Dad, who had been sitting there sipping his soup, finally chimed in, nodding slowly. “I agree,” he said, as if he was suddenly going to be the voice of reason.

But then Mom shot him a look, the kind of look that said, 'You better shut up right now'. And like that, Dad closed his mouth quicker than I blinked. 

Then, she looked at me, all calm and sweet, like nothing was wrong, and said, “I know, Win. Marriage is a big deal. But I promise you, your fiancé is a really good guy. He’s going to be your perfect life partner.”

Looking at her confident words, it almost felt like she had chosen someone who was actually perfect for me. But still… NO. I held her hand, trying to keep it together, and I said firmly, “Mom... I… REFUSE.”

And just like that, my mom froze. 

Stunned. 

Silenced. 

For a full five seconds. She snapped back to reality. Her eyes narrowed, and she stared at me like a cat.

Then, like someone had flipped a switch. She threw a hand over her heart, gasping dramatically like she was about to faint. Her eyes grew wide, and i guess if there were a couch nearby, she would have collapsed onto it.

“You! You have no heart!” Her voice went soft and dramatic, like she was the heroine of a movie, and I was her ungrateful son. 

“I carried you in my belly for nine months! Nine months, Win! I fed you, cleaned your poop, stayed awake all night when you were sick…” She paused for effect, looking at me like I was the worst child in the world. “And now, when I ask you to do something, you refuse me?”

I can practically hear the violins in the background, even though there was no music playing at all. The atmosphere was so thick with drama that it felt like we were all on the set of some tear-jerking Thai soap opera. 

It wasn’t just me, either. Dad and Pim were frozen too, their mouths open.

And... she just kept going. 

“I never asked for anything! All these years, I’ve given you everything—my love, my patience, my sacrifice...” She looked up dramatically at me. “And now, when I ask you one thing... just one thing... you turn me down like this?!”

Honestly, at this point, I was considering jumping out of the window. But...I was still ready to refuse.

"Mom, stil—" I started, but before I could even finish my sentence, she held up one finger.

“Once,” she said, her voice all serious.

I stared at her finger, my brain trying to process. "Wh... what?" I asked.

“Just meet him once,” she said, her tone so serious.

I stood there, my mind a whirlwind of confusion. I mean, one time? That’s it? It wasn’t a lifetime commitment. Just... one meeting.  I mean... if meeting the guy once will keep her clam, then...

“Okay, fine. I’ll meet him,” I said, defeated.

Her face lit up faster than a firecracker in new year's eve. She grinned like she just won the lottery, and hugged me and said, “I promise you. You won’t refuse after you meet him.”

And just like that, she dashed off into her room like she was the star of the show, leaving me sitting there wondering what I had just signed up for.  The room was so quiet you could probably hear my brain short-circuiting.

Dad, being the wise man he is, let out a heavy sigh, stood up, patted me on the shoulder, and said, “All the best, son.” Then, just like that, he walked into his room, abandoning me to my fate.

So there I was. Just me. My dead brain. And my little sister, Pim.

And for some reason, Pim was clearing the plates and taking them to the basin. I stared at her for a second, confused. “What are you doing?” I asked.

She glanced over her shoulder, her face dead serious. “Trying to change my future.”

“...What?” I blinked, not following her logic at all.

She placed another plate in the basin and said matter-of-factly, “If I try to be a good daughter now, maybe Mom won’t blackmail me like that in the future. Right?”

I just stared at her. Stood up, patted her on the head, and said, “Keep it up,” before walking off to my room, leaving her to her... future-saving mission.

Just like you’ve all guessed... I am doomed. 

Absolutely, 100% doomed.

But let me tell you, this wasn’t even the beginning. Oh no. My life? It had more twists and turns than those crazy, over-the-top Thai operas Mom loves to watch.