ENCHANTED LOVE - SEASON 7 EPISODE 41

Dinner was being had without any interruptions. Anthony remained blissfully oblivious to the true purpose of the dinner. He stayed quiet for most of the time and ate his food, while sitting to the right of Junia. Unable to bear the awkward silence, Junia spoke up.

“Anthony, I heard you used to be a doctor. What was that like?” she asked softly.

“Yes, that’s true.” Anthony took a pause from eating and answered with a hesitant nod. “But I quit my job at the hospital a few years ago and started a small business,” he added as he glanced at the expectant look on Junia’s face.

“What a pity,” Junia said, her voice conveying genuine regret. Being a doctor was a very prestigious profession and she felt bad that he was no longer one. “I remember Aunt Laura said your family has practiced medicine for generations. Don’t you think it is a noble profession?”
She paused, waiting for Anthony’s response. “I’m afraid I can’t agree with you.” Anthony smiled wanly and continued, “Everyone has their own ambitions and desires.”

Laura and Jasmine, who were sitting opposite them, were delighted to hear them talking. Laura’s face lit up with happiness and she clapped her hands in excitement. “They seem to be enjoying the conversation,” she whispered in Jasmine’s ear. “Maybe their relationship will work out the way we want it to.”

“If they really get together, I will be very grateful to you,” Jasmine said and smiled broadly at her co-conspirator.

“Junia is excellent in many ways, but in love, she is quite awkward. It always worries me that she has never had a boyfriend.”

In fact, Jasmine had urged her daughter on several occasions to find a boyfriend. Worse, every time Jasmine mentioned it, they would have a quarrel. It was the first time that she had seen Junia so attentive to a man as Junia’s glowing eyes had betrayed her.

“What are you talking about, Jasmine?” Laura replied. “That’s also what I want. As Anthony’s mother, I sincerely hope they can be together.”

Excited, they both agreed to sound out their children when they went back home. Contrary to the heated discussion between the mothers, the communication between the two young people didn’t go on smoothly.

Junia tried to be talktive to attract Anthony’s attention, while she was greeted with a lack of enthusiasm. Anthony did not show the slightest interest in her. He answered Junia’s questions casually.

At the beginning, in order to know more about Anthony, Junia kept asking him about his life, hobbies and so on, but in the face of his indifference, she gradually felt frustrated. “Anthony, you look so impatient when you are talking to me. Do you hate talking to me?” she asked bluntly.

Anthony was being perfunctory because he had something on his mind. It was not until then that he realized how rude he had been. “No,” he said, “not at all. Don’t misunderstand me.”

She was Jasmine’s daughter, and Anthony should show her due respect. “I was just so busy with work recently that I didn’t have a good rest last night,” he explained hurriedly. “I’m sorry to make you feel like that.”

“Really?” Junia obviously didn’t believe him. But looking at Anthony’s sincere expression, she dismissed her doubts. After lunch, she summoned the courage to invite Anthony to a movie.

“I have something else to do this afternoon. Why don’t you ask someone else to join you?” Anthony refused her flatly. Even a man, who was very slow with ladies, could sense Junia’s feelings for Anthony. From Laura’s and Jasmine’s expectant faces, Anthony finally guessed their intention. ‘It seems that I was the only fool.

Mom clearly knows that Sheryl is the only one I love. But she still conspires this with Junia’s mother. Don’t I deserve due respect?’ Anthony thought with a frown.

Resisting the urge to lose his temper, he sat still and kept calm.

Junia’s bright smile faded. She glanced at Jasmine across the table, seeking help.

Normally, it was her turn to decline others’ date invitations. But now, when she finally had a crush on a man, she was rejected. The atmosphere was rather awkward and embarrassing.

“Anthony!” Laura cried out in an angry tone. Sullenly, she pulled Anthony aside and demanded in a low voice, “What do you mean? Why did you refuse to go to a movie with Junia? What are you doing this afternoon?”

“Mom!” Anthony’s face also clouded over with anger. “You know I have Sheryl, but you still asked me to join the lunch and date Junia. What the hell do you mean?” he retorted with a frigid stare.

“Cut the crap,” Laura snarled. “This is just a lunch, and it’s normal for a girl to invite a man to a movie. How could you refuse her without even considering her feelings? Put your own business aside and go with her.”

“No, I won’t date her,” Anthony said resolutely. “I will never betray Sher.”

“You…” Laura was so angry that she could barely speak. Trying to contain her anger, she said to her son in a consultative tone, “Anthony, Jasmine is my friend. You must not make me feel so humiliated. Junia didn’t say she wanted to be your girlfriend. Do you mean that you won’t watch any movie with any of your friend when you are not single?”

Anthony wore a poker face and said nothing. Laura continued, “How about this? Let’s make a deal.”

“A deal?” Anthony stared at Laura with confusion. “What is it?” he inquired.

“You always want me to meet your girlfriend, don’t you?” Laura asked sarcastically. “As long as you promise to go see a movie with Junia today, I’ll see her.”

“Mom, are you kidding me?” The suggestion was a complete surprise to Anthony, as he had tried in vain to persuade his mother to meet his girlfriend. He did not expect that the difficult problem which had troubled him so long would be solved so easily.

“Did I ever lie to you?” Laura cast a sidelong glance at Anthony and quietly said, “Junia, after all, is Jasmine’s daughter. You accompany her to a movie today, and I will meet your girlfriend later, okay?”

“Okay, deal.” Anthony was overjoyed. He was sure that his mother would like Sheryl as soon as she met her.

What he didn’t know was that his mother had her own plan. Watching a movie together would bring them closer. She assumed that as long as Anthony was willing to go with Junia, there would be a high chance that they would fall in love with each other. In that case, Anthony would definitely break up with Sheryl.

“Now I’m going to watch a movie with her. I hope you will keep your promise,” Anthony reminded his mother. As Laura nodded, he could not help smiling. Laura led Anthony back to Junia and said, “Junia, please don’t be angry with Anthony. He does have something to do this afternoon, but I just asked him to put it off until tomorrow. Enjoy your movie!”

“Really?” Junia asked Anthony, looking highly sceptical.

Anthony nodded his head in confirmation, and then urged, “Let’s hurry.”

With that, he strode ahead. A delighted Junia turned to her parents. “Dad, mom, we’re leaving now. I may be late for home tonight.”

‘Anthony will probably invite me to dinner after the movie,’ she thought happily.

Seeing the bright smile on her daughter’s face, Jasmine was glad. As Anthony and Junia were out of earshot, she said to Laura, “Never did we expect that Junia would like Anthony. We should have come back earlier. In that case, I might have grandchildren now.”

“I bet,” Laura laughed, but still a little worried.

Anthony was not the type to compromise easily. Although he agreed to Laura’s request, no one could predict what he would do.

‘Now that Anthony wants me to meet her so badly, I will do as he wants. It is not appropriate for me to find excuses all the time.

Let me see what kind of woman my son is crazy about,’ Laura pondered.

She planed to scare Sheryl off.

When Anthony and Junia arrived at the theater, they saw a list of movies on the big screen. “I’m going to buy the tickets now. Which one do you prefer?” Junia asked Anthony.

Anthony picked a boring movie before saying, “I’ll buy the tickets.”