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So, he kept his date to himself.
His very first date.
He was excited like the teenager he'd never been. And though he pushed against it, he couldn't stop himself from building scenarios in his head about Curiouscat.
Maybe this was it—what he'd always hoped for. That type of partner that he would get along perfectly with, accepting him with his qualities and his flaws. He couldn't wait to hear her voice—her real voice. He was looking forward to that more than anything.
The moment Friday arrived, he woke up early, showered and put his clothes on.
He'd bought a new cologne specifically for the occasion and he dabbed it around his neck.
Maybe she'd go for a hug. He hoped she would. And then he needed to smell good.
He was worrying about the smallest things, but it was all because he wanted things to go smoothly.
Raf went to the general area where the café was an hour before the set time. He might not have been on a date before, but he knew it was proper etiquette to bring the girl flowers. So, the first thing he did was to search for a flower shop, buying her a pretty bouquet. The next stop was a convenience store where he got her some chocolate, since he knew girls liked chocolate, but he couldn't help himself from adding some hot Cheetos to his basket, since that was a sure way of putting a smile on her face.
Pleased with himself, he paid for the items before going to the café, happy to get one of the window seats as he settled himself nicely on the chair and waited.
And waited.
The hour finally came, yet there was no trace of her—or of anyone matching her description. As a joke, she'd told him she would be wearing a yellow shirt.
Yet as he looked around, there was no one wearing a yellow shirt inside the café. Only outside did he see a girl wearing one a little further down the street, but she wasn't alone. She was with another man, seemingly arguing as he took her by the shoulder and shoved her into a waiting car. Though he couldn't get a good look at her, he was sure it wasn't curiouscat. The girl looked more like a high schooler than a twenty-year-old.
And so, he switched his attention to the other side of the street. Nothing.
In the beginning, fifteen minutes passed. He still didn't move, thinking she would eventually show up.
Another hour passed. Then another.
Raf didn't move. He was starting to worry, yet he was still hopeful.
Surely, she would come. She wouldn't stand him up, would she?
He waited until night fell and the café closed. Only then did he leave, dejected, making his way back to his dorm room.
His first thought was to log on and message her, still thinking that it was a mistake—surely something must have happened to make her miss the meeting.
But as he clicked on her username, it was to find that the account had been terminated.
What…
Suddenly, Raf realized something was, indeed, wrong. And as his insecurities poked their head to the surface, he was convinced there could only be one reason why she would do that—why she wouldn't come meet him and then delete her entire profile.
She must have seen him through the window. Maybe when he wasn't paying attention. And she must havereallynot liked what she'd seen. So sure he was of his line of thinking, that his heart shrunk in his chest, his entire being shrouded in misery and disappointment.
"Why did I have to ask her to meet me," he whispered to himself later that night.
All his hopes and dreams of normality were dashed that night, together with a deep sense of loneliness that bloomed in his chest, almost as if a piece of his heart had gone missing, vanishing into thin air.
And it had.
This wasn'tjustabout someone rejecting him based on his looks. This wasn't just one date gone wrong. This was hisfriend.Hisbestfriend.
He feared he'd lost her forever.
Days passed. Raf kept trying to get in touch with her. Yet it was to no avail.
