Afrikaans | Trainwreck Casanova
Treinwrak Casanova – B1
Hoofstuk 4: Verken Dating
Steve het voor sy rekenaar gesit en senuweeagtig met sy vingers op die lessenaar tik. Hy het uiteindelik die moed gevind om profiele op Tinder, Bumble en Hinge te skep. Hy het gesug terwyl hy 'n foto van homself voor sy gunsteling modelspoorweg opgelaai het.
"Goed, Steve," sê hy vir homself, "kom ons kyk of enige van hierdie optelkunstenaar goed werk."
In die eerste week het Steve net 'n paar wedstryde gehad. Hy het besluit om dapper te wees en een van die vroue, 'n donkerkop met die naam Lucy, te stuur.
Steve: "Hallo Lucy! Jou glimlag is regtig lieflik. Dit maak my bly soos wanneer die Orient Express betyds by die stasie aankom."
Lucy: "Dankie, dink ek. Interessante treinvergelyking! So, wat doen jy graag vir die pret?"
Steve: "Wel, ek is baie lief vir treine. Ek probeer ook optelkunstenaars aanleer, oefen om te praat en om aantreklik te wees."
Lucy: "Kunstigheid optel? Regtig?"
Steve: "Ja. Dit is baie interessant, en dit het my baie gehelp in my reis om 'n beter mens te wees."
Lucy het 'n oomblik gedink voor sy antwoord. "Wel, goed vir jou, ek veronderstel. Wat is jou werk?"
Steve: "Ek werk in 'n modelspoorwegwinkel, maar my ware liefde is my eie groot modelspoorweg. Dit is ongelooflik om te sien."
Lucy het daarna nie gereageer nie, en Steve het teleurgesteld gevoel. Hy het besluit om na die plaaslike kroeg te gaan, met sy nuwe kennis van optelmetodes.
Toe hy die dowwe kroeg binnegaan, het hy 'n groep vroue naby die kroeg gesien. Hy stap na hulle toe, sy hart klop vinnig.
"Verskoon my, dames," begin hy en probeer selfversekerd klink, "ek kon nie anders as om jou skoonheid van oorkant die kamer te sien nie. Is julle engele wat uit die hemel geval het?"
Die vroue het na hom gekyk, nie beïndruk nie.
Een vrou met rooi hare het 'n bietjie geglimlag. "Ons het dit al gehoor. Het jy iets meer oorspronkliks?"
Steve huiwer en probeer toe nog iets wat hy geleer het. "Jy weet, mense sê ek is 'n goeie luisteraar. Ek wil graag hoor van jou belangstellings en wat jy geniet."
Die vroue het na mekaar gekyk, toe antwoord die rooikop: "Goed. Ek is 'n grafiese ontwerper, en ek is mal oor fotografie. Wat van jou?"
Steve se oë blink. "Ek hou baie van treine, veral modelspoorweë. Ek het jare lank my eie by die huis gebou."
Die vroue het probeer om nie te lag nie, en 'n ander vrou met kort blonde hare het gesê: "Treine, regtig? Dit is soet, dink ek. Maar nie wat ons wil hê op 'n aand uit nie."
Steve voel verleë, haal diep asem en gaan voort. "Wel, ek werk ook daaraan om beter te praat en meer selfversekerd en interessant te wees."
Die rooikop lig 'n wenkbrou. "Deur optelkunstenaarmetodes te gebruik?"
Steve knik skaam. "Ja, ek het geleer van aantrekkingskrag en probeer om myself te verbeter."
Die vroue kyk weer na mekaar, en die blondine sug. "Ek waardeer die moeite, maar wees net jouself. Nie nodig vir truuks nie."
Steve het hartseer gevoel en hulle bedank en na 'n hoek van die kroeg gegaan en 'n pint gedrink. Hy het geweet dat hy 'n lang pad het om liefde en vriendskap te vind, maar hy was vasbeslote om aan te hou probeer.
Chapter 4: Exploring Dating
Steve was sitting in front of his computer, nervously tapping his fingers on the desk. He had finally found the courage to create profiles on Tinder, Bumble, and Hinge. He sighed as he uploaded a picture of himself in front of his favourite model railway.
"Alright, Steve," he said to himself, "let's see if any of this pick-up artist stuff works."
In the first week, Steve only had a few matches. He decided to be brave and message one of the women, a brunette named Lucy.
Steve: "Hi Lucy! Your smile is really lovely. It makes me happy like when the Orient Express arrives at the station on time."
Lucy: "Thanks, I guess. Interesting train comparison! So, what do you like to do for fun?"
Steve: "Well, I love trains a lot. I also try to learn pick-up artistry, practising talking and being attractive."
Lucy: "Pick-up artistry? Really?"
Steve: "Yes. It's very interesting, and it has helped me a lot in my journey to be a better person."
Lucy thought for a moment before replying. "Well, good for you, I suppose. What is your job?"
Steve: "I work in a model railway shop, but my real love is my own big model railway. It's amazing to see."
Lucy didn't respond after that, and Steve felt disappointed. He decided to go to the local pub, using his new knowledge of pick-up methods.
When he entered the dim pub, he saw a group of women near the bar. He walked towards them, his heart beating fast.
"Excuse me, ladies," he began, trying to sound confident, "I couldn't help but see your beauty from across the room. Are you angels who've fallen from heaven?"
The women looked at him, not impressed.
One woman with red hair smiled a little. "We've heard that before. Do you have something more original?"
Steve hesitated, then tried another thing he'd learned. "You know, people say I'm a good listener. I'd like to hear about your interests and what you enjoy."
The women looked at each other, then the redhead answered, "Alright. I'm a graphic designer, and I love photography. What about you?"
Steve's eyes shone. "I really like trains, especially model railways. I've spent years building my own at home."
The women tried not to laugh, and another woman with short blonde hair said, "Trains, really? That's sweet, I guess. But not what we want on a night out."
Feeling embarrassed, Steve took a deep breath and continued. "Well, I'm also working on talking better and being more confident and interesting."
The redhead raised an eyebrow. "By using pick-up artist methods?"
Steve nodded shyly. "Yes, I've been learning about attraction and trying to improve myself."
The women looked at each other again, and the blonde sighed. "I appreciate the effort, but just be yourself. No need for tricks."
Feeling sad, Steve thanked them and went to a corner of the pub, drinking a pint. He knew he had a long way to go in finding love and friendship, but he was determined to keep trying.