Being in “Like”: The Bittersweet Start of Something New

Meeting someone you might actually like — and I mean really like — is such a bittersweet kind of magic. I don’t know about you, but I swear I start to morph into a different version of myself. My dating profile? Collecting dust. The flirty texts from lingering maybe-lovers? Left on read. Nights out? Replaced by staying in and wondering what if.

It’s wild how quickly I feel this pull to be loyal to someone I barely even know. But honestly, I wouldn't want to mess up a good thing before it has a chance to bloom. Even when there’s no official commitment, I find myself emotionally investing in the potential.

I have a friend — let’s call him an old flame with bestie energy — who always seems to know when I disappear off the dating radar. The minute I go MIA, he hits me with, “So who is he?” And nine times out of ten, he’s right. Although sometimes, I’m just too tired to swipe and too sober to text anyone I shouldn’t. (Married guy friends who double as late-night pep talkers? Yeah, that’s a whole other post.)

There’s something undeniably electric about this early “getting to know you” phase. It’s like the honeymoon stage before the actual honeymoon stage — full of hope, butterflies, and a sprinkle of delusion. I find myself hoping every buzz on my phone is him. And when it’s not? Slight heartbreak. Micro-disappointment. Cue the inner teenage girl drama.

I’ve been told I’ve got control over pretty much every other area of my life, but when it comes to relationships? Hot mess express. And honestly, it’s true. My Gemini nature wants to dive headfirst into all the feels, all the what-ifs, all the late-night conversations and future daydreams. But then, I have to remind myself: breathe. Be cool. Be a lady.

(Well… a lady who can still laugh at the absurdity of it all.)