If I Let Go

6

I break the eye contact and pretend to be admiring the leafy compound. We have chosen a hut farthest from the children's playground so that we are not distracted by other guests.

The grass thatched hut is big enough to accommodate five to seven people and there are wooden benches and a table at the center. The numerous vibrant flowers and trees make it a bit dark because the wall, made of marble stones, is erected halfway to let in light and add a touch of sophistication. However, it's one of those really windy and chilly days so we have to put on the light.

“You are a very attractive and intelligent young woman, Salina. You are more popular than you can possibly imagine," Mark continues. "I could swear on the life of my precious German dog that ninety percent of the males you make eye contact with on a daily basis have inappropriate thoughts about you."

I am about to protest and claim he says that to all the girls he meets. But I realize arguing over a compliment seems silly and insecure. Instead, I imagine myself as the reinvented version of Salina that is sexy, smart, and very confident about the person she is.

“Thank you. Would I be right to assume you fall under that category?" I play along.

Mark smirks and is saved from answering when the waiter brings our food. I am having fish and lemon mashed potatoes.

“To answer your question, yes I do. Come on, you are.. you. Young, beautiful, successful,” Mark says, biting into his piece of chicken.  "I still cant believe I got you to have lunch with me."

I don't comment, all pretense of acting sassy temporarily forgotten. The genuineness behind the flirty statements must have caught me off guard. Having Mark compliment me this way disarms me. Our previous conversations shied away from topics about how is attracted to me.

For a few minutes, there is a comfortable silence between us as we concentrate on chewing our food. For the first time, I can hear the soothing sound of the overflowing stream nearby and the faraway voices of children playing. When we resume our conversation, we drift to neutral topics and Mark tells me about some of the weirdest encounters he has had with clients.

“Sometimes back, I was on a call with a client and she made the most insane request. She asked if I would be willing to do her a tiny favor and since I couldn't wait to brag to my colleagues about a deal I just sealed with her, I agreed right away. Out of all the requests she could make to benefit her company, she just had to ask about my dads birthday," Mark says and I almost choke on my water.

“What did you tell her?"

“At first I thought she was kidding so I jokingly told her it's a top secret. That's when she told me how she had searched him on Facebook to no avail," Mark continues and I can't hold back more laughter. "It's true though, dad doesn't have a Facebook account. Anyway, I told her to jot down in her little notebook and she was beyond grateful."

“That was so bold of her," I say. “Hmm. Daddy's admirer."

“I suspect they were close." Mark shrugs nonchalantly. He then asks me about my family and as I speak, he listens with genuine interest.

“I have an older sister, Melissa, whom we are so close. My dad is a former professor while mom worked as a nurse. They have both retired to the countryside to focus on managing their tea plantation," I say. "It’s a three hours drive so I only visit once in a month. Having been brought up here, I always look forward to the refreshing change of scenery away from the busy life of the city.”

We talk a bit more with Mark telling me he likes basketball and was a top player in high school and even after. I name my favorite movies some of which he has never heard of. I learn that he is twenty nine and when the topic of his family comes up, I detect a strained relationship with his father but I don't bother to ask him to elaborate. He is an only sibling and talks about his mother with such fondness that I find it cute.