Taylor was still lying on her bed which hasn’t been cleaned up with tangled blanket thrown off the side. Today was the second day after her break up with Samuel. She’s no longer his girlfriend. For two days after the break up, she locked herself in her room. Skipped classes, didn’t go to college, ignored her mom’s invitation to dinner; she even silenced her phone and ignored texts from her friends who intended to cheer her up.

For these two days, Taylor stayed in her room thinking about her three-years-relationship with Samuel. She thought about the main reason for ditching Samuel. She thought about the opinion of others who said that ditching Samuel was the best decision.

Well, Samuel's strengths were just his cool appearance. Indeed he was also loyal. But to be honest, his selfish, jealous, and temperamental nature was more dominant. And worse ... he was possessive!

Everything must be approved by Samuel. Wherever Taylor went, Samuel must know. Whenever Taylor met a new friend, Samuel had to know, especially if it's a guy! Whatever Taylor wanted to buy, she had to ask for Samuel’s approval. Otherwise, every violation will be followed by threat of 'break up', something which comes out easily from Samuel's mouth. Not to mention his explosive emotions every time Taylor disappointed him.

All this while, Taylor had always assumed that it was because of Samuel's love. But somehow, those closest to her have always had different opinions.

Her mom believes that Samuel was childish and immature. He wasn’t afraid of losing Taylor. He just wanted to show that he was more powerful than Taylor.

Her childhood best friend, Olga, thought differently. "Who does he think he is??! Your boss?! Your employer?! Your dad?!" Olga asked furiously. Her mouth wouldn’t stop spouting hateful comments whenever Taylor complained how bossy Samuel was.

Comments from Sienna and Jessie, her two other best friends, were not much different either. Ouch, Taylor can feel her heart twitched with sadness whenever she thought about others’ opinion about Samuel.

It never crossed Taylor's mind that she would lose Samuel one day; that she must go through days without Samuel; that she must feel this painful feeling because of Samuel. But her heart didn’t feel any better when she saw the joyful expressions of those who really wanted the break up. Still, she was the one who bore the sadness. Not her mom, not Olga, not her friends! There’s no longer anyone who’d drive her and pick her up whenever she goes somewhere. No one who would accompany her whenever she feels lonely.

Taylor wanted to call Samuel, to cancel her decision to end their relationship. Or just send a text to express the regret that has been increasingly piercing heart. Isn't that what she always does when the Samuel breaks their relationship?! But no! “I must be strong. Moreover, this time I was the one who asked to break up!” Taylor thought.

Taylor's hand grabbed her phone and rose from her sleeping position. For a moment, Taylor hesitated "Should I? Should I call or text first? Since the break up two days ago, Samuel hasn’t contacted him, not even once. Doesn't he miss me?!” Taylor thought as she twirled the phone in her hand. "Argh! Whatever! Just one call or a text doesn’t mean you want to get back with him. I just want to know how he was doing." Taylor said again.

She dialed Samuel's number and hear the dial tone. One second ... two seconds ... three seconds ... three missed calls ... Samuel didn’t answer the call. Taylor threw her body onto the bed. Again, tears welled up in her eyes. Samuel certainly didn’t want to know her anymore. Samuel must have been very hurt.

When Taylor was busy guessing what her ex was thinking, her phone beeped once and broke wild imagination. She got a text. Samuel's name showed in the inbox, it made Taylor sit up straight in bed. Taylor scanned the contents of Samuel's message.

“What’s up, Taylor? Sorry, I didn't hear your call. I was playing games with the guys in Ethan’s place.” 

Taylor was stunned. The tears now flowed even more, soaking her cheeks and shirt. Samuel didn't even grieve at all. For two days, she locked herself in a room crying over their three years together which ended in vain. But what did Samuel do?! Play games at his friend's! "What did he thought about the past three years??? What did he take me for! Lucky prize? Hobby to spend his spare time?" Taylor exclaimed.

Never before had she felt as meaningless as she felt now. Although she was still crying, she suddenly no longer felt sad. The pain in her heart hadn't stopped, but anger now filled her brain, heart and mind. There was nothing more she wanted at the moment but to meet Samuel and beat him to a pulp. Lifetime disability would have been even better.

"So none of you are going to take me there? You don't want to give me support?!" said Taylor with an calm expression and cold tone. One hour after Samuel sent the text which set Taylor ablaze with anger, her three friends came. Sienna and Jessie looked very worried, while Olga, as usual, seemed calm even though her friend was grieving. 

"It's not like that, Taylor. If I were you, just leave it. Forget it. It really is not worth it. You are wasting your energy and thoughts on someone who is now a nobody to you!" Olga replied, hugging a cushion on the edge of Taylor's bed. "You guys broke up already! And now you know for yourself, what kind of jerk you've been dating for the last three years! Why would you still want to have any business with someone like that?!" Olga continued with a sarcastic tone. 

"Olga is right, Taylor. It's really not important to have any further business with Samuel, not to mention just to show him how angry you are. He never treated you right, Taylor! Move on with your life. It's his lost, not yours!" Jessie added softly, trying to neutralize the Olga’s high tones. But Taylor was silent. She slumped even more in her chair. Her gaze was blank, facing the window.

Silence held on for a long time until Taylor spoke. "That's it! He must know all that! He has really hurt me. In the past 3 years, it turned out that I had never meant anything to him! What are my shortcomings? Looks like I have been defending him in vain all this time." Taylor's voice broke the silence.

"So that's why, Taylor! You don’t need to see him, get angry with him. It’s a waste of your time and energy. Useless! Even if you talk until foam comes out of your mouth, he won't change!” replied Sienna.

"No! I still have to meet him! He must know my feelings! I won’t accept how he’s treated me for the last 3 years!" said Taylor.

"Ouch! What else are you going to do? Forget it, don't even bother! What if something bad happens to you, Taylor?” Jessie said with worried face.

"Take it easy. I just want to give him a little piece of my mind!" Taylor said, taking her towel and went to the bathroom. She just remembered that she hadn’t showered for 2 days.

From behind the steering wheel, Taylor's eyes can’t stop staring at Samuel who was sitting with his friends in the cafeteria. Joking, laughing freely, without burden.

Taylor took deep breaths, trying to snuff out the anger burning in her heart. She casually got out of the car, approached the table where Samuel had gathered with his friends. Samuel only silently watched as Taylor stood nearby. The atmosphere that had been merry with laughter, now silent with awkward. Samuel's friends suddenly became busy on their own.

"I want to say something!" said Taylor, flat but firm.

"Taylor, no need. Three days ago, I already told you that I ..."

"Or do you want me to talk here, in front of your friends?" Taylor's intonation increased, making Samuel surprised and immediately stood up awkwardly.

"Okay. Let’s look for an empty table." Samuel said softly. His eyes went around looking for an empty table.

"No need! You think I'm here begging to come back again as before? Not. I'm here just for a short talk." Taylor said curtly. "Let’s do it in the parking lot." She added and immediately turned to leave Samuel. Samuel followed Taylor to the parking lot and leaned against the door of her car. "I just wanted to say something that I should have realized 3 years ago. You've never treated me properly ..."

"Taylor, you mean ..."

"Sam, please! Just this once, listen to me and don't interrupt! In these 3 years, you have never treated me right! You really never understand people, huh? At least, respect the feelings of those closest to you! You've trampled my pride many times, you know? It's clear that you don't deserve me, Sam! In fact, you don't deserve anybody in this world. Except those of the same nature as you!" said Taylor, pointing her finger at Samuel's face. "Someone equally selfish, possessive, bossy! So you can feel for yourself how uncomfortable it is to be with someone like that! ”

"Taylor, now you listen to me ..." Samuel tried to grab Taylor's arm which was immediately pushed over harshly.

"Hey, what do you think I’ve been doing for the last 3 years, if I wasn’t listening to you?! That's enough, Sam. I no longer want to listen to you. You should listen to everything I told you earlier! You should change!" Taylor immediately opened the car door, intended to leave before Samuel can do anything. But before getting into her car, Taylor said "Good women are created for good men. Remember that, Sam!"

Without waiting for Samuel's response who was still shocked, Taylor entered the car and immediately started the engine. She opened the window and smiled a little to Samuel who was still standing by the door of her car. "I am relieved that I have said all of that to you. Oh yeah, FYI, I'm fine, Sam! And I have forgiven all that you’ve done for the past 3 years. Bye." The Taylor left Samuel alone, scratching his head in the parking lot. He couldn’t believe the once weak Taylor could change so dramatically. In the car, with a broad smile on her face, Taylor couldn’t believe it either.

"My mom’s out of her mind. How can she set me up with someone?” Jessie shouted fiercely, fire almost coming out of her mouth.

Sienna and Taylor just listened. Nodding at all of Jessie's angry spouts. They had just had their lunch in cafeteria, the two continued to listen to Jessie's scolding.

"How old are we? We’re just turning 20 years old this year! We haven’t even got our degrees yet. I also want to work first and become a career woman. Yes, the soonest I’m getting married would be at 29."

Sienna and Taylor continued to pay close attention, like a bunch of students listening to their teacher.

"Nine years from now. I’m only going to think about getting married then!"

"That's right," Taylor said. Sienna nodded in agreement. “Am I not attractive enough? All the guys in the faculty are racing to go out with me. Not to mention those guys from other faculties," Jessie said, still in rage.

"You’re not counting in those from other universities or cities?" cut Sienna. Taylor laughed. Jessie glared. She looked at her two best friends.

"We're only kidding. Never mind, don't think too much about your mom's wishes. In two weeks, we will have our semester break. Shall we go to Bali again?” Taylor tried to cheer her up. Sienna second that. Jessie was still busy with her own thoughts.

"But my mother keeps talking about this. It seems my mom really wants me to go out with the son of her college friend."

Before Taylor and Sienna could continue to cheer her, someone cut them off. "Why are you so reluctant?" Chris who sat at the same table as the three girls suddenly joined in.

"Eh, what does this have to do with you?" Jessie grumbled.

"Yeah!" Support Taylor and Sienna.

"Whatever. So what?" Chris ignored nonchalantly.

"Why did you refuse your mother's request?"

"Arranged marriage is no longer a thing!" Jessie answered curtly.

"What is wrong with it?" Jessie, Taylor, and Sienna wanted to argue, but they were Chris quickly cut in. "If it's for the best, why would you refuse? Moreover, the one who recommended it was your mom."

"Hey, what if he’s a nerd with ancient look!”

"Have you met him?" Chris asked. "Have you seen him from head to toe?"

"Not yet."

"So?"

"You still don't get it? Now let me ask again, what if the guy she’s trying to introduced me to turns out looking like a country bumpkin, way out of my league… What should I do?"

"Well, you haven't even seen him," Chris said quickly. Sienna and Taylor could only listen to the heated debate between Chris and Jessie. "You haven’t even met him. How could you refused right away? Why not try to have positive thoughts?" Hearing this, Jessie became more furious "Meet him first. Who knows, he's rich." Chris continued while smiling.

"Damn, I'm not a gold digger."

"Who said that you were?"

Jessie glared. Her eyes bulged.

"If he's rich, surely he will bring a car. Well, instead of you taking the public transport with these two useless creatures every day, it's better off to have enjoy the cool breeze from the AC!” Now it was Sienna and Taylor's turn to glare. "You said he’s the son of your mother's friend. Who knows he’s successful. An government officer or a businessman. Who knows?" Jessie pondered for a moment. She tried to process that in her head. "It just doesn't make sense if you refuse him straight away, when both of you haven't even met each other. Who knows he might just be handsome." Jessie did not reply. Sienna and Taylor were also silent.

"If he turned out to be as handsome as Robert Pattinson, what do you do?" Chris teased while munching on the food in his mouth. Jessie was still silent. She instead imagined herself being Bella Swan who fell in love with the handsome vampire Edward Cullen in the ‘Twilight’. Wow, how romantic! Ka-ching. Jessie's brain finally works little by little. "Yes, or at least he’d look like Zac Efron. It wouldn’t be so bad to show off around the campus. Isn’t it?" Chris added with his devilish grin.

"If he’s ugly, not rich, or a combination of both, then you can turn him down and dump him. Just tell your mom that you wish to concentrate on getting your degree first. Or ... " Chris didn’t continue, instead he drank his cola.

"Or what?" asked Jessie.

"Or just tell your mother that you don't like boys. Hahahaha ..." Jessie pouted. Sienna and Taylor smiled in secret, too afraid to laugh out loud.

"By the way, I know why you refused it." Jessie put on her sour face.

"It insulted your ego, right? You're pretty, but your mom wants to set you up out of the blue. Wow, that's a heavy insult. Very heavy," added Chris acting like political experts on TV. "I’ve gotta go now. BTW, pay for me, okay? Hehehehe."

Jessie nodded slowly. Her mind drifted elsewhere. She felt as if she’s on a crossroad. Chris’s explanation infuriated her, but at the same time it opened up her mind about the arranged marriage. "Why should I refuse, if I have never met him?! Just meet him first. Whether or not I’m going to go on with it, I’ll just think about it later," Jessie thought decisively.

"Are you paying for Chris?" Jessie nodded slowly. A moment later, Jessie was shocked. Geez, a hundred and fifty bucks just to eat in the cafeteria alone?!?!

"Chris had dumplings, noodle, sandwich, nachos, burger, tea, cola, guava juice, 10 fried tofu, and two packs of beans."

THAT’S ROBBERY!!!