THE UNWANTED MARRIAGE

CHAPTER 1: PROPOSAL

She was on her knees as she looked at the altar of the church, begging that God may help her with her circumstance. Her grandma was on the brink of death!

She had heart failure and needed to be operated on right away, but she didn't have enough money to pay for her operation and a donor. She doesn't want to lose her because she was the only one she has got.

Her name was Alyssa De Guzman, 20 years old, a first-year College student pursuing AB Mass Communication. Her parents died when she was a baby, and she hadn't got a chance to see them. So her grandpa and grandma took care of her, but when her grandfather died last year, her grandma was the only person left with her.

"Lord, please have mercy on me! Help me think of what to do to find a way for her operation! You know that she's the only person I've got! What am I going to do if I will lose her?" She sobbed until her tears had gone.

After praying, she stood up and sat down on the pew in dazed when suddenly she recalled what her late grandfather said to her. 'Alyssa, this is what you will remember; if ever someday you may encounter a problem regarding money, never hesitate to contact this person.' Then there was a piece of paper with was name and address written by her grandpa gave to her.

She quickly left the church to go home and immediately got in the cab. "Mr., can you please take me to Wood Peaker Street," she instructed the driver.

"Okay, ma'am," he answered.

The driver quickly drove the cab to her house. Already gotten home, she took her wallet out of the bag and asked the driver. "Mr., how much is the fare?"

"It's only fifty pesos, ma'am," the driver answered politely.

She handed over the money to the driver. "Here is my payment, Mr. thank you," she said to him with a smile. "You're welcome, ma'am," he responded as well and smiled back.

She quickly got out of the car to enter the house. Already inside the house, she went to her room and opened her closet. Then she foraged it to find the box. It contained the piece of paper her grandpa had given to her.

Finally, she found the box! She was so glad to see it. She almost jumped for the happiness she felt. She quickly opened the box and took the piece of paper. Then she read it. "Guang Lee lives in Grandville Subdivision Isabel M city".

After reading it, she quickly went to where Mr. Guang Lee lives.

As she arrived at the address written, she saw a big palace-like house. Although she was so nervous, she still pushed the button on the doorbell. "Ding dong, ding dong..."

As she waited, she closed her eyes and prayed to hope that this was the answer to her problem. Thankfully, the gate opened. A woman in her twenties appeared to her and asked. "May I know who you are and who are you looking for?"

Alyssa's face lit up seeing the woman speaking. She quickly introduced herself to her. "Hello, my name is Alyssa De Guzman, and I'm looking for Mr. Guang Lee. Does he live here?" she asked the woman politely.

"Yes, just wait for a while, Miss," the woman answered her with a poker face.

"Okay, Miss, thank you," she replied to her smiling, at her.

After a few minutes of waiting, a woman returned and told her, "Miss Alyssa, please get inside. Master Guang Lee was waiting for you in the garden."

"Okay, Miss, thanks again," she said still, smiling at her. Then the woman went back inside.

She pursued her to the garden. As they arrived there, she spotted the man in his seventies. He was sitting in a white metal chair holding a walking cane in his right hand and surrounded by six bodyguards. Judging by his looks, Alyssa can already tell that he was the one he was looking for, the man that her grandpa referred to her.

She slowly walked towards him and slightly bent her head, and said to him politely, "Good morning, sir, I'm sorry to intrude onto your house, but please allow me to introduce myself. My name is Alyssa De Guzman, and I am the granddaughter of Arturo De Guzman. Before he died, he told me he had a friend named Guang Lee and that if ever I may encounter difficulties, I can come to him." She explained, still bending her head slightly.

While waiting for his response, her body seemed trembling. It scared her. He might get mad at her and might chase away by his bodyguards. She clasped her hands with her eyes closed, hoping that God may enlighten him and welcome her with both hands wide open.

"Aha hahaha, hahaha...," Master Guang Lee laughed.

She opened her eyes, wondering why he was laughing; she looked at him directly in his eyes, trying to convey a message that Alyssa badly needed his help and that she was serious.

"Don't you remember me?" he asked her, wondered.

She got confused about what he meant caused her to bravely ask him, "Sir, what do you mean by I don't remember?"

He told her to approach him. "Come here, my child."

Even though Alyssa was confused and afraid still, she dared to approach him without hesitation. As she was so close to him, he suddenly spoke. "The thing is, when you were still young, you used to come here together with your grandpa and even played with my grandsons. Your grandpa and I were best friends. I owe my life to him. That is why, when I found out that he had died, I felt dejected and was very resentful towards him because he didn't even tell me he was sick. That's why a few years ago. When he didn't visit me, I thought he got upset with me for an unlikely reason, but I was wrong. He doesn't want me to worry. Instead, he wants me to protect you and be part of my family."

As she heard what he said about being part of their family, she got suddenly surprised! "What?! I will be part of your family?! What do you mean?! I don't understand?!"

He stood up in his seat and said. "Marry my grandson. Then I will help your grandma. I will provide everything she wants and even shoulder all her expenses in the hospital. So you need not worry about anything at all. What you have to do is to pursue your study and be the wife of my grandson."

She was so confused and had a lot of questions. How did he find out that her grandma was sick? That gave her a reason to go to him, but she couldn't afford to lose her grandma. Every second counts, so she answered him abruptly, "okay, I will marry him as long as you will keep your promise to me."

Alyssa's answer pleased him caused him to smile at her and say, "good girl," Then he called someone on his phone.

As she was waiting for his instruction, she did not move from where she stood.

After a few minutes of waiting Master, Guang Lee turned off the call on his phone right there in front of her and then beamed again. "My dear, you don't have to worry about your grandma anymore because she is safe now. I already transferred her to the best hospital in the city and even shouldered all the expenses. Regarding the donor, we already provided it."

She cried out in joy because of what he said. She approached him without hesitation and hugged him as if he was her grandpa. Suddenly, her deceased grandfather crossed her mind again. They had similar behaviors. No wonder they became close friends? By the thoughts of it, she can't help herself tighten her hug to him with tears bursting into her eyes, thinking of her grandpa, whom she missed so much.

He felt delighted and hugged her back too, then said, "It feels good to have a granddaughter: the one who will appreciate everything you did. Arturo was so lucky to have you, unlike my grandsons, who were ungrateful. So from now on, you can call me grandpa, okay? And don't forget what you promise. You will be my granddaughter-in-law."

She was so grateful that he saved the life of her grandma. She doesn't care if the replacement was marriage as long as she would think that everything Alyssa did was for her grandma's sake, so she quickly responded to him. "Of course, grandpa, I will. I owe you a lot. In return, I will do the favor. Please give me one week to prepare everything and time to visit my grandma?"

He patted her head using his right hand and said, "Okay, you can go."

She felt emotional again and hugged him. He agreed to her favor then she said goodbye.

Chapter 2: HER GRANDMA'S OPERATION

Alyssa rushed into the hospital where her grandma transferred to see her and confirm if she was okay. And asked the nurse attendant if they had a patient bearing the name Amalia De Guzman admitted there.

"Miss, may I know if there was a patient transferred here earlier carrying the name Amalia De Guzman?" she asked, still panting from the haste.

"For a while, ma'am, I'll check the records first for the newly transferred patients." The nurse answered.

Then she took some of the record books and checked them. After she checked it, she turned to her again. "Yes, ma'am, it has. She was in the V.I.P room 206 on the second floor." She confirms, beaming at Alyssa.

Alyssa was so glad about what she found out, so she grinned at her back. "Thank you so much, Miss," she said, bowing her head.

She then hurries towards the elevator to go to the second floor. Upon arriving at the elevator, she quickly pressed the button to open it. And when it opened, she hurried inside the elevator, pushing the number two button that goes to the second floor.

Fortunately, Alyssa was the only person in the elevator. It was easy for her to reach her destination. After a couple of minutes, the elevator opened. At last, she arrived! She quickly searched the room number of her grandma as per the nurse's said.

Finally, she found the room where her grandma got confined. She carefully opened the door, trying not to disturb her if ever she was asleep.

Upon opening the door, she saw her grandma sound asleep with attached oxygen on her. Beside her was their neighbor Ms. Belinda Reyes, who offered to watch over her. Alyssa had this thought that they were so lucky that Ms. Belinda was here and ready to help them. Now she won't be worried, knowing that someone will take care of her when she's not around.

According to Ms. Belinda, she owed her mother's life to her grandma back then, when no one bothered to help them. Alyssa's grandma is the only person who aided them with no demand in return, so to pay back the goodness shown by her grandma, Ms. Belin offered to watch over her.

"Ms. Belin, how's grandma?" she asked Ms. Belinda as she approached her grandma and held her grandma's hand.

"She's okay now. Thankfully, someone paid for everything and offered to transfer her to this hospital. Do you know those people, Alyssa?" Ms. Belinda asked Alyssa.

She didn't want her to know that she agreed to get married to save her grandma, so she had no choice but to lie. "I-It's grandpa's best friend."

Ms. Belin's brown eyes shine so brightly on the lie she told. "It's a good thing that your grandpa has a friend who is kind and willing to help your family. Your family is so lucky, Al," Ms. Belin said to Alyssa, and because she was guilty, she just smiled at her awkwardly and didn't say any word at all.

She stepped in Ms. Belinda's direction. "Ms. Belin, can I ask you a favor?" she asked her seriously.

"Of course. What is it?" Ms. Belin asked Alyssa, nearing her.

"Hm, Can you watch over her until she gets discharged? Don't you worry, I'll pay you. I need to take care of something, and also I need to focus on studying for our upcoming exam." Alyssa begs Ms. Belinda.

"Oh, no problem, Al, as long as it's you and your family who will ask a favor, I'm willing to help, and you don't need to pay me, okay?" She replied to her, beaming.

"Oh no, it's embarrassing. Just let me pay you for taking care of grandma. I would be glad if you'll accept it as my gratitude to you." She told her with sincerity.

"Oh, you are a sensible child. Okay, if that makes you happy, then I'll accept it, but remember I don't ask for it, okay?" she clarified.

She grinned at her. "Of course, Ms. Belen, I will remember." She answered.

Ms. Belinda smiled back at her and nodded.

"Creak," the door opened.

Ms. Belinda and Alyssa looked at the door to see who did it. A young lady appeared to them wearing a white scrub suit and approached. It's the assigned nurse for her grandma. "May I know who the relative of the patient here is?" she asked in a low tone.

"It's me, miss, her granddaughter." Alyssa quickly answered the nurse.

"Can you sign this waiver, please, to proceed to her operation right away?" The nurse asked Alyssa, holding a waiver and a pen.

She never hesitated and answered right away. "Okay, Miss," she reached out the paper with a waiver written on it and the ball pen she was holding and quickly signed it. While finished signing it, she gave it back to her.

"Here is the waiver, Miss. I already signed it," she said.

"Okay, ma'am, thank you. I'll process this in the station, then after, we will be back here to get your grandma for her operation today, so please be ready." The nurse explained.

"Okay, Miss, thanks," she told the nurse, nodding.

The nurse nodded at her as well and then came out.

She got so nervous looking at her grandma, knowing that her grandma's operation schedule was today. She has this mixed emotion, thinking that what if she can't survive? What if she won't wake up anymore? But she must be positive regardless of the outcome. She knows to herself that her grandma is a strong woman, and she knows she won't leave her behind alone because Alyssa was holding her grandma's promise, and she believes God won't allow it because her grandma is a good person.

She was walking back and forth as she was restless. Ms. Belen held her hand, which caused her to stop walking, and looked at her.

"Al, take it easy, okay? I know your grandma will survive this critical situation. She's a strong woman, remember? I know she can survive, be positive, and don't forget to pray." She motivated Alyssa.

Alyssa felt glad for the encouragement Ms. Belinda gave to her. She can't help but hug her so tight. "Thank you, Ms. Belen." She cried.

Ms. Belinda tapped her back. "You're welcome. Be strong, okay?" she said in a soft voice.

"Okay," Alyssa said to Ms. Belinda, nodding her head.

A few minutes later, the nurses and staff of the hospital wearing a scrub suit came into the room carrying a stretcher. They quickly took her grandma carefully and brought her to the O. R. (operating room) for a heart transplant operation. Alyssa followed them in the O. R. and waited outside in it. Sitting at the bench with both hands clasped together, praying earnestly to God.

Six hours had passed; someone opened the door to the O.R. He was the surgeon who did the procedure. His name was Dr. Albert Moreno. Alyssa approached him, trembling. "Doc, how's my grandma?" She asked him and didn't blink her eyes while waiting for his answer.

"Don't you worry, Miss, your grandma is safe now? She needs to transfer to the I.C.U. She needs to stay there for a few days, and after that, we will transfer her to her room. Then she will stay here in the hospital for a few weeks. It depends on her body. If she recovers, the faster, the better," he explained.

Alyssa was so happy that her grandma made it, and God did not forsake her.

"Thank God grandma is okay, and thank you so much, Doctor, for giving your very best to save my grandma," she said to him, holding her tears to pour.

The Doctor smiled at her and patted her. "You don't have to say thank you. It's my job to save my patient. You must be thankful to Master Lee, who helped us find a suitable donor to your grandma quickly."

As the Doctor walked away from her, she couldn't stop her tears anymore from bursting for what she learned today. Alyssa was very grateful to Master Guang for saving her grandma's life and made her more determined to keep their agreement.

CHAPTER 3: THE WEDDING

She was looking in the mirror while one of the most famous makeup artists in the country put makeup on her face. Today is her Wedding Day! A day that every woman dreams. A grand wedding! Alyssa contemplated if she should be happy. At last, she's getting married or will be sad because she hasn't met her groom yet. For her, it's probably the weirdest wedding that she's ever seen in her whole life, and the worst part was the bride was her.

As the makeup artist finished her makeup and hairdo, Alyssa was impressed with the makeup artist transforming her into something fabulous. Even she can't recognize herself. No wonder he became in demand among the celebrities because he was great in his craft.

"Oh my, you are so gorgeous, dear, and your wedding dress suits you. You look like a goddess descending from above. I'm sure that everyone will only focus on you especially, the groom." He complimented Alyssa.

Alyssa didn't know how to react, especially when he said that the groom would only look at her because she was unsure if the man she would marry would like her and whether Alyssa would like him back, so she let out a fake smile.

She has this presumption that maybe her groom was unattractive. If not, why does he agree to an arranged marriage for a woman like her? A girl without a good background didn't have any achievements and was not even popular in school. The bottom line is she's just an ordinary girl, but she admits she has looks, although not as stunning as a celebrity does.

Alyssa was holding a bouquet together with the makeup artist. He escorted her to the garden where their wedding took place. Arriving in the place where the ceremony takes place, what she saw surprised her! The wedding she dreamed of came true. A garden wedding! She was even more amazed when the setting, the flowers, and the motif that she wanted were there.

Unintentionally, she can't help covering her lips with her hands, holding a bouquet that caused it to cover her entire face.

"Oh, my God! Is this true, or am I just dreaming? How come it's possible?" She thought.

She felt so excited that her fears had gone, and subconsciously slowly walked down the Aisle without even noticing everybody was looking at her. Slowly approaching the altar, she saw a good-looking guy on the right side standing, watching her. Seeing the guy's pretty face suddenly makes her heart skip a beat.

She can't believe that she has fallen for a man she has just seen. "Oh my, is this the man I was going to marry? Was this for real, or just a fantasy? I hope it's not," she said to herself excitedly.

As she arrived at the altar, he took one of her hands and held it. Then, carefully, he led her towards the priest. His smile captivates Alyssa; she can't take her eyes off him. His narrow eyes pointed nose, and even his lips were so kissable. She even looked at him the whole time.

The priest then began the ceremony. "Leonard, do you take Alyssa to be your wedded wife to live together in marriage?"

"I do,"

"Do you promise to love, comfort, honor, and keep her for better or for worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health, and forsaking all others, be faithful only to her, for as long as you both shall live?"

"I do,"

"Alyssa, do you take Leonard to be your wedded husband to live together in marriage?"

"I do,"

"Do you promise to love him, comfort him, honor and keep him for better or worse, for richer or poorer, in sickness and health and forsaking all others, be faithful only to him so long as you both shall live?"

"I do,"

"As a servant of God, I now confirm you as husband and wife. You may now kiss the bride." Then finally, the long-awaited of all will take place. The kissing scene!

Alyssa was waiting for him to kiss her. Slowly, his lips came closer to hers. She closed her eyes and felt like submitting her lips to him. Then he pressed his lips against hers. After they kissed, he suddenly carried her to their reception. The audience was cheering for the newlyweds. She wasn't expecting that he would do it. She felt glad knowing that her husband. Who she just met only today was a sweet person.

People who attended their wedding were so delighted, so did Alyssa. Different people greeted them, but none of them she knew. Still, Alyssa smiled at them as a sign of respect. Observing her husband, she discovered he was good at interacting with people, which caused her to admire him even more.

"Alyssa, my dear, I was so glad that from now on, you were officially my granddaughter-in-law." Master Guang cried, hugging her so tight.

"Me too, grandpa; I am also glad that now I can officially call you my dear grandpa." She cried as well, hugging him back so tight.

"Okay, enjoy yourself here. I better go because I have something to deal with, and Leonard takes good care of her." Master Guang ordered Leonard.

"Okay, grandpa, I will," Leonard answered his grandpa, smiling with his hands clasped at his back.

Alyssa thought that even if their wedding was just a setup, she still felt glad to see the warm welcome of the people who attended their wedding, and most especially that her husband was so good to her.

While her husband was busy talking to the guest, she suddenly remembered her grandmother. It was her grandmother's second week in the hospital. She misses her voice so much that she wants to call her so badly. She searched for a quiet place to call Ms. Belinda to know if her grandmother had recovered already.

"Hello, Ms. Belenda?"

"Oh, Alyssa, how are you? Your grandmother always asks for you." Ms. Belenda informed her.

"I'm okay, Ms. Belen. Can I talk to my grandmother?" She asked her.

"Of course, just wait a second."

"Alyssa, is that you?" It was her grandmother asking.

Her grandmother woke up already! Alyssa was so glad to hear her voice that she couldn't help shed tears.

"Grandma, it's me, Alyssa. I'm so glad that you're awake. How are you, grandmother? Did you feel any pain in your body? Please let me know? I miss you, grandmother," she said with her eyes dripping in tears.

"Oh dear, don't worry too much. I'm okay right now, and by the way, where are you? It's been many days since I recovered, but you haven't visited me yet. When will you come? I am going home tomorrow." Her grandmother asked her many questions, but she couldn't tell her a definite answer.

"Don't you worry, grandma, when I come home, I'll tell you everything?" She answered her vaguely.

"Okay, take care of yourself, my dear,"

"Okay, grandma, I will, bye," She said goodbye to her, crying silently.

Alyssa was about to wipe her tears with her bare hands when suddenly, a tall, young, handsome man handed her his handkerchief. "Here, take this. It's not good for a bride to be sad on her wedding day."

Although Alyssa didn't know him, she badly needed the handkerchief he offered to her, so she took it without hesitation. "Thank you so much; I'll better go."

The man who gave her the handkerchief smiled at her. "You're welcome,"

Then she hurriedly went back to where her husband was standing.