Found Your Match

"After you open the box, you could see a fortune cookie, and you know what to do, crack it and look what's inside." everyone gasped, and everyone could hear the loud murmurings in the place.

On the other hand, Ingrid somehow felt giddy about what was happening but kept it calm and pretended it was nothing to her. But, then, nonchalantly cracked the fortune cookie, and she was shocked by what the message wrote. Her mouth almost fell. It seemed ridiculous, and she almost grunted in disagreement and tried to put off her emotions.

Then the emcee continued.

"We randomly gave fortune cookies to all of you, and as you can see, some of the fortune cookies only stated funny things," the emcee paused and scanned the crowd.

"Honey, look, I got a funny one: you will be hungry thirty minutes later. How about yours, honey?" Liane laughed and showed it to her husband.

"I cannot help you because I'm just a cookie.." Frank then chuckled. The couple could not stop laughing at their silliness and, for a moment, forgot their companions.

"How about yours, sis?"

"Another lame message." Ingrid frowned and, for the nth time, rolled her eyes. She could not believe what was happening. The circumstances surely conniving against her!

"Oh really, let me read it." Ingrid tried to hide that piece of paper from her best friend because she knew Liane would only embarrass her.

Only then, Ingrid observed that she narrowed her eyes and said, "Why do I smell something fishy right now..." But Liane just glared at her and snatched the paper from her hand.

Without a second thought, she read it just enough for them to hear:

"A PASSIONATE NEW ROMANCE WILL APPEAR IN YOUR LIFE WHEN YOU LEAST EXPECT IT."

All she could do at that moment was cross her arms in protest. Meanwhile, Clifford doesn't care about that, so he cracks and reads it.

'YOU WILL SPEND THE REST OF YOUR LIFE WITH THE WOMAN YOU EXACTLY NEED.' He was about to react when he heard the emcee talk.

"Fortunately, we have given only two fortune cookies which are definitely for the couple. Raise your hands if you receive a funny message."

All the diners raised their hands, and Clifford and Ingrid didn't care what was happening and were not even aware that they were the only ones who did not raise their hands.

"And we have a couple right there..." everyone stared at their table.

Ingrid laughed at the couple, thinking that it was them. But then she noticed that they both raised their hands. Ingrid's jaw dropped. She looked everywhere, and to her horror, everyone raised their hands. Finally, she almost fainted when she looked at the man beside him. It's final! They are making fun of her, to her best friend's delight.

Meanwhile, Clifford was enjoying this leisure time. He could not help but stare at her intensely. However, Ingrid covered her face out of embarrassment when she saw that the emcee had gone to their spot. Being the centre of the attraction is usual to Clifford; while Ingrid may appear rigid and confident, she doesn't like to be at the center of attraction. So Ingrid would instead go behind the scenes. She may be brave in facing life's challenges but a coward in this kind of challenge.

When she was little, she experienced a series of public embarrassments that left a mark on her, driving her to be tough and never back down. However, moments like this make her cringe again. Ah, those painful memories.

"What the..." Clifford noticed her uneasiness. The lady's fidgeting caused some concern for him, and it seemed her best friend did not see it.

"Come on, sis... it's for fun," Liane urged her. She lifted her eyes and composed herself, reminding herself to enjoy it despite her embarrassment and annoyance.

"Are you sure you're okay with it?" Clifford asked with concern.

"But of course!" she said defensively. 'Ugh! I don't wanna be kill joy!' she thought.

"That's good!"

"Good evening, Mister Briggs and Miss Howard... may I have the pleasure to seize your precious time for this little entertainment we have prepared?"

"Sure, what should we do?"

"Part of this entertainment is that the couple who will pick the matching fortune cookies is given the privilege to have a tour for two in any place you want to go for two days, all expenses paid and everything will be arranged for you both." Both of them nodded, waiting for the catch on this scheme.

"We would also like the couple to come to our dance floor..." As much as she wanted to clarify their relationship, one of the diners spoke:

"But, mister Emcee, could we know their fortune cookies' messages?" Ingrid could only close her eyes and breath deeply. Her face flushed with embarrassment.

"Oh, will it be okay, Mister Briggs and Miss Howard..?"

"Ladies first," Clifford urged her.

'grrr.. I bet he's having a great time pissing me off!' the emcee gives her the mic. She cleared her throat and read the message.

"'A passionate new romance will appear in your life when you least expected it." Some of the diners gasped, others giggled, and a few whistled.

"And yours, Mister Briggs?"

"'You will spend the rest of your life with the woman you exactly need.'" Frank's jaw dropped.

"Is this what we call fate? That's what I exactly told you..." Frank did not continue what he was about to say but just amazed.

"Oh. My. Gosh!" Liane shrieked and went to Ingrid and hugged her. "I'm so happy for you, sis. You have found your match!" she said, giggling.

Ingrid choked with nervousness, her palms were cold, and she had difficulty breathing. Clifford then stands up.

"Miss Howard, I mean, Ingrid...shall we?" Ingrid stared at the hand of the man stretched before her, looking like a real gentleman.