Chapter 1

“How many times have you told me? It's time for you to get married, Lian. Look how old you are! And you said what? Still haven't found the right companion?”

Liana—the woman who was listening to her mother's chatter for the hundredth time, could only sigh in resignation. Of course, what else could it do besides that? Lian has responded many times with various reasons, in the end? It's always Lian who loses. Her mother was always right, and would not accept any excuse Lian gave as to why she was still single at such a mature age.

"I've tried to find several potential companions for you, Lian. But you failed everything for various reasons. From what sounds reasonable to what you can't accept at all."

Who is now in the same position as Liana? Can you understand how she feels now? Every morning, when Lian should be filling up his energy with breakfast to spend at the office, Lian has to be on the inner battlefield. The choice between wanting to fight but being disobedient, or remaining silent but assisting is endless.

"You know? The social gathering friend just showed off her son-in-law who is a soldier! If you think about it, it's not necessarily the case that her son-in-law's salary in uniform is higher than yours. Moreover, nowadays, how come there are still parents who brag about their son-in-law's profession?! Sigh! Maybe it's because she can't be proud of her daughter's work at all that's why she's like that, huh?”

Would her mother's morning lecture stop there? Oh... of course not, because there is still a long way to go to Rome.

"Then you also know? Irene's child has given birth, and she showed off a photo of her grandson yesterday too. Her granddaughter is indeed very beautiful, but I don't like it because her grandmother is showing off like that. It sucks. Anyway, Li—when you get married later, Mom—”

“Risa...”

Lian breathed a sigh of relief, finally, the voice of heaven was heard.

“That's enough, right? Let Lian have breakfast in peace, darling. Or your daughter will leave with nothing but your words and not enjoying her breakfast at all."

Father the savior! Dear God, thank you for sending an angel like Dad to this family. Lian thought, looking at his father from across the table with a look of emotion. But Lian tried her best not to show her happy expression because her mother might nag her more.

“But, sir. You know that Lian if you don't tell her, her life will just be like that. As if she forgot that he needed to be married. Need to give us grandchildren and descendants. Just look, Lian doesn't want to change after being talked about every day, especially since we didn't remind her, right?"

"Yes... But give Lian a breath, don't say the same thing every day, darling. If it's like that, Lian might not even listen to what you say. Enter the right ear and exit the left ear."

Lian tried not to nod solemnly, again restraining herself so as not to add to his mother's sarcasm. But behind that, Lian wanted to nod and show that she agreed with what his father said, so much so that Lian felt like she wanted to cry with emotion.

"But, Lian. You should also think more seriously about what your mother said.”

No—wait, Dad please don't...

"If that's the reason you haven't met the right candidate for your partner, let me look for it in the unit. How come there are so many of Dad's juniors who don't have companions, if you want Dad you can just order them to—"

“No, Dad. No." Lian shook his head vigorously.

Seriously! Lian doesn't want to be a group mother like her mother. Not because of anything, but because Lian felt that he would never be suitable to be in a group like that. Besides, what did his father say earlier? Command? Is it true that "getting married" is like an order in the military? The candidates his father appointed did not come forward voluntarily, but rather by force with the embellishment of "orders" which could not possibly be rejected by the juniors as her father mentioned earlier.

"Why? I can find whatever you want, Lian. And if you get married and whoever your husband is hurting you, Dad can immediately—"

"No, no, no. Of course not, Dad!”

Gosh... Lian doesn't even want to think about it. If the worst-case scenario was like that, Lian wouldn't be able to stand seeing the man beaten by his father or even pointed at the head. Yes... it might sound excessive and a violation of authority. It's just that, who is a parent who isn't sometimes reckless? When the child is being harmed?

Moreover! Hey, why is her father getting involved in discussing this? Even though Lian was already grateful in her heart for his father who defended her.

“No, basically no, Dad. I warn you, don't even try to take them, okay? Otherwise, I will leave the house." Lian threatened.

The woman then packed up her things on the table. She got up from the chair and dining table, leaving her breakfast only half finished. Just as her father said, she suddenly felt full—full of what her Dad and Mom said. Even though Dad had always taught her since childhood not to waste food, just like what was applied in the military, today, Liana felt like she had enough, enough that if she forced it, it would feel like her entire stomach would come out.

“I go first, okay? I still have a lot of things to take care of at the office."

"Oh, Lian! Your food isn't finished yet. Liana!”

Usually, Lian wouldn't fight, or ignore what her parents said. Liana will listen no matter what, even though it might be like what her Dad said earlier—in the right ear and out the left ear, but at least Lian doesn't fight back, right? But this time it felt like Lian couldn't, whatever her father and mother would think. Lian just felt quite tired, even though the day had just begun.

***

“I don't know what to tell my parents anymore. I feel like I'm tired, tired of the demands and things about getting married. I want to tell them that I am not interested in marriage at all, I want them to know that their daughter is not interested in getting married and will not get married ever." Lian exhaled heavily and bowed listlessly in front of the man who had been observing her for a long time.

“But if they knew I had thoughts like that, they would probably faint. Because after all I am their only daughter, and yes—I understand and realize that they might have a lot of hope in me, but like I said earlier... I don't want to give them false hope, acting as if it could happen any time just get married, even though—”

Lian shrugged her shoulders. "You know what I mean."

Correct. The person Lian had been confiding in about her problems was a psychiatrist whom she had visited several months ago. And of course, his job was to listen to things that weighed on Lian's mind. It started with Liana's anxiety, who felt that she had no interest in a marriage relationship, which led Liana to Dr. Erick to understand what happened to her.

"Maybe it's time for you to tell your parents what you think, Lian. Sometimes, parents also have to know what's inside their child's head."

“And let them visit a psychiatrist just like me?” Lian said sarcastically.

Erick in front of her just shook his head slightly with a smile. This patient, to other people, could say whatever she wanted, but to her parents, for some reason, it was the opposite.

That day's consultation session ultimately ended without much of a solution. Not because Erick didn't provide any input, but because Lian still held firm beliefs and stubborn thoughts that Erick couldn't break down.