text: Sabrina walked the Hall of Zillard University with Cheng and Kia by her side, her childhood best friends as they butchered her ears about the popular relationship goals couples that turned into relationship don'ts, in the midst of it all they happened to scorn her because of her choice of singleness. “ Bri stop looking so unapproachable, you are scaring the men away,” Cheng said and Kia responded, “Ever since Jay she's been the walking dead”. Sabrina took off running hoping to disappear before their sight. Kia and Cheng finally catching up to her latched their hands on her and all fell to the ground in an eruption of laughter. “ Keep at it and I'll run away without a trace” Sabrina added, nudging them because of their annoyance. “ we know you and are your best friends in the world so we've found the perfect solution for your condition, there's this new dating site out, by plugging in your email and answering selected questions you are then paired with another person and either he or you will email each other but the kick is you guys remain anonymous unless you choose the option during conversation to reveal yourselves.” Cheng uttered dramatically and enthusiastically. “ That sounds risky,” Sabrina said in concern. “ And stupid, how will you know if the person is hideous?” Kia jumped in. “ Well clearly the site pondered upon all this and placed identity security authentication in place along with other safety principles that are written in the terms and conditions no one reads,” Cheng said, letting out a sigh. “Will you join” kia and cheng said in sync and in just a moment their hope was deferred when sabrina said “ ugh, i don’t have the time, exams are here”. Rolling their eyes they all agreed to meet later in Sabrina’s dorm for their Friday wind-downs. Sabrina entered the now-filled lecture room, finding her seat in the 3rd row closest to the professor to prevent distractions as she prepared herself for the most dull and bland hour of her day. Meeting at Sabrina's dorm later that night, Cheng entered with their favorite snacks and Kia with their favorite drinks. Tonight was movie night and Cheng's turn to pick the movie.” Don't worry guys, this one? You will love it!” Cheng said confidently. Sabrina and Kia looked at each other remaining silent and in expectation of disappointment because Cheng constantly chooses romance and it has become draining, “a little action would be pleasant as well, after this hectic week of class” Sabrina's thoughts murmured. '' da-doom” waved through the room following red block letters reading Netflix. Cheng said in between laughs ``everyone close your eyes, it's a surprise”. They instantly obeyed and while selecting the movie suspense filled the air and their ears were ready to detect the movie, these few words playing through the TV ruined everything. “You once asked who I loved most in this world, it's you” Sabrina and Kia began denouncing Cheng’s movie choices “Is there nothing else? Do you love sorrow? Haven’t exams made you cry enough? Sabrina said curiously while standing up. Everyone became silent. In an attempt to save the night Kia suggested for Sabrina to try the email dating site they conversed about earlier. Not waiting for an answer, Kia grabbed the laptop from Sabrina's desk and slid down to the ground as Sabrina's twin-size bed supported her back. Kia found her way to the site “ I already told you I have no time for this creepy dating site” Sabrina wined, knowing there was no excuse to get out of this. “We do,” Kia and Cheng said in sync as Cheng joined Kia on the ground. “ I’ll just make it for you, start a conversation with whomever you are paired with, and decide if you’ll continue?!” Kia tried to make light of the situation and Cheng chimed in “No pressure, no rush”. On the dating site called “ Mystery Mate” there was an envelope that filled the middle of the screen and clicking on the middle flap that meets the other half of the envelope to seal it, opened into a letter giving an overview of the site, scrolling to the bottom was the option of signing up with an email or signing in with an already made account. “ Whoever designed this hit the target, omg the details. Y2k Myspace, aim, kick just refreshed, modern, and flattering” Cheng blurted. “ What's your email, and not your school email please, remember to be anonymous!” Kia asked Sabrina. “Sabjen05@yahoo.com” Sabrina responded, joining the other two “ Oh, this is cool, nostalgic, and aesthetically pleasing” Sabrina realized and agreed with Cheng. After verifying her identity the fun began. “Describe yourself in 3 words” they all read in sync. “intelligent, energetic, and thoughtful” Kia typed. “She is not energetic,” Cheng said in laughter. The next question read Top 3 character traits for your mystery mate, “ honest” said Kia, “loyal”, Cheng added, “Since we only have the limit of 3 words let integrity be the first since honesty, loyalty, mindfulness, etc. is involved in bringing many traits into one. For number two add a sense of humor, and for the third add adventurous” Sabrina insisted, taking control. Kia and Cheng gave each other a look speaking with their eyes and tilting their head sideways signifying “ that's their girl”. The last question read “ describe your ideal date”, “ make it realistic, something that someone can plan.” Kia said “ ugh I’m not sure, I don't know, just would like for it to be fun and less stressful like traditional dates” Sabrina responded, “ okay so no dinner, maybe an activity?” kia responded, “yes,” Sabrina said. “ aquarium, museum, arcade, etc? Cheng added. “ Just add those there so we can finally be done,” Sabrina responded hastily. Profile loading filled the screen and transitioned into what looked like an email inbox titled “ potential mates” where the private email threads are held. As Sabrina's profile was being matched with another, they placed the laptop on the desk awaiting an email, in which they fell asleep. The next morning, Sabrina was the first to wake, moving Cheng's foot away from her face. She climbed off her bed and into her slippers going straight for the laptop out of curiosity. And there it was AndIdrew08@aol.com: Hey, our profiles matched and aquariums are boring, arcade? Great choice😭! Sabrina whispered to herself “Who asked his opinion, should I respond? That was a little funny and agreeable, I'm anonymous, which makes it easier to respond! Ok I’ll do it” Sabjen05@yahoo.com: hey & I agree 😭. AndIdrew08@aol.com: and she responds, what brings you to this site? Sabjen05@yahoo.com: best friends! it was against my will! AndIdrew08@aol.com: okay, another thing in common😭. Sabjen05@yahoo.com: what's the first thing? AndIdrew08@aol.com: I’ll save that for later if there is one. Sabjen05@yahoo.com: ok so this is the part where we ask each other questions in an attempt to get to know each other.. I’ll start, are you a liar? AndIdrew08@aol.com: Get straight to the point then! & liar? Nah. I have matured past that point from a relationship perspective and my actions will speak for itself. how long was your longest relationship? Sabjen05@yahoo.com: hmm.. 2 years. Yours? AndIdrew08@aol.com: 3years.. Sabjen05@yahoo.com: how old are you? AndIdrew08@aol.com: definitely should’ve asked this from the beginning! 27 and you? Sabjen05@yahoo.com: I know, the dating scene is becoming weirder and weirder & I'm 25. AndIdrew08@aol.com: Agreed, oh so you are interested in dating? This anonymous thing isn’t helpful, imagine falling in love with a stranger! Through words? I mean the option to decide whether or not to reveal ourselves earlier on is there but more suspense to wait 😭🤯 Sabjen05@yahoo.com: these are my thoughts exactly but I'm here now 🤷🏽‍♀️😭. As they continued to get to know each other asking all the questions available Sabrina became shocked realizing all this time went by and her class began in 5 minutes. She quietly jolted out of her dorm in a rush to get to class as Kia and Cheng were still soundly asleep. In class, Sabrina couldn't help to think about the conversation she had earlier with a mystery mate, not delusionally but the idea of speaking to someone was refreshing, and as weird as it sounded in her head she felt there was an instant connection and instantly sobered up at that thought reminding herself that essentially this could go nowhere. Class ended and she returned to her empty dorm and decided to continue the conversation she had earlier, opening the laptop screen she read AndIdrew08@aol.com: The Great Gatsby, perks of being a wallflower, or 13 reasons why? Sabjen05@yahoo.com: Perks of being a Wallflower👀. You? AndIdrew08@aol.com: neither, just trying to peek into your mind😂. Books or movies? Sabjen05@yahoo.com: 🙄movies, visual type of girl. Although I do read books but prefer movies 3 Months went by like this as they unwinded through conversation forgetting they were strangers, until AndIdrew08@aol.com shone the light on his affections. Sabrina in her own world keeping all this to herself combated with what consumed her thoughts daily and was ready to release when she, for the first time emailed first Sabjen05@yahoo.com: I need to talk to you about something AndIdrew08@aol.com: that first date? I would like to take you. Both emailed at the same time. Sabjen05@yahoo.com: we’ve been emailing 😭😭 for months now and our conversations only grow deeper and more humorous. Talking to you has been the relief I didn’t know I needed. We have truly become friends! But my heart wants more. AndIdrew08@aol.com: I’m proud that you are expressing yourself (concerning the conversations we’ve had). I already told you, that journeying through and with you is my new quest. I was ready to reveal myself but you insisted on waiting. Sabjen05@yahoo.com: I’m ready to say it back now... AndIdrew08@aol.com: nope! Wait until our date! Want to see how brave you are and how well you handle pressure😭🫢. To be continued.