<\/p>\n
Mia set me up on a blind date \u2014 I didn\u2019t know what to expect. But when Eric arrived with roses and a small gift, and turned out to be polite, attentive and easy to talk to, the evening went great. When dinner ended, he insisted on paying; I felt happy and hopeful.<\/p>\n
Next morning I got a playful \u201cinvoice\u201d from him listing the flowers, gift and even car-door opening as \u201cdate services,\u201d plus joking charges like compliments and a promised second date. It was meant as a joke \u2014 but part of it felt oddly serious, and I didn\u2019t know how to respond. After a friend\u2019s boyfriend teased him with a \u201ccounter-invoice,\u201d I sent a polite thumbs-up and moved on.<\/p>\n
I kept the keychain \u2014 not as a love token, but as a keepsake of a strange, memorable first date. In the end I realised that even thoughtful gestures can be misunderstood \u2014 simple honesty and clear communication matter more than grand gestures.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"