I finally remember to order my replacement glasses. I got my eyes checked like 3 months ago and those glasses were new so I just re-ordered the same ones. The insurance on the frame meant that I only had to pay for the lenses, which was 350 bucks. The pain of 480p. Now that I think about it, I haven't seen Freedom in all her beauty. Oh goodness I'm starting to sound like a simp. DON'T SIMP. IT'S A FRIEND DATE. UGH. Well all in all I got 150 bucks to spend. Thankfully my dad doesn't realize I need them for everything, he thought I just needed them to read and for screens like my mom. Nah, I need them at all times. Curse you blind Japamerican ancestors.
I send the audio file from my phone to my computer and edit the audio to only have my conversation with Ryo. I send that to the local police website, they love it when you send them evidence.
I get ready for my date with Freedom even though I'm 2 hours early. I texted Lisa and she said my ripped jeans, and some kind of black long-sleeve shirt with my pocket chain worked, a black KKN950 mask too if I wanted to look extra edgy. I had one so I put it on. My school doesn't allow ripped jeans so I only get to wear them on certain occasions. Same with masks unless you're not vaccinated for the very specific virus.
Freedom comes to pick me up 2 hours later.
"Yo, dang you look edgy XD." she said.
"Should I ditch the mask?"
"Ditch the mask."
"Okay."
She took me to this place that sold Alligator and Crawdad fries. It took like 20 minutes to get there. It was this beat up shack, this was either gonna remind me of Alabama when I visited or it was gonna be a bust. She said it was special so I'ma take her word for it.
"Should we just get a huge platter and share?" Freedom asked.
"Sure." I said.
"Alligator?"
"That sounds fun."
We ate alligator fries. We laughed, talked, she told me about her life in South Africa and Mississippi. I learned that she's only been here for a year and still wants to see the city. I tell her about the city and where I wanna take her. But by foot so she could get the full experience. I also talk about how my glasses broke the day we met. And a bunch of other stuff you talk about on dates. My dad texts me:
"Where are you?"
"On a date." I reply.
"Don't come home before 8 then." He said.
We were there for about an hour, plus the drive and the drive back. So I need to stall 20 more minutes. Thankfully, this is the area that Kaido lives at, so I know this area like the back of my hand.
"Hey I wanna take you somewhere where we can just enjoy the view. It's like 5 minutes on foot." I say to her.
"How special?" She asks.
"You said you wanted to see the city in all it's glory right? My friend lives around here so I kinda know where we're at. There's this stunning view nearby." I say to her.
"This better be worth it."
"Definitely."
I take her to the spot. It's a red bridge, but this one's on purpose. It's a tall bridge so you get a nice view of this part of the city.
"Woah." She says.
"Get on my back, tell me if you see MORE."
She's awestruck at the beautiful lights. I hear Jackson isn't that pretty of a city, not sure about Johannesburg though.
"This view really is amazing for how low we are." she said.
"You know, I didn't think I'd have this much fun on this date, you're so easy to talk to, and your cringiness is like the perfect amount of cringe. I wish you could see this view like me right now, or you could see me better. I wonder how tacky your glasses choice is."
"Well I guess it's good my best friend's a designer's apprentice. She actually helped me pick out my outfit for this date XD."
"No way, is it that true? Dang maybe she can help me out, my fashion sense is barely existent."
"I can hook you up. Defo."
"Sick."
Freedom comes up to me, gives me a kiss, and says,
"You know, I was scared about this date. I didn't know what I was thinking being so bold and asking out a dude I met at the gym. I'm glad I did though. You're pretty cool."
"I was scared too, believe me, the day before I met you I told myself I wasn't going to think about dating, love, or anything really. I'm happy you broke my shell so easily. The last person to break it that fast was my buddy Dvonte."
"I still haven't met your friends, except, Kaido right?"
"Oh yeah y'all have the same... Calculus class right?"
"Yeah."
"I haven't met your friends either." I said.
"Why don't we go and bowl and we can invite our friends?"
"How about close friends. Because friends in general I have about 50 of them."
"Close friends then."
I carry her to the car, just for fun, and she drives me home. I got home around 8:10.
"I'm paying for both of us next time." I said.
"Nope, we're going Dutch for at least a year."
"I'm paying for gas then."
"Fine. you can pay for us next time."
Gas is more expensive and she knew I'd fight it, so she took the less expensive of both I guess. She's so stubborn it's both cute and frustrating.
"Deal. Bye!"
"Bye!"
I make it home...