"So, who'd you get?" Biana asked over her imparter.
"Well, you already know that Keefe is my eighty three," Sophie said. "But Wylie's my twenty-ninth, Jensi's my forty-seven, and Tam's my eighteenth. Oh, and Fitz is my fourth."
"What?" Biana asked, an astonished smile painted on her doll-like face. "Fitz is your number four? Sophie, you're meant to be!"
Sophie scoffed. "No, we're not. Remember when we broke up? It was a disaster."
"Yeah, but if you marry Fitz, then I get Keefe..." Biana said.
"If things stay the way they are," Sophie said. "You are not marrying Keefe."
Biana rolled her eyes. "Sometimes I don't understand why you chose Keefe when you knew I liked him first."
"I didn't choose Keefe," Sophie said. "He asked me out."
"Yeah," Biana snapped. "After you had some sort of moment during base quest. Don't think we don't know why you took so long. Probably kissing or something."
"I-" Sophie said astoundedly. "We haven't kissed!"
"Really?" asked Biana, interest flickering across her face. It soon faded back to a scowl, though. "No. It doesn't matter. You betrayed me!"
Sophie didn't know how to react to that. She did understand that Biana had liked Keefe for much longer than she did, but she had always thought that it was just a silly crush. What Sophie felt for Keefe was... whatever it was.
But just because Sophie felt something for Keefe didn't necessarily mean that she was betraying her friend. Right now, what Biana was saying felt more like a betrayal.
"Well... sorry that you feel that way," Sophie said meekly.
Biana huffed, rolling her eyes.
"What?" asked Sophie worriedly.
"You have to be nice about everything," Biana said, looking upset. "Why are you so... perfect? You get Keefe, everyone loves you, you saved the world..."
"I'm not- why would you- how come-" Sophie stammered angrily. She regained her stature and said, "I am not perfect. And you saved the world too."
"Whatever. It's not like it would make an impact if I said anything," Biana. "You're too busy with all of the boys crowding you. And you won't even let me help you choose! I signed up to be a matchmaker, for goodness sakes! Even if they won't pick me, you can!"
"I-" Sophie started to snap, before listening to what Biana had said. "They didn't pick you?"
Biana's face softened. "No."
"How come?" Sophie asked, furrowing her eyebrow. Biana would be a perfect matchmaker. She was dedicated, noble, and she was definitely good at matching up her friends. Thanks to her, Jensi had been the first in her circle of friends to get a girlfriend, a Flasher in Level Five. "You're definitely qualified for it. I mean, look at Jensi and Adara! He said to me that in a couple of years, he might propose!"
Biana's face brightened for a second, but it soon sank back into a moody scowl. "Whatever. I told the matchmakers that, but they didn't care. No matter how many people I've helped... They just didn't want me."
"Oh," Sophie said. She didn't really know what to say. Even after meeting the matchmakers, she couldn't comprehend that they wouldn't want Biana. "That really sucks."
Biana grunted. "And you wanna know the worst part? They ended up choosing someone we know."
"Really?" Sophie asked. "Who?"
"Linh," Biana grumbled.
"What?" Sophie asked. "That's great! I mean not for you, but..."
"Yeah," Biana said. "I really want to be happy for her, but I'm honestly super jealous."
"I would be too," Sophie said. "How come she got chosen? I know how much some matchmakers judge her family."
"Some are less judgmental than others," Biana said. "The ones testing us decided that I was..."
"You were?" Sophie prodded.
"That I was too selfish," Biana mumbled. "They thought I was too selfish. That if I didn't want a couple to be together for some reason, even if they were a good match, I would tear them apart."
Sophie gasped. "Would you really do that?"
Biana gave out a shuddering sigh. "I did."
"WHAT?" Sophie asked. "Who was it?"
Biana grimaced, drawing in a long, deep breath. She stayed silent, and Sophie tugged out an eyelash. Biana seemed guilty.
"It was- it was you and Keefe," Biana said.