Be Mine

Chapter III

  We decided to exchange contacts to arrange "dates", that way, maintaining the façade would be much easier.

  For a couple of days, I didn't hear anything from him. But I couldn't forget the whole situation or more specifically my parents wouldn't let me forget it, making sure to remind me at any given time what a great opportunity this was and that "I should do everything to not let him escape". Who wanted to escape was me and since I couldn't do that I decided to have a sleepover with Erica.

  As soon as everything happened I told her everything.

  "I'm telling you, they don't let me breathe" I complained to her

  "Man I wish I had your problems"

  "No, you wouldn't believe me"

  "Come on! You have a handsome man being offered to you on a platter and you're complaining?"

  "I understand what you are saying but you don't know him. He could be mean, abusive, homophobic, sexist..."

  "You also don't know him! He could be the most perfect man to ever walk the earth: kind, caring, loving,..."

  "Now you are projecting your dream guy"

  "Yes, I am! And so what? I am allowed to have dreams"

  "Yes you are but that does not mean I believe or even want the same"

  We were chatting in her bed when I heard a notification from my phone.

  "ITS HIM" I said, the words coming with more excitement than I wanted.

  "What does it say??"

  I open up the text as slowly as I can so as not to seem too desperate.

  When do you want to meet?

  "Wow so much love for me I almost died" I said mockingly to Erica

  "Maybe he is shy! Text him back "Whenever you want ;)""

  "Are you crazy? I am not flirting with a man I barely know"

                                                                                                                   Does tomorrow work for you?

 Yeah, where?

                                                                                                                               At the coffee shop near college?

Sure. Be there at 4 pm.

  And that was it. No "How are you?" or "Does 4 pm work for you?". Nothing. This whole ordeal was starting to look more like a chore than anything else. At the end of the day, it was but I still expected a bit more sympathy.

  "You guys are boring. You need to make conversation with him otherwise how do you expect anything to happen"

  "Girl I don't want nothing to happen so I am fine with the direct messages"

  I didn't lie, I was fine with this type of texting but some part of me still hoped for more, some type of emotion coming from him, anything to make me feel in some way closer to the person that was experiencing the same horror situation has me

                                                                                   – The next day–

  My classes ended at 1 pm so I decided to go earlier to the coffee shop and get some work done.

  I lost track of time whilst I was doing an essay because suddenly I saw a figure sit down across from me. It was him.

  "Hey I didn't notice you got here"

  "Yeah just arrived"

  His presence felt different than the last time. He was wearing a grey T-shirt with some black jeans. Geez I know black looks good on him but does he not have any other colours in his wardrobe?

  "So how should we do this" he spoke in a quiet voice

  "Huh?"

  "How are we going to show our parents that we are on a "date""

  I haven't really thought this far ahead.

  "How about we take some pictures and post them on social media? I'm sure my parents will see it."

  "Sure"

  I decided to pack my things and as I shut down my computer I caught a glimpse of my face. My hair was tied and I was wearing my big ass glasses (my usual attire for studying) but for some reason, I felt embarrassed. I quickly let down my hair and packed everything including my glasses hoping that he hadn't caught much of a glimpse of my face. I proceeded to take pictures of the table including his hand to try a "soft launch".

  "Tell me your Instagram so I can tag you on the pictures"

  "I don't have Instagram"

  I can hear the voice of my bestie right now saying "He doesn't have social media? Does he come for heaven?" I hate him and her for that.

  "Let's make you one then"

  "There is no need for that. You post your photos and that should be enough"

  I don't know what possessed me in that moment b.....

  "Nonsense we are making you one otherwise they won't know if it's you or a random guy. Give me your phone"

  For some reason he did it. He gave me his unlocked phone. I don't know who is crazier than suggesting going on his phone barely knowing him or agreeing with it.

  I installed Instagram, created a username and followed my account.

  "There. Now you will only need to repost the stories that I post"

  "Ok"

  "Also you are going to need to choose a profile picture so people know it's you"

  "Do I need that?"

  "How do you expect any of this to work?"

  "All right then"

  He got up and left. This was the weirdest interaction ever.

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Author's note:
So sorry for not posting I have just been super busy with school but I will try my best to post more frequently from now on.