Couples Retreat

On Wednesday I spent the day packing up stuff in the office, going back and forth from the office to my car. It was a pretty hot day, and I started to get fed up as I did more and more. What was really killing me was loading the car up and seeing it slump down due to the weight. Perhaps it's my paranoia, but I think it hasn't propped back up even after I have taken the things out of it.

When I filled up the car I drove down to Michael D's office. It was a lot quicker this time because instead of going through the city I just went straight there. Maybe the Eminem music made it more enjoyable too.

I got there at around 3pm and decided to get something to eat as I hadn't had lunch. I also sort of wanted to explore the place, because it was so beautiful, like the images of countryside you see in ads. I couldn't imagine many crimes being committed here. As I walked down the street from where I had parked, it was only a few steps before I noticed the court. I thought Michael D might be in there so I went in to check it out.

It was kinda an unreal feeling to sit in a small L court again, after this whole case. I saw Michael D at the bar, finishing a matter. As he walked away he saw me and acted surprised. He asked me to watch the next matter because it was interesting, but I think he just wanted to deal with his clients first.

After watching the matter, Michael D and I started unloading the stuff from my car and into his office. I was so relieved to see the pressure taken off my car. After that we had a bit of a chat, and then I left. I went to the Macca's that GS and I went to on Monday, and had a peaceful meal with a burger that didn't taste as good as it looked. I think I'll stick to their main menu.

I was a bit annoyed with the drive back, because these little insect like things just started smashing against my windscreen, dirtying and cluttering it. Grrrr.

I was supposed to give a folder to GS after that, but it was too late, so I held onto it.

My drive back would sort of pass the area where John and library guy worked, so I decided to stop by. I drove to their suburb and stopped outside what I thought was library guy's office. It was now a real estate agency.

No one had told me they moved?

I went to have a closer look, and then remembered there was a pizza place a few shops down from it, but that was gone too. I then looked across and down the street and realised I was in the wrong area, haha, stupid me.

I walked across his office and saw some guy and girl I had met briefly before. I called him but he didn't answer. I called John and he wasn't answering. I decided to drive to John's office but it was closed when I got there. The place was surrounded by Vietnamese people, but I felt way out of place. I felt like a foreigner, and was a little fearful that some may think I was a cop.

On Thursday I drove to work again because there was more stuff to be picked up. I didn't want to pick up as much, so just tried to fill up two boxes for Michael D and one box of stationery for myself. I then drove to the city where I dropped off that folder for GS, and then started looking for some food. I went to the Macca's at Chinksford at first, but the car park was full so I ended up going to the shopping near me. After having Macca's, I went to buy some kitty litter at my mom's request, then sat in my car, waiting to see Saw 6.

During this time, I started wondering whether I should ask Ele out to dinner. I thought about that entry I made telling myself not to, and then thought about how this could be the last chance I'd give her. If she agreed, then great. If not, then you leave it at that, and there's nothing to lose (except your pride and the shift of power back to her).

I texted her asking if she was available to meet up for dinner at 7:30pm that night. A few minutes later, she called.

Goddamn, this ignoring thing really DOES work! You ignore someone for a bit and next time they'll be craving to see you.

I answered it and she sounded very eager to hear from me. She was with Eva. She told me she was at some tea place in the city, as she had taken the week off work due to stress, and couldn't be seen in the upper part of the city to avoid her colleagues. She asked if I wanted to talk to Eva, and I said I wanted to talk to her (Ele), but she passed the phone onto Eva anyway. We eventually agreed for me to pick them up at Ele's place and then we could go to dinner from there. Ele asked me if I knew where she lived.

Ummm...of course I remember! I've dropped you off before!

When I said yes, she told me the address anyway.

I went home to drop off the kitty litter and then headed to Ele's place. I was kinda late because I was stuck in some heavy traffic. I was expecting them to be standing outside waiting for me, but when I got there they were nowhere to be seen. I called Ele, and after a lengthy ring, she picked up and I told her I was outside. She said something like "I told Eva you would say that!" It suddenly occurred to me that that was why she took so long to answer, because she was saying that to Eva.

They came out and got into my car. Ele had that familiar strawberry smell about her. It felt a bit odd seeing her again. I had somewhat moved on from my infatuation, having moved onto Jennifer. Ele gave me this little blue soft cuddly toy, saying it was an ugly monster. I joked "are you calling me ugly?" and she corrected herself as she read the label, saying it was a "mini monster". I was glad she finally gave me something and took it as a positive sign, until she told me that Eva had given it to her but she didn't want it. I teased her about giving me rubbish and asked her if she had anymore rubbish she wanted to give me.

Eva said that this was the first time she had been in my car. I think she was right. She said we had to go pick up Michael L. I was kinda glad too, because I thought it'd be a bit awkward having dinner with just the two of them.

On the drive to pick Michael L up, we talked about her situation, about how the doctor said she had high cholestoral due to the food she was eating and the stress from work. Eva would sometimes talk about her own stuff but I was kinda more interested in listening to Ele. I noticed that she didn't have any make up on. She had pockets underneath her eyes - exactly the same look that Bec2 had the day I noticed she wasn't wearing any make up.

We also talked about my case. Apparently they hadn't seen anything about it in the news. I don't think they watch the news much. I gave them the example that Shuing and I started about him picking up a washing machine for Michael L. Ele seemed like she was saying to me that I, or we, shouldn't be expecting fairness in this world. I told her I expected it when someone's life was at stake.

When we picked up Michael L (who immediately asked Eva how much she spent on shopping earlier, prompting Ele to tease him by asking me how much I had spent), Ele suggested a Japanese restaurant in the Wick, so I started heading off. As soon as I made a turn, Michael L said "you could've gone straight". Grrrrrrrrr!! Even when I went off the road where the restaurant was located, he questioned me, until I told him that I wanted to park in the shopping centre. I said I didn't want to leave my car outdoors.

Then Ele said the strangest thing out of the blue. She said she was telling Eva earlier that I was very sweet.

Where did that come from??

I was thinking about what I could say but didn't say anything.

After parking, I noticed that Michael L was not very familiar with the shopping centre there. We made our way to the small restaurant and found a table for the four of us. Michael L seemed more interested in showing off his iPhone than making actual conversation. I knew he was trying to save money, so I went with whatever order he wanted.

I kept trying to find the right moment to tell them about my new job, but it was kinda hard, because Ele and Eva were playing table hockey on the iPhone and then afterwards they were talking about something else. Finally when I found a break, I told them I was changing to the other side. Then I told them where it was.

Apart from Ele suggesting we have a farewell, and on two separate occasions stating that we should get a stripper for me, she remained fairly quiet. I wonder what she was thinking. When she mentioned the stripper thing, I was tempted to say "you could be the stripper", but didn't think it'd be appropriate given how Eva and Michael L were there. I remained silent, and it looked like she was trying to figure out why I didn't say anything.

There was a bit more talk about my new job, and then we eventually started talking about other things. But I thought I could notice how Ele seemed to be thinking about it.

When there was talk about organising a farewell, Ele suggested the Friday before I leave, but I said no, because I thought Shuing and co had something in mind. So then she suggested Thursday, and I said "I'm meeting up with a girl, who helped me...", I was obviously referring to Bush, but didn't know how to phrase it in a way that didn't seem as inappropriate as it was gor government jobs.

It obviously sounded like some sort of date to them, and Ele's response was "that's great!" which seemed a bit odd, and I took it as a slight sign of jealousy.

We agreed to go watch a movie. I said I wanted to watch Saw, but Ele said she wasn't in the mood, so I suggested Couples Retreat.

Towards the end of our meal, this girl walked in and ordered take away. She was very, VERY attractive. I couldn't help but think that I was probably eligible to go for girls like that, who, looks wise, were better than Ele. Was I punching below my weight with Ele?

Anyway, she was initially sitting at a table waiting, but when new dine-in customers arrived, she was invited to sit at another table where another guy had been waiting for his take away. I kept picturing how if that was me, I'd be killing myself to come up with something funny to say. I was a little disappointed that the guy didn't try his luck.

After finishing dinner, we drove to the shopping centre near me. When we initially got into my car, I lowered Ele's windows and asked her if she could do me a big favour, and she pushed out my side mirror. On the drive there I asked Ele about Tracy's birthday, and here's why I think she's more clever than the impression she gives off - she knew why I asked. After saying how they just went to a restaurant and karaoke, she explained to me that the reason I wasn't invited was because she had told Tracy that she didn't think I would have anyone to speak to there because, well, basically they were all fobs. I could understand it from her point of view.

When we got to the cinema, I saw Ele close my side mirror and then she said, "I can be trained", lol. We stood around the cinema in an unorganised queue for a few moments before a staff member waved me over. I told her the movie, and she asked "for two?" which I thought was a bit presumptuous, but anyhow, I said yes and waved Ele over. I gave the girl my credit card and when Ele realised what was going on, she tried to give over her card as well but I told her not to. She wanted to put a coke on her card but I asked the girl to put it on my card as well.

Everyone except Michael L went to the bathroom, and when I came out I saw him holding a coke and three straws. I asked him why there were three straws and he said it was so we could share the drink (him and Eva would share one straw).

The seating was a bit funny. We sat at the bottom front section, and initially from left to right it was Eva, Ele, Michael L and me. I was kinda content, but disappointed. Then Eva complained about not sitting next to Michael L, so Eva and I swapped seats. Part of me wonders whether she knew I liked Ele.

The movie was a pretty good reflection of what Shuing had told me - it was kinda like Role Models, a comedy with some life's lessons. Watching it with Ele, and the couple of Michael L and Eva, made me kinda feel that we were two couples. I wonder if Ele felt the same way, or was she thinking about her boyfriend?

I was in the mood for a comedy anyway, so I enjoyed it very much. I couldn't help but think whether Kristen Bell was hotter or that girl from Sex and the City.

After the movie, I dropped off Michael L and Eva first. That was the plan after all, to pick a location that was closer to their home so I could drop off Ele last, hehe. During that trip alone, Ele must've yawned at least ten times, so much that Eva and I were making fun of it.

After dropping them off, Ele and I were silent almost the entire trip.

Dude, you HAVE to tell her that the girl you're meeting (Bush), is married.

It was only until about halfway that she asked about organising a farewell for me. She said we had to because she wouldn't see me for a while, adding that they never saw me much anyway. I said "I want to see you more, but I think you are always busy". She didn't reply.

She asked me who I wanted, and I said not too many people. She started going donw the list, naming Shuing, Eva, and Michael L. I said no to all of them, and in my mind I was saying "all I want is you". She jokingly added that there wouldn't be any Bobby. So she knew.

When I arrived at her place, she said goodbye and started getting out. As she did, I said "hey, the girl I'm meeting with, she's married". She just nodded and said "ok" and then said goodbye as she closed the door. As usual, I waited until she walked up the stairs first before I did a u-turn and left.