Introducing Mr.Baldy

Dear readers,

Ah, my long-awaited chapter.

Welp, as I said in the previous post, it all started with a New Girl gif of Nick saying, "I got nothing."

When he responded with “that’s okay, I got it”, I was so shocked because I didn’t remember who he was and why I even swiped on him.

I came to accept that this probably happened because I was sleepy and didn’t care.

At that point in my online dating journey, Bumble had worn me out and turned into a little swipey game I’d play before bed.

Once he responded with "it’s okay, I got it," he meant it and took the lead in the conversation.

A man!! A king!! Let me chill, lol.

I had never met a guy who took the lead in a conversation before, since it was always me coming up with things to say, so when he did that, I was so in awe already, because wow, a man who speaks and can think on his own.

He asked about what I liked and talked about skateboarding.

Since this was during the height of BLM, our conversation naturally shifted to those topics as well.

I was embarrassed because I didn’t march during the riots, but he did.

At this point, I was already hooked.

I even watched the TED Talk video he sent me in FULL, start to finish.

It was boring as shit, but I was so into him; I’d be interested in anything he sent.

You know you are into someone when you watch a TED talk about something you don't care for.

I even commented on the video, asked him questions, and watched his own skating videos.

So by now, I have learned he’s a skater, a very leftist guy, he loves his siblings, and can lead a conversation.

By now, I had adopted a mindset of just letting whatever happens, happen.

I figured if he ghosted or didn’t message, it’d be whatever.

I was so used to men ghosting on this app and not really sticking around, so I just said to myself, fuck it, we'll ball whichever way this goes.

Reflecting on it now, I am so proud of myself for starting off with that mindset, even though I lost it after things ended with him.

As mentioned before, my mindset didn’t last long because he started texting good morning and good night to me.

I learned he was an actor (another small actor, ugh, I know).

Can you start to connect the dots early?

Well, keep that thought because things are about to get interesting... tehe.

Anyway, Baldy isn’t from New York, and we were just bantering with each other about grammatical mistakes we’ve made in sentences.

For instance, if I made a spelling error, I’d apologize and fix it, and he’d go, “Wow, Marie Anne can’t believe you can't spell that,” and it was so sarcastic and cute when he did it.

Ugh, I lived for those moments, even now as I think about it, and cheesing because we had sarcastic jokes.

He got me, and I was giggling every time I saw his name on my phone, so happy to hear from him.

At that point, I was in love. It just felt so right… Too good….

Now, about a week or two into talking, we moved over to Instagram, and that’s when things took another turn…

WHY DOES THIS MAN KNOW THE 6 LINE??!! (BOOM! PLOT TWIST!)

They performed in a play together that I was supposed to support the 6 Line in, but I couldn't make it.

I was too stunned to speak.

I found out because I was scrolling way too far in Baldy’s photos ehehe.

Mind you, when the 6 line shared the flier, I hadn’t found anyone on there attractive at all when he shared it with me.

So discovering Baldy had been there the whole time left me in utter shock.

But I want to name that for a minute: after Mr. Baldy and I ended, my overthinking brain said it was a setup between them both and that they colluded to get back at me for the shit I said to the 6 line.

I really was scared they knew each other during and after Mr.Baldy.

Intermission from my future self here (I’m jumping forward to my 2024 perspective):

This is such an example of red string theory—the idea that we are all connected through an invisible string, drawing us closer to those we’re meant to encounter right when the universe decides.

I hope that makes sense—let me know in the comments. Anyway, let’s get back to the story’s original timeline.

So as we talked on Instagram, they watched my stories, liked, and even commented on my post!

He had the hearts ready, compliments, everything… TOO GOOD, RIGHT!?

I felt like, wow, that’s my man, and we’re locked in.

No guy had ever publicly done that for me before, and seeing him comment on my stories and posts made me feel like he really was my king.

He remembered our past conversations, too.

Within two weeks, he asked me if I wanted to have a video date, and I quickly agreed.

I was so nervous because I had never really done a video date before and didn’t know what to expect.

I dressed up the best that I could, cleaned my desk area, and made sure that my cousin, aka my date spy, could listen in.

When it was time for our video date, we talked and saw each other’s faces.

I showed him some of my anime funko, so he got to see me stand up to fetch them (had to make sure he saw that I was plus-size), and we talked about the posters in his room.

Honestly, it went smoothly until it didn't.

My brother came into my room yelling “YOOO” and then my mom, who hadn’t gone inside my room in a while during that month since we were beefing with each other, somehow busted inside and stood there right by the camera to the point that I had to put the phone down like a child hiding something.

Then they called me to the living room to get something.

It became so chaotic for absolutely no reason.

So our call was just me being pulled into many different directions, which I could see made him nervous cause he kept touching his balding ass hair in the video, and I can hear him talking to himself.

We ended the video soon after because he had to go, thankfully.

(Quick check-in from my future self again—I now realize this should’ve been my sign that this man was not meant to be in my life, but past me was so into him. I love that for her. Sigh, back to that timeline.)

I then remember letting the group chat know it went bad, but good at the same time. ​

I was worried I scared him off by meeting the whole family in one go.

I was so annoyed because my brother and mother haven’t done this in so long, like, why now?

He texted me after the call to check in, and for once, I was so relieved.

It felt so different from the 6 line, right?

He then planned a real in-person date, unprompted!! (bare minimum, but sheesh, it was hard for me)

I was so geeked about this because he was interesting, cute, and he didn’t get driven away by my chaos.

He planned the date for the following week at Brooklyn Bridge Park and an ice cream place.

Honestly, during all of this, I was still anxious and annoyed because I didn’t expect to like him at all, especially this hard, and didn’t know who I was becoming.

I would catch myself giggling at my phone, suddenly realizing—omg, who am I?

Even my younger cousin noticed, asking, "Who are you?"

We started calling each other cute names.

I even let him know I wanted him badly, and those pet names just flowed so naturally for me unlike with the 6line.

I saw him in his Halloween costume and was like omg he’s too cute in his night wing costume.

He was doing something that day where he was going door to door to speak on politics or something, and I called him a political Jehovah's Witness.

It was a good joke, ya know, and he texted me the whole time he was out on his trip.

The constant messaging made me feel close to him even when he was busy.

I let my guard down around him, but that made me nervous because I was like, omg, what if this goes wrong?

What if I mess things up in our future together? What if I don’t fit his future?

I even started thinking about our children and how they would look, and then about the flaws I had that he hadn’t seen.

I was even worried at some point that who I am would ruin his political career, which I saw him having.

One sad thing about me is that I believe in the careers of the men I date and would hold them back and encourage them in whatever they’re passionate about, so I saw this career boost off, and I was worried I’d impact it.

Guys, pause, I am/was really delusional for him and absolutely psycho when it came to liking him.

There was no way I was doing and thinking all of this.

It was never that serious, but let’s resume the story.

So while I was panicking inside, I was also super excited.

I kept thinking, yep, this is going to be my man—and I’m sticking by him.

I even let my friends see his Instagram.

That's how sure I was about him.

Flash forward to our date day, more chaos occurred again.

So the day before our date, I got tested for my throat for whatever reason, and I tested negative for COVID and negative for strep.

But then, on the day of the date, I got a call:

turns out I had tested falsely negative for strep, and I actually had it.

I honestly had no clue where I got strep from.

The kids I was around didn’t have it, so getting strep completely blew my mind.

(future self here again, yeah, wow, this was a sign that I completely missed).

So I told him about having it and explained we couldn’t meet up anymore—I really didn’t want to risk spreading it.

But then my friends were like, " Well, don’t go to him, have him come to you if he’s comfortable.

To my surprise, he came from Queens to Brooklyn for me.

Well, Ridgewood, but still.

He found a nearby park and ice cream shop, himself, so we decided that would be our date spot.

So, ice cream and the park. It felt like the problem was solved, right?

Nope, something went down with his roommates, and he had to be there for her, and it was a lot.

So I said, well, since there’s a lot going on, it’s not meant to be.

To which he said something along the lines of, I know how you look and I’m interested in you and want to still come see you.

SWOON. HOLD MEE. SIGH

After the roommate situation, I was thanking him for being there for his roommate and still coming.

Then he got lost on his way to me because he didn’t know his way around the trains, being an outsider and all, and that had me even more nervous because it’s like there’s no way so many things are happening.

Strep, roommate issues, and the train.

Let’s not forget our awkward video date, too, omg.

The signs were signing, but I ignored them because it’s like that’s bae.

He finally reached my area and told me he had arrived.

I was wearing a dress with my cool Vans because it was warm and a bit chilly.

I was so nervous, I don't know if you guys can tell, but I was nervous.

We finally met, and he’s supposed to be 6’3".

We were sort of eye to eye, but he was a tad taller.

So let’s just say he’s 6’1 or 6’2.

Now (2026), on his actor profile, he has that as his height instead.

Told y'all all men do is LIE about that height.

Anyways, he asked me if he could hug me, and we did (mind you, I don't even let my own sister hug me).

I was so happy to finally see him in person and get to know him.

He led the way to the park, and we talked, where I made fun of him for getting lost on the train.

You see, joking around was our thing, and it was a thing I loved to do.

He asked me about living in Brooklyn and if I still want to live in my area.

He’d question me on things further on what we’ve talked about over text, and as we got to the park, we sat on the bench.

He asked me about my relationship with my family, and we talked about goals and so many things.

He saw a bunny at the park and fell in love with it, which I jokingly called his girlfriend.

He looked at me, laughed, and said, "No, it’s not."

While we were on the bench, I was getting a bit chilly, so I put my foot close to his.

Mind you guys, I am not that forward when it comes to touch.

He’d laugh and touch my shoulders, and our knees were touching.

I was comfortable letting that happen.

Then, during the date, he got a call from a friend who was going through something rough, which I let him take, but looking back, I probably shouldn't have, because it was our date after all, and I should’ve been the priority.

During that time, though, I was happy he was being a good friend and making sure they were safe, since this person had been severely depressed before and didn't really have a safe space.

(Looking back.. Was this person even real? Also, another sign that this was not meant to be.

After talking for a while, we went to get ice cream.

He didn’t want me to go into the store because he didn't want me to spread my strep.

So he went in to pay, and I asked him how much I owed him.

He said no, he’s paying. Guys, SWOON AGAIN!!

He didn’t let me pay at all, and I let him know I don’t like people paying for me (money trauma, beloved).

He persisted that it was fine.

He told me he once worked at an ice cream shop on our way back to our sacred bench again.

He also got to check out my booty ehehe it came up in conversation.

He also always walked by my side, and thinking back, he actually took the sidewalk closest to the street. SWOON.

( I don’t know, guys, thinking back, I’m falling in love again… not ‘26 me btw).

We sat down on the bench, and that was when I first took my mask off, and he complimented me.

He said I looked cute, and I believe I put my glasses on then, so he said the glasses were even cuter.

He actually complimented me when we met as well.

Something the 6 line never did

(but again y’all see why I was paranoid cause why is he doing all the things that man didn’t do?)

At the ice cream shop, he got this nut-flavored ice cream (nut hahah), and I got cookies and cream.

His ice cream fell on me, and I was weak because I was like his nut got on me

(HAHHAHAHAHHAAHAHAH FORESHADOWING!!!), and we were dying, and he wiped it off of me.

We laughed about this for a while, guys.

He then was like “I’m gonna tell my friend I laughed with a girl about nuts”.

I thought I was in there, guys like the friends are gonna approve of me, and tell him I’m the one.

Like this is what we will tell our children about in the future.

As we ate our ice cream, I got messy because I am a messy eater, so I had to keep wiping myself off.

When we finished, he had to use the bathroom asap, but the park didn’t have bathrooms, and my home wouldn't be ideal because, let me bring a man home, and it’s “OOOO Marie-Anne has a boyfriend”.

It would be a whole mess, which I told him, and looking back, I probably scared him into thinking I considered him a boyfriend when really it’d be my family, not me.

Before we got off the bench, he asked if, once I’m comfortable, I’d like to come over and watch anime or play video games with him.

Ehehe, here’s where naive me came out and immediately said yes, absolutely, that’s fun, let’s do it (overly easy for him).

My actual thinking was, “We are definitely watching anime with no foul play.” he’s not like the other boys.

WRONG! HE IS LIKE OTHER BOYS… anyway.

I know this is all meant to be pure fun.

I was so excited because I could finally show him my favorite anime and play video games with him.

After I said yes, we walked back so he could catch the train to use the bathroom at home.

I was getting cold, and he offered me his hand to keep me warm.

We held hands and did the interlocked finger thing without me forcing it, sigh. I had literal butterflies.

I WAS SO EXCITED INTERNALLY THOUGH!!!!

I rubbed on his arms, and he liked holding my hand.

I let him know his arm was warm, and he apologized for not having anything to offer me for warmth.

Ugh, this was the first time I ever held a man's hand like that.

Something the 6 line couldn't do again.

He also offered to drop me off, but I was like no I’m gonna be the gentleman and walk him to the train so he can rush home to pee.

We hugged goodbye at the train station and let him go home.

I went home with a smile on my face, cheesing and just planning our future even further.

I was thinking this was going to be my boyfriend, and I even told my friends about it.

Even they were like, " Wow, you really like this guy because again, I am the anti-man girl of my group who says fuck men, so for me to be head over heels over one was so surprising to them.

When I got home, he texted me first, saying he had a good time and that he can’t wait to watch anime with me.

I believe we planned it a few days after our date because that’s my maannn, he’s a planner, no drama.

Read on to see how our date went and when our time together ended.

Sincerely yours,

Marie Anne