Snapchat Stories

A tale about my first date...

This is not a love story—more of what could have been if only I…

Before y’all come for me, let me first give you the gist.

A random afternoon in September 2023, I was lying on my bed, cruising through Snapchat stories mindlessly. I’d only stop to steal— well, save funny Snapchat sounds that I would later send in my streaks.

It had been a month since I finished high school, a place I hoped to never encounter again, but that’s a topic for another day.

So, as I began my année blanche (gap year), my main objective was to try new things. And as ironic as that sounds, fate said BET.

Back to that fine afternoon, you see what I did there, yeah, it was fine because of what I laid my eyes on.

Yes, I screenshot it from TikTok😭

*drum roll please

In the midst of story scrolling, I was met with a birthday post that made me sit upright and hold on to the screen because I didn’t want to lose it in the myriad of other stories.

It was that serious.

So I switched on my FBI detective persona and analyzed the picture.

As much as it’s tempting to say that it was L at first sight, it was not.

But he was really attractive.

Not in the way of having muscles, which he also had btw, but in a sense of how his warm smile reached his eyes. The calm aura he held, the one that would be mistaken as being arrogant, but it’s just him moving gently.

Then came his eyes.

The eyes chico, they never lieeee

In that picture, he wasn’t even staring at the camera, yet I could feel the intensity of his gaze.

HOLD ON!!!

Okayy, maybe I’m delulu, but that’s how I felt. The dude could literally flirt with his eyes…

So when I saw the yellow add button on the top right corner, I clicked on it without thinking twice.

Why not 🤭

Then came the realization.

Goodness, what have I done?

I barely knew the guy.

In the midst of my mind battle, a notification popped up, and right there, I realized that he had added me back.

Was I surprised? Yes

Was I excited? Yes

Did I write to him right away? Also yes.

This defied my nonchalant character, but I didn’t care. Remember, I wanted to try new things.

How I felt writing to him

Before you think that I confessed my feelings in the first message, which I did not, it was just a simple message wishing him a happy birthday.

Something normal and reasonable, right?

In a matter of seconds, the guy had opened and replied to my message.

At this point, my heart was doing little dances; however, as soon as I opened his message, my heart skipped a beat.

“Thank you 🫶” A heart emoji!!

In my head, I was like boyyy you don’t know what you’re playing with

Nonetheless, that’s how our conversation started.

We teased, flirted, and bantered every single day.

He would send me streaks of him cooking pancakes, and I’d gaslight him that it was either undercooked or overcooked.

We talked about our families, our hobbies, our likes and dislikes. I enjoyed it all.

Then one random day, he sent a text. “ When can I see you?”

Ladies and gentlemen, I was struck.

As an introvert, it’s not a regular occurrence for me to go outside. Couple that with a strict parent, and there you have it.

Given how fierce I seemed on text, I was scared that I wouldn’t live up to it in-person.

But before I could answer anything, I had to consult my older sister.

My Papa is strict, and I’d be dead if he found out I was going to meet a boy, even if it’s at a public space.

So instead, I told my older sister, and we devised a plan. So she told our Papa that we are going for an outing together with her friend, who will be traveling abroad (which was a lie too)

Boyyy, the lengths I went to, just to meet youuuu

So, after confirming with my alibi, I opened my phone to respond to him.

So we started suggesting places, and we finally concluded with ice cream at KH.

Of course, that was my suggestion, and he went along with it.

One week prior to our meet-up, ohh I mean date, something else happened.

It was around 6 pm, and I’d gotten a random burst of energy to clean our bathroom. Given that I had a JBL speaker, a phone, and wifi, I said why not, so I went down on it.

In the midst of my scrubbing, my music (Hold You by Gyptian) paused, and I marched towards my ringing phone with annoyance. Who in their right mind interrupts my favorite song? ahhh

As soon as I saw the caller ID, I swiftly slid to answer, and my anger evaporated instantly.

“Gladaaaa” my friend’s voice blasted through the phone’s speaker

“Ouiiiii” I replied with the same intensity, and we just burst out laughing.

She wanted to know if I’m available to pick up my certificate from a school club that we both attended in high school.

I was like, " Say less, just give me 10 min to finish up what I’m doing”.

Then I remembered that she was my neighbour and she knew where I lived, so why was she asking me to meet halfway?

Allas, I didn’t ask her and just assumed she could have been in a rush.

By the time I was done, it was 7 pm, and I called her again to know which part of our neighborhood I should meet her at.

Now you know how different “home clothes” are from “outing clothes.”

Plus, it was just to pick up my certificate, then return home, right?

I didn’t bother to change the funny jumpsuit that seemed to fit me after being washed, only to become loose within 2 minutes of wearing it.

But it was during the night, nobody would see me, right?

WRONG

The moment I saw the person who was right behind my friend, I wished the earth would open up and swallow me right there!! Why me?

The guy—wait, I never gave him a name. For security reasons, let’s call him L.

And L, if you ever come across this, juss know it’s AI

So, L was standing behind my friend. Mind you, we had talked the whole day, and not once did he mention that he would be in my neighborhood.

So I just stood there, looking between my friend and him, and if looks could kill, both of them would have been six feet under.

I asked her why she didn’t tell me, then she said that he wanted it to be a surprise, and it really was a damn surprise, unpleasant because I wasn’t prepared, but well, isn’t that the whole point of a surprise?

Then my friend hit me with “ntago umusuhuza se?” Now I definitely wished to be teleported to the peaceful Mars.

He started walking towards me with that smile, holding a teasing gaze

And I just stood there, still trying to process everything, then he hugged me, then planted a small kiss on my cheek.

If I tell you my cheeks were swelling from blushing, you wouldn’t believe me.

It was a brief hug, a little bit awkward, but just enough to catch his musky scent.

As he pulled out—wait, that sounds funny 😂

As he stepped aside, my senses finally came back, and I could hear my Papa’s voice saying in my mind, " Nta mushyitsi wakirirwa hanze

So I invited them home for a drink, and as we were all walking together, my mind was still rewinding what had just happened. And they were just laughing at me.

So upon reaching home, I realized the grave mistake I made. My whole family—well, it was actually my siblings. They were all home, having dinner.

Since they knew my friend, it was alright, but the issue came when I had to present L to them. Some started snickering, giving each other ‘the look’, and as for me, I was still soaking up the embarrassment.

I served them juice, and accidentally made it too sweet, guys, I was nervous.

Then I sprinted to my room, combed my short hair chap chap, threw on a hoddie and applied a bit of lip gloss.

I rushed back downstairs to find some of my siblings already entertaining them, and then I joined in, but all my sassiness had flown out the window.

So I was just throwing in a giggle here and there.

THEN, my friend had a brilliant idea that we should take pictures (get the sarcasm).

L sat on my left side, a little too close, then draped his arm over my shoulder.

My insides were screaming, but with a little bit of dignity I had, I maintained my cool.

All my 32s were out there in all the pictures, and at times I could see that he was staring at me in my peripheral vision, but I didn’t dare turn my head.

Then I escorted them home, and we took more pictures, still an idea from my friend, very pictureholic.

…..

Behold the day of the ‘date.’

We met on a Monday, typical plans made by unemployed people, except he had a part-time job, and that same day, he had travelled back from the Southern Province, but still made time.

Guys if he WANTED to, he WOULD

We agreed to meet at 3 pm, and he was punctual.

Trust me, I was ready by 2 pm, but since I had to leave with my sister, she kept on delaying, and I ended up being late by a whole hour.

He was pissed, and I apologized a lot, then his smile came back. phew

We ordered different flavors of ice cream; mine was in a bowl.

I wasn’t up for the game of chasing which side is melting faster, or risk staining my favorite light blue jeans.

L chose a CONE!

He was like that’s how everyone should have their ice cream, then we started bantering on which one is better.

And throughout, I watched discreetly (at least I hope) how skillfully he licked his ice cream subconsiously, while holding eye contact.

Yep this was too much 😂

So I looked away occasionally.

We finished our ice creams, then he suggested that we should have a drink at a different place.

I agreed, since it was in the building right across from where we were.

Right when we were about to cross the road, he took my hand in his as if it was already meant to be.

As we sat down in that restaurant on the second floor, conversation flowed as if we were 2 long lost childhood friends.

But I still couldn’t look him in the eye, because it felt like he was staring into my soul. So every surrounding thing felt interesting. I’d look at tables, my drink, my nails, ohh my saving grace.

As a videoholic, I would try to secretly film him, and with his sixth sense, he would look up every single time that I brought out my camera.

But I took them nonetheless, for memories, right?

He brought out his phone and told me to give him my hand.

Defensive me was like for what reason?

He didn’t even say anything, just gave me that stare, and my hand moved on its own accord.

This is him HOLDING my hand

Despite the rapid heart palpitations, after taking the picture, I retained my hand in the most natural way possible.

As we finished our drinks, he suggested we should take a walk.

Spending more time with him, why not?

As we walked side by side, his hand found mine again.

Despite it being a chill night, my whole body was erupting in fireworks.

My hands began to sweat, so I slowly moved my hand to my side bag, pretending to look for my lip gloss.

My worst nightmare, you ask?

Leaving home without my lip gloss, or losing one when I go out 😭

My situation was the latter. I knew I brought it with me, yet I couldn’t find it.

So we halted our steps while I rummaged through my bag.

The whole time, I felt his gaze on me, which didn’t ease my anxious body.

The moment I found it, I held it up like a trophy, and as luck would have it, as soon as I opened the lid, it went flying to the garden beside me. We all burst out laughing.

Given the length of the grass and the multitude of ecosystems of the trees, it would have taken us the whole night trying to find it.

I couldn’t risk placing an open lig gloss in my bag, so I had to hold it in my hand all the way.

Whilst applying the lip gloss, L was secretly taking videos of me.

So when I caught him, he started making jokes about my shining forehead.

Which was true as we passed by each street light.

I then realized that I had applied more than enough lip gloss, and now my lips looked as if they were coated in cooking oil.

When I couldn’t find a napkin in my bag…

He urged me to KISS him on the cheek.

He said it so naturally, as if it were the default solution.

As I stood in awe, contemplating whether I should do it or not, my phone rang.

It was my sister. The one with whom we were supposed to be together for an outing.

I looked at him, and he looked at me.

None of us wanted this to end, but it had to.

I picked up the call.

His gaze was so intensely focused on me that I almost forgot what I had to say.

My sister just wanted to check on me, asking about how the date is going. To which I blushed and answered in a low voice that it was amazing.

She told me to take my time, and once we’re done, I should meet her at the restaurant with her friends.

After ending the call, I released my breath I didn’t know I was holding.

Then he looked at me expectantly.

So I told him what my sister said, minus the inquiry about the date.

He gave me that smile and said, “So what was amazing then?”

The look he gave me 😭

“Huh?” I replied, acting oblivious to what he just said.

But my cheeks were a dead giveaway. With their hotness, you could fry a whole plate of plantain, eh

All of a sudden, a dog came barking at us.

Fellas, I have dogphobia.

In one second, I had flown in the middle of the road, but he gracefully held my arm, talking about, " You’ll get hit by a car”. But that was the least of my worries.

Since the dog was on a leash, the owner reared it to the other side, and we were again free to walk on the sidewalk.

In the midst of all these hurdles, I realized that my hand was resting on HIS bicep.

It was literally on porte Chérie, which was way better than holding hands.

So I never bothered to change that, and he seemed to like it better too ☺️

He then asked me why I was scared of dogs, and then I started yapping about my not-so-great encounter with them, which earned me a good, genuine laugh from him.

So I’m funny, huh

He then told me of his own experience, which was even funnier; I had to stop to catch my breath.

Then our conversation ventured to other peak embarrassing memories, and not once did I care that it was almost 11 pm, or that any paparazzi family member might see me.

All I could think about was, I don’t want this to end :(

Anywho, like every other time, all good things must come to an end.

He negotiated prices with the motari, and I just stood there taking more videos of him.

Savoring the moment.

*I really want to share them, but yeahhh security reasons :)

We said our goodbyes,

hugged a little longer,

then he planted a soft kiss on my cheek.

You know those butterflies they talk about in books, yes, I felt every species of them erupting in my stomach.

“Let me know when you meet your sister,” he said to me as I was putting on the helmet.

“Sure,” I replied, smiling sheepishly, getting on the bike.

As soon as I sent him the streak of my sister and her friends, our conversations resumed,

even when I got home at 2 AM,

Our last goodbyes were said at 4 AM

If you’ve read up to this point, you might be wondering where the hell it went wrong…

I blocked him.

We didn’t have any disagreements.

There was no explanation.

I just woke up and blocked him.

The reason why, you might ask?

I was scared.

I had all these foreign feelings in me that I couldn’t shake off.

I didn’t want to admit that I like him.

I was scared of what might come out of it.

So I plucked out the seed before giving it a chance to grow.

That was the end of it.

I used to dread the day that I would meet him again.

Would we go on acting as strangers?

Would he give me space and time to revisit the past?

How would I even explain it?

Good for me, that day has not yet arrived, or maybe it won’t.

But if it ever happens, I have the slightest idea of what I would say.

Thank you for reading!! 🫶

And Papa, if you ever see this, just know it was AI, okay 😂