BIG JOKE

Wilson was slowly and confusingly approaching the woman that his mother had arranged the date with. She was really like a fireball, radiating some kind of fierce energy just by existing.

"Hi there, handsome. Yes, you. Why are you so confused? Sit, sit. You are a little late, you know. In Germany we would not forgive this, ja. You need to be punctual, and now you need to make up for being late, ja, or we will not have a good start to our marriage."

Cough, cough. Wilson was choking on air.

"Here you go, darling." Sophia offered Wilson some water.

Gulp, gulp. "Thanks, and sorry for being late. Listen, why do you do this? Do you really want to follow up on this circus?" Wilson was trying to get into his usual groove, but his leg was dancing under the table, his palms were unusually sweaty, and he was red in his ears and cheeks.

Sophia was calm and cold. She saw how Wilson was a little bit nervous. When you are playing a game against someone you are better than, it is somewhat easier to play the game. The only issue is when you put your opponent in a corner. Sophia knew that putting a person in a corner without an exit would make the game harder, the opponent would try to fight and do unexpected things when he didn't have the option of retreat.

"Father made me do this, you know, but I didn't really want to do it either." Sophia leaned in closer to Wilson.

Wilson could hardly take being so close to a woman. Gulp, gulp. "Yes, my mother..." He nervously stumbled and tried to find words. "... made me do this as well, so it is best for us to just call it quits, right?"

"Sure, if you want to." Sophia said calmly, leaning an elbow on the table, which was not really what you should do.

"Really?" Wilson hesitated.

"Of course. Shall we go?"

"Yes, please." Wilson said, still unsure, still mesmerized by the red hair and blue eyes of Sophia. He tried subtly to look into her eyes, but he would just divert his gaze when Sophia would lock eyes with him. He stood up nervously while Sophia was still sitting. He was confused about what to do now.

Sophia grabbed her handbag and waved at the waiter. She paid the bill for the drink. Wilson didn't even get a chance.

She also stood up and said, "Let's go, Wilson. I am not going to date a man who doesn't pay the bill, who doesn't show up on time, and who can't pull out a chair for a lady. Bye, Wilson. I would say I had a good time, but why lie?"

"Yes, sorry, I am... yes, sorry. I don't know what to tell you."

"Ja, it is okay."

They exited together.

Wilson felt like his soul was out of his body, lost in time and space, sweating like a pig on a summer day.

Sophia was standing and looking at him. "So, well, do you have a ride? You can drop me home, ja?"

"No, sorry, I came by bus."

"Das ist ein BIG JOKE, ja? HA HA HA, you are funny, Wilson. Maybe I misjudged you."

"No, I really came by bus."

"Huh?"

Wilson's voice started cracking a little bit. "I can call you a cab."

"Forget it. Don't even bother. Bye, Wilson..."

"Bye..." Wilson said, and was absolutely mad at himself even though on the surface he got exactly what he wanted. Wilson wanted to ruin the date and he succeeded—this couldn't be called a date by any standard anywhere.

Wilson was walking toward the bus station. His head was light, like he was high. He looked at the arrivals and then realized there were no buses left. He sighed deeply before taking his phone out of his pocket. "Hi, Mum, pick me up please."

Sophia got her father to pick her up. He opened the door for her and asked nervously, "That was short and fast?"

"Yes, he is totally in love with me."

Father's jaw dropped a little bit. "Really?"

"Yes, really. I charmed him completely, but he was nervous and so on, so maybe we will have another date if he wants. I am not really sure why he was so nervous."

"Well, if you say so. So you really charmed him that fast?"

"Yes, Dad, really. He was not happy that it was arranged, but he is definitely in love with me now."

"Great news. I will talk with his mum."

"Sure. Let's eat some cake now," Sophia said while looking sadly through the car window. The night lights were beautiful. She was admiring how beautiful the streets of London are.

Her beautiful blue eyes were resembling those of her late mother. The eyes, blue as a lake, had something buried underneath them. One tear dropped down from Sophia's eye; she held the others out.

When she arrived home with that, done with every chore, got herself into her pink pajamas, she jumped in bed and let the other tears overflow her lake-blue eyes.

Wilson sat in awkward silence in the car with his mother. No one said a word.