"Let's start simple. What was your reason for getting matched in the first place?" I proposed the first proper query of the day, holding the warm cup of tea to my nose as I did - subtle scents of cinnamon and citrus wafting into my nose.
Sam sat still for a second, tilting her head and throwing her gaze to the ceiling with a murmured hmm. "...I guess I just wanted to see what it was like?" A vague answer came from the young woman, and though mellow and subdued, it was tinged with uncertainty.
A silence filled the room following her answer, only the whir of the air conditioning and suburban ambiance from the outside to accompany the pause.
Her face remained similarly static until she finally processed the change in mood, her face turning flustered, "Oh! Sorry if it's not an answer with much substance." Though stuttering a bit, she managed to eke out an answer, "I just see all my friends getting dates, and it's impossible to avoid romance media nowadays, so..." She trailed off with a nervous laugh, her brown eyes dulling as she did.
It seems we've got a bite, folks.
I laughed along with our client, affirming her answer while simultaneously reestablishing the earlier mood. Her answer didn't exactly fit her earlier energy. It was apprehensive, almost doubtful of herself. An oddity considering the steadfastness hidden under her quiet nature.
However, when a fish bites, you do well to reel it in quick.
Quick on the uptake as always and finding an opening, a frigid voice interjected, "In the case you do get matched, do you have any plans? Goals? Have you thought of anything in particular?" Myla asked matter-of-factly, closing the laptop as she finished her work and joined me in prodding the young woman.
I took a sip of the tea, enjoying the fruity and earthy notes of the drink as I let my partner take point. It was a good follow-up question, as it not only gave us info on her mindset but also what her potential partner could expect by getting into a relationship with her. Furthermore, narrowing down the questions was the next step - it was standard practice, one might say.
"Actually, I was just going to ask you guys about that." It wasn't inappropriate to be doubtful - pessimism in small amounts ensures you stay grounded - but her replies began to waver in a way that became more difficult to ignore.
"What do you have in mind?" Myla continued, taking her clipboard from the table and keeping a keen eye and ear to our client.
"Well, I was hoping to just...See where this goes. Learn along the way - with you two helping, of course!" She voiced her answer, even as small cracks of unease began to form around her reserved shell, "I promise to do my best, even if I'm still a greenhorn in all of this."
It was subtle, but I could see my partner's fingers tense up on her clip file, "It's not an impossible method, but..." However, right as she was about to conclude her thought, I intervened - lowering the cup and raising my voice.
"Ah, of course. Keeping yourself at a comfortable pace while in a relationship is the bare minimum for a lot of people - there's no shame in telling us you want that." I reaffirmed her statement, placing my hands together with an earnest look of reassurance.
Myla seemed surprised by my interference, having wanted to tell our clients her thoughts outright - that her answer came from a place of inexperience and was misguided by her carefree attitude. I would've allowed her had it not been for the circumstances that we found ourselves in.
Sam was someone who was accomplished and boasted an aptitude for learning quickly. There are definitely things you can only learn by experiencing them firsthand, especially in the context of love. But even so, there was a clear difference between setting attainable goals in such an endeavor and hoping for the best as you figure things out along the way - and the best course of action to figure out whether or not our client fell for such a trap was to ask more questions.
This is why I interrupted her objections, to ensure that we could continue spurring a conversation without pressuring her for an answer - one that could become cluttered by the stress of our questioning. Even if my motivations weren't discerned by Myla, I found comfort in something else she decided to do upon seeing me shift the flow of the discussion.
She wrapped her slender fingers around the cup, its warmth dissipating into the air as the steam and her hair almost melded into one cloud of ashen white. She took a small sip of the drink, rolling her gem-like eyes at me as she did. It was her own way of telling me to do as I please, which was her own convoluted way of telling me she trusted me enough to let me accomplish what I wanted.
Sometimes, I wonder if the job would be easier if Myla wasn't the one who I became partners with - a thought very quickly discarded when we actually start to work. I guess you could compare it to love in a way,
Not that we're at all comparable to an actual couple...
In the way that you can't really find the ideal relationship, be it friendly, familial, or romantic. You can sure as hell hope for one for as long as you'd like - God knows everyone's done that at least once in a sleepless night, but to actually attain one, all hoping would do is force yourself into looking for the perfect something before you even achieve anything.
Hence, in reality, the love that one comes to yearn for isn't found - it's grown. Slowly but surely, you accept the person you're with, and they do the same. You grow to understand each other's most profound philosophies and tiniest idiosyncrasies - the monotony of one another's presence becomes comforting when you both subconsciously realize that.
I guess what I mean is that no one is ever meant for anyone - it's about taking an active role in creating something designed for both of you. To me, at least, people are a little quick to say things like "They're just not perfect for me," or "If I or my partner have to change something, we're just not with the right people," when in reality, it's that mutual acceptance of imperfection and the importance of constant growth that tends to create the most beautiful of relationships.
Not that this directly applies to me and Myla, not at all.
Anyhow, random tangents aside, this did apply to our client as well, as those of her generation and experience tend to romanticize the "fated one" ideal - another angle to nab some answers from while we had the chance.
"Then that must mean you've been really excited about all this? Considering you already thought up a few things in advance?" I asked, retaining the conversational and amiable tone.
"Oh! Yeah, I guess you could say that..." She trailed off again, this time not out of fear we'd criticize her but out of a flustered reaction to my question, denoted by the slight rosiness on her olive cheeks, "I've wanted to try for a while now. It's just I never had the gull for it."
"I completely understand," I continued affirming her, placing both of my hands up with palms forward as I did to convey a friendly air, "I was once in your place too, y'know? You can sometimes find yourself falling asleep to those thoughts of love, right?" Additionally, sharing your own experiences with the client grounds the conversation, creating a sense of empathy and approachability in the process.
God, I'm starting to do corporate-speak...I'm supposed to hate mega-corps, billionaires, and politicians. Actually, anyone in a relatively high position of power, wealth, and or influence - or at least that's what those dudes on the internet told me to believe.
Anyway, our client was bemused by my addition to the exchange, her curious eyes staring my way, "Woah, I do that too. How'd you know?"
I smirked, resting my head on my hand as I spoke, "Well, aside from it being the reason I can still eat, one could say it was the way of many a young romantic nowadays." It was true - in fact, it was probably more of an oddity to find someone who didn't at the very least hope for a romantic escapade.
"That reminds me," I started, an ironic sneer accompanying my words, "You got a type yet?" I inquired as bluntly as possible, knowing full well the reaction I'd invite with such a query.
Sam's eyes widened upon hearing the question, and her tongue twisted as a response got stuck in her throat, "Well..." Still untangling the letters to string into a proper reply, she hid her lips as she began to speak in an incredibly soft tone, "As long as I can care for them, and they do the same for me..."
"How about specifics?" I pushed forth, immediately asking again upon hearing her reaction.
"Well- I have wanted to share some recipes, and I've admittedly scouted out a few date spots so..." She blurted out, not quite prepared for my rapid-fire questions as she remained flustered.
"Go on." Not letting up, I drew out the pronunciation of the last word as I teased further.
"...Well, I guess I would...Prefer a shorter guy..."
Rejoice! A win for the short kings! It's a shame I left their crowns on the topmost shelf, though...
That aside, there wasn't really much of a purpose for doing this so thoroughly,
And teasingly, might I add.
As long as the preferences weren't unrealistic or problematic, it was just a fun way to gauge what our clients wanted in a partner - all the while receiving some charming reactions and answers as we allowed them to voice their desires.
People are allowed to have preferences and want specific things in a person. There's no harm in it as long as it doesn't turn you prejudiced or narrow your mindset when it comes to looking for love. I can go on and on about how relationships take time to fully mature or that you have to learn to accept and grow with your partner, but it doesn't have to start that way.
Falling in love can mean a cute smile, a charming laugh, or an unforgettable fragrance. Maybe a chance encounter that made your heart race or repeated meetings that eventually awakened feelings. My point is that falling in love is the easiest part; it's being willing to want more than that when things get more complicated, and you have to be more prepared.
However, with that being said, "Willingness is only one part of the formula, our dear client." In response, the young woman gave us a look of intrigue, tilting her head a bit at my comment.
I could feel the ambient temperature drop at the exact moment a sigh sounded from beside me, "What this eccentric is trying to say is that you need to be capable as well, which entails understanding how much you can realistically provide in a relationship." Myla cooly explained, an air of nobility covering her as she placed the teacup back onto the saucer in her hands, "Which means just how much are you willing to give?"
It was more or less a question of practicality. Willingness and capability are traits that exist separately but are both vital aspects when considering the longevity of a couple. You can have as much fuel in your tank as you want - but if you don't have the wheels to even move, it is useless - one without the other creates an equation with no answer, a relationship with no direction.
"Well, if I get the feeling that he's worth it...I mean..." She sat still for a moment, murmuring as thoughts began to ruminate in her mind that searched for an answer - or perhaps the words to present one.
"Take your time." My partner spoke, the contrast of warm words and a cold voice as always eliciting a grin from me, "After all, we're here to listen to you and ensure you'll be in a place made with your considerations in mind." Returning the glassware to the tabletop and the clipboard to her arms, she remained attentive and composed.
I'm so proud in the same way a cat owner sees their feral kitten finally act friendly with a stranger after months of coercing them to be tamer.
"As much as I can...I think." The words she gave back were ones that bore an incredible weight - one I believe she didn't fully grasp.
"That would include time, money, energy, and a lot of other compromises." Myla quickly opposed, her stern voice making it almost sound like a lecture.
Sam was again caught off guard, her words bearing an edge that she wasn't expecting, given the casual nature of her reply. It was another common pitfall for plenty of people, not understanding the full extent of what being ready to give everything truly meant.
"You're also a first-year - you have a wealth of other responsibilities to consider along with the ones that come with entering a relationship." Straight to the point and poignant as ever, Myla added to her earlier statement with further objections.
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"...I"ll do my best." However, not so easily swayed was our client, her adamant words flowing along with her curled tresses - the lapses of hesitance not enough to fully crack her steadfast conviction.
Surveyors can be many things to a couple - one of them is a speed bump, ensuring our clients stay at a steady but controlled pace, but first and foremost, we were stepping stones.
"Likewise, we'll do the utmost to match your efforts." My dear partner asserted with as much kindness as her wintry voice could muster - like the most tender of snowfalls on a white December morning.
Those words seemed to ease our client's worries as her posture relaxed and the sharpness in her eyes blunted - if only just enough to be noticed by mine as the topaz lamplight illuminated them.
As always, she can be wonderfully sweet when she wants to be.
"Yep, you can trust us on that. Anyway," But before we were to settle on anything, there was just one last piece I wanted to fit, "We probably should've asked a lot sooner, but what stopped you from trying to enter a relationship prior to this? From what we've gleaned from your responses and your file, it seems like something that's been on your to-do list for a while now."
"Ah, that? It's a bit of a long story, so..." Sam apprehended, a look of guarded nostalgia painted on her visage.
"It's alright. I promise you, we've gone through plenty of longer ones for less important reasons." And to that, I returned with an affirmation.
The invitation seemed to be taken well, as a wordless smile atop a nod was sent our way, "...Well, y'see, my family, God bless their wonderful souls, have always been a bit strict on these matters." She began, leaning back a bit and relaxing to narrate, "They let me do more or less whatever as long as I focus on my education, but this was the one other thing they always had hard and fast rules for."
"I see. You can keep going as long as you're still comfortable sharing." I took the pause in her words as a chance to check in on her - no small kindness spared.
"Thank you for asking. There are a few other things of note," Resuming her retelling, the voice of cotton-soft lost a tinge of vibrato as we anticipated the continuance, "When I passed for the college here, they let me move since it'd be worth all the hassle. Then I did some research on the area and saw that you guys were stationed nearby, so I thought, why not?" Further elaborating, she began to twirl her braids with her fingers - as if untangling the very words she spoke.
"To be honest, it did hurt me a bit, not being allowed to experience that, I mean," Hints of regret quivered from her feathery voice, soothing as it was, "I never told them I felt that way since I knew that it was just their way of looking out for me - but sometimes I couldn't help but wonder if I wasted my chances or if I just never deserved to have any in the first place." Sam's confession rang clearly through the room, words that were trapped for so long now finding purchase in our ears.
I understood where she was coming from - those who found themselves in her age bracket tended to be the most self-conscious and critical - it was easy to think you were doing something wrong or lagging behind your peers at the slightest inadequacy. Still, using that as one of your reasons to find love should never be the case. Relationships are a commitment, one that places a heavy responsibility on two individuals and challenges them to accomplish mutual actualization for the sake of self-growth and fulfillment. Therefore, the reason to face an undertaking of this magnitude should never be extrinsic in nature, let alone at the behest of peer pressure.
Obviously, there are exceptions. Casual dating exists for a reason. But aiAI strived to create long-lasting and dedicated couples who were prepared and eager to walk that path.
Indeed, or else we'd be, what? Three steps away from being a hook-up company..? Breaking news! Birth rates are on the rise as aiAI implements new services!
"Oh, I think I might have overshared a bit there." Disturbing my useless little stupor, she apologized with a lowered head and a retreating voice - her restrained attitude betraying her tall stature as her silhouette further shrank after her recounting.
"It's fine, seriously. It feels a lot better to finally get that off your chest, right?" I comforted her woes, standing up and placing a cup of tea she seemed to have prepared for herself but forgot about amidst our exchange - the drink still warm and carrying the aroma of autumnal spices.
A smile slowly invited itself back onto her profile, the brief moment of anxiety disappearing among the wisps of steam that rose from her saffron orange beverage.
That smile. That damned smile. Please don't give us that. You'll make this next part harder for all of us.
Needless to say,
The pedant begins, fully knowing that as needless as it was, he would now shortly commence another overly verbose rambling. Is it necessary? Does it at all make sense? Does he even care? We may never know.
...Well, that was impolite. As I was saying, letting the client speak is necessary for any exchange to hold any semblance of substance - even if we start to find holes in their statements. We don't want to shoot down every piece of poor judgment we spot, but we also don't want to act oblivious toward them. There was meaning behind every word, whether or not it was said with or without the proper considerations made before they were spoken.
It was best to let them spill their thoughts - to allow us to collect as much info from them as possible so that we and future surveyors could be more prepared before each visit, be it for matchmaking requests or counseling calls. However, equally important was that it let them feel heard - it made it look like we cared.
Obviously, we did. This job practically has empathy as a required skill for its workers, but that's just it. It's a job. There is a level of professionalism we had to practice in each outing and, as such, a proper way of showing compassion.
What had to be done had to be done right. What had to be said had to be articulated with care.
Even if this next step might sting a bit...
I felt my phone vibrate as I concluded my thoughts, a signal from my partner that I recognized well. I looked at her clipboard, seeing her summarized thoughts in neat bullet points and written with print-like penmanship. As expected, the writings aligned with my deductions, and with no protests to present, it was time to deliver our verdict.
I straightened my posture and inhaled deep the warm air, clearing my throat to catch their attention once I had composed myself. Sam's eyes immediately darted toward me, while Myla seemed nonplussed, well aware of what was to follow.
"Apologies, Samantha, but we're just gonna be frank with you here, okay?" I finally spoke, doing my best to maintain the casual and considerate tone I've been using.
Her face contorted to one of surprise as a sharp eh? Sounded from her soft voice - her large eyes narrowing from the charming response she gave.
"Please, no more endearing reactions...You're gonna break my heart here." I requested, a slight ache in my chest as my words got stuck in my throat, "...We'll have to reject your request for matchmaking." I finally unfurled my lips to speak, not a stutter present in my statement as I spoke with confidence and clarity.
Another silence veiled over us, only this time the ambiance did little to fill the empty space - the quiet following our resolution practically deafening as we awaited a response to shrive clean the white noise.
"...Eh? Why..?" Samantha's voice trembled, her feathery voice piercing through the thick fog that was the stagnant air.
In her reaction, her posture straightened abruptly, towering over us yet speaking with a voice that felt smaller than ever. Her hands subtly shook, and her already large eyes expanded further as a shock was painted clearly around them - the bronze orbs agleam even as they shuddered.
"You're allowed to dispute our following observations, so we'd like you to listen to them so that you may come to your own conclusions." Unperturbed by the solemn atmosphere, Myla's cold voice rang clear as ice, "But based on what we've gathered, there are a few things that we'd like you to review and improve upon before we can matchmake you." Professional, composed, and assertive, a tone of voice that felt practically honed to a point.
Oh? She wants to go first, huh? That's a rarity. I hope she goes easy on her. Myla knows I'm bad at dealing with crying clients...
"Firstly, I'd like to address your motivations for this request." My partner began, the crisp sound of papers shifting acted as an accompaniment as she looked through her notes, "It'd be best if you rethink your primary reasoning. You told us that it was out of curiosity gained from seeing others pursue relationships, correct?" And though she knew her words might prick like icy needles, her countenance and prose were unchanged.
The first angle she chose was Samantha's grounds for being matchmade in the first place. This was no accident, as that piece of info tended to be the foundation for everything that would follow in a relationship.
"It's best if you saw this not as an opportunity to conform with trends or as a way to seek external validation but as a holistic approach toward personal development." Even so, there were no hints of condescension nor a demeaning tone, "There is obviously no such thing as an invalid reason to find love, but it's best you revisit your motives and properly consider them - the implications, the necessary actions to take, all of them." And yet it was neither gentle nor soft-spoken, "Please keep in mind that what you choose to motivate your choices will affect not just your life but another person's." It was simply straightforward and pragmatic.
"...I see, I never considered it, but...That's true." Though accepting our criticisms, it was obvious that each remark made her recoil, "I just said what first came to mind."
Okay, good. At least there's no crying yet. The last time we had to deal with an emotional client, Myla never let me hear the end of it... What was I supposed to do? Well, apparently, it wasn't to show them those barely comprehensible memes people post nowadays... I thought they found it funny as long as it lasted no more than a minute and had loud noises...
Moments better to lost to time aside, it was my turn to lay out the rest of our assessments, "If I may add, you shouldn't bring in a 'wing-it' attitude into this. I get that you're excited - I mean, who wouldn't be?" I rebounded my partner's words, as always, my casual tone in stark contrast to hers, "But this is a commitment that requires forethought and planning. You can't just make up expectations as you go, or else you're putting both yourself and another person at risk."
To be fair, relationships where both parties figure things out along the way do exist, and, in fact, I'd wager that it's a common sight among younger, more casual pairings. These kinds of couples can definitely find their footing and create healthy pairs with the know-how to grow alongside one another, and while that's all well and good, that kind of methodology would not fly when we're trying to create matches with as high of a success rate as possible. We could not rely on a mindset that communicated vague expectations instead of clear-cut goals.
Ah, shoot. We've gotta remember to keep her spirits up - this is a dialogue, not a lecture.
"If you've got anything you wanna say, feel free to chip in, okay? We don't wanna overwhelm you here." If I had to give a general piece of advice when it came to advice, never make it feel like you're attacking them.
It doesn't matter if your words are literally worthy of writing a brand new bible over if you deliver it in a manner that feels like you're being overbearing or patronizing.
"No, no. It's alright. Please, continue."
I took her offer with a beam, elaborating further, "You've gotta at least have some sort of plan that's based on boundaries and goals that you set for yourself."
"I see. Go on." And to our client's credit, she kept her ears firm on our words, even as the trepidation surrounding her remained tangible.
Alright, good. At least we know she's listening and responding.
"Also, you shouldn't throw around words like 'as much as you can' so readily. That can mean a lot of things, and unless you've dedicated an adequate amount of time and commitment to someone, you shouldn't set an expectation of that level so early on - let alone promise it." Unlike Myla, who kept a straight posture, I leaned in as I spoke with both hands clasped together, inviting a cordial but prudent exchange, "You've got plenty of other responsibilities to tend to, and while it's obviously important to lend time to this, never forget to leave some for yourself, m'kay?" In return, a few nods were thrown our way, listening well even as we critiqued her words down to the letter.
"Besides, from what we can tell, you're someone well worth saving that time for - so always keep plenty of spare fuel for yourself, alright?" I concluded, the final note of my verse being a positive one to both reassure and raise her waning spirits.
To win is to curry the favor of both hearts and minds. Not just one or the other.
"You shouldn't feel guilty for being excited over this either," My partner recognized this idea as well, taking the chance to ease the rising tensions, "For someone of your circumstances and background, I believe it's praiseworthy that you were willing to try and explore such unfamiliar territory." I joke that she always seems to have a wellspring of kindness reserved for clients, but my heckling wasn't all humor - she really did bear a tenderness that betrayed her austere and aloof self.
Now, if only she spared some for me, eh?
That aside, it did prove effective, as Sam's eyes met our gaze head-on, her posture once again relaxing, and her hands, while fidgety, held each other as she nodded along silently but intently.
"However, we still cannot, in good conscience, send you to be matched quite yet." She continued, placing her clipboard back on the table to signify this was to be the last of her notes, "Ill-preparedness has a tendency to masquerade as confidence." An observation all but proven true as her final remark aligned with the final point in her bulleted list.
What we were imparting was all general knowledge - the fundamental setlist of things to keep in mind that you can use for pretty much any relationship. But it was because it was all such basic information that we had to explain it, even if it meant shattering bits and parts of the idea she had created in her head.
At her age and with little to none in terms of prior experience, a honeyed view of love was more or less to be expected - one that still didn't fully grasp the territory and all it would bring.
Even so, that's not to say you have to be perfect before entering a relationship. Expectations are at their best when attainable and realistic. You are bound to make mistakes - it isn't a question of if but how and when. There's no shame in that - mutual growth occurs when missteps are made, consequences are faced, and lessons are learned. What we're doing is by no means to detract from that but instead to lessen the burden. If there was an opportunity to learn from a blunder, take it, but better yet, take the chance to avoid making one entirely. The mistakes that could be avoided should be avoided, or else you're essentially volunteering for unnecessary headaches.
"...I see. Thank you for the thorough advice." She muttered, the whispers of her feathery voice barely echoing through the room.
"It's alright. If that's all the-"
"Wait." But without the slightest tell, her tone suddenly fluctuated, eclipsing mine and cutting me off even as her gaze was lowered, "If you don't mind...There's something else I'd like you to know."
I was surprised by her sudden request, my mind running astir with assumptions as to what she had to say. Maybe she was going to contradict our assessments? Or was it she had questions about what would happen next?
As long as she doesn't think we scammed her out on this...You pay once you're on the matchmaking registry, but we've dealt with ballistic clients before...I didn't think Myla could repress that much killing intent with such a nonchalant demeanor...
I turned to Myla, who also seemed in thought before she noticed I was awaiting her cue. She closed her eyes before turning back to our client and opening her lips to speak, "Go ahead. We have ample time, right, Bridger?"
"More than less," I answered, crossing my legs and leaning forward with an open-hearted disposition to calm her nerves.
Samantha's brows were furrowed, with fidgeting eyes and nails to her teeth as she searched for the words to speak, "...Contrary to what I had written on my file, I actually..." As she mulled over them, a restlessness radiated from each chosen syllable, "...Did enter a relationship - or at least one that could barely pass as one." And when she finished, a sharp pain stuck onto her visage - one that arrived along with her declaration.