Crises in Love (Zora and Jaylan)

Janice's comment had us all cracking up.

"Come on, is it really that dramatic?" Geneva chided Janice with a laugh.

"You have no idea what I was feeling at that moment." Janice put on a melodramatic expression of utter despair, but quickly added, "Actually, Baber is not ugly. At first glance, nobody gives him a second look. On a second look, he's passable. But now, after seeing him a lot, I think he's quite handsome."

"Oh, please! Your taste must have changed" Catherine was blunt as ever.

Hannah couldn't help but cover her mouth to stifle a laugh.

I joined in with a playful jab at Catherine, "Why do you have to be such a buzzkill? Don't say that, even though it's true."

Geneva and Janetta both giggled along.

In the midst of the levity, Janice playfully swatted at Catherine's arm, "Don't you dare gloat, or your beloved DragonLord could be on the next boat out!"

Raising her hands in a pleading gesture, Catherine quickly said, "Can we please stay on topic?"

Janice then resumed her story, "You can't imagine how disappointed I felt. I was ready to walk out right then and there. But the matchmaker insisted we go for a walk alone, and it was so distressing. After all, the matchmaker was my mom's boss. How could I say no? I had to bite the bullet and walk out of the matchmaker's house with him for some one-on-one time. I figured I'd just get through the day, and we'd never see each other again. We're adults, no need for pettiness. Besides, he was a man of standing, a real catch."

We all laughed again at her words.

With a serious face, Janice continued, "But that one-on-one time swayed me. He was quick-witted, well-spoken, and the epitome of a gentleman."

"What did you two talk about?" I asked, curious.

"Well, we talked about my company. I was dealing with a tough problem and was at a loss. He gave me some advice that clarified my thoughts and taught me some negotiation strategies, focusing on the key points. Honestly, with his guidance, I found a solution right away. And when he explained the intricacies of relationships, he totally drew you into his way of thinking. I realized why he had climbed the ladder so fast, and he was smart. Before we parted, he modestly shared his family background, his strengths and weaknesses, the pros and cons, and the potential for growth, like he was presenting me with multiple choice questions."

"He set a trap for you," I said, laughing at Janice.

"Right? And he was so understanding, telling me to take my time to think it over, to weigh the options before giving him an answer. But if I agreed, he wanted to get married as soon as possible because he planned to go to Zephyr Hollow for further studies. He might get busier with a possible promotion after returning."

"He's hinting that he's on the rise. Baber is a sly one, keeping you on the hook without showing his hand."

"Seems like power is indeed seductive. No wonder it's been coveted throughout the ages."

We all chimed in with our thoughts.

"So, what happened next?" Hannah asked eagerly.

"After he dropped me off at my doorstep, he gave me his number and said to call him when I made up my mind. He'd keep his phone on all the time, waiting for my good news."

"Oh my gosh, that's unexpectedly romantic." Catherine said with envy, "Who knew Baber was so smooth? His dating game is top-notch."

"Back home, I tossed and turned, unable to sleep. I went from thinking about Janetta to my mom and then his face that I was really not satisfied. I kept wishing he was just a bit more handsome, and then there'd be no need to think, I'd go straight to get the marriage license."

Geneva gave a knowing smile, "Nothing's perfect, right? Isn't life full of disappointments?"

"Exactly." Janice conceded with a nod, "One doesn't always get what they want. I struggled with myself for three whole days. But then, something happened that made me commit without looking back." "What was it?" we asked in unison.