I literally spent the entire of yesterday laying in bed, too exhausted to partake in any activity. My phone pinged at noon with my Mum asking if I was at Oxford Street. She found out I was still laying in bed and called me out for being a couch potato. A meander to Waitrose to get some salads and bread was probably the only exercise I got yesterday, I need to shape up.
I summoned the energy this morning to head out to Piccadilly Circus and accomplish some shopping. I left the room around 9.45am and just my luck, at the hotel lobby, I caught sight of Jon at the lobby engaging in a discourse with some very astute men. They were talking pretty loudly. I stood at the lift entrance slightly astonished, what are the chances right? I lost track of time for a good couple of seconds before an elderly couple knocked me out of my muse: "Are you alright darling? You look like a trifle under the weather..." I forced a smile, and began to stealthily scamper out of the hotel, hoping Jon wouldn't see me.
The thing is, I dread igniting an old flame, reuniting with old acquaintances gives me such dread at having to endure massive awkwardness, the apparent need to continue a conversation before all falls apart and silence ensues.
I thought I had succeeded in leaving the hotel lobby. Then, I felt a tap on my shoulder and me being in my element of clumsiness, turned around and noticed Jon staring right into my face. I fell backwards to the ground, thought I broke my tailbone there.
"Pardon me," He said," You look very familiar, have we met somewhere before? I saw you staring..."
"I wasn't," I interjected, trying to regain my footing.
"You look so oddly familiar. Can I ask, what's your name?" His eyebrows tied in a knot and I grew hot. If he finds out my name, he'll remember me, and then we'll both plunge into awkwardness and we'll have to carry a conversation and I'll never leave this spot and.. oh god, the unthinkable.
" I'm in a bit of a rush now..." I was trying to come up with an excuse to get myself out of this."I've got to rush to... purchase some theatre tickets! Yes, I've got to go and purchase some theatre tickets."
"Which musical are you going to see?" He asked, eyes sparkling in the afternoon sun and my heart began to melt. That smile was gorgeous.
"Um... Well..." I'm not into musicals so that excuse was just driving me straight into the ditch. Well done, Matthew.
"Look," he interjected once again,"Here's my number, if you ever want to meet up, drop me a text! You look so familiar, you actually remind me of one of my friends back in college... Anyway, be on your way, I'll catch up with you soon." But before he could bid his adieus, I just stomped off, in a fit of exasperation, probably mad at myself for failing to converse. Great.
3.35pm: Was supposed to have a long-awaited catch-up luncheon with dear friend, Peggy, at Twinings along Strand but she was late, as per usual. I sat in the shop alone, and I kept staring at the note Jon handed me earlier this morning. Handwriting was mildly illegible, it hasn't altered since yesteryear. My mind was racing, a whole whirlwind of thoughts, definitely caught in a predicament between texting Jon or pretending this morning's events never existed. All around, the scent of brewed tea wafted through the air, as adorable couples engaged in their individual tête-à-têtes, so jealous.
Peggy came forty-five minutes late and I took the piss on her, she eventually apologised, promised she'll be earlier next time. It was a productive rendezvous nonetheless.
5pm: For the heck of it, decided to drop Jon a text, see if he was free for a dinner this evening. Five in the evening was such a bad timing to ask for a dinner, consider it massively impromptu. If he wasn't available, too bad, or so I thought. Heart palpitations and beads of sweat formed whilst heavily anticipating his reply before my phone pinged less than a minute after I dropped the text.
'Hey, sure! Where shall we dine?"
I thought, and thought... And thought. Why was I putting in so much effort to come up with an eatery.
'Meet at The Flatiron, Covent Garden. 6.30pm. See you there.'
6.30pm: He arrived earlier than I did. So embarrassing. We had dinner, very sumptuous and fulfilling. Massive thanks to my wonderful colleague, Judy (ps. she's a glutton), for consistently pushing me to sample this place. Savoured some very decadent steak, quintessential Western cuisine, priced very affordably. I love it.
I'll save the nitty-gritty, but whatever it is, Jon found out my name, choked on his food to the point he almost couldn't save himself. Details over dinner were as follows:
1) Reminisced over college days
2) Pretentiously finding out both of us weren't married
3) Reminding me of the time we travelled to Nanjing, China and I nearly puked all over him on flight. Sort of marred my memory of the trip, great for laughs.
4) Breaking news that Taylor Swift and Harry Styles separated. Devastating.
5) Struggling to infuse some common sense in my words - Midway through the meal, it suddenly hit me that I was having a decent meal with my love in fifteen years. I couldn't feel anything, I was numbed and stone-cold.
6) We were both staying at the same hotel and we were both attending the same business conference. Small world.
An amazing dinner was had, and we swore to meet up again soon. He offered to pay for a cab to bring us back to the hotel, so I complied. Driver drove off at breakneck speed, reminded me of the days when we had this old rickety Dutsun and Daddy would spontaneously shut the aircon and radio off, shift gear and speed up to overtake or whatever. Mummy would sit in the passenger seat, reciting prayers on the rosary.
Got back to the hotel and said our thanks and goodnights. Made a beeline for the room, the silence was mildly deafening. I realised my shoulders were exceptionally high throughout the evening, I was tense and bone-tired. Eventful day, I need a drink.
