Promise me สัญญานะ ว่าจะแต่งงานกัน

In the country of Silvera there was a yearly ball that was considered the peak of status and influence. Those invited were the top of the economic food chain in every sense of the way. The discussions and agreements made at this dinner could change the entire political and social landscape of the country literally overnight. It was in this delicate and high-end ballroom that Scarlet now found herself, carefully holding a glass of wine and watching the other party-goers. To say that she was tense would be an understatement- she was about to pull off the biggest scam of the century and as she saw her partner in crime approach her, she took the opportunity to study him.

His name was Ethan Drakos and he was the most influential man here by leagues. A giant shareholder in most of the companies present, Ethan had the ability to ruin a business with just one phone call. He had been single for a long time now and women flocked to him, showing off curves and batting eyelashes in the attempt to become “Mrs. Drakos.” His gaze however remained firmly locked on her and he continued past the flock of women until he reached Scarlet, pulling her into his firm embrace while the rest of the room gasped in shock. Scarlet leaned into the side hug, wrapping her arm around his back and feeling him tense up in her hug. Giving him a sharp look in reminder, she saw him visibly relax and allow her arm to touch him, and as they began the best performance to this unknowing crowd, she couldn’t help but think back to how this all got started…

Scarlet was used to working hard. She had never known her birth parents, and had spent her entire childhood running around the city with her fellow orphans hunting for scraps and begging for spare change to survive. The orphanage matron had never truly cared for the children she was tasked with, instead spending the money adorning herself in precious gems and fancy clothes. Anyone who saw her would think she was an influential woman of higher status and not simply a woman who appeased herself using children's suffering. All of the kids despised her, but knew they could not escape her clutches. If they ran away she would get the law to hunt them down and bring them back, where they would then be punished.

Scarlet was soon to turn 18, and she knew that as soon as she did, the Matron would give her two choices: continue to live there and be worked to the bone taking care of the children with no pay, or leave and trying to find her own way in the world while losing contact to the only family she had- the other kids. The Matron would not allow the children to contact those who left, just in case they tried to help them successfully escape. The more kids she had in the orphanage the more money she was given from the government and the more kids she had to “tax” every day. That was her word choice for taking whatever money the children had gathered that day. Scarlet was about a month away from when she'd have to make her choice and the other kids kept giving her side glances from time to time wondering what she would choose.

Being 17, Scarlet had managed to get a job as a waitress at a diner not too far from school and would walk there for her shift after school to work. She also worked weekends and would make the commute on foot to save money rather than take a bus or cab. Most of her paycheck was taken by the Matron as soon as she got paid, as the Matron had cosigned with her at the bank to open the account and as such had access to the account. Therefore as soon as the check hit the bank the Matron would withdraw the money and use it for whatever she felt like. Gambling, shopping for luxurious clothes, and drinking were some of her favorite uses for the money Scarlet worked so hard to make each week.

What the Matron didn't know though was that Scarlet had secretly been taking tips and had been saving it in a different account she had set up with help from another ex-orphan who had happened to come in to dine one day with her adopted family. They had immediately sat in her area and in between her rounds at other tables Scarlet and Bea, who had been one of her closest friends, planned a way to aid all the children stuck in the Matron’s clutches. They knew it was not going to be easy but they were determined to rescue not just the current orphans, but also to track down all those who had previously been adopted or kicked out and make sure they were alright.

While working hard at work one day, two very nice looking teenage boys came into her diner and sat in the corner of the room. She stopped at the table and got their drink orders and soon returned to drop off the beverages. While she was carefully setting the drinks on the table, she unintentionally picked up the ongoing conversation between the two.

“Listen man, I’m telling you- the one you are looking for? It ain’t her!”

This boy had a black leather jacket over a dark red shirt, and looked every bit the bad-boy stereotype, his tattoos peeking out from the collar of his shirt and the edges of his sleeves. He seemed to be pretty serious about his current stance in this argument as he was waving his arms and was clearly agitated.

“Look bro, I know you don’t care for Claire, but she seems to be a very nice girl. You know mom has been on my ass about getting a girlfriend and getting married.”

The other boy had a more sportsy kind of vibe. He was wearing a letterman jacket and a football team jersey underneath it, though Scarlet didn’t know what team it was. Sports weren’t really her thing, as she mainly focused on her studies and learning anything that would be useful to the survival of her and the other children. He was rubbing his forehead with his fingers and looked worn out. Scarlet had a feeling that this discussion had happened multiple times and with about the same amount of success in convincing the others that they were right.

Rockstar, as Scarlet had nicknamed him in her mind, simply scoffed in response and with a pleading tone tried to counter with, “But why her? Is it because she is pretty? Why not give Vanessa a chance? She’s a pretty girl, and she’s head over heels for you! I know your mom would accept her as soon as she saw her and you would be happy with such a sweetheart too.”

Sports Bro sighed, wiped his hand down his face in what seemed to be an unconscious effort to relax himself, and sighed replying, “Listen dude, you know Vanessa is way out of my league - not to mention I am pretty you are hallucinating her feelings for me. I don’t know dude, I just wish there was a way to really see what their true feelings were, you know? You say that Claire is different when I am not around, so how am I supposed to know what they are really thinking about me? What if they just want me for my money and not because they care about me?”

Hearing this, Scarlet felt bad for her fellow teen. It was clear that he was trying to fulfill his mom’s wish and find a partner, but it also seemed he wasn’t confident in the candidates he was surrounded by. She had grown up distrusting everyone except those in her chosen family, mainly the other kids and a couple friends here and there. She had learned to read people and tell when they were lying to her or ridiculing her and how to handle those moments. Without thinking, almost as if it was someone else speaking using her body, she heard her voice say, “I think I might be able to help you with that.”

The boys looked up at her in shock and immediately she froze, like a rabbit that had been spotted by a hawk. However, knowing this was an opportunity, she quickly composed herself and said once more, “ I think I can help you with that if you are interested.”

“How so?”

Rockstar was not going to trust this random girl that had just been setting down drinks and apparently listening to their conversation. He was sure she had a motive, and it was going to be one he didn’t like.

Sports Bro was also suspicious, giving her a glance over with slightly squinted eyes. He seemed to want to ask more but was waiting for her to finish answering Rockstar’s question.

“Well you want to know what the girls are really like, right?,” Scarlet began.

“Why don’t you bring them in separately and I will test their character and let you see what they are really like. We did this with my best friend before, and it worked out really well. All you need to do is come in and eat with them, and I will handle the rest and report afterwards to you on my results.”

Scarlet was calm as she explained the process and could almost see the smoke coming out of their heads as they wrapped their minds around the proposal and the pros and cons to such.

Finally they shared a glance and in unison answered, “Let’s do it- what’s your price?”

Inwardly smirking, Scarlet kept her outward appearance composed and replied, “I let the customer determine the cost of my service after the job is done. Will this work for you?”

The boys looked at each other once more and firmly nodded, with Sports Bro reaching out to shake hands with Scarlet, sealing their deal. With that, Scarlet resumed her shift, her mind already plotting her next moves. Before they left, the two boys made sure to exchange numbers with Scarlet, who was using a basic phone Bea had supplied her with. She had been using it to plan with her, but also used it for these side jobs she picked up here and there as well. Scarlet watched the boys leave bickering still about this and that and knew that this would be a job worth remembering for years to come.