Turns out this wasn’t a normal “meet the parents” dinner. Oh no. This was apparently some kind of initiation ritual — a family tradition where the girlfriend pays for the entire table to prove she isn’t planning to “use their son someday.”
They explained it proudly, like they’d invented feminism. They kept tossing around words like “independent,” “modern standards,” and “self-sufficient,” all while their precious son didn’t even pretend to reach for his wallet. The irony was so thick you could spread it on toast.
I sat there realizing I had absolutely no desire to join a family whose idea of bonding was financial hazing.
I didn’t yell. I didn’t argue. I simply excused myself, walked to the register, and paid for my meal only — the ultimate plot twist, apparently — and left.
Now Mike is calling me dramatic, emotional, and “unable to handle his family’s expectations.” His parents apparently think I “failed the test.”
So… is this real life? What am I even supposed to do with this? Is there a universe where this isn’t an entire factory of waving red flags? Do I run, or do I bother having one last conversation with him?
Because right now, I’m leaning hard toward running.
Note: This story is a work of fiction inspired by real events. Names, characters, and details have been altered. Any resemblance is coincidental. The author and publisher disclaim accuracy, liability, and responsibility for interpretations or reliance. All images are for illustration purposes only.
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