甜蜜蜜

I met him at a singles party in Beijing. Well, almost. He came for the after party.

He's suave, boyish, clean-cut, medium build and Indian. I fell in LIKE the moment I saw him.

The first time he asked me out, we were out on a double-date of sorts. I was introduced to his good friend A whom like him, spoke brillant Putonghua and both hailed from Bengal. Yes, I fell for a Bengali (or MangALee as how we would term them in Singapore). A works as a translator for the Chinese government. I like him. He came across as a mature and intelligent man. He was seeing a Russian girl (term the RUSSIAN BITCH by my dear Macdoneian girlfriend Elena). Sporting a really short hairdo, she was attractive, in a Russian way. She gave me a thorough look me down (and up) and then, as if she decided (it was mutual) that one can't really compare a Russian and a Merly (Merlion girl), she was friendly towards me. I was happy coz I want B's friends to like me (ok ok LOVE me). A was quick to tell me that I was the first girl B (oops I forgot to introduce my suave MangALee) had ever introduced to him. I can't help but feel weirdly special. Weirdly because I hardly knew B even though I was in like.

For our second date, B decided to invite me over to his place. He was going to cook for me he said. Indian and a cook. What more can I ask for.

I reached his place. Only to be told, he was next door; at A's. Hmm...another double-date. Must be a Bengali thing I thought. Anyway, B looks kinda cute in his apron and he surely was cooking up a storm. A entertained me. And again, I find him a mature and intelligent individual. Then Russian chick came home. She changed into a kimono of sorts.

B came out to the living room and chatted with me. It was a long and narrow living room. Miss Japan I mean Russian chick went straight for A who was seated just opposite B and I. The next thing I know, she was all over A. I felt kinda strange but it seemed like I was the only one who felt that way. I wanna walked away to give them more privacy but my Bengali obviously didn't think the couple needed it. B even continued to speak to them whilst the couple was kissing away. I felt increasingly uneasy. Then in that long narrow living room, I began to have all sorts of weird ideas.

For example...perhaps there were to be no dinner as I WAS THE DINNER? ie. were they looking for a threesome i mean foursome? I mean, more than an hour had passed and I ain't see no dinner. And I don't remember curry being cooked?! Thats an Indian staple isn't. Now something is not right, is it?

I messaged J O Jo. Told her I was uncomfortable. She was ready to bail me out if the plot thickens she said.

Well, I stayed. Dinner finally made its way to my stomach and I must say, it was yummy. We were still seated opposite each other in the long and narrow living room. Couple facing couple. What a mind-boggling date. O well.

Past midnite and I was ready to leave, in one piece. B invited me to his place. Time for some action...I thought but to cut the whole story short, we ended up on the sofa yes...but watching Leon Lai and Maggie Cheung falling in love in 甜蜜蜜. How romantic. Throughout the nite, B made no attempt to stroke my long black hair (that was the least he could do I thought since I am afterall open but not loose). He was however, very very reluctant to see me go the morning after. I was like, DER....reluctant to see me go YET you were like a dead piece of wood during the nite?! This MangALee is complicated.

A couple of unsuccessful dates later and I stopped seeing B. He was cold and warm, then cold and warm again. He was driving me up the wall basically. One moment he would call me and appeared dying to meet me. The next moment, he would go as far as fix appointments and yet he won't turn up (ok ok just once BUT still). He was major blowing HOT and major blowing COLD. I didn't understand the game. The last straw was when I appeared at the bar one cold autumn nite only to find no MangALee there. I decided enough was enough. Suave, cute or otherwise.

Three years passed and I found out the following last week from dear old Elena. Hot off the Beijing Press...

A and Russian chick got married in a huge (as with most Indian weddings...so go figure out how it was as this article is NOT about Indian weddings) Indian wedding back in India late last year. A month later, Russian chick wanted ...not a baby but a divorce!! She moved out of the house to be with ... B! In fact the word is...she had been seeing B all these while!!!!!! A wanna kill himself I was told. Poor chap. Double-blow. Best friend and wife cheated on him.

As for me, I finally knew why B didn't stroke my lush black hair that fateless nite.