I took my crush, Anika, to a fancy restaurant, Le Vieux Jardin, where our chemistry sparkled over dinner. Before dessert, she excused herself to the bathroom but didn’t return. After 20 minutes, the manager informed me she’d left through the back door, handing me a $178.62 bill. Stunned, I paid and texted her, but she ignored me. A friend revealed Anika and her roommate played a
“ditch-the-date” game, ghosting guys for sport. A week later, her ex-roommate Cleo messaged, apologizing for their past antics. We bonded over the incident, becoming friends, then partners. Now, a year later, Cleo and I laugh about that night—not for humor, but for leading us together. Kindness despite betrayal showed strength, and a bad date taught me to stay open to unexpected connections.
