Ah, the intricate web of gossip and matchmaking—where old friends conspire like celestial matchmakers! It’s like the universe saying, “Hold my cosmic latte; I’ve got a love story to orchestrate.” 

Sia stumbled into her cramped room, her knee throbbing in sync with her bruised pride. Fate had a wicked sense of humor, and today it had decided to play bumper cars with her life. She half-expected the universe to send her an invoice for emotional damages.

The door creaked open, revealing the chaos that was Sia's living space. Books teetered in precarious stacks, post-it notes clung to every available surface, and a half-empty coffee mug sat next to a wilting plant. Home, sweet disarray.

And there, perched on the lumpy couch, were two unexpected guests: Kai and Hyun. Fate, it seemed, they were the guests mom and dad were expecting, the guy whom my mom was about to set me up on a date.

Sia's mom, fueled by chai and decades of friendship, leans in conspiratorially. “Guess what, dear? I met Kai's mom on our trip!"

Sia, stirring her own cup of tea, raises an eyebrow. “Kai? That’s the guy who collided with my scooter, right?”

Her mom nods, eyes twinkling. “Yes, the very same. And you won’t believe what happened next.”

“What?” Sia leans closer, intrigued.

“Well,” her mom says, “we were sipping tea, discussing life, and suddenly—bam!—the topic shifted to matchmaking. kai’s mom mentioned her son, and I thought, ‘Why not? Sia is a catch!’ And voilà, here we are.”

Sia's brain does a somersault. “Wait, so this whole dating plan was hatched over gossip and chai?”

“Exactly!” her mom says. “And sometimes, the universe conspires over a cup of tea. Who knew?”

Sia glances at Kai, who’s sitting across the room, looking equally bewildered. Maybe, just maybe, this collision of gossip and fate isn’t so bad.

Sia’s mind races like a caffeinated squirrel. Tae Hyun—the other guy—is talking, but her gaze remains locked on Kai.

Her inner monologue: “I know him. I’ve seen him somewhere. Maybe in a past life? Or perhaps he’s the guy who stole my pen at the library last week.”