The Real Deal: Part Two
21 Nov
I don’t believe in fate.
I believe in timing.
So, to be honest, it strikes me as a little strange that on Wednesday, while I had a number of other topics for posts, I chose to write about Real. I did not have any intention of going to The Bar any time soon but with the holidays approaching I knew that it would only be a matter of time before I would find myself there.
And find myself there, I did. Far sooner than I expected. As I walked in I hoped against all hope that he would not be there. It was busy and a casual glance around the place assured me that he wasn’t. When I reached our table I took a seat facing the bathroom my back to the entire bar. If I didn’t know any better, I would say I was trying to hide myself.
Ten minutes later, I looked up as the bathroom door swung open and straight into his eyes. He looked into mine. I looked away. Then it dawned on me.
Oh fuck. That’s Real.
And my eyes went back to him.
Whatdidtheinternettellmetodo?makethemproud.
He came over. To my table of four men.
Icouldn’thaveplanneditbetterevenifIwantedto
He stood over me, smiling.
I didn’t get up.
Instead I said, “Oh?! I didn’t recognize you.”
He said, “You look different too. You’ve done something to your hair.”
He continued chatting to me for about five minutes. I was polite, a little too smiley in retrospect, and brief. I was also extremely uncomfortable. I played with my hands a lot. He was cool. Much too cool. There was some silences that he attempted to quickly fill in perhaps understanding that I wasn’t going to. I answered in monosyllables, giving away nothing.
“So how have you been?”
“Great!”
“Drinking water again I see?”
“Yes.”
“I saw the video you posted on Facebook today.”
“Did you?”
I wasn’t entirely speechless. I asked him some questions too. Isn’t that what being polite entails? I wish I hadn’t. I wish I had said, “Dude. I really don’t want you talking to me. And stop being so friendly. You made a point of passively showing me you didn’t want that.”
Instead I didn’t.
Instead I was rooted to my chair. My body still facing the group of guys I was with, my head turned slightly to the right in his direction.
He stepped a little closer. I froze.
“It was really great seeing you” he said, ”I’m sure we’ll bump into each other again.”
Fuckingvaguefuckhead
“I’m sure.” I replied failing to keep the sarcasm out of my voice.
Then he leaned down and planted one kiss on each of my cheeks.
I didn’t move. I didn’t say a word.
I spent the rest of the night with my back towards him. I laughed, I clinked, I played with a tendril of hair that had fallen around my neck.
When it was time to go, I stood up to put my jacket on and noticed that he was still there. I think he was watching me leave. I think he was smiling.
And if he was, he would have seen a waitor chatting to me and then he would have seen a random, extremely drunk patron try to grab hold of me.
And if he did see that scene unfold before his eyes, then I’m pretty sure I know what his condescending smile was all about.
I did’t show him that I had noticed. I didn’t say goodbye.
As I left, I didn’t look in his direction at all.
Ah. Perfectly executed, I think. I don’t know the backstory (will have to go and plough through a few posts), but I do know that that’s one headfuck, planted right there. Well done you.
Hoorah you!!!
Well done. Perfectly executed.
You did good. And it’s funny how things do happen for a reason.
I am so proud of you Hope! I hope he was watching you, and I hope he was jealous, and I hope he realizes that he totally fucked up.
“Whatdidtheinternettellmetodo?makethemproud.”
haha loved that line :)
It sounds like you handled an awkward situation with grace. Yay!
Maybe it is better it happened so soon, even though you weren’t expecting it that day. Now you got it over with and you don’t have this big build up of “what am i going to do when I see him.”
I think you handled it well, especially that you left without saying anything to him.
Oh wow… I don’t know the whole back story to this, but if I ever run into my ex, I really hope I can play it as cool as you did! Seriously… especially the leaving without looking in his direction and all that – I would have a tough time doing that!
He was totally watching you!!
You did it! Great job. Couldn’t have gone better, from my point of view.
That’s perfect. Way to go!
you done good, pretty lady. that must have been tough. but you pulled it off.
keep on truckin and just let it play out…
Good for you, Hope. I think you handled that well. You didn’t come across as too eager, or too rude. You were a lady. And that’s all we really want, right?
On the other hand, I hope he was sick with jealousy. hahaha.
good for you i hope i have the same courage…soon.
Jen Ramos
‘100% Recycled DESIGNER Cards & More’
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Good on you. You made the internets and yourself proud. Couldn’t be much better than that. XXX
Yayyyyy!
You get a 10.0 for that one. Good for you.
(and I’m almost predicting he starts facebooking you now or something, because men just do that)
Good for you! You pulled out an awesome performance :) I hope he was green with jealousy!
I also hope I can pull the same routine myself…
Hoorah!
You comported yourself like the classy, way-too-good-for-him lady that you are! I am proud! :)
You did good, girl!
Well done. YOu handled that a billion times better than I would have.
Someone went home that night with you on their mind. Bet on it.