I arrived at my prior penciled-in engagement 25 minutes late.
Not deliberately, really-
I'd planned on being only a nonchalant 15 minutes late.
But the cab driver was new to the trade and after 2 phonecalls to his fellow driving mate, a pathetic attempt at looking up the street directory, he took me to the wrong destination.
Then I walked round the block and asked 3 different people for directions.
By the time I found the place,
I was flustered, pissed off, and not a pretty sight.
Of course he had forgotten about a last minute work-thing.
He'd also manage to organise for his best friend to keep me company while he attended to the 20-odd guests who were running an hour behind time.
Apologies rolled out like red carpet-
Event: Eugenie's visit
Venue: Somewhere near the river
Time: 7pm ++
After party: Declined!
And hence I trampled on the carpet and let residual sugars from the blush bubbly linger.
We talked, yes!
About work, my desire to work in New York, SARS & his work, my work in Melbourne, his work-filled life.
In between there were apologies and dinner.
I surprised myself with an unforgiving lack of legitimate chagrin.
I sat, amused, calm, jetlagged.
He insisted on driving me home.
White, leather seats, Korean, spotless;
I kept my eyes on my knee caps.
Too tired to make any form of conversation,
I let him buffer the 11-month long silence with desperate attempts to maintain a cordial nothingness.
He continued talking as he stalled outside the house,
I nodded incessantly, thanked him for the ride, asked that he takes care,
He talked about a trip to Perth next January, about the sacrifices of his punishing career choice,
We hugged and I pulled away after the customary 3 seconds.
I once again thanked him for the ride,
He talked about needing a holiday, about an invitation to a wedding in Melbourne to which he had regrettably declined.
I smiled, no, I smirked.
Leaning over to offer another hug, he muttered 'I've missed the hug'.
To miss: to crave, desire, feel loss, long, need, pine, wish, yearn
The: female
Hug: touch, embrace, cherish, clasp, clinch, cling, cradle, cuddle, embosom, enfold, envelop, follow closely, grasp, hold, hold onto, keep close, lie close, lock, love, nestle, nurse, press, receive, retain, seize, squeeze, stay near
He always left it to the last minute.
Except this time I'm not tottering after the last minutes like a pining adolescent.
He held on, more than he had the last 2 times we made exit.
There was a kiss on the neck, and avoiding eye contact, I crept out of the car.
I'm glad I didn't have my glasses on when I turned to wave.