Dear Diary: The Coffee Conundrum

Dear Diary: The Coffee Conundrum

The Promise of a Perfect Date

Lena had always scoffed at coffee dates. In her mind, they screamed "lack of effort" and a general "meh" attitude towards the whole dating scene. But today, Lena did it for the plot... for research, you see. She needed to see if her theory held any water.

Anywho, she'd finally matched with a guy who seemed different. His profile boasted a love for sci-fi novels and an appreciation for classic rock, particularly David Bowie – major points in Lena's book. With a mix of excitement and nerves that felt suspiciously like butterflies, she walked into her favorite coffee shop, hoping this date, codename "Dream Guy," would be the one to break her streak of disappointments.

He was easy to spot – tall, with messy brown hair that reminded her of a rockstar (bonus points!). More importantly, he looked up from his phone and smiled as she approached. They exchanged greetings and settled into a corner table, the afternoon sun casting a warm glow over their spot.

The conversation flowed effortlessly. They gushed about the same new sci-fi novel, exchanging wild theories and favorite moments. Their discussion soon shifted to music, leading to a lively debate about the best David Bowie album. He argued passionately for "The Rise and Fall of Ziggy Stardust and the Spiders from Mars," while Lena defended "Hunky Dory" with the fervor of a thousand suns. Laughter punctuated their conversation, and Lena found herself genuinely enjoying his company.

The Plot Twist (and Subsequent Heartburn):

As their lattes dwindled, the barista appeared with the check. Dream Guy, with a confident grin, reached for his wallet. Lena, expecting him to cover the bill (especially since he'd suggested the date), braced herself for a gentlemanly move.

But then... the plot twist arrived. He handed her the check and asked with a nonchalant shrug, "Mind if we split it?"

What the actual F*** – Lena thought, her heart sinking faster than a lead balloon. Seven dollars for two lattes, and he wanted to go Dutch? She glanced down at her drink – an oat milk latte with an extra shot, practically gourmet compared to his plain black coffee. Splitting the bill on a first date felt wrong to her, especially for something as casual as coffee. The charm that had initially drawn her to him began to fade, replaced by a cold wave of disappointment.

She forced a smile, reluctantly pulling out her wallet. The conversation, once so lively, had cooled. The easy banter morphed into awkward silences. As they left the café, Lena couldn't shake the feeling that she'd seen a glimpse of something she didn't like. Her sci-fi-loving, Bowie-debating dream guy had vanished, replaced by someone she couldn't see clicking with long-term.

The Reflection and a Glimmer of Hope:

Back home, Lena nursed the last sip of her overpriced latte, pondering the pitfalls of online dating. Maybe she'd been too harsh, or maybe her expectations were just a tad high. Either way, she couldn't help but feel a pang of discouragement. The thought of writing a dating guide, "From Dreamboat to Dud: The Hidden Meanings Behind Dating App Profiles," crossed her mind, bringing a wry smile to her face.

Despite the disappointment, Lena wasn't ready to throw in the towel. She would keep swiping, keep meeting new people, and keep believing that somewhere out there, her perfect match was waiting. She just needed to go through a few more frogs before finding her prince charming (or at least a decent coffee-buying human).

With a sigh and a sip of wine, Lena opened her dating app again, ready to walk back into the unpredictable world of online romance. She knew there would be more ups and downs, more moments of frustration and joy. But she was determined to keep going, hopeful that her next date might just be the one.

Who knows... maybe next time, the coffee and the company will be perfect.

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