I Told My Date about My Specific 3-Year-Rule, but He Immediately Left and Blocked Me – Is It Really That Weird?

Addisons life revolves around her demanding job as a neurologist, leaving little time for romance. When her cheerful coworker Nathan sets her up on a blind date with a seemingly perfect guy named Jake, she finally feels a spark of hope. However, after Addison shares her three-year dating rule, her date abruptly leaves. What went wrong?

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I always thought my life would stay the same.

Day in and day out, the hospital consumed all my time.

A smiling young doctor | Source: Midjourney

My name is Addison, and I work as a neurologist. My days are filled with patients, charts, and endless rounds.

Its a fulfilling job, but it leaves little room for anything else, especially dating.

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One day, while grabbing a quick coffee in the break room, my coworker Nathan walked in with a bright smile on his face.

Nathan is always in a good mood, no matter how stressful the day gets.

A smiling doctor | Source: Midjourney

“Hey, Addison,” Nathan said, leaning against the counter. “How do you feel about blind dates?”

I laughed, almost spilling my coffee. “Blind dates? Nathan, you know my schedule. I barely have time to eat, let alone date.”

Two professionals laughing and chatting | Source: Midjourney

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Nathan chuckled. “I know, but hear me out. My friend Jake is a great guy. Hes kind, funny, and I think you two would hit it off. What do you say?”

I paused, considering it. I hadnt been on a date in ages, and the idea of meeting someone new was intriguing. Plus, Nathan seemed genuinely excited about it.

A couple enjoying drinks | Source: Pexels

“Okay, then,” I said, smiling. “Youve convinced me. Whens this magical date happening?”

Nathans face lit up. “Really?? How about next Tuesday night? Its the only evening that works for both of you!”

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Next Tuesday. I mentally checked my calendar. It was one of the rare nights I didnt have a late shift or any other commitments.

“Next Tuesday works for me,” I said. “Lets do it.”

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Nathan grinned. “Great! Ill set it up and text you the details. You wont regret this, Addison,” he said with a wink.

“Well see that,” I laughed and finished my coffee quickly.

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As I walked back to my office, I felt both excited and nervous. It had been so long since I had gone on a date.

My life had become a routine of work and more work, with little time for anything else. But maybe this was what I needed — a chance to step out of my comfort zone.

A doctor lost in her work | Source: Midjourney

The rest of the day flew by in a blur of patient consultations and medical charts. But in the back of my mind, I kept thinking about the upcoming date. Maybe, just maybe, this blind date with Jake would be the start of something new.

On Tuesday night, I arrived at the quaint restaurant Nathan had suggested.

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It was cozy, with dim lighting and a warm ambiance that immediately put me at ease. As I walked in, I spotted a man sitting at a table near the window.

He looked up, smiled, and waved me over.

This must be Jake, I thought to myself.

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“Addison?” he asked as I approached the table.

“Yes, and you must be Jake,” I replied with a smile.

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We shook hands, and I took a seat. Almost immediately, the waitress came over to take our drink orders.

“Ill have a glass of red wine, please,” I said.

“Ill have the same,” Jake added.

Two people enjoying wine | Source: Freepik

As the waitress left, we started chatting. Jake was easy to talk to, and I felt my initial nervousness melt away.

“So, Nathan tells me youre a neurologist,” he said, looking genuinely interested. “That must be a challenging job.”

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“It is,” I nodded. “But I love it. What about you? What do you do?”

“Im a graphic designer,” Jake replied. “I work freelance, so my schedule is pretty flexible. Its a lot of fun, especially when I get to work on creative projects.”

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Our drinks arrived, and we ordered appetizers — stuffed mushrooms and bruschetta. As we nibbled on the delicious food, we continued to talk about our lives, hobbies, and interests.

“I love hiking and photography,” Jake said, taking a sip of his wine. “Theres something about being in nature thats so refreshing.”

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“Ive always wanted to get into photography,” I said. “But I never seem to find the time. Maybe you could give me some tips?”

“Id love to,” Jake said with a smile. “Its all about finding the right light and angle.”

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As the evening went on, I found myself more and more charmed by Jake. He was kind, funny, and easy to talk to.

We laughed a lot, and it felt like I had known him for much longer than just one evening.

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As we moved on to our main course, Jake looked at me with a smile. “So, Addison, how about we ask each other some more personal questions to break the ice further?”

“Sure, that sounds good,” I said. “What do you want to know?”

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Jake leaned in slightly. “How about your one-to-five-year plan? What are your goals?”

I took a moment to think. “Well, I hope to advance in my career as a neurologist,” I began.

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“Maybe get promoted to a senior position. I also want to decorate my apartment; it feels too plain right now,” I continued. “Ive been thinking about getting a pet, maybe a cat or a small dog. And Id love to travel more, see new places, and experience different cultures. Oh, and I want to expand my bookshelf with my favorite novels. I love reading!”

Pile of books and cup on top | Source: Unsplash

“That sounds wonderful. You have a lot of exciting plans!” he grinned.

“What about you?” I asked, curious to hear about his future plans.

“I want to grow my freelance business,” Jake said. “Maybe open my own studio one day. I also love traveling, so Id like to visit more countries. And, believe it or not, Ive been thinking about getting a pet too. A dog, probably.”

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We laughed at the coincidence, and it felt nice to find common ground!

“So, how do you feel about marriage and family?” Jake further asked as he sipped his wine.

And this is where it all went horribly wrong.

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“Honestly, Id love to find a partner to share my life with,” I told him, “someone who understands and supports me. But marriage isnt a necessity for me. If it happens, great, but if not, thats okay too. As for children, I dont see myself having any. For now. Im happy with my career and personal goals.”

Jake leaned forward, looking serious. “What if you found the perfect guy? How long before youd marry him?”

Two people smiling at each other and standing close | Source: Freepik

“Three years,” I said. “I believe in building a strong foundation. Six months to really get to know someone, a year of serious dating, and a year and a half of living together before considering engagement or marriage.”

Jakes face changed, his friendly expression replaced by a frown. He leaned back in his chair, crossing his arms. “Three years? Thats a long time. What if someone wants a quicker timeline?”

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An upset man | Source: Midjourney

I felt a knot forming in my stomach. “Well, uh, I think its important to take time to build a strong relationship. Im pretty confident about my three-year-plan.”

Jakes frown deepened, and he abruptly called the waitress. “Check, please,” he said curtly. She looked confused but quickly brought the bill.

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“Jake, whats wrong?” I asked as he stood up, but he didnt bother to answer. He paid and walked out of the restaurant without a glance back.

I sat there, stunned and hurt. What just happened?

Later, at home, I couldnt stop thinking about the evening.

A woman staring at her reflection | Source: Pexels

How could Jake just leave like that?

Deciding I needed answers, I messaged him.

I sent a selfie we took together and wrote, “Hey Jake, why did you leave so suddenly? I thought we were having a great time.”

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A few minutes later, his reply came: “Dont contact me again. Youre indecisive and not serious about what you want.”

Then, he blocked me.

I stared at my phone in disbelief. Was I really that off base?

The next day at work, I noticed Nathan giving me strange glances. Gathering my courage, I decided to confront him.

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“Nathan, what did Jake tell you? You know why he left, dont you?” I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.

Nathan looked uncomfortable and shifted on his feet. “You messed it up, Addy,” he said. “Jake… told me you were wasting his time. He wanted something serious. He was looking for marriage, and you… you werent the best person for him. Sorry, I gotta go.”

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I couldnt believe it.

During my lunch break, I called my best friend, Sophie.

“Hey, Addison. How did the date go?” was the first thing she asked.

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I sighed, feeling the weight of the evening pressing on me. “It started great, but then it ended terribly. Jake left abruptly after I talked about my three-year plan, and then he blocked me when I asked him why.”

Sophies eyes widened. “He did what? Thats ridiculous! What exactly happened?”

A sad young doctor | Source: Midjourney

I recounted every detail, my voice trembling slightly as I relived the evening. When I finished, Sophie shook her head. “Addison, being honest about your expectations is important. If he couldnt handle that, its his loss.”

“I cant stop wondering if my three-year rule is really that strange, Sophie,” I admitted, my voice breaking a bit.

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An anxious doctor | Source: Midjourney

“Not at all,” Sophie said firmly. “Everyone has their own timeline and needs. What matters is that you stay true to yourself. If he couldnt appreciate that, he wasnt the right guy for you.”

Her words wrapped around me like a comforting blanket. But it didnt ease all my worries. Was I wrong to be upfront about my expectations? Should I have kept it to myself? All I know is that being honest about what I want is important, even if it means losing a date like Jake.

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What would you have done?

If you enjoyed this story, heres another one: Julia is excited to surprise her husband on his birthday, but everything changes when she hears an unexpected voice. Hiding in the living room, her heart pounds as her husbands laughter mingles with another womans. What will Julia uncover?

A couple | Source: Unsplash

This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.

The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided “as is,” and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.

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