“Is it over?”
Tawana’s father, his face full of surprise, blurted out, “You two were doing so well, how did it suddenly end?”
Tawana hesitated, mumbling, “Maybe we’re just not quite right for each other. I feel like continuing like this won’t lead to anything substantial, and we’re both getting on in years. There’s no need to keep delaying each other.”
“Not quite right?”
Tawana’s mother, puzzled, said, “You’ve been together for so long, this is the longest relationship you’ve ever had. You’re in your thirties now, it’s time to think about settling down. If you break up with Trevor now, it’ll take years to find someone new and get married, you might be pushing forty by then!”
At this, Tawana’s mother sighed, her mood sinking, “A woman’s youth is just a fleeting decade or so, you can’t keep wasting it like this…”
Tawana’s father chimed in, “Exactly, darling. With your talent in music, your career can last a long time, but your youth is finite. It’s more important to settle your personal life.”
Tawana’s mother quickly picked up her husband’s thread, adding, “Daughter, I think Trevor is actually a decent lad. He’s got the looks and charm, and though his income isn’t as high as yours, he’s still among the elite. If you marry, you can stay financially independent, so you won’t have to worry about him holding you back.”
Tawana shook her head firmly, “Stop it, both of you. I don’t have feelings for him anymore. Dragging this out isn’t good for either of us.”
The couple exchanged a glance, both feeling a touch of melancholy.
They liked Trevor, and with Tawana’s complicated romantic history, they were relieved she’d found someone stable for so long. They’d hoped the two would soon tie the knot.
It seemed almost certain, yet it still ended in a breakup.
Tawana’s mother was visibly downcast. Her daughter’s love life was back to square one, with no telling when she’d find lasting happiness. Their family had already amassed wealth beyond lifetimes, and all they wanted was for Tawana to move to the next stage of her life. Now, that seemed further away than ever.
Tawana’s father couldn’t help asking, “Did Trevor have a change of heart? Has that lad been messing around lately?”
“No,” Tawana, a bit guilty, quickly said, “It has nothing to do with that.”
Tawana’s mother suddenly thought of something and blurted out, “Daughter, it’s not you who’s had a change of heart, is it?!”
Tawana dodged her mother’s question, stammering, “I said it’s not about that, so stop asking.”
Tawana’s mother pressed, “Those days you were performing in China, the internet was buzzing with news about you kissing that dancer through a mask. Was the stage performance a bit too bold, and did it upset Trevor?”
“Possibly!” Tawana’s father immediately agreed, “Those reports were quite intense, and the performance was bolder than your usual shows. If I were Trevor, I might feel a bit uneasy too.”
He quickly added, “Daughter, if this caused a misunderstanding, I suggest you find a chance to clear things up with him. Work is work, life is life, just keep them separate.”
