Just my cup of tea

Chapters for days

Daniel introduced me to his "bookstore" and ever since days in China have just gotten better and better. Although it's been nearly two months since I last spoke to Kate, I've been enjoying my time here.

I spend a lot of time with Daniel and surprisingly Bella too. Daniel finally stopped hitting on her even after a third failed attempt she still wants to hang out with us, go figure.

Our typical day includes walking to work together, grabbing lunch from sunshine downstairs, getting barbecue from a stall on the way to my apartment or Daniel's and then watching movies or listening to music or watching videos while we sip on beer and eat our barbecue. Sometime we go out to a bar not far away to hang out with others. Daniel uses Bella and I as wingmen to talk to Chinese girls.

We finished order our beer from the bar and sat down in our usual booth when Ashley walks in. "Dude, Ashley is here." Daniel's head swings fast in the direction I indicated and back to us. "How do I look?" He asked as he straightened himself out. "Dashing" Bella chuckled. He took a sip asked us to wish him luck and off he went.

"Why don't you ever go scouting for girls like Daniel?" Bella took a sip of water as we watched Daniel trying to play it cool. "Oh aah I don't know, not really that interested right now." "How many girlfriends have you had?" "Not many really, what about you? How many boyfriends?" She laughed, "I had and have one." My eyes widened. "Hold up! You have a boyfriend? Why didn't you ever say?"

She shrugged, "you guys never asked." That's true, we never really did talk much about Bella's private life. "True, I kinda got the feeling you never really wanted to talk much about your private life though." "I'm fine with talking about it, just it's not very exciting really." "Although you should have at least told Daniel when he kept asking you out" "Haha I knew he wasn't very serious and had other girls to ask out, so I didn't pay much attention to it. Figured a simple no would be much easier."

Daniel started dancing with Ashley and her friends. We watched them in silence for a bit allowing ourselves to be entertained. "He's really carefree hey." "Yeah, I admire him for that." I replied. "So tell me more about your boyfriend, where is he from?" "He lives in the county near my hometown. We've dated for a few years. Met him in college. He wants to get engaged." I almost spat out my drink. "That's amazing!" She simply just smiled and said yeah. "Dude, why aren't you more excited about this?"

"It's not that big of a deal, it's common. You date, you get married and have children and then that's it." "Well if you say it like that, it does sound rather mundane." My mind wondered to Kate...Her life was on that track. Get married, settle down and start a family. I wonder how I would feel when that time comes. When I hear the news of her marriage. I'd like to think I'd be happy for her.

"I don't think I could see myself getting married, ever," I said. "Why not? You're a...handsome girl. The Chinese staff can't stop talking about you." "what really? haha well yeah I don't think so. Just don't have the desire for it anymore." "Why, what happened?" I took another sip of beer. "Oh nothing, just one day lost the desire," I lied.

After a few rounds of beer and two shots I was starting to feel a bit drunk. Daniel had come back and dragged us to dance with them. Well dragged me, Bella was having none of that. We danced a bit and played some drinking games. Chatted with some other locals and made some new friends. It was turning out to be a great night. "Hey let's head back to my place and read." Daniel nodded and gestured towards Bella. "oh it's cool, it's late I guess she'll want to go home anyway."

We said our goodbyes and left the bar. As we walked to the crossroads where we would part to go out seperate ways I turned to Bella. "Hey I know it's pretty late for you but Daniel is gonna come over for a bit." She thought for a second, "You know what, it's a pretty fun night. I'll join you guys." Crap, I turned to Daniel and he eyed me back. Guess we'll have to just wait for her to leave. We reached my apartment and I dashed for stash as if I were just cleaning up a bit.

We ordered a few more drinks and some juice for Bella(she doesn't drink). After drinking a little more Daniel got a bit impatient, "You know what, Bella is cool. Think she'll be cool with this." I turned to him in horror. "Dude are you nuts?" "What's going on?" She asked. "Come on we've been hanging out for so long now and obviously we can trust her." I turned to Bella who didn't really seem that bothered with all this. "Alright fine, Bella you can't under any circumstances tell anyone about this okay?" She chuckled, "Who am I gonna tell anyway? I'm only really good friends with you guys."

I went to get my stash while Daniel explained what's happening to Bella. She laughed so hard she couldn't get her words out properly. "You hahaha yo hahaha you guys are so funny. I already know most foreigners like doing such things. It's not a big deal to me." Wow Bella is really cool. "Want to try?" "absolutely not." Ok not as cool.

She was however, very interested in how we roll so she watched carefully as I prepared. I loved rolling. The whole process of it was so fun to me. It was like an art to me. To try and make a beautiful spliff that's powerful and smooth. And boy was it powerful. "The smell isn't that bad, cigarette smell is horrible but this is alright," Bella said as she sat in the far corner near the window.

"You say that but anymore to the right and you'll be out the window." Daniel and I laughed. "Hey I just got to get used to it ok." We all stayed up till the sun came up. It was a really relaxed night out. I could get used to this life. This could be enough for me. I mean it would be great to get a dose of Kate now and then though.

I felt as though I was happy in general but after speaking to Kate I am a different kind of happy that lasts a while and then fades. When I'd talk to her again it was like I was filling up fuel. It's the kind of happy that makes me feel more alive. It makes everything heightened. Sort of like she was special blend of higher grade weed. I wonder if that's normal? I wonder if that's what people who have found their soulmate feel? Whatever it is, I'm grateful I got to experience it.

Question is, would I get to feel it again?