The Misadventures of Endora Pan | From Disasters to Destiny
Chapter 18
You are reading The Misadventures of Endora Pan, a romantic comedy exploring the unpredictable nature of love and the chaos of everyday life. Set in the world of a young Taiwanese-American woman, this story delves into themes of self-discovery, cultural identity, and finding connection in unexpected places. Written in a witty, self-aware style, this novel is for readers looking for a light-hearted yet emotional read.
The hostess greeted Dominic by name.
“You’re a regular,” Endora said as they settled into a booth by the window.
“My aunt owns it. Family discount. Good, old nepotism again. But the food actually is really good.”
“So you're part Taiwanese, part Korean, and what—Thai too?”
Dominic laughed. “No, my aunt married into the family. She’s Thai, my uncle is Korean. On my mom’s side. My dad’s the Taiwanese one.”
“Ah.” Endora said, feeling a strange kinship. The mixed Asian-American experience wasn’t something she had to explain to him. One small hurdle cleared.
“So,” she began after they ordered, “how do you know Sam exactly? I haven’t talked to her in years.”
“We work at the same company. I’m in logistics, hence the Fedex gig on the side. Sam mentioned she had a friend who was ‘perpetually single but shouldn’t be’ and, well, I was intrigued.”
“That sounds like Sam. Always trying to set people up.”
“I’m glad she did,” Dominic said without hesitation. “Even if this is technically our... third meeting? And the first two were disasters.”
His candidness caught her off guard. “That’s such an understatement. I literally smacked you in the face.”
“Like I said, divine intervention. God works in mysterious, and sometimes, violent ways?”
“I’m pretty sure that’s not in the Bible. And that’s a very generous interpretation,” she replied, fighting a smile. “Most guys would run the other direction after meeting my best friend and her interrogation tactics. Or Tiffany’s potty mouth. Sorry about that.”
The food arrived: steaming plates of pad see ew and green curry with fragrant jasmine rice. Dominic waited for her to begin before picking up his fork.
“She cares about you,” he said after a few bites. “That’s a good thing. Actually, it reminded me that I’ve been meaning to ask you something.”
Endora braced herself. Here it comes. The inevitable question about why she was still single at her age.
“Why cookies? I mean, they’re amazing, but was baking always your thing?”
Relief washed over her. “No, actually. I have a regular office job in HR. The cookies started as a favor for a friend’s engagement party and kind of just took off from there.”
As Endora explained her unexpected journey into entrepreneurship, she found herself relaxing. Dominic asked thoughtful questions, laughed at her mishaps, and seemed genuinely interested in the answers. Not once did his eyes glaze over or wander to his phone—a rarity in her dating experience. It was easy to talk to him, she thought in surprise.
“What about you?” she asked. “Was delivering packages your childhood dream?”
“Not exactly.” He set down his fork. “I was pre-med for two years before switching to business. My parents weren't thrilled.”
“That’s a pretty big switch.”
“Yeah. I realized I was doing it for them, not me. There’s this expectation, you know? Asian kid becomes doctor, makes parents proud, achieves American dream.”
Endora nodded. She knew that pressure all too well.
“But what I really loved was problem-solving: figuring out how to get things from point A to point B efficiently. So, logistics. The Fedex gig is just to help pay off student loans faster.” He shrugged. “Plus, I get to meet interesting people. Sometimes they even fall into my armpit.”
“Wow, that was ONE TIME!” Endora protested, but she was laughing now, the tension that had followed them from that first disastrous meeting finally dissolving.
As they finished their meal, a comfortable silence settled between them. Endora studied Dominic over the rim of her water glass. He wasn’t what she expected. Not at all.
“What are you thinking about?” he asked, catching her stare.
“Just wondering how someone who loves Jesus ended up on this bizarre journey with me. Chocolate destruction, face-slapping, interrogation by best friend, you know. It’s not exactly your typical romance.” She blushed. Oh my goodness, I said romance. What is he going to think of me?
Dominic smiled that gentle smile again. “I don’t know. The Bible’s full of unlikely meetings and difficult journeys. Ruth in the fields, Jacob at the well—”
“Excuse me, are you comparing me to Jacob?”
“You’re right. Maybe more like Esau. You know, always hungry.” He gestured to her empty plate with a teasing glint in his eye.
Endora wanted to smack him again. “Rude!”
Outside, the night had fully settled in, stars hidden behind the city glow. Dominic walked her to her car.
“So,” he said as she unlocked the trunk, “I’d like to see you again. Preferably without any physical injuries involved.”
Endora bit her lip, considering. Her usual instinct after a first date was to make excuses, to run back to the safety of singleness. But something about Dominic made her pause. Maybe it was the way he’d helped pack up her stand without being asked. Or how he remembered her mom was Taiwanese after meeting her just once. Or simply that answer, “Someone who loves Jesus,” given without hesitation.
“Yeah. I’d like that too,” she said finally. “But fair warning: disasters tend to follow me everywhere.”
Dominic laughed, the sound warm in the cool evening air. “I’m counting on it. Makes life interesting.”
As he helped her load the final box, their hands brushed. An electric current seemed to pass between them, and for once, Endora didn’t pull away.
She had a feeling God on His holy throne was laughing.