Smile, it makes people wonder what you are thinking

I tried to put into practice some "advice" India once shared with me. I thought it might be useful to try it today at lunch; since I was feeling a little lonely and food tastes better with company anyway (because I'd usually be either too nervous or distracted to eat it - viola, a less bloated me!).

One of her tactics, when it comes to meeting people involves this;

"Just pick a table. Any table. Preferably somewhere in the middle. Sit down, close your eyes. And smile. Give your sweetest smile, not some horny stupid one," proclaims India, in the adorable, stacatto way that she speaks.

So, I tried that. And true enough, within a few seconds (though it felt like 2 mins), someone tapped me on the shoulder and asked me what I was smiling about. I blinked a few times, and said,

"Oh, actually, I'm trying to guess what all these different smells are... there are so many of them.. all around! I'm Nas, by the way" *extends hand*

Omg. What a stupid thing to say?! But it was the first thing that came to mind, because i REALLY was trying to sift out which smell is the sambal belacan, and which one's the asam pedas etc etc (I was at this Nasi Padang place near the office, Sabar Menanti) and it tickled me because if you ever bothered to stop and smell, everything's simply lumped together to form one distinct, oily aroma and it's tough to tell the difference, unless you have it on your plate. Hahaha. It's like eating chilli-paste oil.

So anyway, this guy, also there on lunch break, also alone, and definitely older than I am but still young enough NOT to be my father... laughed, shook my hand and told me to wait cause he'll join me in a bit to "smell things out".

And he made a good conversational company! And I wasn't lonely anymore! And he's pretty cute and very very engaged (they're getting married sometime August). And he's never met anyone like me before (wait till he sees India and listen to all her unconventional theories about meeting new people)! His name's Eric and he works at some advertising company around the area. Oh and I got free lunch. Hehe.

So yeah, there you go. Just smile and you won't be lonely :) Tested and proven!

India, if you are somehow reading this, I miss you so so so much. It's been too long and I really really wanna see your poofy face again - i'll accept any form of punishment? Will that be good enough? Text me, email me, IM me, whatever... call me..? Please..? At risk of sounding like a clingy gf here... where have you been?!