friendship

have you ever been stood up by two people, on the same day, at the same time? last sunday was suppose to be about old friends catching up. as i was seated in my chair at the hour, i realised that they were not going to show. that's the inevitable consequences of having cavalier friends, and unfortunately, most of my friends fall under that category. not that they aren't good friends, or good people for that matter, it is perhaps partly my fault for fixing the appointment with owls at lunchtime rather than dinnertime. but then, being a wildly-fluctuating insomniac and narcolepsic, i wouldn't know that was a taboo.

strangely, anger was taking an extended holiday and couldn't make it either. i was more like amused, amusing as it was to be reacting that way. i could drive myself crazy with thoughts of how much our friendships were worth and what i was to them, but i don't like to go there. such is the definition of a friend, they accept you for what you are. still, a little tad of disappointment crept in unannounced, like a church mouse.

the first friend went back to bed after receiving my call. the second promised to appear in 45 minutes time. 45 minutes time. i wasn't sure i could sit around for 45 minutes, mincing on my food whilst he brushes his teeth and whatever other morning rituals he has to do to make himself presentable. i was still deliberating when he hung up the phone on me. when the food started arriving, i decided i didn't want to wait. i just wanted to enjoy the delicious spread before me with peace of mind, no deferrence, no intermission, no lingering. i texted back don't worry, no need to hurry. have lunch with you next time, and settled down to delicious dim sum.

half an hour later, with half a steamed siu-mai still inside my mouth, a man materialised from thin air, shoes still partly worn, hair hardly combed. we spent the next 2 hours with good food, good conversation and good friends.

this story is not meant to make the one who didn't turn up feel bad. this story is about the little surprises we get from friendship; just when you want to give up on all that is sincere, someone makes a little more effort. this story is not about the number of times we meet to catch-up but about the laughters and the memories when we do.