Coincide
Monday, October 20th, 2008“so where are you from?”
“indonesia.”
“here for studies? holiday?”
“ya.”
“okay…”
i knew i was being a curt little bitch. why, i, or rather we as a supposedly collective entity, just lost two of our luggage. some virgin airplane system casualty, i suppose. and someone in particular just had to have the opinion that i, and only i, was at fault. holiday, my foot.
the shuttle driver for the car rental station finally dropped us at the designated area. i gathered my stuff (or what’s left of it) and marched quickly towards the counter to sign some papers. it was around 9.30ish in the evening. why the heck did i pick a semi red eye anyway?
after the usual legal stuff, we went out to inspect the car. and someone on my party went full throttle on it. not a speck was missed.
“wow, he could really get a job doing this.”
“yeah…” i replied, and flashed him my ironic smile, another patented of mine. i just wanted to get this done and over with. but that was when i noticed his wristband. and somehow i thought about jimi hendrix.
“okay, if you would come around here, there are some teeny-tiny scratches and peeled-off paints, but that’s alright. this is a white car and the weather hasn’t been friendly.”
“uh-huh…”
“so…” he turned to me, “do you know how to open the trunk?”
eh, i must have looked so dumb, no?
“pull that thing right there?” i asked, pointing at a button with an outline of a car and an opened trunk on it.
“wrong.” he then proceeded to the back of the car, “there was a lady who rented this car and found herself stuck after accidentally dropping the car key in the trunk and closing it. she spent three hours trying to force open the trunk. and when she finally *click* press this thing right here, it opens right up. you can tell she wasn’t really happy about it.”
i smiled, “that’s unfortunate…”
“and now, here’s the complimentary map for brisbane and gold coast. here’s how you use it. this part right here…”
*hotel room music*
“so,” he finally finished, “would like me to show you how to get to your apartment address?”
“sure…” i said.
“no, i can’t,” he replied, “just kidding, here i’ll show you,” and he proceeded to write lines, crosses and some scribbles on the map while i looked on.
“and just so you know, in brisbane, there are no supermarkets or stores that open after 6 much less 24 hours.” i looked at him minimally weird and wondered how did he know we were looking for a supermarket. maybe he caught something from the conversation i had with mum earlier.
“however, near where you’re staying tonight, there is this place called stop ‘n save,” and he wrote down the name of said place on the map. “it’s really close to your apartment, two to three buildings away. you won’t miss it,” he continued. “and it opens 24 hours. how do i know? because i used to work there.”
“nice…” and i mentally made a blueprint for a shrine dedicated to him. grocery handlers have never looked so sexy.
“okay, so, what did i say about getting there again?” he turned into something that somehow reminded me of early primary school time. only cuter.
“down this road, and right this way…” i answered, playing along.
“and what did i tell you about that particular road?” he interrupted.
“err…keep…left?” i stuttered back.
“correct. and when you get here, remember to go below 60. the camera could get up to 1200 a day just from that lane.” he seriously (and adorably) pointed out.
“got it. okay. so, can i make some scribbles on the map as well?” i inquired.
“well, yea sure. and then i could keep it and sell it on ebay once you got famous.” he answered.
sigh, what shrine? i was organising a cult. how could you not love this guy?
“okay then. we’re all set. by the way, can you tell we just lost our luggage?” i nodded towards the leftover of our traveling supplies.
“why? what happened?” he asked with … (running out of adjectives to use here, help!) and such concerned smile.
“the airline messed it up.” i shrugged.
“so are you going to share your clothes or something?”
i gave it a thought.
“nah, i’d probably just sew something out of the curtain.”
“ha ha ha, okay. that guitar yours?” he pointed.
“nope, it’s my sister’s.” i answered. “well then, we better go now. i’m quite bad at navigating when there’s no sun,” i moved up.
“alright. by the way, my name is Mark. if you need anything, just give a ring.”
“sure, thanks a lot. really.” i shook his hand back.
more than just mean it, i did. someone, something, somewhere, somehow just place this (awesomely super awesome) guy right there to -for lack of better words - show the light on a dark brisbane night.
cheese, i know. but i was a total damsel in distress.
oh, did i mention that he was insanely* cute and totally my type?
heh heh.
*)technically, everything is technical.
