The pleasure is all mine

*The names have been changed so that the parties are protected. Somehow lah.*

Some time ago, J heard the news of a classmate (N) getting together with another uni school mate (B). So far J had been too lazy to further verify it.

The weekend was supposed to be a good time to verify this matter as J was supposed to meet N and their common gang for dinner. Sadly, N left when J came. J sounded out the remaining gang discreetly without alert them but apparently no one had any whiff of the news.

Opportunity came in the form of a present that J was supposed to pass to N on behalf of a friend. So J made use of this opening and made a special but a bit out of the way trip down central west to satisfy his curiosity aka just bor liao.

Unexpectedly J met B when he was parking his car. B was on his way to buy some stuff and of course J offered B a ride home as both live in the same area (this is so that J can do some discreet probing later" But B mumbled about buying stuff first, meeting up later and hurried off. This is not surprising as B and N are colleagues, which meant that they could have shared info. But this is not a conclusive clue. Yet.

So J met up with N as planned initially. While J was slowly easing N into her comfort zone by chatting about the usual stuff, J can’t help but notice N was off and on doing smsing at her hp. And then N suddenly commented B will be joining them later as he is in a queue now. (Closer than usual coordination between 2 colleagues can be expected, normally, and hence hardly a good clue.) Then J further noticed that N was constantly on a look-out for B as “he should be passing by this direction”, N commented. Hmm…

Running through his mind, J decided to cut it close by giving N a sly side glance and said suddenly : “B 的人很不错 hor”.

N instinctively blinked. A slight smile appeared. Then N mumbled something that J couldn’t really catch. But at the sight of that smile, J knew. With the rabbit firmly in his net, J chose to completely change the topic. This tactic was to confuse N who will be mulling about if J had knew of this budding romance and also to give N a chance to declare it first (Hahaha yeah right). N held her tongue, and to the J’s dismay, N’s white knight came cruising to her rescue unknowingly before J can go in for the kill.

As N is safe with her white knight, J knew that exposing them right there would kill his thrill prematurely. So 将计就计，J steer the conversation to his own work related matters to disarm N so that J can continue his fun later with B as J is sure that N wouldn’t suddenly confess or do anything that would spoilt their “just friends cum colleagues” façade in front of J. J can only deduct that N and B had agreed to continue keep J in the dark with or without prior consensus among themselves.

Soon N had to meet a colleague to take a taxi home. Saying their farewells, J and B embarked on their way home. Around half way home, J used the same tactic on B i.e “N的人其实很不错hor”.

Living up to J’s knowledge of B as a straight forward person, B admitted his budding romance which started just a few months ago, albeit after a stunned silence. Using this as an inroad, J managed to get more info by acting pleasantly surprised. Anyway Men’s talk is also sacred and hence not reproduced here.

Why this is interesting is that N just broke up with E less than half a year ago, citing personality issues. E happens to be J’s friend too, although not so close to J. E and B had been together since around 5 or 6 years ago while B and N was colleagues currently less than 2 years ago and had gotten together a few months ago. It would look suspicious to most but J would prefer to give B the benefit of a doubt as in any relationship, there is no right and wrong. Things happen, people change.

Then it occurred to J. Is there an accepted waiting period for people who just broke up to find a new love interest before people would label him negatively? So far in his survey, there is no conclusive societal standard period but then no matter what, some people would think otherwise.

An Epilogue

Reproduced below is SMS exchange between J and N where J decided to have some fun when he got home.

J : “hee. For whats its worth, I wouldn’t tell our gang until you announced it yourself. Cheers”

N : “You should just ask me the direct question. So you know before you ask B?”

J : “Heard about it some while ago but was surprise that our gang din know last weekend. So today is a good chance to test you both. At least B is more honest than u. ha”

N : “You din ask me the right qn :) so I just answer your indirect one. He always more honest than me. No need to hide thou but also no need to announce to everybody”

J : “Yes yes… I get your meaning. No Fret, ;) I think you both are perfect together though. Good night, hee hee… =) ”

N : “Thanks. Wish you and XXX well too :)”

J : “Ha ha… Yeah right… Dun change the topic. =) you are the focus leh :) if you dun trust me, I think you shd trust XXX who is more honest than u. wahaha…”

N : “Where you think until. Only wish you well, din say u r successful :) good luck. ”

J : “Yeah right… Got bf liao, so can get cheeky right… ok ok… Give B face, let you win. =)”

N : “B says thank you for giving him face. Thank you also for delivering the gift. Night :)”

J : “Ha ha… help me say good night to B too. Btw your work place is not really on my way ;) night.”

N : “Ok. One soon not to be secret confirmation trade for a free ride home and free delivery think quite worth it lah :)”

J : “The pleasure is all mine. Wahaha… =)”

The end? Wahahaha....

P.S: if anyone reading knew who i'm talking about, kindly dun confront the new couple directly please. and of course dun mention me as the source. Cheers.