âDonât you have anything you want to say to me?â he avoided eye contact, afraid to look at her.
Tina blinked. âI think itâs better for us to have a child sooner rather than later. If I get pregnant, I can take a break from school and continue my studies after the child is born. Besides, Iâm already of legal age to get married and have children. Itâs all good!â she said eagerly.
Chandler was stunned, looking at Tina with surprise. He never expected her to say something like that after learning the truth about having a child. She didnât seem angry at all, but rather⦠eager to have a child with him!
âDo you know what youâre saying?â he asked.
âI know,â she nodded. How could she not know when she had said the words herself?
âNow that you know the truth, arenât you angry? Arenât you furious? Why arenât you blaming me?â
Chandler yelled, suppressing his emotions.
âBecause Iâm really not angry or upset,â Tina said. âWhen our families arranged our engagement, it was because Iâm a curse breaker and IIunter can save me and my mom. So it was a mutually beneficial transaction from the start!â
The terms of the deal were clear from the beginning, so she didnât feel like she was being used.
âAnd youâve been so good to me all these years,â Tina continued. âBesides my parents, youâve been the person whoâs been with me the longest!â
âThat was just using you!â Chandler said hoarsely, avoiding her gaze again. âI just⦠wanted you to like me, wanted to slowly cultivate a relationship with you, wanted you to not be able to leave meâ¦â
She didnât say anything.
There seemed to be a silence in the air.
He laughed bitterly, âYou must think Iâm despicable, wanting to use your feelings to tie you down since before you were even bornâ¦â
âBut I donât think itâs that despicable,â Tinaâs voice rang out again. âAlthough you wanted to use feelings to tie me down, the feelings you put in were not fake!â
She knew better than anyone how he had treated her over the years.
She could tell whether it was true or false!
âOn the contrary, I think itâs pretty good. Fortunately, you could sense me when I was still in my motherâs womb, fortunately I have this constitution, so my mother and I could be saved, and I could survive! And then thereâs you, accompanying me all the wayâ¦â
She spoke sincerely, every word like a warm current, flowing into his heart, extinguishing his anxiety, panic, and painâ¦.
Chandler stared at her in a daze. He had imagined many times what her reaction would be when she found out the truth.
Even if she wanted to cut ties with him now, to leave him forever, he was mentally prepared for it!
But he never expected her to describe his purpose as âpretty good,â to describe this deceitful relationship that had a purpose from the start with those words!
âIn my opinion, there is no such thing as liking or loving someone for no reason in this world. Just like how my parents love me because I am their daughter, and I love them because they are my parents,â
Tina continued, âIf you are good to me because I am the one who can remove the parasites from your body, then I think by now, there must be more than just that reason. If you donât have any other feelings for me, then you should be thinking of finding a way to marry me soon and have children as soon as possible!â
Instead of postponing the wedding date again and again!