Adrián Foster led a fairly orderly life. He slept from eleven at night to seven in the morning, almost always getting his required eight hours.
That morning, upon waking, he opened the window and let the first light of dawn stream in over Manhattan. The sky was just beginning to turn golden, and the city was already vibrating with energy. From his penthouse in Riverside Hills, the Hudson reflected silvery glimmers that seemed to promise a beautiful day.
After showering, he made himself a simple breakfast: oatmeal with fruit, two slices of whole-wheat toast, scrambled eggs, and a strong Americano coffee. Nothing complicated; it was ready in less than thirty minutes. He enjoyed the meal sitting in the living room, watching the sun's rays ascend between the skyscrapers. For a moment, he felt that life could be beautiful in its simplicity, even amid all the luxury that surrounded him.
After lunch, it was already after eight. Outside, office workers were rushing to the subway or crowding around Fifth Avenue taxi ranks, while Adrián started his own "job": playing League of Legends.
Although he had spent a fortune onEternal Frost, the trendy MMO where players competed with their wallets, no longer found satisfaction in winning with money.LoL, however, brought back the essence of the game: strategy, teamwork and the pure excitement of overcoming your opponent.
He was lucky that morning: several competent teammates helped him string together victories. He was already close to reaching Gold rank. If he managed it, he'd have a strong argument to silence his Twitch critics.
When he looked at the time, it was almost eleven. He couldn't waste any more time. He had an important commitment that day.
Standing in front of his closet, he tried on several combinations until he settled on a crisp white shirt, casual pants, and sneakers. Nothing ostentatious, but youthful and presentable. After all, he was going on a blind date. It wasn't just a matter of respect for himself, but also for his parents and the person he was about to meet.
He started the car and drove through Manhattan. Luck was on his side: traffic wasn't that heavy. The agreed-upon location was a small bistro near her office, a place with industrial decor, exposed brick walls, and warm lights hanging from the ceiling. The aroma of freshly ground coffee permeated the air.
He arrived a little before noon, when the restaurant was still half empty, although the hustle and bustle of rush hour was already beginning to be felt on the street.
"Excuse me, are you Adrian?" he heard a female voice behind him.
He turned around. It was Natalie Brooks, his blind date. She was wearing a simple light blue dress that showed off her lightly tanned skin. Her brown hair fell in waves over her shoulders, and a natural blush appeared on her cheeks.
"Yes, nice to meet you," he replied, standing up to pull out a chair for her. "You're prettier in person than you are in the photo."
Natalie smiled.
—Thanks. You look better in person too.
They ordered food. She opted for a Caesar salad and a gourmet burger; he opted for a light soup and pasta Bolognese. No glasses of expensive wine or extravagant dishes.
As the orders arrived, Adrian tried to break the ice with a trivial comment.
—It's been pretty hot in New York lately.
"Yes," Natalie replied, fanning herself a little with her hand. "But let's get to the point, Adrian. Since we're on a blind date, I'd rather get straight to the point. Does that sound okay?"
He blinked in surprise.
—Of course.
She leaned forward, serious.
—Do you have your own apartment?
Adrian looked at her calmly. If only you knew I had a penthouse in Riverside Hills, he thought.
—No.
—Do you have a car?
Does my Aston Martin count?—he said to himself before answering.
—No.
-Savings?
A smile escaped him.Well, more than a million in the bank… but not much either..
—No.
The three curt replies fell like knives. Anyone else would have gotten nervous, but Adrian kept his composure.
Natalie looked at him for a moment and then nodded.
—At least you're honest. That's already a point in your favor.
The conversation continued and soon after, she blurted it out:
—I think, if you don't mind, we could try going out for a while.
Adrian almost chokes on the soup.
"Eh?" So fast?
"Sure." Natalie smiled naturally. "Look, I'm twenty-six, almost twenty-seven. My family pressures me, my friends already have kids, and I'm tired of guys who just lie. You're sincere, you come from a good family, and besides… you're pretty attractive. Why not give it a try?"
He didn't know what to say. Natalie's frankness disarmed him. Inside, he was torn between: was she just another one evaluating him with a list in hand, or was she really someone different?
"It's okay," she said, noticing his silence, with a soft laugh. "Don't worry. We might not work out as a couple, but at least we can be friends."
The rest of the meal passed more calmly. They talked about music, movies, and travel. She shared anecdotes from her office job; he shared stories about video games and his college life. The initial tension dissipated.
When the bill arrived, Natalie wanted to pay her share, but Adrian insisted on treating her. As they left, they exchanged numbers and shook hands, promising to see each other again.
Already in his car, Adrian was about to start it when someone knocked on the window.
It was Natalie, with a serious expression.
—You're not as sincere as you say. I doubt what you told me.
He rolled down the glass with a half smile.
—Oh, really? And why do you say that?
Natalie stared at him before letting out a mischievous laugh.
—Come on, Adrian. What make is this car and how much does it really cost? Don't lie to me, or we won't even be friends.
Adrian watched her silently, amused. For the first time in a long time, he thought maybe someone had seen through her facade.