Chapter 1. Unreasonable Request  

"What?!" Susan raised the glasses on her face, stood up, and glared at Clarabelle who was sitting right in front of her.

She was very surprised when she heard what the brown-haired woman said.

“Susan, please… calm down. Everyone's turned this way." Clarabelle took Susan's arm and asked her to sit back down.

Several people in the cafe looked at them because Susan's voice was quite loud. Susan still couldn't believe what Clarabelle had said.

"I have no choice, Susan." When she said that Clarabelle was not smiling broadly. On the other hand, the twenty-four-year-old woman's heart was frantic.

"Are you sure? Won't you regret your decision, Lala?" Susan put her glasses on the table. She stroked the hair on her head roughly.

"This is my only chance. I am very confused. However, I feel this is the way I can do it.” Clarabelle took a deep breath, searching for the right words to describe the plan in her head to Susan.

“At The First Time, I Meet You? My God, Lala…” Susan shook her head violently.

Clarabelle just said if she signed up to be one of the participants in a reality show at one of the television stations in the city of Sydney where they lived. The event was quite booming and had been going on for years, bringing together a man and a woman as a couple for the first time on their wedding day. The pros and cons were still there about the show even though it had been on TV for years.

Susan and Clarabelle were among those who didn't really like the concept of marriage presented on a reality show entitled At the First Time I Mett You. How could two people who did not know each other at all, meet for the first time, at the altar, become a couple, and promise to live together as husband and wife? Very unreasonable.

Then Susan heard Clarabelle clearly say she was going to follow the show. Susan repeatedly patted her heart to reassure herself that she wasn't dreaming.

"Lala, don't you remember our agreement? We will marry a man who is handsome, kind, and loves us. It doesn't have to be a person with money, as long as he has a good job, it's okay. The main thing is that he loves and is loyal. Do you remember?" Susan leaned forward, snuggled against the table, staring at Clarabelle's boyfriend who was also looking at her.

Clarabelle swallowed her saliva. That was their deal, their hope. It was not easy to find the right life partner. But they do not want the origin of a man who was ready to be their companion. There had to be a sense of love that underlied a relationship, let alone a marriage. As it turned out, Clarabelle had deliberately chosen to enter a marriage by participating in a TV program, without knowing who the man she was going to marry was. Magical, wasn't it?

"I know, this is weird, very unlikely. But, given my situation, do I have a choice? I have to get married soon. And I'm not close to any man, Susan." Clarabelle's sad voice sounded again.

If possible, Clarabelle didn't want to have to make that decision either. This was not what she had dreamed of for a marriage that she would live in for the rest of her life.

"Lala ..." Susan still regretted her best friend's decision.

Since they were friends in college, Susan knew Clarabelle very well. The girl's life and struggles, all the pain and wounds because of the men who just played with her. Of course, Susan was very worried that the same thing would happen to Clarabelle.

“Susan, I don't know what kind of man is right for me. Only heartbreak I got when I fond love and you know what a mess I was. The experts will be able to find a suitable person for me.” Clarabelle gave a reason why she intended to join this phenomenal event.

"Hi! How tenses are you two? What is it?" A man of the two women's age appeared. His smile was wide, looking at Clarabelle and Susan.

"Ah, Jack, sit down." Susan grabbed Jack's hand, forcing him to sit next to her.

Out of curiosity, Jack obeyed. He looked at Susan, then at Clarabelle. It seemed that these two female friends were not doing well.

"What's the matter with you guys? Got a boss reprimand?" Jack guessed what happened. The two women were still looking at each other with a strange look. "Ah, are you two fighting? Falling in love with the same guy?

"No, not all," Clarabelle said a little curtly, but her words also made her feel nervous.

"Jack ..." Susan looked at Jack. The look on his face showed she wasn't kidding. "You want to marry Clarabelle, don't you?"

"What?!" Clarabelle and Jack answered in unison, looking at Susan who was clearly not joking.

"Susan, what are you talking about?" Clarabelle became annoyed with that one friend. Instead of supporting and relieving her, it made the situation worse. Jack already had a fiancé. He was already planning his wedding in the next three or four months.

Jack still didn't understand what Susan and Clarabelle were talking about. How could he come and be asked such a strange question?

"Wow... what's this?" Jack looked at the two beauties in turn. He asked for an explanation.

Susan also told Clarabelle's plan with a tone full of worry. Jack, who heard that, was even more surprised.

“Oh, my God! Lala?" Jack looked at Clarabelle with his eyes still wide. "You're not kidding, are you? It's just talking, right?" Just like Susan, Jack couldn't believe that was what Clarabelle was going to do with her life.

"She's not kidding. If she is just kidding will I be this upset, Jack?" said Susan.

Jack looked at Clarabelle who glanced at her.

"Jack, you know Lala is a good woman. Help her. You'd better marry her. Instead of marrying a man who comes from nowhere and she will suffer for the rest of her life." Susan's words were very clear.

Jack and Clarabelle looked at each other.