A singleton had to fight back laughter halfway through a date, after realising his Tinder match was in fact his "childhood nemesis".
According to this man, the very first person he ever hated was a girl who stole his precious "get well soon" balloon while he was recovering in hospital.
He'd been just nine years old at the time, and the hospital was pretty far away from his parents. Therefore, when his mother left him a balloon with the words "get well soon" on it, he began to fixate on it, taking it with him wherever he went.
Sadly, the balloon slipped out of his hand one evening when he was wandering around outside his ward, and a little girl about his age grabbed it before he could catch it. When he pleaded for it back, she refused and just ran off to her mum.
Taking to Reddit, the single man recalled: "I was a very reserved kid and was scared of confronting her, especially with her mum so I let her take it away.
"I was pretty sad because the balloon was special to me but I eventually let it go even though the grudge has always remained until today."
Fast forward to adulthood, and the unnamed man has recently matched on Tinder with a woman he really likes. Things were said to be going very well indeed, until their most recent date when they began discussing their past regrets.
He revealed: "She tells me about the time she stole a balloon at a hospital from a boy years ago but has since regretted it. She says she would apologise to the boy given the chance.
"I was shocked, like legitimately shocked. At first, I wasn't sure cause I thought my mind was playing tricks on me so I led her on for more information, and she revealed many more details that made me 100% sure she was that same girl."
At this point, he couldn't help but laugh, explaining this reaction away by telling her he just found the story very funny. He decided to keep back the fact that he is the boy she so desperately wanted to apologise to, but now wants to surprise her.
Reaching out for advice on how to break it to her, he continued: "Like, I genuinely cannot believe the same person who stole my balloon years ago, my one truest antagonist, my villain origin story, has been staring at me right in the face.
"The worst part is, I don't know how to deal with the grudge now and it's just so funny to me that this is happening."
One fellow Reddit user chuckled: "Bring a balloon with you on your date with her and give it to her. See if she puts it together."
Another suggested: "Play the long game. Marry her, give her a balloon in the hospital when she's 90, and then pop it in front of her."
Do you have a hilarious or interesting dating story to share? Email us at julia.banim@reachplc.com
