Cilla replied once again.

After making sure that Cilla had followed what he said, Prana left Cilla's room and headed downstairs, saying that the woman would prepare a meal tonight for the special guests of the George family.

After her mother left, Cilla sighed heavily. Even though Cilla wanted to rest in her room tonight, unfortunately her wish had to be destroyed by the arrival of her father's friend.

"Huff! Mommy really never understands me; she doesn't even seem to care if I just got home from work and am very tired." Cilla once again sighed heavily before she returned to the room.

Long story short, Cilla was ready with a knee-length black dress that stuck to her body, her hair loose, and light make-up that looked natural and beautiful. The girl looked so beautiful tonight, but her face didn't look happy at all. What Cilla shows is that it's flat.

Immediately, Cilla walked out of the room; he did not want to get a scolding from his mother for taking too long out of the room. However, before the girl descended the stairs to the lower floor, she glanced at the room of her second brother, Ernest, which was not far from his.

"Isn't Ernest coming home yet? Does he already know about the arranged marriage that Daddy and Mommy are planning?" muttered Cilla, who just remembered her brother, who is a doctor.

"I hope that brother Ernest knows, and she will help me," continued Cilla talking to herself before she actually went down from the second floor to the first floor.

On the last step of the stairs, Cilla could see a family room table that looked unusual. Because of what Cilla saw, now it looks tidier than usual. Don't forget that the table in the family room is set with several jars of snacks; usually the table is only filled with two jars of snacks.

As a result of not seeing her mother's presence in the living room, Cilla decided to continue her steps towards the dining table.

And Cilla's guess was true; there was already the mother who was arranging the side dishes on the dining table. Cilla, who saw her, was silent and stopped her steps not far from her mother, who had not yet realized her presence.

'Mommy is very busy, even though it's only a short meeting, but Mommy prepares it completely; is it really special for Daddy's friend?' Cilla thought silently.

"Hey Cilla, are you ready? Just wait in the living room; Mommy will be there, and maybe soon Daddy will come down too," said Prana, who had just realized Cilla's presence. The woman immediately stopped her movements while staring at the plate.

Cilla smiled slightly. "Yes, Mother." That's how short Cilla's answer was before she left the dining room and followed her mother's words.

Apparently, after Cilla arrived in the living room, her father was already sitting there on the sofa with a neat appearance. "Daddy," Cilla called, approaching the man who had four heads.

Frans turned around. Instantly, she smiled sweetly at the appearance of her daughter, who was so beautiful and elegant in a black dress.

"Come here, baby!" Frans said, inviting Cilla to sit beside him.

Cilla nodded and held back for a moment what she was going to say to her father.

"How? Do you want to accept this match?" asked Frans in a discussion that was again not far from matchmaking. Cilla took a deep breath.

Honestly, the girl shook her head and ventured to persuade her father now. "I don't accept the match, Daddy," she replied, staring right into her father's eyes, which looked a little sad.

"Cilla–"

Ding-dong!

Frank's words were cut short by the sound of the doorbell ringing. The middle-aged man immediately got up and walked towards the main door, but before that, he gave his youngest daughter a word of advice.

"Daddy asks you to think again; don't be hasty in making Cilla's decision. Daddy hopes that after tonight's meeting you will change your mind."