When Tim finally mustered up the courage to ask his coworker, Emily, out on a date, he was both excited and nervous. They had always shared playful banter at the office, and he thought there was a spark between them. Emily had agreed to the date with a smile, but as the evening unfolded, it became clear that something was amiss. From the moment they met at the restaurant, Emily seemed determined to sabotage the evening.
To start, Emily arrived late and unapologetic, muttering a half-hearted excuse about traffic. She wore a shirt with a bold slogan that read, “Not Interested.” Tim chuckled awkwardly, assuming it was a coincidence, but Emily didn’t even crack a smile. As they sat down, she ordered the most expensive items on the menu without hesitation, including a bottle of wine she barely touched. Her disinterest was palpable, but Tim decided to give her the benefit of the doubt and tried to keep the conversation light and engaging.
Instead of participating in the conversation, Emily steered it into uncomfortable territory. She critiqued Tim’s hobbies, rolled her eyes at his jokes, and shared exaggerated stories about her ex-boyfriends. When the waiter came by, she complained loudly about the food, even though it hadn’t yet arrived. Tim couldn’t decide if this was some kind of elaborate prank or if Emily genuinely wanted to make the date unbearable.
By the time dessert arrived, Tim had resigned himself to the fact that the date was a disaster. Emily continued her antics, at one point answering a phone call in the middle of his sentence and speaking loudly enough for everyone in the restaurant to hear. Tim realized that Emily wasn’t just disinterested—she was actively trying to make sure this would be their last date. Her behavior seemed almost theatrical, as if she were putting on a show for the sole purpose of discouraging him.
After paying the hefty bill and walking Emily to her car, Tim decided to address the situation directly. “I’m not sure what’s going on,” he said, “but if you weren’t interested, you could’ve just said no.” Emily looked at him for a moment, then gave a sly smile. “Exactly,” she replied, “but sometimes actions speak louder than words.” As she drove off, Tim couldn’t help but laugh at the absurdity of it all. While the night hadn’t gone as planned, he appreciated the clarity—albeit delivered in the most dramatic way possible.
