HORRIBLE DATE EXPERIENCES

It’s been more than a week and Kenina didn’t hear from Frederick, she thought she was coming back to be scolded as he would have reported her inconsistency to Mr Martinez.

Surprisingly, he didn’t. Mr Martinez only asked after our progress and challenges.

Having bought a present and showing up at Kenina’s parents anniversary without asking her first was enough embarrassment. Kenina had to deny all she could that there was nothing going on between them anymore while he just stood there and smiled like he was beholding a stand-up comedy.

Kenina was submerged at work, went early and got back late, she had little or no time to meet and bond with people outside her job. As though her phone was listening to her mind’s thoughts, she unlocked it to see a dating app, she gave it a thought and decided to download it.

It must have been created for people like Kenina who barely separated work time from personal and social life. She had set up her profile and matched with six different Men.

Meeting different men with different personalities and behaviour was now something she had to put up with. That alone posed as a turn off for her.

The weekend came faster than she expected, it was day one of meeting one out of these different men. she found it difficult dressing up so she called Isobel to come over, she did a very nice job.

The plan was that the gentleman will pick her up as well as drop her off.

He arrived few minutes early, drove to a very fancy restaurant. He acted nice and she almost thought she didn’t have to go on subsequent dates with other men on the menu.

It was time to order but he had this nasty, superiority attitude, he treated the waiter like he was nothing simply because he didn’t belong to same class as him. He shouted when his order was delayed, when he finally got his order and even complained about the meal and blamed it on the waiter who didn’t even cook the meal, he refused my correction. The rest of the evening was silent, he offered to hold my hand and walk me out of the restaurant and that was when a customer accidentally spilled her drink on him. He rained fire and brimstone, he threatened and cursed, I quietly left and found my way home without him realizing it.

Isobel laughed and winced when Kenina narrated how the date went to her, over the phone.

“Five more to go” Isobel added amidst tears and laughter.

“I’ll be expecting you over, have a good night rest” Kenina replied yawning and hanging up.

Kenina grinned a lot each time she remembered how her day went, the smile riveted very quickly into a frown whenever she remembers Frederick, like a vicious cycle, it kept repeating until she dosed off.

The clouds revealed a bright sky that Sunday morning, birds were chirping from nearby trees, Kenina could hear chants from nearby.

Sundays were Kenina’s rest days but for the sake of what she had gotten herself into, she had a date to show up for again.

Isobel came over really early, she usually does this alternatively to help Kenina in the kitchen. They baked lots of cookies and cooked different kinds of foods that will be used for the week. Kenina couldn’t cook but she cpuld manage to warm the food which sometimes burns to toast.

Isobel didn’t want Kenina eating out, she wanted her to be healthy, to eat right to prevent food poisoning or anything of that sort. She cared for Kenina’s health and eating habit more than she did herslef, this always had her wondering what kind of personality and heart she was festooned with.

She’s all anyone would want in a friend and more.

Now my fridge was stocked with cooked edibles and not the usual junks and all, thanks to Isobel.

They had diverse conversations and played numerous games until the time to dress for my next date came and of course, she did exactly what she knew how to do.

Kenina’s doorbell rang and it was her date at the door, she walked out with Isobel who she later bid bye before joining her date in his ride. She particularly like the sound his car made, it must be very expensive she thought. He pulled to a stop in front of a five star restaurant. He stepped out of his car first and Kenina thought he was being a gentleman and wanted to open the door for me, but to her greatest dismay, he handed his car key to a valet and asked him to park the car well.

He knocked at the car window where Kenina was seated and asked if she wasn’t going inside, she looked at him in disgust but he didn’t see that because he was dusting the blazers that hung around his neck as though something was there. At this point, she would have gone back home if she came with her car but since he didn’t, she’ll have to put up with this act.

Most males chanted “ladies first” and allowed the females to lead the way or at least walked beside them but this person walked ahead while Kenina struggled with what Isobel made me wear trying to keep him within my sight range.

“Exhausting” she muttered.

He approached the waiter who directed him to his reserved table, it was then he looked behind to see if Kenina was walking behind, she didn’t disappoint, she was. They ordered shortly and were served. The meal was delicious so they both savoured every bite. They finished eating and discussions ensued.

He did most of the talking and frequently asked if Kenina was the quiet type and she affirmed.

He went on and on about how his business was booming, how much investments he has made, how much properties he owned, how girls tripped for him because he is rich and handsome, how picky he is and how he doesn’t like girls.

It was uncomfortably the longest date she has ever been on, which made her earnestly hope he went bankrupt on things to say and that the night ended already, if only ears had covers, she would have so much appreciated it.

The long awaited date came to an and he offered to drop her off but she declined, she wasn’t about to listen to this egocentric fellow for another few minutes drive because sh might not be as calm, tolerating and mannered as she was, courtesy of everyone that was present in there.

Kenina got home and started removing what she was wearing from the door. IShe bet Isobel couldn’t wait to hear all of it so she called first, I don’t know how she didn’t end up choking because she laughed from start to end and ended with

“Congratulations, four more to go”

“Countdown mama” Kenina hailed jokingly.

Not for the sake of Frederick but from the sake of her job, she promised to call him later which she did. He was so expectant and apologized for every word and act he ever said and portrayed. They got back to talking and taking his calls for the sake of business.

Kenina was on her third date and to prevent her last experience from happening again, hshe drove myself to the venue.

She was almost impatient and hate to wait, she got there before him, waited and even had to order before he walked in.

He didn’t say but she deducted he was egocentric, proud, arrogant.

Don’t judge a book by it’s cover they say, so just kept my cool and observed.

In a short while, he started manifesting he traits Kenina envisaged, and worst of all, he had no regard for the feminine gender, in his words he said

“every woman has a price and I am willing to pay, so name your price, beautiful thing”. He demanded arrogantly.

Kenina brows creased in surprise.

“I’ve come across a lot of ladies and y’all just want same thing, money, I have that... or don’t I look it?” He boosted

Kenina adjusted in her seat, her hands were visible and at that time, she already clinched my fist, so it hid it away.

“First I’m Kenina and not Y’all” she said making a parentheses sign with her fingers

‘’Kenina is such a beautiful name, your…” he was still speaking when she cut him off just like he rudely interrupted too

“I’m a woman who makes her money and pays her bills, so no, I don’t have a price. I understand women should be submissive but that only applies to their respective husbands and not to random men. Plus women get to choose who they want to be submissive to, it’s not supposed to be imposed, don’t feel like you’re a demi god because of the ladies you’ve met in the past, I’m clearly none of them. Your category of men usually have absolutely nothing to bring to the table aside money that is if you have the potential to keep the money coming. Seeing how iconoclastic you are about things we’ve talked about during the course of this date, you’re not the type of man a woman like me should even consider, it’s a date but I ended up lecturing you for free, I hope you put it to good use”

Kenina gestured the waiter to approach and she paid the bills, bid him bye, walked away and drove home, how convenient it was that she came in my car.

She concluded that it was certainly the last her date from that app.