Day 1, 6:30 PM – The Fullerton Hotel
“What are you doing here?” I managed to ask. I had to gather myself together before finally speaking though.
“Funny, I should ask you the same.” He replied with a huge grin on his face. So typical of him, I thought. He shook his head and added, “Please, join me?”
“Sure.” I said and hesitantly walked forward. I managed to smile at least, but there were too many questions in my head, I didn’t even know where to begin.
“Please, have a seat.” Vince grabbed the chair across where he sat.
“Thank you.” I replied politely. There was awkward silence between us for a while. I didn’t know what to say and it seemed like he felt exactly the same way. Finally, he asked me if I wanted anything but I declined, shaking my head, still in shock.
“Come on, my treat. That’s the least I could do.” He said between an awkward smile and a stare. I creased my forehead instantaneously. The least you could do? What am I, a charity case? But I decided to let that comment slip and shut my mouth close to keep it from blurting out words that I might later on regret.
I softly echoed, “The least you could do, huh?” My forehead still slightly creased as Vince blankly stared at me for a few seconds, as if he was trying to read my mind trying to thinking of an acceptable response. He opened his mouth, then closed it again. I raised an eyebrow and he gave me a tight-lipped frown.
“I haven’t seen you for a very long time. And you have no idea how happy I am to see you here, right now. All I could do is to at least treat you to dinner or coffee or something. Please do not refuse my offer.” He finally responded between pauses. And there was that an annoyingly sweet smile that I have not seen in years. I could tell that he was sincere and I should give him some credit for trying to be nice despite the awkward silence and reluctant exchanges between us.
“Alright. I’ll have tea then.” Nodding my head in agreement. I tried a more relaxed facial expression this time, so not to scare him off. After all, he was right, I was glad to see him too, despite the utter indifference of my enraged heart.
“You are still unpredictably crazy you know.” He said, shaking his head, smiling this time.
“Thank you. I’ll take that as a compliment.” I conceded, although I wasn’t sure if it was. I found myself beginning to relax after a few minutes of waiting for my tea and with Vince was making a few classic jokes to make me feel at ease. He told me about some technology related summit that he attended at Suntech City. He also talked about work and some of his mountain climbing adventures after college. I remember he used to send me pictures of his climbs, this was before I had left for Bacolod and before he met his wife.
My mind bounced back and forth to some of these memories, but I tried to obligingly listen to him. I made a few comments here and there, but mostly smiled as he tried to chatter the evening away. And somehow my thoughts played around the idea of dumb luck and cruel fate. Mere coincidence, I told myself hardly listening to what he was saying then. Vince snapped his fingers at my face to bring me back to reality – the one where I am momentarily stuck in with the last person on earth I wanted to see.
“I’m sorry. You were saying?” I attempted to recover, slightly embarrassed.
“Well, I was just wondering what brought you to Singapore. I’ve been blabbing about myself for the last thirty minutes but you haven’t even told me anything about yourself or how you’ve been… Or why you’re here…”
“Oh. I’m on vacation for just a few days to have a break from work.” I plainly said.
“Hmm. Horrible slave-driving boss?” He inquired sympathetically.
