I met Jacob on a dating app a few months ago, and we clicked right away. But when we finally saw each other in real life, my hopes didn’t just change—they crashed.
After three months of late-night chats and long video calls, this moment was finally here.
When he suggested meeting up in person, I was super excited. I spent the whole week picking out an outfit, choosing a dress that my best friend said would make me “memorable.” The night came at last, and as I stood outside Coffee Beanz, I could barely hold back my excitement.
But when I entered the cafe, not only did I see Jacob but also an older couple sitting next to him who were smiling like this was totally normal. My heart dropped.
“Lia! Over here!” Jacob shouted while waving.
“Um… hi? What’s happening?” I asked feeling like I’d walked into some kind of trap.
Jacob pointed to the couple. “These are my parents—Linda and Patrick. They wanted to meet you.”
I stared at them in shock. Each question they asked felt worse than the last:
- “What is your yearly income and five-year job plan?”
- “List any health issues or family history of genetic problems.”
- “Are you okay with signing a prenup?”
- “Do you plan to work after having kids? If yes, who will take care of them?”
My glass froze mid-air. “Is this… some kind of joke?” I asked trying not to show how shocked I was.
“No way,” Linda said without missing a beat. “Our family has certain expectations. We need to make sure Jacob’s partner is… appropriate.”
I looked at Jacob hoping he’d say something but he just sat there staring at his napkin like it held all the answers.
Finally looking up he mumbled about how his parents were just “looking out for him.”
“No way,” I replied calmly. “You need to live your own life.”
Linda and Patrick looked really offended as they started packing their things up. Linda said they were leaving but as they turned around, I called after them: “Wait! Aren’t you forgetting something?”
“What?” she snapped back glaring over her shoulder.
“Waiter! These people are trying to leave without paying!” I yelled waving down the waiter. “Another proud family tradition?”
Linda’s hands shook as she reluctantly gave her credit card while everyone watched us now.I tossed five dollars on the table for my water then turned towards Jacob.
Later that night,I got a message from him saying: “You didn’t have to be so mean.My parents were just looking out for me.”
I simply replied: “Just looking out for myself.Goodbye mama’s boy.”
We both laughed hard,and as all my disappointment faded away,I realized I’d dodged one huge red flag!
