This morning’s cool and overcast weather was perfect for one of my favorite indulgences: a piping hot bowl of bitter gourd pork soup at the kopitiam. I have a rule—I’ll only eat at the hot kopitiam when the weather isn’t sweltering, and today ticked all the boxes. Off I went, securing a comfy seat and savoring my bowl of warm, flavorful soup.
While enjoying my meal, I ordered two Char Koay Teow for takeaway—one for Sherilyn and another for my mil. The plan was to have a peaceful breakfast, finish my errands, and head home. But as life would have it, there was a twist to my simple morning.
Just as I was relishing my soup, I spotted a familiar figure walking into the kopitiam. Oh no—it was MC! For context, MC is someone I often bump into, and he never misses a chance to invite me for lunch. He’s brazenly open about his intentions and liking towards me, and while I’m polite, I’m also cautious. I’ve known MC for over 10 years at our condo gym.
It was too late to make a graceful exit, and the moment he saw me, his face lit up with excitement. “What luck!” he exclaimed, adding that he had a “sixth sense” he’d run into me today. He chatted animatedly for a few minutes before heading off to order his chap fan.
But, of course, he came back. MC sat down at my table, and we chatted again. From our conversation, it became evident that he’s quite lonely. He mentioned how he doesn’t have many friends and shared a bit about his distant relationship with his children. It struck me that his constant invitations for lunch stem from a longing for connection.
While we were at the kopitiam, he kept telling the CKT seller and drinks seller that I was a ‘leng lui’ (pretty girl)! And these sellers know me and my hubby pretty well. Can you imagine how awkward I was!!
While I felt some sympathy for MC’s situation, I had errands to run and couldn’t stay longer. I quickly finished my soup, bade him goodbye, and made my way to 99 Speedmart.
But fate—or MC’s persistence—had another surprise in store. As I approached the store, there he was, walking in. Not wanting another prolonged chat, I immediately detoured to another supermarket. Crisis averted! 😅
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| My bowl of piping hot bitter gourd + pork + egg noodles with lots of pork lard. Simply delish. I washed my keto meal down with a glass of sugar-free iced 'cham' (coffee + tea). |