Matchmaker Mayhem
Chapter 37: The Finale Match

Chapter 37: The Finale Match

The moment Ava stepped into the ballroom, she knew she’d underestimated Mei’s ability to throw a party.

This wasn’t just any matchmaking gala—it was a full-blown romantic circus.

Thousands of fairy lights crisscrossed the ceiling, casting a golden glow over the elegantly dressed guests. Tables were adorned with elaborate floral centerpieces that looked like they belonged in a royal wedding, each paired with discreet fortune cookies containing cryptic love advice. A string quartet played softly in the corner, their serene melodies clashing with the frantic energy of over-eager singles who were already speed-dating without supervision.

"This looks... suspiciously peaceful," Ava muttered as she walked in, scanning the room with a practiced eye.

"Give it 10 minutes," Ryan said, stepping in behind her, his hand lightly brushing her back. He was dressed to perfection in a sleek black suit, but Ava could already sense the sarcastic commentary brewing beneath the polished surface. "I’m already sensing a fight brewing near the shrimp cocktail."

Sure enough, Ava spotted Greg (of karaoke machine fame) and Sandra (his equally chaotic counterpart) standing near the seafood table, exchanging heated whispers.

"What is it now?" Ava groaned, rubbing her temples. "Is he still mad she didn’t Venmo him for their last date?"

"Or maybe she’s mad because he brought his karaoke mic to their first one," Ryan quipped.

Ava turned to glare at him, but his smirk was impossible to ignore.

"Welcome to matchmaking," he said, handing her a champagne flute.

"Oh, don’t start," Ava muttered, though a smile tugged at her lips.

---

It didn’t take long for the chaos to escalate.

Couple #1: The Karaoke Crashers

Against Ava’s strict instructions, someone (likely Greg) had wheeled in a karaoke machine. It didn’t take long before Greg himself grabbed the mic and launched into an off-key rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart.

"What’s happening?" Ava hissed as Greg hit a particularly painful high note, his arm dramatically extended toward a bewildered Sandra.

"He’s laying his heart bare," Ryan said, sipping his drink.

"By emotionally scarring everyone here?" Ava muttered, wincing as a particularly loud screech rattled the champagne flutes.

Couple #2: The Astrological Showdown

Nearby, an argument had erupted at Table 4 between two guests who clearly took their star signs too seriously.

"I’m just saying, Geminis and Scorpios are not compatible," the woman declared, gesturing wildly with her wine glass.

"You’re just mad because Mercury is always in retrograde!" her date shot back, his voice dripping with disdain.

Ava attempted to mediate, only to find herself roped into a heated debate about moon signs. "I’m not qualified for this!" she finally exclaimed, retreating before she could be dragged into a discussion about birth charts.

Couple #3: The Wrong Name Mix-Up

At the bar, a guest was mid-confession when the realization hit. "Wait... your name is Brian? I thought it was Ryan!"

Ryan, standing beside Ava, raised an eyebrow. "Should I be worried?"

"No," Ava muttered. "But Kelly might be. Look."

Sure enough, Kelly was lurking nearby with a plate of mini quiches, gleefully taking mental notes.

"This is spiraling," Ava groaned, returning to Ryan’s side.

"This is art," Ryan corrected. "Your grandmother’s magnum opus."

"She’s a menace," Ava said, glaring at Mei, who was calmly sipping champagne at the head table.

"And yet," Ryan said, his grin widening, "you’re still here."

---

It wasn’t long before Mei seized her opportunity. Waiting for the exact moment when the energy in the room peaked—just after Greg’s disastrous attempt at Bohemian Rhapsody—Mei tapped her champagne glass, silencing the crowd.

"Ladies and gentlemen," Mei began, her voice commanding but warm, "thank you all for joining me tonight. This gala is not just about matchmaking; it’s about celebrating the chaos, beauty, and occasional miracles of love."

The guests laughed and clapped, but Ava immediately felt the rising tide of dread in her stomach. Mei’s innocent tone was anything but innocent.

"As you all know," Mei continued, her eyes twinkling mischievously, "tonight also marks a new Chapter for this matchmaking business. I’m officially retiring."

Gasps and murmurs rippled through the crowd.

"Don’t worry," Mei said, holding up a hand to quiet them. "The future of matchmaking is in excellent hands. Please welcome my granddaughter, Ava Lee, and her partner, Ryan Kim!"

Ava froze, her heart stopping as every eye in the room turned to her.

"Oh no," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

"Oh yes," Ryan said, smirking. "Looks like you’re up."

Before Ava could bolt, Mei took her arm and practically dragged her to the stage, with Ryan strolling behind her like he had all the time in the world.

---

Standing under the spotlight, Ava’s mind raced. She was about to melt into a puddle of anxiety when Ryan casually stepped forward, taking the microphone from Mei.

"Hi, everyone," Ryan said, his tone light and disarming. "For those of you who don’t know me, I’m Ryan. I’m not a matchmaker—I’m actually a divorce lawyer. Which, let’s be honest, makes this whole situation very ironic."

The crowd laughed, and Ava felt herself relax. Just a little.

"But here’s the thing," Ryan continued, his voice softening. "I’ve spent my career watching relationships fall apart. I didn’t believe in happily ever afters. Not until I met Ava."

The crowd let out a collective aww, and Ava felt her cheeks flush.

"She taught me that love isn’t perfect," Ryan said, turning to look at her. "It’s messy and unpredictable. And it’s not about algorithms or intuition—it’s about showing up. And Ava? She’s worth showing up for."

The room erupted into cheers. Ava, blinking back tears, stepped forward and took the mic from him.

"Well," she said, her voice a little shaky, "if Ryan can admit he’s in love, then I guess I can too. So, yes, we’re officially a couple. And no, I’m still better at karaoke than he is."

Just then, as if on cue, Greg hijacked the karaoke mic to belt out I Will Always Love You, his voice cracking on the high notes.

Ava groaned, burying her face in her hands. "Of course this is happening."

The crowd roared with laughter, and Ryan wrapped an arm around her shoulders. "See?" he murmured. "Perfect chaos."

---

Later that evening, the string quartet replaced the chaotic karaoke machine, and the ballroom transformed into a dreamy, golden-lit dance floor. The frantic matchmaking energy had mellowed into something softer, quieter—though Ava could still hear Greg attempting to convince Sandra that dessert should always involve chocolate.

Ava found herself swaying with Ryan in the middle of the dance floor, his arms wrapped loosely around her waist, her hands resting on his shoulders. It wasn’t a perfect waltz—he kept stepping slightly off the beat, and once, his shoe grazed hers—but it was theirs.

"You realize we’re probably the most chaotic couple in this room, right?" Ava teased, resting her head lightly against his shoulder.

"Not even close," Ryan replied, his voice warm and teasing. "Look at Sandra and Greg. They’ve been arguing for 20 minutes about whether tiramisu is overrated."

Ava tilted her head just enough to spot Sandra jabbing a spoon in Greg’s direction while still attempting to sway to the music. Greg looked like he was gearing up for a full-blown TED Talk on the merits of chocolate mousse.

"Point taken," Ava said, laughing softly.

Ryan’s lips quirked into a grin as he gazed down at her. "Although, if I’m being honest, I think chaos suits us."

"Oh?" Ava raised an eyebrow.

"Yeah," Ryan murmured, his tone softer now. "Because no matter what disaster we’re in the middle of, you’re always the one I want to get through it with."

Ava blinked, her heart doing an unexpected flip. The sincerity in his eyes was disarming, even for someone who’d spent their entire relationship trading sarcastic jabs.

"You’re surprisingly good at this whole romance thing," Ava said, trying to mask the warmth rising in her cheeks.

"I’ve been practicing," Ryan said, grinning. "You’re not the only one who’s good at matchmaking. I just happen to be matching myself."

Ava laughed, her eyes shining. "You’re impossible."

"And yet," Ryan said, leaning in slightly, his voice barely above a whisper, "here you are."

The world seemed to blur around them, the music softening into the background. For a moment, it felt like it was just the two of them, standing still in the middle of a storm of fairy lights, laughter, and love.

"Here I am," Ava said quietly, her heart finally catching up with her head.

Ryan brushed a strand of hair from her face, his fingers lingering for just a moment longer than necessary. "You’re even worse at resisting me than I thought."

"Don’t push your luck," Ava said, but her tone lacked any real bite.

Before either of them could say another word, Sandra and Greg’s argument reached a new volume.

"I’m just saying!" Greg’s voice carried across the ballroom. "Tiramisu is overrated, and you know it!"

"Oh my God," Ava groaned, leaning her forehead against Ryan’s chest. "Why do I even bother?"

Ryan chuckled, resting his chin lightly on her head. "Because, Ava, you love the chaos. Don’t lie."

Ava tilted her head to meet his gaze, her lips curving into a small smile. "Maybe I do. But only because I have you to help me survive it."

Ryan’s grin softened, his thumb brushing lightly along her back. "Deal."

And with that, they continued to sway, the lights above them twinkling like stars, while around them, the rest of the world spun on in delightful, perfectly imperfect disarray.