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Chapters 1–5 Echoes in the Feed
Loneliness, dating fatigue, identity, social masks, digital validation
Dates 1
The Hidden Psychology Behind Modern Online Dating
Dim lighting, club music, chromed steel.He had chosen the venue.This was stereotypical Nikki and she had an instinctive feeling that this was yet another, yes another, in a string of failed dates.
But she hadn’t seen him yet.She searched the premises like a liaison officer in search of the enemy, or in this case the prey, or was she the prey?
Her feed on her online dating app Dating Line testified otherwise, she knew that.
But to be prey and not be everything else…?
Could it…
She didn’t get any further than that because there he was standing.
In a corner, by the toilets.
Just come from the toilet, that is.
She wrinkled her nose a little.
But then she thought that at least he was concerned about being clean when they met.
Maybe he was nervous but that wasn’t at all the picture he had painted.
But he wasn’t the picture he’d painted either, because as usual, as usual, the measurements were exaggerated.
She could see that from afar.
The features on his face weren’t as prominent as they seemed in the profile pictures.
It remained to be seen if he lived up to the person he portrayed.
Nikki’s expectations, however, were already down in the basement in those short seconds.
Appropriately: about as her expectations had been before they started to leak and sink to the bottom of her emotions.
He was there with her.
“Hi,” he said cheerfully, extending a hand and Nikki took it.
Firm handshake.
“Evan.”
“Nikki,” she replied, smiling slightly.
“Nikki.
I was wondering if that’s an abbreviation …” he began.
“That’s my name,” she said.
“Yeah.
Okay.
Do you want something to drink?”
Test #1.
Now take one of the most expensive drinks to check the spontaneous reaction.
” French 75.
Champagne.
Not sparkling.” He raised his eyebrows.
“Okay!” He waved at the bartender.
“A French …”
“75,” she filled in, her voice already tired.
“75 and a lager.” Evan took out his wallet and paid.
After a brief struggle with his card, he turned back to Nikki who was now on the other side of the entrance door, a card richer on her phone that would soon be on Dating Line.
It was on her and on the street outside the restaurant.
She smiled and looked irresistible.
Some people are not looking for attention. They are looking for something real.