The question of who pays in the early stages of dating can still be surprisingly complicated. While some people believe the man should always pay, others think the person who invites should cover the bill, and several people agree that splitting it evenly makes things fair.
However, when something like a card getting declined happens early on, it can make things awkward. That’s exactly what happened to TikTok user Moraea (@monotonechick), who shared her story online after a recent Taco Bell date went sideways.
What Went Wrong During The Taco Bell Date?
TikTok creator Moraea (@monotonechick) shared a storytime video about the awkward moment that spiraled into something much bigger.
“So the really sweet guy I’ve been seeing for the past few weeks dropped a really weird thing on me just recently,” she says. “We had a gym date a few days ago, and after the gym, we went to go get Taco Bell.”
She explains that when they pulled up to the drive-thru, she offered to pay. “I hand him my card. He enters my PIN. Card declines. Card declines again,” she says. “So finally, he pays. I’m like, ‘Wow, this is embarrassing.’”
Later, she says she checked her account and confirmed she had enough money. “The only thing I can think of is that he entered my PIN wrong,” she says.
But the next day, something felt off. “My intuition is saying he didn’t like that my card declined,” she adds.
Things Take A Sudden Turn After The Date
A few days later, she says he invited her to breakfast. Trying to keep things light, she made a joke. She recalls saying, “Oh, I have cash today from my favorite ATM, my dad.”
The joke didn’t land. “I didn’t steal the money,” she clarifies. “I just gave him cash through Cash App because I didn’t want my card to decline again.”
After breakfast, they went to Starbucks, spent some time sketching, and said goodbye. Moraea says she thought things went well. “I think he wants to kiss me,” she recalls. But when she got home, she got a text. “He said, ‘I don’t see this working out long-term,’” she says.
Confused, she asked why. “He tells me he didn’t like my joke at breakfast,” she explains. “He said as someone looking for a long-term partner, he wouldn’t want to be looked at as an ATM.”
She told him that was “the most insensitive text” she’d ever received. “I said, ‘It was a joke. I paid my dad for that cash,’” she says. “You’re judging me without even knowing the story.”
Eventually, she says he called and apologized, admitting he might have overreacted. “He said, ‘I think I’m a little judgmental. I should have just asked you what you meant,’” she recalls.
While the two are still talking, Moraea admits she’s nervous. “I have this fear that I can’t be myself anymore,” she says. “Like any simple joke, he’ll drop me again.”
She Shares An Update And More Details
In a follow-up clip, Moraea addressed some comments questioning why she wanted to pay in the first place. She explains that she’s a 50/50 person and doesn’t believe men should always pay for activities, saying it just feels fair that both contribute.
In another post, she shared a message from him elaborating on his reasoning. In the text, he explained that her joke about using her dad as an ATM was, to him, a “red flag,” saying it made her seem financially irresponsible and gave him the impression she might treat a future partner the same way. He admitted he might’ve overreacted and added that he wasn’t very experienced with dating.
He ended by calling her “a sweet person who’s come a long way” but admitted he might’ve overthought things.
Viewers Had Questions
Commenters couldn’t believe how the situation unfolded. “WHY did you tell him your PIN?!” one person wrote.
“Gym date? Taco Bell? You paying? What’s going on,” another said.
Others joked about the absurdity of the whole thing. “‘Is this rage bait…?’” one asked. Moraea simply responded, “no?”
Another person added, “The fact he was gonna let you pay for Taco Bell told me everything I needed to know.”
@monotonechick turns out he entered my pin wrong and this was all a big misunderstanding. he basically judged me and said I wasn’t financially stable without knowing the whole story #dating #fyp #datingadvice
How Do Modern Couples View Splitting Finances?
According to a TD Bank survey, most couples discuss finances regularly, but traditional dating norms still linger.
The study found that 84% of men say they pay for the first date, compared to just 6% of women. Even among long-term couples, 63% of men said they typically pick up the bill.
BroBible has reached out to Moraea via TikTok messages for more information.