Forget Me Not

Then, There Was You

Tine wrapped up his session with the Housewives Research Group. "Alright, that's it for this week," he announced. There were groans of disappointment, but he continued, "Next week, we'll be doing some wine tasting..."

The women gathered their freebies and headed out, smiling at Tine and thanking him for the opportunity. Some even said, "I love you," which made him chuckle.

Fong approached him. "That was great. What are you up to now?"

"Probably just some Chardonnay and an HD movie of The Hobbit on the big screen," Tine replied. "What about you guys?"

Fong glanced at Ohm and Phuak, wiggling his eyebrows before turning back to Tine. "We're taking you out for a drink tonight. It's time to meet someone new instead of moping about 'He Who Shall Not Be Named.' We've got plans."

"Thanks, but I'm exhausted after that meeting. I just want to go home," Tine said.

"Come on, Tine! Just one night," Ohm insisted. "You love your job so much you've forgotten to have a life."

Sighing deeply, Tine wondered if he had been too hard on himself. Surely, one night out wouldn't hurt, and he rarely left the house on weekends anyway. "Okay, fuck it. Let's go!"

◇─◇──◇─◇

When midnight strikes, Tine found himself alongside his friends, Fong, Ohm and Phuak in a bar. It was a hidden gem in the lively city, even the exterior was unassuming, with a vintage neon sign flickering "The Velvet Lounge" in soft, colorful hues. Inside was a mixture of old-world charm and modern sophistication.

Plush, velvet-upholstered booths lined the walls, offering an intimate nook for some quiet conversations. In the corner, Tine and his friends were seated at a table. Men and women kept checking Tine out and of course, Phuak noticed.

"Normally, I don't like people as good-looking as you. I usually just smile and secretly wish they'd get disfigured in a horrible accident. But since you're my friend, I'll say this to level the playing field."

Tine laughed, and Ohm added, "Come on, Tine is more than just a pretty face. He's smart, kind, and gives us free stuff, so I'll give him a pass."

"Thank you," Tine raised his glass. "I think?"

"Hey, Tine..." Fong interrupted. "You're single, right?"

Tine gave him a warning look. "Don't start."

"Are you online?"

"Am I on what?"

"Online, as in dating sites. I'm on HeartBeat.com, MatchMingle, SoulSync, JSync..."

Tine frowned at the slightly tipsy Fong. "Are you Jewish?"

"No! You've known me since kindergarten. But I don't want to limit myself. I like going on three dates a day---lunch, drinks, and dinner. It's like heroin. You should try it."

"I don't know. How do you get to know someone from their profile? I need to feel that thing. That nauseous, queasy feeling in my stomach. That feeling when you just know. I can't tell that online."

"That's why you go on dates," Fong asserted. "It helps you weed out the freaks, stalkers, underwear sniffers, and criminals. You'd be surprised who's on there. Especially in a city like Bangkok, where it's hard to meet people. Although I can't imagine you have a problem."

"I guess I have it in my head that when I get married, I want it to last. I want that perfect guy. But maybe he doesn't exist. I've been burned a lot in the past. I'll meet someone who seems great, but then their real self suddenly resurfaces. It's made me a bit apprehensive and sad."