Chapter 6

"I'm on the hunt for a partner," Amy declared to her friends during their three-way phone conversation. "What?" Helen and Laura chorused in astonishment. "Are you searching for a partner, like a business collaborator for your dental clinic or a life companion?"

Laura inquired, while Helen eavesdropped in the background. "No, I'm seeking a partner to embark on the journey of creating a baby with me... and potentially becoming a lifelong partner," Amy proudly revealed. "Are you suggesting that you want to meet a man and entice him into a romantic relationship with the hope of it evolving into a life partnership?"

Laura asked, her shock palpable. "That's precisely it, Laura. That's why E Magazine appointed you as their company president. You're a genius," Amy giggled nervously. "You must be joking, right? Please tell me you're joking," Laura implored, finding it hard to believe her friend's words. April Fools' Day was long gone, after all. "I'm not joking, Laura," Amy confirmed. "

What triggered all of this?" Helen interjected for the first time. "Was it something Mrs. Dennis said?" "Who's Mrs. Dennis again?" Helen asked. "Amy's chatty patient and my colleague at work. She constantly brings up strange topics, even during work hours," Laura explained. "So, what did Mrs. Dennis say?"

Helen inquired. "She mentioned that women over the age of thirty-five face increased challenges in conceiving a child. I knew about this from my pre-dentistry studies but never dwelled on it until now.

The idea of spending my life alone has started to terrify me. If I have a child, I'll have company for the next couple of decades. And if my child has children, that's even better; I'll have grand children to keep me company. It makes me understand how Mum and Dad felt when they feared I might not survive my birth in that refugee camp,"

Amy explained. "Will you tell your parents about your plan, though?" Laura asked. "I'll inform them when I find the right man for my baby," Amy declared. "So, will you both help me?" "Given the circumstances, of course," Helen chimed in. "We'll come over right away."

"Thank you, guys," Amy said, relieved. She just hoped her unconventional idea wouldn't backfire. She genuinely wanted to meet someone special and build a better future, if not for herself, then for her future child. An hour later, the trio gathered at Amy's house, deep in discussion.

"So, what are your criteria?" Laura asked, cutting to the chase. "Handsome, sensible, not a player, loyal, intelligent, tall, with an IQ over 150, treats women with respect, and over thirty," Amy listed. "Wow, that's quite an extensive checklist,"

Laura remarked. "How do you plan to find someone like that?" Helen questioned. "You should consider joining a dating site," Larry suggested, startling them from behind.

"Larry!" they all exclaimed simultaneously.

"What's up?" Larry inquired, his gaze fixed on their startled expressions, followed by a hearty laugh.

"Give us a heads-up if you plan on popping in like this," Amy scolded as she playfully swatted her cousin's arm. "Ouch." Larry feigned pain before turning to Helen and resting his head on her shoulder.

"Helen, come to my rescue. Larry's over here abusing me again," Amy called out.

"That's because you caught us off guard," Amy retorted.

"If I don't make an entrance like that, I'll miss out on your priceless reactions. Well, except for you, Helen. You're my favorite. I wouldn't startle you," Larry remarked, earning a smile from Helen while the other two simmered in annoyance.

"Okay, okay. I'm pretty sure Larry didn't intend any harm. It was a pleasant surprise, after all," Helen reassured them.

"Yes, indeed, quite pleasant. Perhaps next time, I'll surprise you with a potion that'll make you too sick to attend school," Laura suggested with a mischievous grin.

"Seriously, Laura? Whip up that potion now. I could use a break from classes," Larry said, abandoning Helen's shoulder to tug at Laura's sleeve, like an eager puppy seeking attention.

"Come on, Larry. Quit behaving like a five-year-old and start acting your age. We're right in the middle of a conversation here."

"What's this discussion about, finding you a partner, cousin?" Larry inquired.

"Yes, Larry," Amy replied.

"Why, though?"

"Because I need the sperm," Amy answered, deadpan.

"I believe a dating site could be an ideal option," Larry chimed in, leaping up to retrieve the laptop from his cousin's office.

"Seriously, a dating site?" Laura inquired, her expression a mix of disbelief and distaste as she observed Larry carrying the pink laptop into the room.

"Yes, indeed. Are you ladies familiar with it?" Larry asked as he fired up the laptop, deftly inputting passwords and settings.

"How did you figure out my password, Larry?" Amy asked, her suspicion evident.

"I've got a knack for knowing everything, cousin," Larry responded with a mischievous grin. "You might want to change your passwords after this."

With the laptop now up and running, all the girls gathered around Larry as he rapidly typed in the website's address.

"These days, many soulmates meet through platforms like this," Larry explained, relishing the attention from his "sisters," as he affectionately called them. "Plus, they feature plenty of intelligent guys, so plenty of good sperm for you to choose from."

"A dating site," Amy mused. "Doesn't sound too bad." When Larry reached the site, he signaled for Amy to take a look.

"Youandme.co.nz?" Amy read the website's name. "Is that it?"

"Yep," Larry confirmed, typing away, navigating through pages. "It's quite popular right now."

Amy and the others could only watch as Larry continued to browse until they arrived at a particular page.

"Here we are. Alright, cousin, now it's your turn," Larry said, swapping seats with Amy, so she was now in front of the screen. "Start by entering your name."

"You want me to sign up on this website?" Amy asked, still somewhat uncertain.

"Yes, if you don't, you might not meet anyone," Larry remarked. "Unless you want to turn into a lonely old grape."

"Alright, I get it. No need to be sarcastic," Amy huffed in annoyance and began entering her details.

"Good, now go to this section," Larry pointed at the criteria icon. "Input your list of criteria here. It'll match you with your desired person."

Amy followed his instructions, typing in her preferences one by one. Then, the website presented her with an option to select an age group, ranging from twenty to sixty.

Amy opted for the two age groups between twenty-five and thirty-five. She didn't want to date anyone over thirty-five, fearing potential fertility issues. Similarly, dating someone younger than twenty-five didn't appeal to her either, as she didn't want to be with someone too inexperienced.

Larry, on the other hand, took matters into his own hands and selected the twenty to twenty-five age group as well, then hit the submit button.

"Larry! I'm not dating anyone under twenty-five," Amy protested, swatting her cousin's hands away from the keyboard.

Helen's apple slipped from her hand, landing with a thud, drawing everyone's attention to her.

"I'm sorry," Helen apologized, well aware of the many eyes fixed on her. "I'll just toss this one away and get another one. Is that alright, Amy?"

"Of course, Larry can fetch one for you," Amy offered, easily dismissing the incident.

"No, I'll get it myself. Larry should help you with the website," Helen insisted, rushing to the kitchen.

As Amy and Larry resumed their typing, Laura couldn't help but regard her friend's unusual behavior with suspicion. Helen, typically composed and collected, hadn't acted like this since her return from Canada three years ago. Laura wondered what might have transpired during her time there and was determined to find out once she had the chance.

"All done," the other two chimed in, breaking Laura's thoughts. "Relax, you two. It's just a man," Laura teased.

"Yes, yes, I know. I understand you don't mind being single, but I do. My maternal instincts are urging me to find a partner and start a family. But I won't date anyone under twenty," Amy replied, glaring at her cousin.

"I'm starving," Larry announced, rubbing his stomach. "All this talk and typing about soulmates and babies has left me famished. Anyone up for pizza tonight?"

"No thanks. I'd prefer Vietnamese. I want my usual rice rolls, especially the prawn ones," Laura stated, her eyes still fixed on the laptop screen.

"Why are we having Vietnamese again?" Larry whined. "I want pizza. Amy, say you want pizza too."

"Sorry, Larry, but I'm not in the mood for pizza tonight. Vietnamese it is," Amy declared, deflating Larry's enthusiasm.

"You two, always sticking together like glue. Fine. Helen?" Larry called out. "Yes," Helen replied, emerging from the bathroom.

Where's the apple from the kitchen? Laura wondered, noticing that none of the others seemed to pay it any mind. She was keenly attuned to her surroundings. Helen appeared upset, as though she had been crying or something. Laura knew she needed to talk to her friend that night since Amy was preoccupied with her thoughts of babies and dating. The only way to clear the air would be to have an honest conversation.

"Helen, tell me, which one do you prefer?" Larry went to wrap his arm around Helen once more. "Vietnamese or pizza?"

"I..." Helen began, torn between choosing the healthy option of their favorite Vietnamese cuisine or the pizza Larry desired.

"Helen, we need your decision," Larry urged. "You're the tiebreaker. Right now, it's two to one in favor of pizza. Please, choose pizza," Larry pleaded, using his signature puppy dog eyes. Helen felt a pang in her chest but pushed it aside once again.

"We could always get both," Helen finally suggested. "It's hard for me to decide. Larry, why don't we go together? I'll drive," she offered, taking her keys out of her bag.

"No, I want to drive," Larry insisted, taking the keys from Helen's hand. "Besides, you only have a restricted license, and I have a full one."

"That's all the more reason for me to practice driving with a fully licensed adult beside me," Larry quipped with a cheeky smile. "Now, let's go. I'm starving here."

"Alright, alright," Helen acquiesced. She turned to Amy and Laura. "We'll be back in a bit."

"Yes, please get me the char noodles with seafood," Amy called out, her attention still focused on the laptop screen.

"I know, your all-time favorite," Helen acknowledged.

"Okay, everyone's placed their orders. Let's go already. I'm famished," Larry urged.

"Yes, yes, Larry, we're going," Helen said playfully as she ruffled his hair. Then, the two of them headed out the door.

Once the door closed behind them, Laura turned to Amy immediately. "We need to talk."

"I'm all ears," Amy responded. While Amy had always been more attuned to Laura, the three of them needed each other. They were the "three musketeers" in high school and now, maybe, the "three spinsters." Amy had just turned thirty, Laura's birthday was approaching, and Helen was three years younger, at twenty-seven.

"It's about Helen..." Laura began.

"What about her?" Amy inquired.

"She doesn't seem happy," Laura revealed.

"I didn't notice," Amy admitted.

"Of course, you wouldn't. You've been preoccupied with finding a man to start a family," Laura pointed out.

"I'm sorry if my desire for a family is impacting you. I didn't mean to be so forward," Amy apologized.

"Look, Amy, it's not about that," Laura reassured her. "We just need to keep an eye on Helen and see if she wants to talk about what's bothering her."

"Yes, you're right," Amy agreed.

That night, after enjoying their meal of pizza, char noodles, rice rolls, and char satay, Larry departed, claiming he needed to return to his apartment to finish his homework. Once the house was quiet, Amy silently signaled Laura, wondering if it was the right time to talk.

With Laura's confirming nod, Amy broached the subject. "Helen, we need to talk."

Helen looked startled, dropping a chicken nibble into her peanut sauce. "About what?" she asked, avoiding eye contact.

"Why you always startle so easily," Laura remarked. "You can tell us. What's wrong?"

"It's nothing," Helen replied without looking at them.

"Nothing? Then why are you like this?" Laura asked, growing frustrated. She remembered a similar demeanor from Helen after her parents' death, and she didn't want a repeat of that situation. Helen had nearly taken her own life back then, claiming there was no one left for her in Canada, as she was an only child. It was only when Amy and Laura convinced Helen to move to their city that she began to resemble her former self.

Helen remained silent once more. Sighing deeply, Amy went over to hug her friend. "Helen, we respect your privacy. If you want to keep things to yourself for now, that's perfectly fine. Just know we're here for you."

"We'll stand by your side no matter what," Laura added. "We'll give you our full attention."

"Yes, when you're ready, we'll be here," Amy reassured. "Larry, too."

"Thank you, guys. I love you so much," Helen said, hugging her friends. She knew it would be a while before she could share what she had been keeping in her heart. But it wasn't the right time, and she hoped that moment would never come, praying that the feelings in her heart would fade away.

"I miss my parents," she finally admitted, attempting to divert their curiosity for now.

"I miss them too. Just know we'll always be here for you," Amy said. "The same goes for me."

With that, they all engaged in a collective emotional release, shedding tears and sharing tissues. After three boxes of Kleenex, Helen finally broke the silence.

"Enough about me. I can't wait to see who's at the top of your dating list," Helen said, excitedly heading toward the laptop. Laura followed, taking a seat on the other side.

"Do you already have a list of potential suitors?" Helen inquired, eyeing the screen.

Amy, now intrigued, squeezed herself between her two friends. She examined the various profiles of the many men displayed on the screen.

"They matched us up quickly," Amy remarked at the overwhelming number of profiles.

"Life moves fast these days," Laura commented. "Let's see... looks impressive."

"How about this one? He looks pleasant, with glasses," Helen suggested, pointing to a man with light brown hair. "What's his name, Ronald or something?"

"No, too dorky. He should have a professional look. I don't want Amy's potential partner to come across as dorky," Laura commented.

"Well, how about this one? He seems decent," Helen pointed to another profile on the screen.

"Helen, you can't judge if someone is nice solely by their appearance," Laura remarked. "But you just judged that man based on his looks; you called him dorky," Helen countered.

"Alright, my bad," Laura apologized.

"Enough, you two. We're looking for my partner, and he needs to be attractive to me, not to you," Amy asserted, growing frustrated. She could feel a headache coming on. All this talk about babies and partners was draining her energy.

"Okay, okay. Relax, Amy," they both said in unison. They understood not to approach Amy when she was angry. It was as if a gentle pig could transform into a wild boar right before their eyes.

"Now we just have to wait until tomorrow to see who they match you with first," Helen said, settling back to watch the laptop screen as more profiles appeared.

"Yes," Amy replied, looking forward to her very first date with the man who could potentially become the father of her child and maybe even more. She was definitely looking forward to tomorrow.