Once in a while, we do it.
Twenty-two loving years together, my partner J and I still make time for date nights, just the two of us.
While we are not like many straight couples who're burdened with kids and can never find time for romance, J and I are both extremely busy professionals who devote too much time to our work.
But we also know we can't take our love for granted.
Amid our long working hours, J would always initiate date nights.
And so, that day, J took a day off from his firm to match my forced leave day.
Our plan was simple: Meet for brunch and spend the entire day (and night) together.
At this point, I must warn you -- this piece you're about to read will read like it's a journal entry written by a 16 year old who's newly in love.
It's nothing but a simple recount piece.
But one that's recounted with love.
That Friday morning, we met at Suntec City for brunch.
J, who was always early, scouted the perfect place for our meal. A restaurant that ran a promotion for a $14 set lunch comprising an appetiser and main course.
I went on to order just that, plus wine that cost us more than our set lunch.
It was a wonderful day.
We had an unhurried meal -- not the type where I was distracted by chewing my food and reading work documents at the same time.
And J had plans.
"We can either watch a movie, or be tourists and get on the topless bus tour around Singapore," J said with that impish smile which I had first fallen in love with in 2002.
"Topless tour," I said. "That sounds promising."
J rolled his eyes and asked Stanley to get out of my body.
"Ew," I said. "You know what that sounds like?!"
It was a wonderful plan, the one J had tried to design.
But we followed neither of it.
After lunch, we spent two hours strolling around Suntec City, paying particular attention to furniture shops, imaging our future together in my soon-to-be-bought HDB flat.
And by the time we reached the theatres at Suntec City to see what's available to watch, we had missed all sensible showtimes.
The old Adam would be very upset but at 45, the Adam now has toned down.
And so, J and I gave up movie plans.
When I asked if we should play tourists and hop on the topless bus, J shrugged and said, let's just enjoy walking around aimlessly.
Forty five minutes later, we found ourselves at Shake Shack where J was intrigued by the fast food chain's local mikshake: Pandan with gula melaka and coconut bits.
It was a cup in heaven -- cos that's where good people with diabetes would end up.
The two of us took turns to suck up the sweet shake like two love birds who skipped class to go on a date at a cheap fast food joint.
Years ago, I would be anxious if my date with J had no direction.
Age has certainly mellowed me and I have learnt to go with the flow -- something J always taught me to do.
By 5pm, we found ourselves with other tourists outside the Esplanade, taking in the breathtaking view that is Singapore's skyline.
From the corner of my eye, I saw an alfresco restaurant and said to J "let's have dinner there!"
J shrugged. A shrug that said why not and we both found ourselves on the rooftop dining area of Supply and Demand, a restaurant with relatively good food.
I say relatively good food 'cos I simply can't remember how the food tasted.
All I could remember was J and I sitting on the edge of the alfresco restaurant, looking at each other and feeling calm, blissful and loved.
Our order of scallops, pasta and kurobuta pork (with pinot grigio) took us two hours to finish, and by the time we were done with dinner, day had become night.
And it was the perfect dinner, the perfect day, the perfect date.
As J and I strolled along the Singapore River, staring into the wobbly reflection of the skyline, my pinkie hooked his.
J looked at me with an expression that said what?
I smiled back at him, with an expression that said the three words that no longer need to be said after 22 years.
Adam's stories are based on real life events and inspired by real people
No comments:
Post a Comment