I met him on a dating site. He seemed like the man I had been waiting for: cultured, polite, able to write beautiful messages and court me with words.
We could talk for hours, and I caught myself smiling at my phone as I reread his messages. With him I felt needed, special.
When he finally asked me out, I said yes without hesitation. My heart was pounding; I prepared carefully: I put on my best dress, curled my hair, did my makeup. I thought this evening would change my life.
I entered the restaurant with a slight smile, trying to look confident. But the moment I saw him at the table everything changed. He greeted me not with joy or warmth but with a long, contemptuous look that scanned me from head to toe. In his eyes there was coldness and disgust, as if he were looking at something unpleasant rather than a woman.
I felt my hands trembling, but I still went to the table trying not to show it. He didn’t even bother to hide his attitude.
“What did you even put on?” he sneered, eyeing my dress. “Your sides are bulging, your stomach shows. Aren’t you ashamed?”
I froze; it felt like something inside my chest had broken.
“I wore the best I have,” I answered quietly.
He burst out laughing loudly so that the neighboring tables turned to look at us.
“So that’s your best? My God — I don’t even want to imagine what other rags you have.”
I stood there with tears welling up, and he didn’t stop:
“Why did you even message me? Do you think men like me go out with women like you? Let me be clear: I’m not going to pay for you. It’s enough that I saw you in person — and I already regret it.”
He spoke loudly, sharply, venomously, on purpose so everyone could hear. His words hit harder than slaps. I couldn’t understand — was this the same man I had talked to at night? The one who wrote about romance, dreams, and said he liked me? Sitting in front of me was a completely different person — cruel and disgusting.
“‘Baby, I miss you, I want to see you…’” he mocked in a revolting voice. “And that’s why you wanted to meet? So I could look at your pathetic face? It disgusts me even to sit next to you!”
At that moment something clicked inside me. Instead of tears, anger came. I didn’t want to be his victim anymore. And unexpectedly even to myself, I did something I do not regret at all. 
Continued in the first comment 
A waiter walked by with a tray on which a steaming bowl of red, spicy tom yum was placed. I snatched it from the tray and, before he could react, poured the entire contents over his head.
There were shrieks and shouts — he jumped up, clutching his face, and the smell of spices and heat spread through the hall. People froze, then someone snickered.
I straightened up, gathered my pride, and, looking down at him, said coldly:
“The gentleman will pay for everything.”
Then I lifted my chin and walked out of the restaurant slowly and confidently, leaving him in his wet suit under the laughter and astonished looks of the guests.
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