Lychee, Mobiles, A Lawyer and Burlesque

Blah. Last month, first friday was kind of a bust. This time around, my co-worker and I did a little research before hand to find out what galleries would actually be open. And we decided to try a different bar to start off the evening...the wine bar, while it has cheap happy hour pupus, charges $7 a glass. A $3.50 martini sounded much more appealing between pay checks.

It was quite crowded when we got in, but managed to find two stools along the bar after the first drink. Tried lychee for the first time...think oversized albino maraschino cherries. We sat, talked and drank for a while...about halfway through the second drink I noticed a guy, kind of standing off on his own. Checking his phone every five or ten minutes. Obviously waiting for someone. And after half an hour, he was still waiting.

I'm not sure what gave me the confidence. The alcohol. The recent loss of a friend. The feeling of nothing ventured nothing gained...that there's nothing to loose by reaching out. A mentor's push--urging me, if I wish not to appear standoffish, intimidating, that there's no reason I shouldn't just reach out my hand to say hi. So I did. I asked if he was waiting for someone. And lured him into the conversation with my coworker and I.

Eventually his coworker showed up and he joined our little group for a while. At least until his girlfriend and a few other guys showed up. The original guy was left sort of floating on his own again. I shrugged to my coworker. We ordered another round, drew him back in, and then I asked him if he cared to join us for the rest of the evening.

It didn't take long before all three of us were laughing over college towns, reminiscing about home, talking about what brought us out here...where to hike, where to snorkel, where to get good thai food...

Eventually the three of us left to visit another bar that supposedly had mini burlesque shows every half hour, and his arm was firmly planted around my shoulders.

The burlesque was terrible. My coworker was slowly reaching her limit and loudly announcing to the gent and I how terrible the show was and how we could do such a better job. That's it! We should start our own burlesque show! Moments later an overly friendly girl pointed out I had a guy with me and my coworker didn't and promptly pulled her away to introduce her to a round of random guys. I'm wondering how much she remembered this morning. Eventually we managed to round her back up and head down to the gallery showing another friend's exhibit of mobiles and bonsai.

The gent tagged along the entire time. He claimed he was thoroughly enjoying himself. And seemed quite content in the company of two women. My coworker immediately flocked to our acquaintance when we got to the gallery, leaving he and I to peruse the exhibit on our own. Eventually I pulled him aside to bare my soul so to speak. Open, honest and up front right from the get go. He didn't bat an eye. He appreciated the honesty. Reminded me he was only stationed here for a year, wasn't looking to form a deep intimate relationship...or at least not a spouse, but was happy to find what friends he could.

I felt bad...we ditched my coworker...left her happily chatting away with our other friend. She pouted, but winked and sent us on our way. The gent and I wandered the rest of Chinatown as First Friday died down. And wandered to his apartment a few blocks away to sober up before he drove me home.

A kiss. A number...maybe he'll call, maybe he won't. But at least his company made for a good evening. And the boost of confidence I needed again.