Old times

Saturday. 1515 hours.

It felt like old times again. Perhaps, having just decided on his new place and gotten the bank loan approved, there was now less on his mind and he was in a more light-hearted mood.

After a spirited exchange of the usual taunts and Brownian conversation over ICQ, he suggested meeting for a movie - at Lido, because he had an "ulterior motive" to check out the iPod Shuffle at Wheelock Place. (And apparently, I shall be buying the Shuffle off him once his order of the U2 iPod and Shuffle comes in end of the month. Damn. I hate my friends. I really do.)

"Are you sure that's your ONLY ulterior motive?"

"Errr.. well.. I was thinking of having nice Japanese food at that place H showed me the other day."

An hour later, we found ourselves trying to figure out the missing plot elements in Elektra; but I, at least, gave up and just allowed myself to be entertained. After the movie, he figured that the Japanese restaurant would already be closed. So, we settled on dinner at Borders' Olio Dome instead. Dinner conversation picked up from where we had left off in the afternoon - kidding around (mostly at his expense, and occasionally below his belt, heh heh heh) and skipping from topic to topic.

It was an old comfort that I know well, and am glad has returned in spite of what had happened. I shall be loathe to lose a good friend, again - even though he tried to bite off more than an arm and a leg the last time.

And yet, there was something subtly different about the evening - though I believe he is, mostly, still the same person I know. Perhaps, it was how I often steered the conversation a certain way and spoke quite openly about several things that evening. But I know this: a new level of comfort has been reached, at least for that evening. When we were talking about H and how lawyers could not keep secrets, he brought up, almost nonchalantly, the Misfired SMS and subsequent boo-boo thanks to H. I was taken aback and a little embarrassed - I did not expect him to bring up the incident after two years of careful silence. Fortunately, he was easy about it and I laughed it off. I had almost forgotten about the boo-boo. H had decided to do him a "favour" by relating the incident, including the actual message, over the mailing list that went out to our mutual friends, and asked for opinions - not realising that the shooter in question was yours sincerely. Obviously, some temper tantrums over betrayed confidences, frayed nerves and hurried apologies followed. In retrospect, it was all quite funny. And then, I do not know why - other than feeling comfortable about revealing something that had happened so long ago anyway - I told him about the poem that H wrote for me back in school, and the phonecall that same night to ask me a very direct question. He was absolutely delighted with the little tidbit as he schemed how to get one back at H. And then, he told me about H's penchant for online pick-ups. Heh. Boys.

We left the restaurant just before midnight as it was closing, and I picked up a copy of Vanity Fair on our way out.

On our separate ways home, he messaged me and so we continued the evening over SMS, and then ICQ back home - until I got distracted by my blog.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

My sister wondered if I was not afraid that he might push things again. I shrugged and said we have an understanding - from before. But if he did try again, then I suppose I would run. Again. But this time, I will make damn sure the handphone is out of my reach.

Anyway, the whole week has turned out rather well, I think :-)



Itching. Shedding. Evolving.

Don't think. Don't turn to look. Don't stop. Just keep on going. Go. Go. Go.