They had an annoying habit of randomly swiping right.
Whoever they were, they kept liking their own pictures. Although if I were to be honest, it wasn't really all that annoying.
I'd just never thought that I would be personally swiped right on by some handsome businessman.
In hindsight, I guess I should've expected it. We both followed the same accounts, kept the same hours and we were both single. Like, my personal behavior was only made worse by the fact that I kept having this tendency to swipe right on everything. If anything, it proved that I was an awful person because there was a chance for this to never have happened.
Blah. Unimportant.
Anyway, this was hardly a coincidence. Things like this just didn't happen to me. I rarely got followed, never got liked and never, ever messaged anyone. I was too busy for that.
And yet, I remember that night just like it was yesterday, because things like this happening to me just didn't happen.
It was Wednesday. I'd just finished the day at work, had an early dinner and said goodbye to my colleagues. It was the end of my usual work schedule, but honestly, it was probably too early.
I liked to take my time with my days, but I'd learned the hard way that that didn't really cut it in retail. Instead of taking my leisurely breaks and finishing my work last minute, I had to work my breaks, get it done on time and take the rest of the day off.
It was, in a word, annoying. And every day, I found more and more reasons to distract myself from my actual job and make it to the last minutes because sometimes, it's just impossible to get it done by the end times.
I had to, so I did, and the manager-in-training that I was supposed to be helping didn't understand why I tried to take breaks far before the time was actually over.
I sighed as I shook my head.
This was my life. I was going to go home, instant soup out of the can and in the microwave and that was all.
"But hey, at least it's coffee time," I voiced aloud as I lowered my sunglasses and made my way to the local coffee shop.
I tried to shake off all this negative feeling, but it was impossible. Working retail was hard, and it just got harder when all you wanted to do was go home and stuff your face.
I was reminded of the fact that I had once been a lot happier when my phone buzzed in my pocket.
I pulled it out and saw a notification for something…I squinted and tried to read it in the low lighting of the shop that I was walking towards.
"Hmm…Instagram notification…" I murmured to myself as I closed the gaps with small steps. Coffee shop was just around the corner, and other than that, I didn't see anything else that I wanted to go to.
I opened the notification myself and quickly read the message.
'Swipe right for Christmas products! ;)'
Is…is that you? I sent the reply.
From the little information I got, I thought it might have been someone I'd already followed – a co-worker or a manager probably. No way other than that could be from a customer.
But I closed the message, so I'm not sure if the customer replied. Maybe it was someone from their company.
I came to a halt in front of the shop's door and removed my sunglasses with a small sigh. I looked around my surroundings, searching for a booth in this…rather crowded place. That was when the next notification came.
'Merry Christmas!'
Since you asked…yes, it's me. ;), the reply read.
Okay, so I shouldn't have expected anything else.
Alright, what do you want? I asked.
'A date!' the reply came immediately.
I stopped in my tracks as I stared at the message.
'Oh, I'm sorry, that was my prankster side. I actually just wanted your number.'
I had to rest my forehead in my hand.
Does that really work for you? I wrote with a sigh.
'Depends on who I'm asking,' the reply came.
How about a strip of brownie and a cup of black coffee? I mumbled to myself, forlornly amused.
I turned away from the counter and started to make my way for the way out to send the message. I couldn't be bothered anymore – the presence of other people was ubiquitous and the sight of steaming cups of coffee could only flood me with more misery.
I'd had enough of the world, and all I wanted to do was go home.
When my phone buzzed again, I didn't look at it. I left it on the table and told the bored-looking barista to send it out to someone else.
The latter gave me a thumbs up while saying something along the lines of don't worry and don't forget to support us.
I nodded vaguely and took off my sunglasses. I didn't even look twice at my phone until I was out of the shop.
I tried to forget about it, but then I was back at the table and my phone was still buzzing.
I frowned and looked down at it, realizing that I was still there when I had walked away.
Better luck next time…, I mumbled as I turned away from the table and looked around for a place to sit.
I saw a booth that would fit me perfectly, and that was when I remembered that I had no idea where my home was.
I frowned as I realized that I didn't really want to go home.
I'd have to call someone and ask for directions, but that was too much work. I mean, the reason why I was there already was because I didn't want to bother anyone. I didn't want anyone to think I was pathetic.
"I don't think you have minutes for anything," a female voice suddenly cut into my thought as I heard my phone buzz again.
I stared at the message and then back at the voice.
"I think it's for free now," I replied to her as I reached for the phone.
The stranger was…a stranger. I didn't know who she was, but I did know that I hadn't seen her before.
Her hair was…a brunette, I guess, and she was wearing a white jacket and a black shirt with suspenders. Her face was a bit pale and she was very thin. Not unhealthy thin, but in an anorexic slender way.
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