In the Heartwood Medical Center's commissioner office, a handsome man in a teal green scrub uniform stood with hands on his hips, looking away after hearing the firm, indisputable request his father had just made—the middle-aged man seated at the desk with a nameplate reading 'Jhon Zhapierre' resting on the large glass table.
"I will handle all the important paperwork for your marriage registration. Once it's done, we won't delay. We'll have a small wedding, given your bride's health condition is still unstable due to her recovery," Jhon stated firmly.
"Dad! My life is mine to manage, including my choice of life partner. It's a modern era now. I have every right to decide who becomes my wife. You can't just decide unilaterally like this!" Nico responded, clenching his fists tightly, struggling to keep his tone low and calm in front of the man he respected most.
"My decision is final, and it cannot be changed. No matter how much you rebel or reject this arrangement, you will still marry the girl I've chosen, the daughter of Uncle Peter," Jhon replied bluntly.
"Dad! Don't be selfish like this. Do you really have to sacrifice your own child's feelings just because you made a promise to your friend? I'm a man. I have my own path. Marriage isn't a simple matter, especially when it involves living with a stranger I've never even met. I'm not risking my future over this! You know very well I hate being controlled like this!" The handsome man continued to object to Jhon's demand, still striving to remain calm and rational.
"And you also know I hate being defied. So, whatever decision I've made, you no longer have the power to resist, Nico! Your mother included."
"I'm going to pretend you never said this to me. Sorry, but this time, I really can't follow what you want, Dad."
"If you refuse this arrangement, I won't hesitate to revoke your medical license and dismiss you from this hospital without honor! I'll also reclaim all the life amenities I've provided and freeze the black card you're currently using." Reluctantly, Jhon resorted to threats because he knew that Nico wouldn't be able to resist if it concerned his career in medicine.
"You must be joking, Dad! This has nothing to do with my career as a doctor."
"I am not joking, Nico!"
Frustrated and fighting to keep his composure, Nico chose to turn around and leave the office without a word. His face was flushed, holding back anger that was on the verge of eruption. "If I reject the marriage, my medical license gets revoked? Ha! That's ridiculous! Dad's crazy idea makes no sense!" he muttered, fuming.
Meanwhile, elsewhere, Fransisca Paulin—a middle-aged woman with brown hair in a red dress—sat on the hospital room's sofa, peeling a red apple for her daughter. She cut the apple into long, small pieces, arranging them on a small plate. Once done, she began feeding her daughter and son alternately, sharing, "I had a long talk with Uncle Jhon earlier, your dad's old friend whom he often mentioned."
Both Michelle and Leo gave her a brief glance before returning to their respective activities.
"And then?" Leo asked, pretending to be interested so his mother wouldn't feel ignored.
"Turns out, he's the owner of this hospital. And his son, he's the best thoracic and cardiovascular surgeon here," Fransisca explained enthusiastically. It seemed she was warming up, preparing to bring up an even more important topic.
"Oh."
That was all the response from the siblings, who were deeply engrossed in their tasks. In fact, they only half-listened to what their mother was saying. Especially Michelle. The beautiful girl in a hospital gown was focused on her drawing tablet, working on the latest chapter of her online comic, adding colors and inserting word balloons for dialogue. She was entirely occupied, especially after receiving a message from her acquisition editor responsible for her work. Meanwhile, Leo, a handsome man with glasses, was focused on his laptop screen, reviewing several reports from his subordinates, rubbing his temple as a throbbing pain set in, particularly when he read sections concerning environmental restoration, reforestation, and fish breeding projects in the sea—matters awaiting approval but already questioned by the village committee. It felt … hard to put into words.
"I've heard from some pastors that if two people have made a promise, and one of them is called by God first, the other person who remains must fulfill that promise. Because a promise is binding, it must be kept," Fransisca said, finally bringing up tonight's main topic. However, her two children, busy as they were, responded to her chatter only with hums, barely paying attention to what she was really saying. The middle-aged woman sighed deeply, leaning back against the sofa and gazing at the room's ceiling as she recalled her conversation with her late husband's friend not long ago. She was confident that despite their intense focus, her children were still listening.
"You know that your father and Uncle Jhon were best friends since childhood, right?" Fransisca paused, trying to convince herself that everything would be fine. She steeled herself and finally continued, "Your father and Uncle Jhon made a pact, that Nico—his son—would marry Michelle once they were both of mature age."
Initially, the siblings only responded with brief hums, their thoughts more focused on what they were doing. But a moment later, Leo and Michelle simultaneously turned to their mother, their eyes wide in surprise.
"Mom?" Leo called, but it sounded more like a question.
"Are you okay, Mom?" Michelle asked. She thought her mother might not be feeling well, causing her to ramble like this.
"I'm fine. My blood pressure's not even acting up. Everything's normal," Fransisca replied, pouting. She was genuinely uncomfortable under her children's intense gaze.
"Are you sure you're alright, Mom?" Leo asked again.
"Absolutely!" Fransisca replied firmly.
"Then, what exactly did you mean by what you just said? I'm honestly so confused." Leo asked.
Fransisca, equally bewildered, let out a long sigh before attempting to answer, "I'm also not sure how to explain this. Actually, before your dad passed away, he briefly mentioned a promise he'd made with one of his friends. I thought it was just talk. But when I met Uncle Jhon, he told me the same story your dad had once shared with me. He even still has a recording of the conversation between them and a signed contract, so I really have no choice but to believe what Peter told me back then."
Hearing her mother's explanation, the stylus pen that had been in Michelle's hand suddenly fell, her mouth agape. She didn't know whether to feel happy or sad. She was truly confused by her current situation.
Marriage … it was something Michelle had dreamed of, especially if it were with a man she deeply loved. She wanted to experience it before God eventually called her. However, if that marriage was not built on love and affection, what kind of happiness could she expect? Michelle was quite shaken by the sudden news her mother brought, leaving her unable to think clearly for the moment.
"I have no idea what to say, Mom. Honestly, I'm confused," Leo muttered, looking utterly lost.
On one hand, he was thinking about his sister's future, having to live under the same roof with a man she didn't even know. On the other hand, his father still seemed to have a significant debt in this world due to the promise he had once made with his best friend.
"I'm also at a loss as to what to say tomorrow when I meet Jhon again," Fransisca added quietly.
Seeing her family's confusion, Michelle, who was even more bewildered, could only sigh heavily before asking softly, "So … what should I do now if even you all are this confused?"
***