Date 4

Why Dating Apps Slowly Destroy Your Self-Worth

The enthusiasm of both of them was waning.

A few days ago, they had sat like candles lit to begin the experiment but both of them had been through a lot in just a few days and neither of them knew what had happened to the other more than on the surface.

So it was with rather tired voices that they counted down to date number 4.

“3 2 1,” they counted with each other’s hands.

Joachim thought her hand was burning and was quick to remove it as soon as they finished counting.

She sat on his bed and waited.

“So, what are you hoping for this time?”

“I don’t know.

I don’t know what your device thinks that I want or rather don’t want.

We’ll see.”

A second later, her pocket dinged, and she picked up her phone and opened the app to see the picture of the person who had contacted her.

She sighed, scrolled, and sighed again.

“What is this?” she said, handing him the phone.

He looked at the profile and scrolled through it and his message.

There was nothing that stood out.

No suggestions for an adventurous date or even anything close.

“I don’t understand anything,” he said.

“Why would G8KeyPR choose him?”

“He’s not even good-looking,” she stated bluntly, and even though he was hurt by her superficiality, it was nice to hear after the ovations she had given the previous guy.

“G8KeyPR can’t have picked him out if there wasn’t a reason.

Go on the date and see what happens.”

“You mean G8KeyPR has found something that won’t be revealed until on site?”

“Maybe it raises the stakes?”

“Did you ask it to do that?”

“It’s AI.

It acts on its own.”

“Okay.” She clicked the button and immediately afterwards it pinged.

“BarberRoom at 8pm tonight.”

“Are you okay?”

“Well, why wouldn’t I be?” She checked her watch.

“I better go home and get ready.” He nodded.