Forget Me Not

The Ex-Factor

Another busy day at work, Tine walked in with Fong, Ohm, and Phuak, all carrying boxes of shoes. The women in the conference room waited patiently.

"Good morning, ladies," Tine began. "Today is all about shoes. What styles do you like? What are comfortable for wearing around the house, driving, carpooling, or going out?"

The women stared at him expectantly. "What? I thought you'd be more excited about the shoes..."

Trisha, a regular participant, chimed in. "We are, but first we want to hear about your date."

"Yeah!" added Geraldine, another regular who had become well-acquainted with Tine and his friends. "Don't leave out any details."

Tine chuckled awkwardly and glanced at Fong, contemplating revenge for spreading the news. In the corner, he saw Mil leaning against the wall, arms crossed, watching him. "As I told Fong yesterday...he's a great guy, very appealing, and really funny. I like him a lot."

A shadow crossed Mil's face as he turned and left the room without looking back, leaving Tine feeling guilty.

"So, what's his name?" Trisha pressed.

"Is he good-looking?" another woman asked.

"Is he as tall as you?"

Tine smiled at their excitement. "His name is Sarawat, and yes, he's quite tall. But come on, girls, we're here to talk about the products---"

The woman interrupted, clearly more interested in his love life. "I'm married, so I can't do these things," said Laura, Trisha's older sister. "But you're hot, single, and slender, so you can do these things and tell us all about it in graphic detail!"

Phuak choked on his cola while Ohm laughed hysterically. Tine's face went pale.

"Dating is like wearing shoes," Trisha said. "You've got to walk around in them for a while before deciding if you should keep them."

Becka, an older and wiser woman, picked up one of the shoes, keeping the conversation going. "But you shouldn't try just one pair, Tine. Some might be gorgeous but hurt when you wear them. Others might not look like much at first glance, but then you walk around a bit, and they treat your feet like never before. They fit perfectly and become your favorite pair."

"Until you wear them out and need a new pair," Trisha added, grimacing slightly. "But either way..."

Tine felt overwhelmed. He hadn't expected the office, especially the women's group assembled for product testing, to be so invested in his love life. Fong once mentioned that the women in the group had been saddened by the sudden end of Tine's long-term relationship with Kyle and were eager to see him date again. Tine had been single for a year, and apart from Mil, who persistently gave him gifts, he hadn't considered anyone seriously. In fact, Mil was only an exemption because no matter what Tine did, he couldn't discourage him from waiting.

"Look, girls, I don't want to date a lot of people right now. I really like Sarawat. I think he's someone special. He's like a pair of shoes I've admired for a long time. And when I finally get the chance to purchase them, I feel like I need to walk around in them before deciding if they really fit or if I should let them go and try another pair."

The ladies cooed, impressed at how smoothly Tine had used their analogy. Seizing the moment, Tine redirected their focus back to the product testing, continuing to talk about...shoes.

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Tine decided to take his time getting to know Sarawat. Clearly enamored with his character, Sarawat didn't mind the slow pace, enjoying every moment they spent together. That same afternoon, Tine headed to a pub where they had agreed to meet again. When he arrived, he found Sarawat had been waiting for hours, his patience surprising and his presence deeply appreciated.