"Arranged" Marriage - Unedited Version
Chapter 1 the proposal 7th September 2010
“Will you marry me?”
“Who’re you?”
“Stranger.”, the man said it with a cunning grin.
She assesses the man from head to toe, after a few second long pauses. “…ok.”
“Really?” he’s surprised. “Just like that?”
“You got a plan right?”
Sophia Lee binti Khairul Abdullah, is a 18years old Chinese mix Malay gal. Being a mix child in Malaysia mean he or she is good looking by default. Sophia is no exception. 174cm, 45kg, slender, everything a teenage gal of her age should have, she got it all! At 12:30pm, she’s wearing singlet without bra, short tight pant leaning by the door. If she puts on makeup, she’s definitely cover material.
At the prime of her age, she does not lack admirers or stalkers. What got Sophia impress is that this 6ft 2-3inch European guy. He got short hair, half groomed with some beard under his nose and chin, the dark under eye reveal that he haven’t been sleeping well for the past few days or he’s just a computer nerd. He calls himself “stranger”, stare at her with a mysteries vibe.
“Stranger…” what is this 1970? If he’s any local guy, he would have kissed the door the minute he said “marry me.”
But this guy… takes out a diamond ring from his suit and presents it in front of her. The ring looks like a Wah Chan products; cheap and simple design, probably less than RM2k from the size of the diamond. He’s wearing formal tie, belt, suit… but the suit seem seasoned, looks like he’s been traveling. Looks like he’s recently fired, tired, traveler… who sell cheap diamond ring.
But this guy… has the balls to propose to her with this kind of quality! He’s kind overestimate himself or underestimates her. Standing there with a ring with is not even in a box! The nerve of this guy! What where did that confident looks came from? He actually believes he might succeed?
He’s no prince charming alright.
“Wait a minute,” in her head, “This isn’t a live gotcha show from Hit.fm right?” She looks around to search for hidden camera or suspicious character. She’s renting a small room in Kelana Puteri Condo, in Kelana Jaya, SS7/26 for RM280 per month. Electric and water bill included. Kelana Puteri Condo is known for convenience for students because there are a few colleges within 15minutes bus ride. KDU College, College Tunku Abdul Razak… you name it. Even with all that, it is still not a camera worthy location. Apart from convince, there is really nothing much to said about this place, much less about her. So chances of TV show are slim. The remind option is – crazy European.
But let’s not get side tracked.
She agreed his crappy proposal! She’s still 18! Is a random guy! Is 12:37pm and is hot! She’s not being logical!
But… just like that.
To be honest, she surprises both this “stranger” and herself. Before she had a change to say “just kidding” or “gotcha” to undo what she said. “Stranger” smiled.
He smiled, she stoned.
He’s smile hiding many stories behind it, is like a lost traveler finally made it home. That’s when he slides the ring into her finger. He got the wrong hand but she didn’t correct him. There is some about this guy, this smile that draw her into a abyss for ending wondering…
“Who is he?” Raya song is playing on the radio…
Raya is coming. Sophia is half Malay but she ain’t celebrating. For those who didn’t know, Hari Raya is a major celebration for Malay race. They would fast for a month; eat only during dusk or dawn to welcome this special day.
But no, not Sophia Lee Binti Khairul Abdullah. She might be a half Malay but she looks like Chinese with big beautiful eyes. Father gene is strong here.
Speaking of father, she lost him 5 years ago, her father Lee Wei Kok was an open minded Chinese who fall in love with her Mum Siti Nur Aida binti Md Rosidi Md.
Take place in Pinang.
It was all romantic, dramatic and all that, till Lee knock her up and decided to get marriage. They were young and unprepared but abortion is not an option. Back then inter racial marriage is not common, especially among the rich and famed, but the poor love birds decided go against family, tradition, social status and get marriage.
As a result, Lee becomes Khairul Abdullah because Aida like that name.
As a result, Lee becomes outcast, becomes the shame of his family. They stop contact each other ever since, when though Lee attend to change.
As a result Sophia Lee Binti Khairul Abdullah exists.
Aida family takes it a lot better than Lee’s family. By that I mean the motherly love overcome the fatherly rage. The mother-in-law accepts Lee for her future granddaughter. Khairul, formally known as Lee Wei Kok wanted to become a bestselling writer in Malaysia. He was young, ambitious and full of dreams…
At this point, we all know that it doesn’t happen… Instead he becomes an office boy under Aida’s father cooperation’s subsidies. He was arranging there not out of good will but revenge from Aida’s father. The old man did not get over it. He wanted to torture Khairul for robbing his precious love of him. Little did he know that he act of foolish indirectly kill Khairul.
Khairul try his best and work hard to feed his family of three. He doesn’t want Aida’s family’s further suppose because he wanted to prove himself. He tried. He probably deserves promotion or better position for his effort but it all goes into drain thanks to his old man-in-law. The colleagues distant from him, the superior ignore him. Even the publication company overlooks his manuscript that he work hard to reach his dream.
It is useless to reason with his in law because he can’t make pass the secretary.
One year passed, two year passed, five years passed and tenth years coming.
Khairul dream was completed demoralize. In front of the wife and daughter, he tried his best to act positive and kept his sorrow to himself. He give them a lot of love, especially Sophia. He give so much attention on her till something Aida feeling got negated. Aida some time wonder things would have been different if Sophia didn’t exists. This feeling has been concealed till Khairul passing.
Years of mistreat and ignorant from the old man-in-law. Khairul turn to smoking. He didn’t smoke in front of his love one but he’s like a chimney at work.
When he left, Sophia was only 13.
This event happens so fast that Sophia can barely remember the funeral. Aida sends her to private school in KL short after Khairul passing. She blames it on Sophia. If Sophia didn’t exist, she would have enough time to melt her dad’s heart and introduce Khairul to her family.
“Slowly but surely!” She convinced herself.
Khairul might not be an outcast among his family, there might be blessing if Khairul and Aida have enough time to prove them. However… they didn’t have the luxury of time. And so Sophia didn’t have the luxury of parental love.
When Sophia was 16, she learns the true about her father tales. The feeling is like someone reaches his hand into her chest, grasp her heart and squeeze it. It hurt so bad…
She distances herself from her family. Not the kind grandmother can pursue her. She becomes rebellion, she become mature and she becomes a gorgeous woman. Such attitude should not occur in a 16 years young lady but it happens…
Raya to Sophia is not a celebration… Is a disturbing reminder about her past, her father and her hatred.
Raya is only couple a days ahead, marriage a complete stranger sounds like a fair activity to her now. He might not be a stud but he is no doubt attractive with his enigmatic gaze and his mysterious identity.
“Will you marry me?”
“Who’re you?”
“Stranger.”
“…ok.”
“Really?”
“You got a plan right?”
“Why of course!”
