The encounter

For one of my previous selves, and all regretting souls out there.

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It was a rainy day. I always hate rainy days. Humidity in the air irritates my skin and the tiny rain ponds on the road don't miss any chance to screw my outfit every time a car drives by. 

Anyway, it was a rainy day, and I was late for another Tinder date that week. 

It was a busy night at the restaurant, no surprise for a Saturday. The waiting line looked tiring and inside was a bit too crowded. By a bit, I mean way too many people than the space could host, exceeding its capacity. Everybody sat way too close to one another, and even when you tried your best not to, it was inevitable to hear your neighbor’s conversations. 

I'm sorry I'm late, I said. 

My date looked like a nice guy. Eyebrows, T-shirt, biceps. Checked all the boxes. "It's gonna be a great night", I said to myself.

"You won't believe what happened today", I heard his voice. 

I froze for a few seconds, couldn't believe it in my ears. I know this voice. I used to hear this very sentence every evening while making dinner. I once thought that's the only voice I want to wake up and go to bed with, ever. 

"We made it. The module I've been researching since graduation finally passed the pitch today", he continued.

I stared at my date. He was paying all his attention to the menu. But in the mirror behind him, I saw a face.

That face.

His face.

I couldn't help but turn to the right to make sure it wasn't another image my brain made. It's been a while since it stopped generating his images everywhere I go. Turned out it wasn’t a work of my neurons, but a joke of the universe. My eyes met his.

We were both shocked for a few seconds before pulling our shit together to get back to our dates. After the third course, my date got out for a cigarette and his went to the restroom. 

Hope you had a good time, he started.

I couldn't care less about my companion.

Congratulations, I said.

I noticed the roses and the rings.

Thank you, he replied. It's our first anniversary.

The man couldn't hide his silly happy smile. He was never good at it. "It could've been us", I thought to myself. 

You guys look great together, I told him.

She's great, isn’t she.

He answered before we both fell into an awkward silence.

I hope you guys never have to fight like we did.

I meant every word I said.

Of course we do, he laughed.

"But you hate the fights", I screamed silently, trying hard not to let a sound get out.

He seems to get me without me having to speak. Just like before.

It's just, this time, neither of us needs to win.