Tangeled Hearts

Love is a feeling that cannot be found, you have to find it ……………………. POV: Barbara Hi, I’m Barbara. I’m 26 years of age. I have bright blue eyes, long black curly hair and pinkish lips. Love is something that has not been easy for me to find and I, had already passed the typical marriage age. My parents constantly pressure me to settle down, but I have never been truly interested in marriage nor have I felt ready for it. They even set me up on 5 blind dates but none of them went well. One day, I wore a white top with a black jacket, black jeans and white sneakers. There I met a handsome guy. He was wearing a blue top, light blue jeans, green sneakers and a green scarf wrapped around his neck. He had green eyes and long curly cream hair. It was the first time I had ever had a crush on someone, and to my surprise, it was love at first sight. I found out that his name is Jack. Among all the girls at the party, he chose to sit beside me. I was shy at first but then I gathered up courage and said, “Hi Jack” I thought he wouldn’t respond but to my surprise, he did. The shocking part was that he already knew my name. We started talking and as the party went on, we grew more comfortable with each other. Eventually, the party ended, but we continued our conversation outside. We exchanged numbers, and he offered to drive me home. That night, we talked on the phone until 2:00am. I started feeling sleepy so I said goodnight, hanged up and slept. POV: Jack I’m Jack, a 28 year old man. There was a party at a bar, and I decided to go. I didn’t put much thought into my outfit; I just randomly picked something that matched my eye colour- green. When I arrived at the party, I noticed a stunning girl. She had bright blue eyes and long black curly hair. She was dressed in a white top, black jacket, black jeans, and white sneakers. I had never seen a girl come to a party dressed like that, and somehow it intrigued me. My parents have been pressuring me to get married and I’m tired of blind dates. Curious about her, I asked one of my friends for her name and he told me that her name is Barbara. What a beautiful name, I thought. I decided to sit next to her. Out of nowhere, she looked at me and said, “Hi, Jack.” I was shocked that she knew my name, but I quickly responded. We ended up talking for hours. There was something about her that felt different. By the end of the night, we exchanged numbers, and I offered to drive her home. When we got to her place, I didn’t leave immediately; I stayed outside for a while, thinking about everything that had happened. When I finally got home, I couldn’t resist texting her again. I chatted with her until 2:00 am, then she said “bye” and hung up. POV: Barbara I woke up early in the morning, exhausted but excited for the day ahead. My mind was occupied with thoughts of Jack—I couldn't stop thinking about him. I wonder if he's thinking about me too. I got ready and headed out to search for a job. Fortunately, I secured a position as the head of the art department. Since I had experience in design, I was expected to report to work immediately. When I arrived at the company, I was informed that I had to attend an important meeting with the CEO. As I walked into the conference room, my heart nearly stopped—I saw Jack sitting in the highest-ranked seat. I was completely shocked, and judging by his expression, he was just as surprised. POV: Jack I woke up early despite spending most of the night thinking about Barbara. Surprisingly, I wasn’t tired. I got up, freshened up, put on my suit, and headed to the office. My schedule was packed with meetings, one of which was with the design department. After finishing my earlier meetings, I made my way to the design department and took my seat, waiting for the team to arrive. Suddenly, Barbara walked in. What is she doing here? I thought. I had been wondering when I would see her again, and now here she was—right in front of me. The shock on her face mirrored mine; it was clear she hadn't expected this either. After the meeting, I called her to my office. The moment she walked in, I knew it was her—her perfume filled the air before she even spoke. "We meet again," I said with a slight smile. We started talking, and as the conversation went on, I found myself wanting to spend more time with her. Before she left, I told her to focus on her work for the day, but after work, I wanted her to join me. I would drop her off at home. POV: Barbara I was shocked. After the meeting, Jack called me to his office. When I entered, the atmosphere was awkward. I decided to break the silence, and we started talking. After our conversation, he told me to wait for him after working hours. Once work was over, I met him in the parking lot, and we left together. We grabbed some coffee, and afterward, he dropped me off at home. POV: Bianca (Barbara’s friend) I had been waiting for Barbara for a long time. The moment she walked in, I couldn’t help but ask, "Where have you been?" "I was at the office," she replied casually. My eyes narrowed. "Who was that guy who dropped you off?" "He’s my friend and my boss," she said. "Eii, since when do you have another friend apart from me? As far as I’m concerned, I am your only friend," I teased, but deep down, I was curious. She let out a small laugh. "We met at a party. He was the cute guy at the party, and surprisingly, he came to sit by me. We started talking." I was shocked. "Barbara, be careful. You met a guy at a bar… Bar boys are dangerous." POV: Barbara After spending a fun time with Jack, I came home and met Bianca. She immediately started questioning me, and I answered truthfully. She also warned me to be careful around Jack just because I met him at a bar. Bar boys are dangerous, she said. POV: Jack’s Parents Jack walked into the house looking exhausted, but we knew this conversation couldn’t wait any longer. My husband and I sat in the living room, waiting for him to settle in. He barely had time to relax before I called out to him. "Jack, come and sit down. We need to talk to you," I said, my voice calm but firm. He hesitated for a second before slowly making his way to the couch. He looked at us with slight suspicion, sensing the seriousness in the air. My husband exchanged a glance with me before clearing his throat. "There’s something we never told you," my husband began. "When you were little, we arranged a marriage for you with the daughter of the Zahn family." Jack’s body tensed immediately. His brows furrowed in shock. "What?" he said, his voice barely above a whisper. "They are coming this afternoon," I continued, choosing my words carefully. "So you better behave." Jack shot up from his seat, his expression a mix of disbelief and anger. "Mom, I don’t want to get married! Why are you doing this to me?" I let out a sigh, already expecting this reaction. "Jack, this is not just about you. This marriage will strengthen our family’s position. The Zahns are highly respected, and this union will bring security to both families." Jack ran a frustrated hand through his hair. "So that’s what this is? A business deal? You’re willing to throw me into a loveless marriage just to keep up appearances?" My husband’s jaw tightened. "It’s about responsibility, Jack. You’re not a child anymore.This is for your future." Jack’s eyes flickered with emotion—anger, sadness, maybe even betrayal. "And what if I already like someone else?" he asked, his voice quieter but still filled with defiance. I felt my chest tighten slightly. Could he be talking about someone in particular? My husband, however, remained unmoved. "You will do what is right for the family," he said firmly. Jack clenched his fists, his face turning red with frustration. Without another word, he turned on his heel and stormed out of the room, slamming the door behind him. I sighed, shaking my head. "We should have told him sooner," I muttered. My husband crossed his arms. "He’ll understand in time. He has no choice." I wasn’t so sure about that.