"Don't look back, a guy is walking towards us", my friend, Tosin told me as we stood talking opposite to each other outside a mall. I rolled my eyes at her then I heard;
"Hello beautiful ladies", I turned to see a guy smiling at us.
I grunted a hello seeing as he had decided to disturb our conversation.
"My name is Anthony", he said further while stretching his hands for a handshake.
Tosin immediately shook his hands and I followed suit while he held on to my hands longer than normal. I withdrew my hands from his and Tosin introduced us to him while he talked about how he noticed us from afar and came to say hello.
A few minutes into the conversation I saw Tosin taking his phone and putting in her number before he finally left.
"You just gave him your number? What about Sebastian?", I asked her shaking my head in the process.
Sebastian is Tosin's boyfriend. "It's no big deal, besides he seemed like a cool guy", she replied and I decided to just leave it at that.
It was when I got a call from Anthony the next day that I knew that she had given him my number instead of hers. When I confronted her about that she told me she was only trying to help me "get out of the house more often". She can be crazy sometimes but I know she always has the best intentions and I love her for that.
A week after, I got a call from Anthony again and I tried to sound a bit polite. He asked to see me again and suggested we go for a dinner date. I refused saying I had a lot of things doing earning a disapproving look from my friend.
"Why are you trying so hard to set me up with this guy?", I asked her after dropping the call.
"There is no harm in going for a date you know, and also connecting with other people, you know", she said giving me that look that always makes me give in to her requests.
"Besides, you know I will be out with Seb tonight and that way you won't have to be alone at home", she said further.
"Fine! I will go on the date but You know I am not really into the guy", I said feeling reluctant as she put a black dress close to my body as she searched her shoe racks for matching shoes.
She took my phone and sent him a text saying I have agreed to the date while he texted the time and address of the restaurant.
Tosin was so excited as she helped me get ready and by 7 pm, I was already dressed and in a taxi on my way to the restaurant.
When I got there, I saw him already waiting for me and he stood up as I walked towards him and I sat on the chair opposite him. After a light greeting, he asked if I was ready to order while he signaled the waitress passing by.
"Are you ready to order?" The waitress asked with a small book and pen, obviously used to take people's orders.
"Ah yes!" He told the waitress his orders while she jotted them down in her small book.
The waitress turned to me and I said;
"I would like some chicken.....",
"Why don't you give her what I ordered as well". He said cutting me off while I looked stunned but I kept my cool.
" And what drink would you like?" The waitress asked again me.
"Coffee is fine. Black", I replied and the waitress jotted everything down and went off to get our orders.
I turned to look at him and found him wearing a disgusted look.
"What's the problem?", I asked as I turned to see what could be the cause of the look he was giving me.
" You ordered coffee? Can't you change it to something else? I hate the smell of coffee"
He went further to tell me how it looked so disgusting and that having it close to him might make him puke.
"But coffee is my favorite drink". I responded already feeling irritated but still trying to stay calm.
"Well I don't like it at all" He said giving me the You have to change the drink and that's final tone and before I could say anything else, he stopped the waitress as she passed by.
Thinking she was stopped because we haven't gotten our orders, she quickly apologized for the delay.
"It's alright but I would like you to change her coffee to a soda please", he told her not minding the fact that he was changing my drink without my consent.
"Oh alright sir", the waitress replied while briefly looking at me before she hurriedly went to change my drink.
I just kept my cool and watched as he start talking without any form of apology as to what he just did.
As he continued talking, I thought of how he could decide to change more things about me If I continued with him. Right there, I knew I couldn't be in a relationship with someone who hates what I love.
"I am sorry, I can't do this", I cut him off from whatever he was saying.
"Can't do what?" he asked as I stood up, "This. It just won't work", I said as I took my purse, and made my way out of the restaurant, feeling his eyes boring holes behind my back. I got outside and flagged down a taxi.
I got back home, changed into comfortable clothes before I proceeded to brew some coffee. As I took a sip from the cup and allowed it to simmer through me, I knew that I would never give up this feeling I get after taking coffee for anything or anyone in the world.
