..never BURN the bridges..

..::when fiction and realities collide::..

"NO WAY!" I can't believe my eyes when I walked into the lounge. 2 years have passed but I still recognize that classy face, sitting next to my crowds on the VIP table. "Oh, man..how can it be?" I keep murmuring to myself thinking about how and why she got here. Anyway..that's fine..who cares anyway, right..

...
"Ohisashiburi desu" I said that with a simple smile while shaking her hand. "Hisashiburi desu nee..Nick wa genki?" she said that with a big smile on her face. "Hai, genki da yo" ..yeah, whatever..I took a seat at the corner and start pulling my luckies. It's a small world, I guess..especially in this global environment we can encounter anybody from the past..no matter how far we're from "home".

...
"So Nick..seems like life treating you well" she tried to melt the ice after I ignored her for almost 10 minutes and kept myself busy talking with the guys about how a French guy I met through LinkedIn just launched a new kind of cocktail in Tokyo last week. Yeah..it was pretty interesting party..it was at Grace Building in Roppongi with crowd full of every kinda people. Anyway..I don't want to be a jerk, so I looked at her and answered her question. "Life is wonderful and things are great. How about you? Everthing's cool?"..I paused and I noticed that she actually looked different.."You looked different by the way"..I sipped my bourbon and excused myself to go to the restroom..
...
"Hey, what's up with you?" Jeff asked me while he was taking a pee next to me. "What's up with what?" "You know..that cold attitude to that chick..who's she? why u're pulling that cold play out there?" "Yea yea..her name is Fumiko (see my previous posting). We used to work on some deals before and that's it. I don't play any game like you just accused me though." "Bulls! hahaha..like I don't know who you're." "Haha..seriously..nothing happened." "OK, Nick..fine..fair enough, see you inside." "Cool."

...

It's getting late and few already left. I was still there..trying to get some information about the latest developments in Energy sector across ASEAN. Somehow I feel like somebody was looking at me..so I dropped my luckies box and tried to sweep the sight in one natural movement. Got it. 5 o'clock direction, 2 tables behind, there..Fumiko was standing there with 2 guys who seemed pretty much wasted (but still trying hard)..yup, she was looking at my direction and when our eyes met she threw a smile. Damn..not again. I actually didn't want to play any game but that smile looked "genuine". Maybe she needed to be rescued from those punks? Bah..she's a big girl..she knew how to carry herself. Anyway..let me be a "white" knight. I turned around..waved to her..and asked her to come to my table. She nodded and excused herself from those dudes and walked toward me.

...

"I thought that you would not talk to me anymore tonight..what's up, Nick..you got bored with Uncle Jack?" *easy..easy..relax..be cool..* "Nope, I just thought that u need some rescue back there. Was it helpful?" "Actually..yes..glad you pull me over, arigatou. So..how are you? It's been a while.." "Indeed..it's been a while..well, like I said earlier..it's all good." My goodness..I'm tired with this..demo shikatanai ne. "Nick..you don't have to talk if you don't want to..I'm fine." Shit. "No no..I didn't mean to be rude..sorry if it makes you uncomfy..I just had some thoughts over my work. So, what's the story morning glory?".

..finally I put a friendly smile on my face..

..and she replied with the smile..a smile that took me away last year..a smile that made me almost lost my mind in that big transaction..a smile that I try to forget..

..damn it..

*to be continued*