Just The Start – Blind date Part 1

He was nervous – how couldn’t he be?

Checking his image on the body-sized mirror time and time again, it always felt like he was about to find something new to fix, but nothing ever came up. His suit was clean, his hair was in place and his shoes still shined like he’d polished them mere moments ago.

No, everything was perfect.

Even the weather outside his apartment seemed to favor his plans, the spring sun shining quietly over the city with only a few clouds to be seen wandering the firmament. The man wondered if things would go just as planned; he decided that thinking too much about it would bring bad vibes, so he let out a long sigh before finally moving away from the mirror and walking towards the kitchen table. He grabbed his stuff along with the fresh bouquet of flowers he’d bought that morning and made his way out of his place, the nerves growing with each step.

The drive to the café was shorter than he had expected, and he worried he’d get there way earlier than his date – worried he’d come off as desperate. As the waiter took him to the table he’d booked a few days prior, he looked around and noticed other couples there as well, chatting animatedly and looking at each other with such apparent affection. He thanked the waiter as he took his seat, and his gaze fell onto the flowers once more.

He was excited to see how everything would play out. The man had many questions but, though his imagination did give him answers, he knew very well there was only one way to find out the truth. He couldn’t help but check his phone more often than necessary, fearing to get a cancellation text even though she’d talked to him earlier that very day to make sure the plans were still standing.

It seemed like he’d been waiting forever, bringing his eyes to the door when the entrance bell rang with each person that came in. His heart skipped a beat each time.

Until he saw her. The woman looked around until their gazes met, and she waved gently as she made her way to the table. It didn’t matter how many times they’d seen each other on campus, or how many times she’d smiled when talking to him – he was sure she was the most stunning person he had ever met.

The dress she was wearing felt like it was meant for her: pale pink, reaching her knees and hugging her waist delicately. Her wavy hair, carefully tied in a half bun, fell down her shoulders, lightly moving up and down with her steps. Matching colored shoes and a small white handbag completed her outfit, and the man felt his cheeks heat up just enough to make him look away for a moment to clear his throat.

“Hi there,” she said with the softest of voices as she reached his side, and he looked at her again only to see she was blushing was well. Both smiled and shared a slightly awkward hug before he reached for the flowers.

“Here,” he blurted out, and her eyes widened ever so slightly.

Bringing them closer to her face, she smelled the bouquet before gleefully replying, “They are beautiful, thank you very much!”

They took their seats and he wanted to take the chance to be brave, and it took a lot for his words to not come out as a stutter. With his heartbeat racing, he took the leap. “You look very beautiful too,” he said, and her face seemed to turn redder though she didn’t break eye contact nor did her smile waver. “I’m glad you’re here,” he added.

I’m glad you said yes, he thought as he smiled as well.