(One of) The Five People You Meet In Transit, Part I

Alex was a man I met in transit, at a layover between relationships and en route to Sydney.

I'd stopped over in Singapore about 3 years ago and arranged to meet my old friend Rob for dinner. We used to be neighbours before his family moved away. As kids, Rob and I were very close. After he moved, we still kept in touch and would occasionally meet up if one of us is in town.

So I texted him: 'DINNER @ THE USUAL TONITE?'

'YES! U HV 2 STOP DROPPING IN UNANNOUNCED, AM BRINGING SUM1 OK?'

'8PM, CAN'T WAIT, KISSES!'

I was on time for once. 'The Usual' was a kitsch French joint that Rob took me to the first time I met up with him in Singapore and it has become a ritual since. It has been a while since I last saw Rob and couldn't wait to catch up. I prayed that his 'friend' would be on the same wavelength. Five minutes later, I spotted Rob talking to the maître d' and waved them over.

Rob's friend turned out to be Alex - a tall, charming Italian - who told me that they'd made plans to meet before I dropped in, although I was a nice surprise. I apologized for distrupting their boys' night out and Alex grinned at me, showing off his dimples. Rob and Alex are my favourite type of men...The Well-Intellectuals. Well-dressed, well-groomed, well-mannered and well-spoken, and sometimes, well-known. The term 'metrosexual' was invented for the duo. Glancing at the menu, I wondered what to order and what Alex thought of me. I knew Rob too well and too long to cradle any notion of a sexual relationship with him, but Alex was unchartered territory.

Alex was wonderful. We got on like a house on fire. He turned out to be a male version of myself...and this is a very rare thing indeed. Here was finally someone I felt like I could be myself with! Before entrée was served, we'd made plans for dinner the next night...without Rob. He took it nicely, knowing me only too well, and even arranged for Alex to send me to the airport for my 8am flight the next morning. Dessert couldn't come soon enough.

Rob offered to send me back to my hotel after dinner. As he was driving, I made him head to a bar for some real catching up instead. He took me to a quiet lakeside lounge that he frequents. Sitting by the lake on a clear July sky, we nursed our Gin Tonics and caught up.

"Things have been real good huh, Tash? You've never looked this happy."

"Nasty, but I'm happy...you know that guy I was seeing before? Gone. I'm clean, too. Things have been really good."

"When and why? You never reply my e-mails!"

"Well..."

An hour later, I tried to pry some information about Alex out of Rob.

"Where'dya meet Alex?"

"At work. Tash, look, you and Alex are two of my closest friends. Please don't break his heart."

"I won't! What did you think I was going to do?" I giggled.

"He obviously likes you..."

"Well, I like him too. I probably will never see him again anyway."

"And I have to see him every day. Just be nice, Tash. Promise me."

"All right...but only if he is!" I giggled again. The alcohol was getting to me.

Three GTs later, it was time to go back. Rob sent me back to my hotel and promised to visit me in Sydney. I undressed, got ready for bed and thought about my pre-Alex plans for tomorrow. I definitely needed a wax and proper lingerie...if I was going to be naughty on transit, I might as well go all out!

...to be continued.