The post is a submission to the ComedyOpenMic ft Paritae blogging competition, "Dating Chronicles". Hive blogging competition, Over $150 in prize.
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Going on my first date was something I was eager about, it was few months past my nineteenth birthday and the countdown made me nervous.
When my friends knew about it, they were surprised and wondered what kind of guy would take a skinny girl like me out on date. Their gossip didn't bother me and I was eager to walk into one of the big restaurants in town for a treat.
My friend who is an apprentice at a fashion designer store helped me do some adjustments to my black gown and everything was perfect, I felt like a Barbie doll in it.
I and this guy met at the praying ground, he heard my friends greeting me happy birthday so he greeted me also. We had a little chat, exchanged contact and have been talking since then.
He is a big boy even though I didn't know what job he was doing and that was one of the reasons why I was putting all my best into looking perfect for the date.
I left home early so I wouldn't be late, keeping him waiting wouldn't be polite. I arrive at the restaurant and was wowed by the architectural and interior design of the place.
It was my first time visiting a place of such standard so I just composed myself as much as I can.
We were soon sitting side by side and I couldn't stop turning my head left and right to admire the place.
There was a booklet on the table and he told me to check their menu and choose what I wanted. I didn't know how it works so I just told him to order anything he got for himself for two.
He did so and our table was filled with drinks, food and a big grilled fish.
I felt happy and my problem started when he grabbed his cutlery to start eating. I have bragged about going to classic restaurants with my friends and it won't speak well for me not to use the cutlery properly.
"Aren't you eating", he asked and I smiled.
I poured myself some juice first and was buying myself some time just to see how the knife and fork thing works.
He started eating and when I figured it out, I started eating as well.
I was slow and wished I could just eat freely. He didn't eat much before putting the spaghetti aside and started digging into the grilled fish.
I thought that not eating all the food must be a trend so I quit eating as well. We ate and talk, it was really fun getting to know each other better.
We finished there and the waiter brought our bill. I wasn't seeing the figure clearly but it was more than four digits.
"I will be right back", he said to me as he grabbed his phone.
"Where are you going to?", I asked.
"The gents", he replied.
My heart began to race because I have heard stories of how guys leave their date to pay the bills.
"He is a respectable person and shouldn't do such", I tried consoling myself.
After 10 minutes, I decided to go and check him but the waiter said we can't both leave without paying.
I felt embarrassed and went back immediately to my seat. Calling my friends wasn't an option because aside from the embarrassment, they can't raise any money for me.
I thought about my parents but how do I explain things?
I was lost in thought when someone tapped my shoulder, I reacted with fear and it turned out to be him.
"Sorry, I was late", he apologized
My mind was back at ease and as he counted the cash, I was slowly getting angry.
"Twenty-six thousand for this small food", I screamed.
"It's nothing", he replied.
I stood and started calculating those things with the street price, I compared them to the receipt and it was even less than half the money he was paying.
"You guys don't have the fear of God, how can you sell a glass of juice this much?", I asked the waiter who only smiled.
I noticed the people around laughing as well, it didn't bother me but my host wasn't happy.
I wouldn't stop complaining as we left and I guess my action was quite embarrassing to him because he only spoke to me a few days after and I didn't hear from him again.