High tea

Yesterday I washed my car in the morning, started at about 8:30am. My plan was to do that and then go to the gym, but by the time I had finished, I needed some time to find presents for Hayley, Rom Rom and Jennifer, so decided to skip gym. Haven't been to the gym for a while. Before my last ride with G, my knee had been feeling a bit wobbly because I hadn't been on the bike for so long. It has seemed ok for this past week.

Anyway, I went out to the city and checked out a Morning Glory store (MGS) on Goulburn St. I found some travel bag tags that I thought were cute and suitable for Rom Rom, and maybe a chocolate mirror for Hayley, but I wasn't really sure what I could get for Jennifer. I thought about those big soft toys, like the toad head, but I wasn't sure if she'd like it or if she had any use for it.

I then went to check out some of the similar stores in market city, considered getting her this rectangular crystal with the thinking man inside but then changed my mind, and then checked out the MGS in Chinatown. Here I found they sold mainly the same stuff, but they had this hand-held fan that looked like a cute cartoon character which I thought might be useful for Jennifer on the beach on a hot day, so I got that for her.

I went back to the first MSG to get the chocolate mirror and the tags, and then decided it was time to walk up to meet Rom Rom. I sat in a food court for a bit peeling all the price tags off, and I'm sure that if I looked like an Aboriginal people would've thought I had stolen the stuff.

After doing that I had a bit of spare time left so I went to a bookstore to check out the book "I, Mick Gatto", read it a bit and thought it was a bit too simple. I had a feeling one of the guys there thought I was there to steal something.

By then it was time to meet Rom Rom, so I went to the corner of Myer and waited a bit. After sitting down for a few minutes I saw her. We greeted eachother with a hug and I gave her the present and then we decided to go for a walk inside the store because Jennifer was meeting us later. We kinda just floated around a few levels, not particularly looking at anything, and I could feel my legs getting tired.

When we walked out it was time to meet Jennifer, and we found we had received messages from her saying she'd be a bit late. Hayley sent Rom Rom a message saying she'd be a fair bit late. Rom Rom showed me the state theatre across the road while we waited for Jennifer. We then had to walk to another corner to meet her because she was a bit lost.

There were no hugs or anything when she arrived, probably because she was on the phone with someone. I gave her the present as we crossed the road. She checked it out and laughed, saying she liked it. She leaned towards me for a kiss and I leaned in, and she kissed me on the cheek.

*SWOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOON*

I was like in a daze for the next five minutes, lol. I also wondered if there was a lipstick print on my face.

We went to the hotel and got a lift up to level 8. The setting was pretty classy, and I suppose this is where the price comes in. I find that women pay more for the setting and mood than the actual food. We found our reserved table and sat down. I sat next to Jennifer and opposite Rom Rom, but it didn't matter much because the chairs were so big there was so much distance between us. Jennifer pointed out the fountain of chocolate and was pretty excited.

We talked a bit before I decided to go get some food, because I hadn't had any breakfast. We all went to check out the food and filled our plates with sandwiches, cakes, pies and other sweets. It was more filling than I thought. I actually didn't eat much, and certainly not my $35 worth. We took some photos just before we started eating. I knew I should've brought my camera, Jennifer and Rom Rom had brought theirs.

Hayley arrived later and didn't eat much either because she had a major hangover. At one point she even went to the bathroom to throw up. That was when we decided to go check out the chocolate fountain. There were fruits and marshmellows around and you could make a kebab stick out of it and stick it into the flowing chocolate, lol, yummmm.

We took some photos, and there was this one of Jennifer and I holding our fruit kebabs near the fountain, sooo sweet!

By now Hayley had returned to the table and there was more talk as we ate our fruits. Jennifer said she was so full after that, lol. Jennifer and I didn't actually talk that much at first, I guess it was probably me. I feel like I need time to warm up before I start getting into the flow of things.

When Rom Rom and Hayley started talking amongst themselves, that sorta left Jennifer and I to ourselves. I don't think we really got into much of a conversation, we just talked about how both of us had been interested in joining the police force, I would ask her a bit about France and then think about how boring I just came off, but she also said she wanted to get that little toy that swings from side to side and asked if I could show her where the shop was, so I at least knew there'd be some post-high tea activities.

I also brought up the topic of her travels, and managed to make everyone laugh when I joked that she should make her own flag and then spike it into the ground of each and every place she has been to, hehe.

I thought she looked pretty stunning in her dark blue shirt, and with a jacket on she fitted right in with the settings. I couldn't help but wander off at times in my mind, lost in how beautiful she was.

Jennifer and Hayley talked a bit about their previous night, which sounded like they had met some guys at bars, like friends of Hayley or something. Jennifer said she didn't like one guy because he was boring, while Hayley thought he was interesting. I wonder if Jennifer thought I was boring. They also talked about a guy who apparently couldn't get his eyes off Hayley's breasts. This talk about other guys made me wonder if I was even in Jennifer's league. She's so beautiful, smart, and socialble, she must have tonnes of guys after her.

We stayed till closing time which was about 4:30, and then headed down to the first MGS. On our way we passed that arcade games place so I stopped them by and we went in for a look. I showed them the game where I had won the iPod, but my real intention was to try to win them (read: Jennifer) a toy. I played the one where you could get the soft blue puppy, and I got it on my first go! They were pretty surprised as they watched on. I offered it to Rom Rom at first, then she said no and I offered it to Jennifer, but she said to give it to Rom Rom, which I did.

I asked Jennifer if she wanted to play and she said she never had any luck with games like that. I had one more go and then we left. They were pretty amazed at the stuff inside the MGS, lol. I find that it can be a very good thing when you start bringing Westerners into the world of Asians.

They wandered around the store, intrigued by all the neat stuff they had. Jennifer especially liked that big grey toy, which was selling for like $300. I always melt when I hear her laugh in joy, and seeing her pat the toy just made me feel so good about having brought them here.

She ended up buying a small blue toad, and she kept hugging it and smiling.

Damnit, I told you to buy that damn toad!!

She said it was for her brother, but she also played video games.

Is she perfect for me or what???

She ended up carrying quite a few things, all with bags from the store. I joked that if she came to Australia again I would get her that big grey toy.

We left the store and Hayley said she was being picked up, so we waited with her at the corner of the street, and the usual hugs and goodbyes happened. I was kinda relieved now that it was just the three of us.

I was just going to walk with them to the bus stop because Rom Rom suggested checking out some shops in Paddington, and I had to meet up with Malay and the gang for a farewell dinner, but then Rom Rom invited me along and I checked the time and said I could, as long as I finished at 6pm.

So we walked to the bus stop and caught a bus. We sat on the three seater on the side that can be folded up for wheelchair access. Jennifer spent the whole trip texting, while Rom Rom who was in the middle talked to me about toys and stuff, which somehow led to marriage.

We got off a few stops later and crossed the road to an old reservoir which Rom Rom's partner sometimes goes to for photos. I must say, it seemed like a pretty cool place, like a place that would be good to go alone to for some thinking time.

We took a few photos, with Jennifer posing with her toad, and at one stage Rom Rom suggested I take one with her. So we stood next to eachother with our toys and posed for a photo. I don't recall whose camera that was with, but as of now it hasn't been posted on fb, waaaaa!!! Some of the other ones have.

Rom Rom's partner arrived later, by which time I had to go anyway. I said goodbyes to them, and the hug with Jennifer was probably the last time I'd see her - ever. She thanked me for taking her to the high tea place, hehe.

I walked off, with a mixed feeling of content, disappointment and abandonment. Content, because I left on an un-negative note. I mean, if this was a few years ago, I probably would told her I liked her which would've ruined everything including my reputation at work. I was content not to know whether she liked me or not, because I feared the answer.

I was disappointed because I knew I wouldn't see her anymore, and also because I knew she'd be returning home to France in December.

I felt a sense of abandonment because I was walking away, and also because I was leaving Sydney next week.

As I sat at the bus stop, waiting to meet up with Malay, I looked through some of the photos I had taken of Jennifer with my phone and smiled.

Sometimes, you just have to be content with nothing.