Dating Boo boos

You know how it is when one's mind when in an idle state would think of the darnest thing? I was experiencing that just now while packing certificates for the upcoming students' graduation. Somehow I started to think of the reasons why my past dating experience had always been a big disaster in that, the outing would go on fine enough but somehow, there would hardly be a second chance. 

One of the key things I learnt in my Dating 101 game was, never, ever tell him about your past love life. I think I have read this somewhere. He wanted to get to know you and NOT the person who used to hold your hands. While it's good to confess and come clear, sometimes, certain things are better left unsaid. He is not interested in what time you used to do together.  Full Stop.  I still remembered what I did to this person whom I used to date back then. He was not really my first choice as I was on a rebound. He wanted to go out, so I was happy to obliged. I wanted to be the free-spirited, confident un-whiny type because I thought all guys hated the whiny, needy kind. He was not impressed and found my attitude a bit "vulgar". Well, whatever lah Mr Rebound. 

I then went on another date with a friend (which was arranged by another friend) that ended up in a disastrous hollow state - to my hungry stomach that is. We didn't know where to go so we ended up walking from  Plaza Singapura all the way to Shaw House Lido.  The Malays would've called it "ukur jalan" - measuring the distance of Orchard Road from one end to another.

There were no interesting movie screening so we ended up walking again. It was a good workout if it weren't for the fact that I was wearing a new pair of shiny, black patent Mary Janes and my toes were practically killing me. Once we reached KFC, I thought it would be ok to appear coy and ordered iced lemon tea. I mean, girls aren't supposed to eat, right? They'd be seen as greedy, gluttony and fat, right?  He didn't even bother with "are you sure?"  Just went to the counter to buy himself a complete zinger meal and placed a hot cup of tea in front of me.  I asked for iced tea!

Ok, it was an honest mistake and as I'm not the type to create scenes, hot tea is perfectly fine with me. And so it was that I spent the entire time opposite him trying to sip the burning hot tea while ignoring my rumbling tummy and trying not to salivate at the juicy zinger he ate. Every bite he took was pure agony on my self-made hungry self. If I were not pretending to be prim and proper, you could've seen me drinking my own saliva right there on the table. There were no more phone calls after that and I'm more than happy not to hear from him. Lesson learnt: If you're hungry, order whatever you fancy and pay for it. If he likes you, he'll accept that you're human and would gladly pay your share of the meal. If he doesn't at least you know that you've paid your half and that you didn't owe him anything.  Oh, and wear comfortable shoes.  

Less than a month later, I was at the same KFC with this guy whom I've been dating on and off. I was slightly shivering because of the motorbike ride along the expressway on a chilly night. So this time, I asked him to get me hot tea. Stupid me, I used a straw and burned my tongue. Lesson learnt: Never use a straw to drink hot tea. 

On another date,  I had to wait almost 2 hours for him. I am very particular about punctuality and if you're late for that long, you're considered as "unforgivable". Maybe that's one of the reasons why he left me. The black face. Nobody wants a scowling bride. Lesson learnt: Never ever scowl. You might get a permanent scowl if you continue using a straw to drink hot tea but at least, it's an accidental one. I learned a lot along the way and sometimes I'd kick myself on all those avoidable incidences. There were so many "what ifs" back then.  But then again, maybe we're all destined for something better and that we'll live and let live.