It Started With a Bottle Opener

I don't know about anyone else, but I'm struggling to find love.

I want love.

I miss having someone by my side. Someone I can always rely on, share experiences with, and can't wait to see at the end of the day.

The dating apps aren't doing it for me. All I really want is to meet someone the old-fashioned way.

And guess what?

I did... almost.

A few weeks ago, my friends and I hit up (in my humble opinion) the best dumpling spot in Sydney: Master Dumpling.

It was freezing cold, pouring with rain, and Stephen and Ruby were running late.

Instead of waiting in what felt like a hurricane, I grabbed some drinks and headed over early to secure us a table because this place books out ridiculously fast. I asked the friendly waiter for a table.

"Inside or outside?" she asked.

It was pouring down and colder than Antarctica.

"Inside please"

She explained there'd be about a 15-minute wait for an indoor table, so I decided to brave the outdoors under the awning. I waited...and waited...and waited...and stalked their locations...and waited some more.

I looked over to the table beside me where two guys were happily eating their dinner, and suddenly it hit me.

From the outside, it looked like I'd been stood up on a date.

Or worse... that I'd decided to smash three plates of dumplings and an entire pack of ciders by myself on a Tuesday night.

For gods sake guys hurry up!

Eventually, Stephen and Ruby arrived, and I ducked inside to grab some menus.

As I walked back to the table, one of the guys from next door stopped me and held out a bottle opener. It took me a second to realise what he meant.

"For your drinks" "Oh!" I laughed. "No, we're all good. They're twist tops... but thank you anyway."

We exchanged a few words, had a little laugh, and I headed back to the table.

Except... he kept talking to me.

Ruby jumped into the conversation, I chatted back, and there was definitely a vibe.

The waiter came out and said our indoor table was ready.

Damn. We moved indoors, and naturally the three of us immediately started analysing the interaction.

Stephen and Ruby both agreed they'd noticed the chemistry too. I admitted I thought he was cute. Although I also admitted he had questionable taste in beer. To be fair, every beer tastes questionable to me.

The conversation quickly turned into whether I should go back out there and ask him out.

For once, I actually considered making the first move.

I had nothing to lose.

Who knows? Maybe one day this would've become our meet-cute story.

Then he and his mate came inside to pay.

This was it.

My moment.

I started running through every possible scenario in my head.

Do I ask for his number?

Do I give him mine?

What do normal people even say in these situations?

Meanwhile, Ruby and Stephen were practically pushing me towards the counter with their eyes.

But in the end...

I chickened out. I've regretted it ever since.

Maybe he was single. Maybe he wasn't. Maybe he would've loved the confidence. Maybe he would've politely turned me down.

It could've been the best date of my life or the worst date I've ever been on.

The point is...I'll never know.

And I think that's the part that annoys me the most. Rejection would've lasted a few minutes.

Wondering "what if?" has lasted weeks. So, I've made myself a promise.

If I ever feel that kind of vibe with someone again, I'm asking them out.

Life's too short to spend it wondering what could've happened if I'd just been a little braver.

Anyway, if you're happily in a relationship, congratulations. Hold onto them because dating these days is not for the faint-hearted.

And if you're single...

Please learn from my mistake.

Sez