Jacob's Ride

CHAPTER 1 ✔

It was a cold Saturday morning. I immediately slipped into my pajamas to rest a little, because I had no sleep last night. I was up all night on a mobile dating app, looking for a girlfriend.

I don't know much about how to navigate the world of online love hunt— probably, it should be easy, right?

Even if the online stage of dating pulls through, how will I go about the physical stage? I think I'm shy. Is that a good thing?

On the app, there was this cute girl. Here's a part of our chat.

Me: So, you work as a waiter by night, right?  I saw it in your bio.

Her: Yes, kinda. My mum owns the restaurant.

Me: Oh. That's amazing... So, what are you looking for on this app?

Her: To be honest, I don't even know what I want. You, what are you here for?

Me: A relationship. I'm confused. I've never dated before.

Her: Same thing here. I've never been in any relationship.

Me: You're so pretty not to have been in any relationship before. Are you pulling my legs?

Her: I'm serious here. It's like nobody wants me. And I'm mad-sick of waiting for the perfect time, as they always say.

Me: Mine, is war. I'm confused, I can't think straight. Everyone at school makes this 'relationship thing' to seem like a must do. They'll call you nasty things if they've never seen you with anybody or at least hear something about you crushing on someone.

Her: That's mean.

Me: Exactly.

Her: Catch you later. [OFFLINE]

Just exactly two weeks ago, the elite kids of my school announced a midterm 'couples' theme hangout, where couples must be students of the school. This news hit me very hard, as I really wanted to be at that hangout so badly but I got no girl. The ratio of boys to girls in school was a stiff 5 to 10.

I'm sure Benson noticed this numbers and went on with this idea to make this hangout some sort of competition, where guys begin scout for a possible girlfriend or should I say free girl, as a ticket to an exclusive hangout where you could leave with gifts worth thousands of naira. Interesting, but not for me. Oh, Benson is the head of the rich kids group at school.

What are my chances? I've never dated, and I think I'm shy and you know, a little bit unromantic, I guess.

Guy got a lot of issues.

   So now, I have to find a girlfriend.
     
The plan was to level up. I have to date a girl outside school, first. This was a pressuring plan by my best friend, Tobi.

I asked, “why outside school?” He says, “see it like a preparation for something bigger in school. ”

“Bro, that line you've just said right now, isn't proper. So girls outside our school are mediocre?”

“Come again. I don't understand. Medi... what? ”

“Mediocre, Tobi! ” I snapped. “It means ‘average.’ You say it like the girls outside school are less, compared to the girls in school. OK, imagine if your own sister is that preparation for something bigger.”

“OK, I get it. ”

      It's not like I don't fancy a relationship. It's just that I was always boxed up and keen to only being an admirer.