Arranged Topsy Turvy

CHAPTER 1: "Ma Io Lo Amo. (But I Love Him)"



"Ma io lo amo!!!"



"Hey Lia! Don't you dare use the language of your fucking father! Yes YOU love him but," her mother exclaimed."Does he love you back?!"



That is the real question. Does he love her too?



Lia felt silent as her mother glares at her.


"SEE?! This is what I'm talking about! You are getting depressed with some guy who doesn't even notice that you're there!"



"Mom I accept that fact and you may no longer tell me what I should and shouldn't do, whom I will love and whom I shouldn't! Mom! I'm fucking 18! An arranged marriage??!!"  she yelled at her mother furiously.



"Lia! Look at yourself my child! You barely eat, you don't go out of your room, I can hear you sob almost every night! That guy doesn't do you any good so," her mother breathed deeply before continuing, " We decided to get you married with someone else… for your own good."



As her mother said that, she felt like being slapped on her face which caused the tears to fall from her eyes.



"Mom," she spoke between sobs, "Why?... Why.. would.. you.. do such a damn thing?"




Her mother got near her more serious, seems more threatening but much to her surprise, her mother cried in front of her.



"Because I love you," her mother said. "And we thought that it will be the best for our children."



Lia was confused at the time.



"Mom, aspettare ,"



"Don't you speak Italian to me!"




"Mom! Listen! Have you and papa agreed with this marriage?!" Her voice now starting to get hard again.



"Nein! I will never speak to that bastard!" Her mother exclaimed with a much higher voice.




"Then why do you keep saying   we ? Who have you agreed with?!" Now, she started to shout. She wanted to throw the collection of jars of her mother.



"Now, don't shout at me!!! I already agreed with my best friend about this! We cannot back out! We both love our children!"




"Best friend?! Mrs. Simone?! The woman with polygamy in her vocabulary?! No wonder why you act like this! Willing to exchange everything including her child!"




"Hey! Don't say that to Simone! She helped me get over with your papa!" Her mother shouted.




"Ha-ha!," a grin forming in her face sarcastically, "She's the one who influenced you to find another man!"



"How dare you speak to me like that! I'm doing this for you! I'm doing this because," she stopped. Tears forming on her eyes again.




"Because?" Lia raised a brow.



"I love you. And if you could just go back with me in Germany then,"



"Hey!" She interrupted. "I will stay here with dad and continue studying here with my friends.. including Nicholas.



"That hell of a guy who made you fall in love. The guy who doesn't love you!"



"Stop!" More tears ran down her beautiful, blushing cheeks. "Stop! I tried! I tried to forget him but… but I just can't!"


Her mother went to comfort her and hugged her. She stroke her beautiful brunette hair.


"Yes. I know. That is why I'm helping you. Just try. I'm sure you'll get rid of your feelings."


"Mom, by what? By marrying a person whom I don't even know?" She stared at her mother.




"But I knew him since then. I'm sure you will learn to love him . Just go with me in Germany then me, Simone, and well, her child, we can help you!"



Lia cried painfully. She almost hyperventilated and her mother just calmed her down.



After an hour of crying, she became at peace, her breathing more relaxed, but her beautiful brown eyes still tired.




"Well then I'll leave you first." Her mother started again. "I love you that's why I'm arranging this for you."




Lia didn't answer. She still can't accept it. She'll leave Nicholas, her friends. But then maybe her mother's right. She must let go. She stood up and readied herself to go upstairs to her room when her mother spoke.







"By the way," her mother said while smiling, " Bill will call you later."