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The original was posted on /r/tifu by /u/DepartureFlat1333 on 2026-01-01 18:53:05+00:00.
I was walking down the street when I saw someone across the road smile and wave enthusiastically in my direction. I waved back. Big wave. Eye contact. Commitment.
They kept waving.
So did I.
This went on long enough that stopping felt rude.
Then the person behind me tapped my shoulder.
The wave was not for me.
It was for them.
The original waver immediately shifted focus, hugged the person behind me, and shot me the most confused look I’ve ever received from another human being.
I tried to turn my wave into a stretch. It didn’t work. It just looked like I was celebrating their reunion.
I walked away pretending to be very interested in my phone, but I could feel the embarrassment radiating off my body.
TL;DR: Enthusiastically waved back at a stranger who was greeting someone else and committed fully to the mistake.