We all know what that means: they truly want your attention on Tinder and cannot leave it to a chance that you might swipe them right as well when you come across their profile as you wouldn't know if they've swiped You right. She's used to getting them, it's just another day in the Tinder jungle.
However, one day, on September 28th, she’s attending school as usual when she receives another Super Like notification. She isn’t keen on checking it immediately and keeps her focus on getting through the school-day.
Once she is home it isn’t until she had had some time to unwind and enjoy a little snack that she finally opens the app. As she is casually swiping through profiles, the super like man pops up on her phone screen.
“Okay wow!”
As she’s swiping through his profile, she's greeted with a series of cool photos. In one, he's impeccably dressed and standing on the stairs of a private jet, exuding a suave and sophisticated air. In another, he's shirtless in front of a helicopter, arms crossed to surely show off his masterfully chiseled body. On the next one he’s holding a cute little puppy, meaning he must love animals and finally, a photo of him on a hiking trip with a friend revealing his adventurous side.
“Why would a guy like that even be interested in me? He’s like almost 40, I’m only 22!! He looks like literal Superman staight out of the pages of a DC comic book. Unreal! He’s like beyond hot and his photos suggest he's ageless, so what the hell!?!”
His profile read: “Keeping it positive and living life to the max. Looking to share amazing experiences. Love to travel. I own some companies all over the world. Private pilot. I enjoy eating at nice restaurants.”
“Sounds good to me!”
*swipe right*
And with a flick of a finger…
“What the hell!? What happened? Where’s my match?”
The coveted match was nowhere to be found, and swiping through more profiles fails to make his super like reappear. This kind of technical glitch is uncharted territory for her. Despite repeatedly closing and reopening the app, as well as swiping some more, there is no positive outcome. According to Tinder, once you've swiped, you don't get a second chance, unless there's a glitch. It is a rare occurrence for a previously swiped profile to resurface by mistake, and in her years of swiping on and off, it has only happened once before.
“Hmph.. I kinda liked him.. Maybe a bit more than I’d like to admit..”
As the evening's wearing on and turning into night, she keeps finding herself unable to shake the thought of him from her mind. Despite her best efforts to distract herself, his image remains in her thoughts. It's as if the mere sight of him has cast a spell over her, one that refuses to be broken no matter what.
She had a strange summer. It was an unusually rainy season, with a few hot weeks in-between. Being highly sensitive to the environment, she often felt down and drained. She had recently ended a nearly four-year relationship with her boyfriend due to his laziness. He refused to clean his room and allowed everything to accumulate dust, even though he knew she had allergies. Whenever she confronted him about it, he would simply say, "Your problem, you clean it!" He wouldn't even take care of the keyboard and mouse she had gifted him, so it became sticky and disgusting. While playing video games and smoking weed every day may have been fun for a while, it quickly became boring. He rarely went out to buy essentials, and even when she was sick with cramps and needed tampons, he was too embarrassed to buy them himself. They never went out and did anything fun together outside of the home. Whenever she wanted to do something on her own, he would make her feel guilty about it. It's these sorts of things that can destroy even the strongest of relationships.
Left without another option, she moved back in with her family into a cramped apartment. The place was old and run down, and her allergies only made living there worse. Her bedroom was particularly bad, and she often struggled to breathe at night. Despite this, she never complained and always tried to make the best of the situation.
The next day, she wakes up feeling a bit disheartened, realising that she may have missed the chance to meet the super like man again. However, she tries to shake it off and goes about her normal routine of getting ready for school. On the bus ride, she opens up Tinder once more, hoping to distract herself by swiping through potential matches. After a few minutes, she quickly closes the app, feeling disillusioned by the whole online dating scene.
Throughout the school day, she tries her best to focus on her studies, but she finds herself daydreaming about the super like man more often than she'd like. As soon as she gets home and settles into bed to rest, she opens up Tinder again, half-heartedly swiping through profiles. At that point she's already lost all hope of seeing him again, and is trying to move on to the next one.
However, after a dozen more swipes...
“OMG! NO WAY! Is this a sign of some sort?”
She can't believe her luck, and her heart is skipping beats as she is looking right at his profile on her phone screen again. She quickly swipes him right and gets the match this time.
“Oh wow! This is unreal! I swear stuff like this doesn’t happen every day.”
Her heart beats with an unfamiliar intensity, a fluttering sensation she has never experienced before. Finally, they can engage in a conversation that seemed elusive, almost lost in the depths of uncertainty. The initial exchange comprises the customary pleasantries and inquiries into each other's well-being. She shares the tale of the app glitch, recounting the almost missed opportunity. As the conversation unfolds, they delve into their respective interests, lives, and occasionally exchange flattering remarks. Yet amidst the banter, a captivating energy surges, igniting a wildfire of emotions within her, causing her heart to race faster than ever before. Hours pass effortlessly as they continue their engaging discourse well into the night, until fatigue gently nudges her consciousness. With tender goodnights and wishes for sweet dreams, they bid each other farewell, albeit temporarily.
That night, as she slips into the realm of dreams, an exuberant smile graces her lips, stretching wide with unparalleled delight. It's not merely his striking appearance that captivates her, but the way he effortlessly engages in meaningful conversation, devoid of the crassness that pervades so many encounters nowadays. It's a rarity, an anomaly that kindles a unique sensation within her. Uncertain of the exact nature of these newfound emotions, she embraces the wondrous mystery, surrendering to the gentle embrace of slumber, her thoughts dancing with enchanting possibilities.
The following morning, she surprisingly wakes up early, around 9 am, despite her love for sleeping in on weekends. There's an undeniable eagerness within her, knowing that he is currently in a different time zone, probably fast asleep. As she goes about her day, she can't help but feel a sense of anticipation. Suddenly, a notification from her newfound companion appears on her screen, instantly capturing her attention. They spend yet another evening engrossed in conversation, effortlessly exchanging phone numbers, Facebook profiles, and Instagram handles, eager to dive deeper into each other's lives and learn more about the person who has sparked such excitement within her.