The Daughter

Zoey was slowly doing better, but she was spending more time at home now. She was making popcorn in the kitchen while I kept checking my phone. Tristan was sitting with her, probably in his typical excitement. Each time the popping corn delighted him and made him laugh just as much. After my shift at the library, I tried to talk to Sebastian as if nothing had happened. However, my worst fears have come true that he will eventually ask us not to contact each other for a while.

The coordinator was initially furious with me, because helping the young man, especially with the renovation of the office, did not necessarily fit well into his schedule. Sebastian, however, won him over and our kind of boss stopped complaining about it. I watched my student as much as I could and I knew that he was on his first shift that day, even fully booked. I was proud of him and kept wondering whether I should text him or go over to him with some cake.

Suddenly a young girl burst in and stood in front of me with her arms folded and her eyes appraising as if she wanted to challenge me. I tried to snap out of my shock and ask what the heck was going on, but Zoey just came out of the kitchen and started eating popcorn, mumbling something under her breath about not paying attention to her. Tristan pretended to eat too.

"Who are you?" I asked the teenager in a combative mood.

"I thought my rival looked better in real life," she huffed.

"What are you up to, kiddo?" I asked, trying not to get trapped and put up a fight without even knowing what was at stake.

"Sebastian!" she exclaimed finally. “You broke his heart cruelly, and he still thinks of you. I want to fix it, but I was hoping you'd at least you will be a little more interesting person. He's very keen on your presence today, and there's no sign of you going to see him!"

"Dramatic," Zoey commented, eating that stupid popcorn. Tristan agreed with her, nodding. I shot them an angry look, hoping for some support from them.

"Why are you standing there?" the girl said furiously. "Get dressed, we're going there together." I know seeing you will make him happy."

"Look kiddo." I walked over to her. "No child will order me around, I don't know what you plan and want to achieve, but now you have to get out of here."

"Lily, my sweet daughter, where did you run so fast?" I heard a familiar voice and after a while none other than 931 appeared in my living room. He looked at me with an apologetic look. “You can't just evaporate people into the house."

"I just wanted to seem more threatening," she stammered and suddenly assumed the mask of an innocent child. "But it's all her fault!"

"Daughter?" I laughed, ignoring the teenager's accusations. “And yet you chose to be a matchmaker for your own child."

"If I can have some influence on the choice of a future son-in-law, I do take a chance," 931 answered me with a smile.

"I agree, I would do that too," Tristan interjected. He didn't care when I shot him a reproachful look.

"Thank you." The older medium fistbump with him and then turned to me. "So, 942, are you coming with us to congratulate the boy on his first shift?"

"Give me ten minutes," I said.

Lily snorted, but I bit my tongue. I didn't want to give her the satisfaction of the "I heard that" comment. I changed into something more appropriate, Zoey did some makeup on me, and I was ready to go. I asked Tristan to stay with our friend. I sat next to the driver and had a pleasant chat with him. Lily was sitting in the back with a cake on her lap, and I noticed a beautifully wrapped package beside it. She was a really pretty girl from whom I wouldn't expect such an explosive character.

It turned out that 931 had not actually planned to match them. When he told his family about his library duty and showed them our photos from official documents, Sebastian immediately caught his daughter's eye. She asked her dad for his number and they've been talking to each other ever since. Lily had planned all this for Sebastian, and she was even more nervous because it was the first time they were going to see each other in person. My no longer student was very surprised by our visit, and Lily herself charmed him. After the initial shock, cake, and soda instead of champagne, I took Sebastian aside and asked him if I could give him a hug.

"I'm so proud of you," I whispered as I released him from my arms. "I'm sorry I screwed everything up."

"Do you still want to be that annoying big sister?"

"I would be honored," I replied with tears in my eyes. "As for Lily, I wish you luck, you two are such a beautiful couple," I said dramatically, crying even more. "Is it time to write a speech for your wedding? I will not let this honor be taken away from me!"