...THE BOURAS RESIDENCE...

...Iris Bouras...

I sat staring at my family. After urging me to come downstairs neatly dressed up, Mom told me that the family had gathered and that I must behave myself. I thought I had the clear picture of the people who were my family but now, as I shift uncomfortably in this sofa, I can't help but think I've been lying to myself about it my entire life.

"So," said my mother, "I, uh, think everybody has gathered?" The uncertainty in her voice as if she wasn't the one who invited them was pestering me. Mother always took charge of everything that happened in our mansion. She chose who and how many guests we would invite to the mansion, the maids who would be hired or fired, and she held opinions on which relative we should keep at arms length and who we should suck up to all because she was the wife of the richest Bouras.

Even if Dad wanted to invite people home, he would discuss it with Mother first. But today she was unsure if all the guests had arrived, meaning she didn't prepare the guest list, which meant problem. A very big problem.

"Yes, Mrs. Bouras," said a woman calmly, "All of us are here, well, except for my son, of course."

Mom gave a nervously forced chuckle and the door was slammed open revealing my father, "Oh, Mrs. Alohi, sorry to have kept you waiting," he said panting. Dad was in his strict, black office suit, frowning as he scanned the room.

"Oh," said the same woman with hazel eyes, "No worries, Mr. Bouras, it is us who are apologetic for this uninvited visit."

"Uninvited?" Father screeched, "Oh, please, Mrs. Alohi, you are never uninvited. I consider this sudden visit a pleasure."

"Oh, your flattery is too much, Sir," said Mrs. Alohi, the woman who had also replied to mother's question politely, "Then why don't we get started?"

Mother hurriedly gestured father to take a seat next to her and as he complied, I saw him wipe off the sweat glistening down his forehead.

Mom looked at the head maid, a cue to serve the snacks and soon, the table was filled with plates of ridiculously expensive chocolate cakes equal to the number guests in the room. There were five plates, five additional family members in the home.

"As I had already informed over the phone, Mr. Bouras," said Mrs. Alohi as she brushed her raven hair back, "We're here to discuss the marriage arrangement for my son, Koah Alohi."

Suddenly everything made sense. Mom who swiftly made preparations for a guest she didn't invite, dad who rushed from his office for these uninvited 'family', and the reason for introducing these strangers as family to me, everything made sense.

"Right," said my mother. I bet she was itching to send me off, "I'm glad we--- "Sorry for interrupting," said a voice next to me.

"I just have a question," said my brother, who held my hand, "Isn't Koah thirty this year? Iris might be too young for him."

"Twenty nine," mother corrected him, "They're both adults, Illias. I don't see why you're concerned."

"Your mother's right," said father, trying to erase what Illias had asked, "Age gap is not that big of a problem nowadays." He chuckled, "We're really glad that you find Iris suitable for Koah, she's always been an obedient child and always excels at what she does."

My older brother, Illias gritted his teeth at our parents' ignorance. "She's also good at chores. I know it's impossible to believe given that she's a daughter of a Bouras family, but we raised her with dignity and humility. She loves sewing, tailoring, and also bakes in her free time--- "Why didn't Mr. Alohi come here?"

My brother once again interrupted, "Should I take it that only his family is interested in this marriage? I mean, after all, it is he who my sister would be living with."

Illias's monologue made mother's half-true bragging meaningless. Mother gave him a 'shut up' glare, but he only looked proud. He looked at me with a gaze that assured that he would never let this marriage happen, and for a moment I smiled.

"Mr. Bouras," said Mrs. Alohi rather politely, "Your concern is fully reasonable, but Koah is busy right now. I'll ask him to visit Ms. Bouras again."

"Well, I hope he does care for my precious little sister like I do, if not better," said Illias, not hiding the malevolence behind his words, "So I think the marriage talk could wait until he's met Iris and me."

Mother gasped and father rasped his name. "Forgive my son's behavior Mrs. Alohi, he's rather a protective brother--- "No, Ma'am, I think Mr. Alohi's right. Nobody who cares for their loved ones would want to marry off them to a stranger. I think we could wait on the marriage talk."

Mother just laughed and thanked her for her consideration but the Bouras' in the room knew that she was flustered and embarrassed for being called out like that.

"Then," said Mrs. Alohi, "I think we should come again later after Koah has met you."

"I agree," said my brother, looking at my father who was pissed off by his behavior.

"Um," I tried to interject. The air was so heavy, my parents were so busy pleasing the wife of Mr. Alohi and my brother was so furious insulting them that I had no time to voice my opinion.

"Can I please talk to the guests privately, Mother and Father?" I asked, and turned to the person Mom and Dad kept addressing repeatedly, "I hope that won't be a problem, Mrs. Alohi."

For a split second, Mrs. Alohi's brows lifted, but it could have just been my illusion as she said, "Sure."

My mother laughed, "Oh," she eyed me, and her eyes spoke an entirely different language. Her look said, 'better make a good impression' in contrast to her words, "We can all wait upstairs."

"Yes," said my father as he gave a tight-lipped smile.

I nudged my brother's shoulders as he sat like a statue, paying no heed to my words. I whispered, "I said I wanted to speak to Alohi's, get lost now."

He smiled at me sarcastically and got up from his seat, following mother and father upstairs.

When I was sure they had gone upstairs and locked themselves in a room, I sighed and said, "Nice to meet you, Mrs. Alohi. I'm sure we've never met before, so I don't know a lot about you and your family. I hope you'll excuse the questions I'm about to ask you."

I glanced at the other four guests in the room. Two other woman in the room looked a lot like Mrs. Alohi, resembling her features, so it must be safe to assume that they're sisters.

"Go on," Mrs. Alohi said with a smile. I was pretty sure I was going to erase it pretty soon with my words. I saw the young girl sitting next to her, looking bored and she even yawned.

"I just have three questions," I said as my eyes fell to a young boy who frowned at my words, "Why did you choose me?"

"I've never met Mr. Alohi, let alone be interested in him. I'm pretty sure he feels the same way too. And no doubt, he probably has so many other suitors lined up to marry him. If neither of us are interested, why choose me?"

"Well," said Mrs. Alohi, a little impressed, "That's a very interesting way to talk about my son."

I waited impatiently to hear her finish her words. But she never spoke after that.

"And?" I said, "I believe I didn't hear the answer to my question, Ma'am."

"Dear," she said, "I just wanted to see what kind of person the daughter of the Bouras family is. That's all."

"So," I said, trying to wrap my head around her words, "You are here to see what kind of person I am, and not actually for a marriage alliance?"

"Partly. I'm here for the marriage talk, but I first just wanted to get to know you."

A little deranged, I must admit. She says wanted to get to know me, but instead of just contacting me, she chose to turn up uninvited in name of marriage alliance. I don't know how to feel about this.

"You could have just contacted me, Ma'am."

"I wanted to see the Bouras' too. What's your second question?"

"Are you still going to proceed with the marriage?"

"Obviously," she replied, and I expected her to elaborate. Sensing that, she said, "I like you, so yeah."

I blinked, trying to process what she had just said. Why would she like me? This is the first time we're meeting. But I decided to ignore that when she said, "Next question?"

"Well, it's not really a question, Ma'am," I said, gulping, "I don't want to marry your son. I don't understand why you would do this, but I'm just not interested in Mr. Alohi."

There, I said what I wanted to. Mother will freak out when she hears this, and Dad would be mad, and I've accepted that this is the price of my voice and freedom.

"Well, that's sad, Ms. Bouras," she said, rather calmly, "But I hope we can get along in the future, not in terms of marriage talks, but as friends."