My phone buzzed on the dashboard for the fifth time, so I stopped kissing Finn.
"Ignore it," he murmured against my lips, softly brushing them with his own."You know I can't. I've ignored it long enough," I half-breathed into his mouth. I smiled, gave him one last quick kiss on the lips, and reached out to reach my phone. I opened it with a swipe and checked the messages from co-worker, best friend, and the only person that calls me Skye, Madison."Madi has been covering my ass for the last ten minutes. You know how things get at work," I told Finn."Okay, okay," he said, putting both his hands up in the sky. "I can't help it if I want to keep you by my side all day long.""Of course, you can't," I laughed.I grabbed the little bag that contained my lunch from the back seat and hopped out of the car, waving goodbye to Finn. He waved back, blew me a kiss, and told me he'll see me soon before bringing the car to life and driving off.I sighed contentedly and smiled. I have a good feeling about the Matching. I have a good feeling about Finn, and how we would most likely get Matched.I trodded back to the bookstore where I work, lunch bag in hand."I'm sorry we don't have a copy of that book anymore, Mrs. Salazar. But we have new arrivals you might be interested in," I heard Madi tell a middle-aged woman with hawk-like eyes and black curls in a practiced politeness as I slid behind the register, tucking away the bag."Good. Let me see them," the woman, Mrs. Salazar replied with a sharp tone, just as Madi saw me and briefly gave me a where the hell were you look, then smoothing her face as quickly and leading the customer to where her books are.In the day and age of technology, it's hard to believe how a traditional bookstore has survived, but alas, it has. The smell of new books has kept enticing a chunk of the population, albeit a smaller percentage, and mostly, people who buy from us are collectors, those who are too rich to spend money on things of the past–and that's what we offer: old, tanning books with worn out spines; a remnant of the past, a time when HarmonyMatch was never a thing.I man the register for a couple of old folks who got a stack of magazines. I smiled as they walked out the store, his hands on her shoulder, both smiling as they talked about their purchase. I thought about how they were Matched, whether they knew each other before the ceremony, if they were childhood sweethearts, or if they were familiar faces you see on the way to school or work, but never really said anything until HarmonyMatch's perfect algorithm brought them together.My thoughts bring me back to me and Finn.We've been dating for six months now, but I have always had a crush on him since meeting him in university.Love isn't exactly popular for young people. For many, they never bother to like or date someone and just wait until they're 25, when they're eligible for the annual Matching, when the government runs the HarmonyMatch app and Match people together. Whoever you're Matched with will be your lifelong partner. So, if you're dating and they don't end up as your Match, it will be a painful heartbreak and an awkward meeting with your destined person.I never really thought I would actually date. I mean, liking someone is inevitable. Or hanging out with them. Or making out with them. Sometimes, hooking up with them. But dating? I wasn't planning on it.Not until I met Finn Yamada. He was shy and stood by the sidelines most of the time, but he was really smart and funny once you got to know him.And I just fell in love…at least that's what the books and the elders say. That's what the "symptoms" point to.As I said, love isn't a popular emotion."Earth to Skye?" I heard Madison's voice behind me, startling me."Christ, Madi! Don't sneak up on me like that.""I wasn't. I've been here a full minute watching you daydream," she said in her normal nonchalant tone."I wasn't daydreaming," I rolled my eyes at her and laughed. "Just thinking about the Matching."And Finn," she smirked."And Finn," I nodded with a smile. "You think things will work out?" I said as I drummed my fingers on the countertop, suddenly anxious."Of course," she said, putting a hand on my hand to stop my fiddling. She speaks in this way that makes you think you're boring her, but she listens and she cares. And she knows how nervous I am lately about my fate and Finn's. "The app usually Matches people who have been together for a while. You and your prince charming will live happily ever after. Trust me.""A while," I echoed."Huh?" She raised her eyebrows."You said, 'a while.' We haven't really been dating for a while, and I–"Mrs. Salazar appeared with three old books, which she slammed a little too hard on the counter before I could finish what I was saying, and I had no choice but to ring her up. And before I could talk to Madi again, another customer walked in and she went off to help another collector find their trophies of the past.– @ –Lunch finally came and I am sitting at a bench near the bookstore with Madi. We were silently munching on our lunches at first, hungry after a rather busy morning than usual."So, did you forget your lunch because you genuinely forgot, or forgot it so Finn can play delivery man for your mom?" Madi asked while munching on her giant turkey sandwich."Maybe both?" I chuckled after swallowing a mouthful of lasagna. She just rolled her eyes and smiled, amused."You know, Finn's good for you," she said. "If I were you, I wouldn't overthink the Matching. You and him would be partnered for sure."I can feel she means it genuinely, but I still can't not overthink it."But what if we aren't?" I asked, the last bite of my lunch tasting a little too much in my mouth."Cry and live with the pain of a broken heart until it's gone and accept the app's decision?" She shrugged. "Or…" she eyed me, wiggling her eyebrows."Or?""Don't accept it. I'll go with you and with Finn. Or it could be just us," she said, eyes wide and smiling at the idea.That's the thing with HarmonyMatch, it's government-mandated. It's a way of life and has been for decades before I was even born–which means if you don't follow it, you'll be in a lot of trouble. Hefty fines that only the ultra rich can afford; and even then, you'll lose some benefits and access to a lot of services. For one person you can't even predict the future with, the consequences are a bit much…and those are just the formalities and legalities. Imagine what the people will say."Sandwich for your thoughts?" Madi said, waving her nearly-done sandwiches in my face. "You aren't thinking of actually not following Harmony, right?""Of course not!" I batted her sandwich away softly. "It's just that, sometimes I ask myself if an app's algorithm is better at telling us who to love more than what we feel.""Well, the app matches people based on the data it collected all our life. It's basically a digital version of ourselves," she shrugged again and took the last bite of her lunch. "And it literally saved humanity. Without it, we probably would have gone extinct.""Well, if you put it like that…" I shrugged, too. Feeling a bit tired from all the overthinking and hauling old books all morning."I'm telling you, it will be Vivienne Skye Harper matched to Finn Yamada," Madi said, trying to cheer me up and patting my back, before standing up."Come on, future Mrs Yamada, we have books to sell," she said, arms outstretched. I sighed loudly and let her pull me up.I was minding my own business and was burying myself in an old book found at the bookstore when my phone chimed. With a notification. From HarmonyMatch.I groaned, dreading opening the message, but I did anyway. "Miss Vivienne Skye Harper, Congratulations on your eligibility to join the Matching! The ceremony will happen on the 3rd of October at a local HarmonyCenter assigned to you after registration. Your participation in this program is not only a personal opportunity for a fulfilling life but also a contribution to the greater good of our society. Strong families are the cornerstone of a prosperous and harmonious future, and your involvement will play a crucial role in achieving this vision. Thank you for your commitment to building a better future through lasting relationships and strong families. We look forward to helping you find your perfect match and embark on this extraordinary journey together. HarmonyMatch: Where Love Meets Science, and Together, We Build a Future
The dinner was uneventful, and I meant that in the worst way possible. Finn and I just had small talk, and when the food came, we just ate in silence. He did ask why I practically just got dessert, but didn't make any comments, so neither did I. We're now driving home, and while we agreed to not go to the planetarium to use the telescope for stargazing, I kind of expected us to do what we usually did: walk around and talk it out. I don't even know if we're fighting because we never really fought before except for some petty arguments over trivial matters that we easily resolved. "Can you park a couple of blocks from my house?" I asked him. "Why?" He asked back. "We really need to talk. This–" I vigorously pointed to the two of us, "–is bothering me so much. Please tell me what's happening." He was silent for a moment, eyes on the road. When he saw an opportunity, he pulled over, killed the engine, and sighed heavily. "I just…" he started. "The Matching," he said, as if it was an
"Good God, you look awful sis," Ren scrunched her face as I plopped down on her vanity chair. She volunteered to do my makeup and hair today. I asked her why, and she said I had to at least give my future husband a good impression. I can't argue about that, and so I let her do her magic. I feel even more awful than I probably look, but at least everything will end today. The Matching is in a couple of hours. I just let Ren do whatever she wanted and even let her pick what I should wear. She curled my dark brown hair to give it some volume and settled with a half updo. For my makeup, she went as light as possible but added a little shimmer of gold in my eyelids for some color. For the dress, she picked a classic black sleeved dress and gave me a pair of heeled Mary Janes. I said it was a little too much, but she just brushed it off and told me to get dressed, so I did. I felt a little too dolled up, but I can't help but feel better when I looked in the mirror. "Oh, honey. You loo
I was running. It wasn't the same 'run to your lover and jump into their arms' run like I see some do. I was literally running like a madman, trying to get to the closest Harmony employee who was about to leave the stadium."Excuse me! Excuse me!" I was yelling frantically, trying to get the employee's attention before she got to a door.I dashed and willed myself to run as fast as I could in my heels. I barely got to her."Excuse me!" I huffed. "I'm sorry to bother you," I managed to say in between breaths. The employee looked genuinely concerned."Honey, are you okay?" She asked, her brows furrowed. I was still panting so bad, I actually held a hand up, asking for a minute. And then something changed in her face, like she knew what I was about to say to her–which she probably actually didn't."Oh, you got Unmatched, huh? No worries, honey. It does happen. Maybe next year?" She smiled condescendingly. This might have happened quite a lot to her. Men and women running to ask why they w
"What the hell is happening, Viv?" Ren asked while navigating the road. Her voice was shaking."I Matched with the prince," I said, flatly. Exhausted all of the sudden. Saying the words made the whole thing true, and it sounded so weird…but pleasant at the same time."What?!" She practically yelled. "So, what those hounds were saying was actually true? I thought they were just mistaken.""They got to you so fast. How did they do that?" I asked myself, wondering how the hell all those reporters got there so fast.My phone rang and I flinched, surprised. Mom is calling. Shit. If they got to my sister fast, they're probably in my house right now.I answered quickly."Mom? Hello?""Vivienne! There are people outside looking for you! They said they were reporters. They're saying weird things–" she was rambling on the phone, and I can hear dad in the background telling Millie to stay away from the windows."Mom, mom! Listen to me. Don't ever open the door. We're coming through the backdoor,"
"Sis?" I heard Ren calling me, then felt her shaking me, and opened my hers to her sitting on my bed.After the warm bath and the adrenaline of the morning finally fading out of my system, I fell asleep. And now, waking up, my body is aching so bad, especially my feet, which I inspected earlier and saw blisters and some minor burns and scratches."Sorry, to wake you. Mom said dinner is ready. You barely ate anything all day," Ren softly said.For a while, I forgot about the chaos of my Matching Day, but everything had been so messy since I got home this morning that the silence seemed so new."Hey," I touched Ren's arms as she got up. "The reporters?" I asked."Oh. Thankfully they all went away. The cops were here as soon as mom called them, and it turns out your future husband has already ordered some authorities to fix the whole mess," she said, smiling as if amazed by everything. Then, she simply walked away.Future husband. The prince. I may never get used to the idea.I opened my
"Skye!" Madi ran towards me and gave me a hug. I hugged her tightly back. "I was trying to get to your house but there were tons of cops and some mean-looking guards, and I couldn't!" She cried in my neck as I rubbed her back."I know, I'm sorry," I apologized.By the time Madi saw the news, we were basically on lockdown. There also were so many people trying to message and call me that I had to uninstall every app on my phone except for HarmonyMatch in case the prince sends a message. I also had to block calls from coming in, according to the royal guards.But today is my last day here in unassuming Blackwood, and I had to meet Madison because it may be the last time I see her in years. The royal guards were reluctant, but I told them they can all come with me and leave the cops to patrol my neighborhood, and so they did, and they have been shadowing my every move."I'm really sorry, Madi. I can't even use my phone to call you yesterday," I said again as we faced each other."Apologie
I've been trying to stop the tears, but they kept flowing down my cheeks, and I tried to discreetly wipe them away, but I know Kida and Sebastian–two of the royal guards the prince has sent over–know I haven't stopped crying in the back seat of this luxurious BMW.Thankfully, they did not say anything and just left me sniffling away.I wanted to stop crying because I already feel my eyes puffing, and I'm on my way to the airport and finally to the palace.My family, Madi, and several other close friends I have over the years went over to say goodbye. Even my whole neighborhood gathered together and even gave me beautiful flowers from their own backyards.Millie and Dad were a mess and it took every strength and will to not join them in their tears. I wanted them to remember me smiling.Mom and Ren, who barely cried, even had tears in their eyes. Still, I tried to hold everything in even if the lump in my throat feels like I have swallowed a giant candy whole.Madi also tried to hold it