Dating George
Monday came (July 20th). My flight got in at around eight in the morning and a friend from the wedding hooked me up with a ride home. I can’t sleep well on airplanes for some reason so I was probably only asleep for two of the entire eight-hour journey. I am not to meet George until 3 in the afternoon so I had some time to squeeze some sleep and freshen up.
When it was time to meet him, there he was across the street from my building wearing a goddamn blue polo shirt that I already know will bring out the color of his eyes. It is like he was doing it on purpose, to tease. He greeted me with a hug which I awkwardly accepted because I just was not prepared for it. First date and all.
We walked together to the coffee shop, a tiny but cozy café called Narrow on Fenwick Street that my friends and I frequent. We stayed there for almost two hours, talking and getting to know each other and laughing. I can feel that we were both genuinely having a good time because at one point, he already suggested taking me out on another date. I should have known some of it was just plain BS but what can I do, I was smitten.
The café was closing so we started meandering back to the direction of my apartment. On the way back, I mentioned about the time I worked in EY and he nonchalantly said I know so I was perplexed and asked him how he came to know of it. He showed me a picture on his phone which, to my surprise, was my graduation photo. I asked where he got hold of it. He said that he stalked me over the weekend that I was away and found my full LinkedIn profile online (He got my full name from Driver Dave’s Records). Thank fucking heavens that was the only online profile I have that’s public! He said he read through it and was impressed. He saved my picture and he admitted later on that when I was away, he kept looking at it. If he wasn’t bangable, that would have been seriously creepy. But then as I mull about it, I do stalk people online all the time, he was just brave enough to admit it.
The public gardens was one block away from my apartment so we continued walking and sat on one of the benches in front of a pond where geese were fat as fuck from people feeding them constantly despite signs telling people not to feed them. I learned a lot about him. His family, his past relationships, his work and basically his life in a nutshell. The exchanges were mutual, I shared him stories about my life too. It was so open and honest between us that it was actually refreshing. I think he finds me hilarious, and that he was in awe at how a young, smart and beautiful woman (his words not mine!) like me is single. To be fair, I’m not the only young, smart and beautiful woman in the world who is single. George is 34, 5’10 in height, recently got out of long-term relationship with an older woman, and just basically trying hard to start over.
We parted that day both anticipating the next time we are going out on a date which he promised will happen on the same week. We have been constantly texting each other ever since, updating each other about our days. The week ended without me seeing him. Friday (July 24th) night came and I was by myself at home feeling so restless. I didn’t know what to do with myself. I don’t have anything to study anymore and my roommates were out on a company party. So I drank and almost emptied a bottle of white wine, fought the urge to drunk text George but gave in eventually and called him. An operator answered in fucking French. Thank heavens.
On Monday (July 27th) I texted him to see what’s up. My mind was definitely clearer then. He answered right away as he always does asking about my weekend. He said he was so busy working on the proposal he’s told me about and trying to settle into his new place and work and all that. I was relieved to hear from him to be honest, I thought he had lost interest in me.
On Tuesday (July 28th), I learned that I passed my CGA and that I got the Hong Kong secondment. I was truly ecstatic about it, and was very grateful. When I met George, I honestly considered not going through with the Hong Kong opportunity. That would have been the single most stupid fucking decision I would have ever made. Thank God for friends and family who helped me find reason.
Thursday (July 30th) we met again. He picked me up from my apartment and we proceeded to Point Pleasant Park. He went with me to check out the park for spaces where we can hold the picnic I was organizing for my Filipino group. We walked around, enjoyed the cool summer breeze, talked about a multitude of things and just reveled in each other’s company. I showed him pictures of beaches I went to in the Philippines. How he loved it.
In the days following, he would always hint at wanting to see me, he would go as far as set a time for us to meet and then flake out at the last minute. It would always leave me feeling disappointed because I could have made other plans. One time, we set a date to meet for coffee after my work. He started flaking out again so I stopped replying and made plans with friends. He texted later in the day saying he was in a Starbucks in my area, he barely has an hour he said. My desire to see him trampled all the annoyance I felt so I rushed back to see him. We had a nice little time catching up. It was too short but his tight hug before we parted carried a lot of promise.
He did it again however, set a date and flake out at the last minute and I was having none of it. So I sent him a long message telling him I did not like what he did. I never got a reply. I thought that was it. I was never going to see him again. I liked him a lot. Hell I was putting myself out there for him. I have never been this crazy about any guy before. I find myself going to church and praying for him and I’m not even kidding.
Last Friday (August 21st), I went home from work and saw a white Lexus SUV parked in front of my building. It looked too familiar and I felt all my blood rush to my head. I had never felt so nervous. And I had just come from church! He saw me looking so I mustered up the courage to walk up to him. I was at a loss for words. I asked what he was doing there, he was waiting for a customer, that’s what I thought anyway. But good God if that was a sign, what was I supposed to make of it?
So the texting began again. I finally told him I’m leaving for Hong Kong. He was thrilled, genuinely thrilled. He was already planning to travel all through winter to escape the Canadian cold and now he’s dead serious about going to Hong Kong, or so he says.
But I’m no longer holding on to that. I decided to delete his number on Monday. I wanted to save myself some pride and dignity. I think I was already trying too hard. If he wants me, he’ll make it happen. I haven’t heard from him for a week now. Maybe I will, maybe I won’t. In any case, I am moving forward with my life. I did give it a try, the ball is on his court now.
Life, Career and Friendship
I am in a happy place. My career is taking off quite unexpectedly well. I am officially a CPA, CGA in Canada and I am moving to Hong Kong for a two-year secondment at the end of the year. I got to see and spend time with so many good friends this summer and I’m looking forward to seeing more when I go home late this year.I am going to New York next week for Labor Day weekend with my friend Matt, and I’m going to stay with Sarah. This was a spontaneous trip that I decided to book because of all the turmoil I have been feeling with George. I just wanted to get away really. But now my intentions are different. I just want to enjoy this trip with friends. Maybe even watch some live US Open tennis action and see Rafa.
So there goes my summer. It is not even over yet so who knows what will happen next.