Page 16 of Status Undefined
“I do actually. In a place you haven’t been lucky enough to see yet. I can show you if you’d like.”
“No!” I said, a bit too forcefully. Blame the lack of caffeine.
“Fine. If you’re not into your own boyfriend…” he looked offended.
“It’s not that. It’s just…”
“I’m kidding babe. I get it.”
His smile turned me into molten lava. I moved closer and kissed his morning-breath mouth. I even forgot to ask about his tattoo.
December 11
(visa expires in 34 days)
There’s a big market in Phuket’s old city on Sunday evenings that’s usually packed with people. I was meeting Daniel by the clock tower, but the traffic was so snarled that I got out of the taxi and headed there on foot. Cell reception was spotty so we couldn’t share our locations. Luckily, Daniel was easy to spot because he was taller than most Thais. He was leaning against a wall and didn’t notice me until I was right in front of him.
“Hi.”
“Oh, hi. How did you find me?”
“When you’re looking for something, the universe provides. It’s called the Law of Attraction.”
“Attraction? So you’re attracted to me?”
I flushed a bright crimson.
“No, no! That wasn’t what I meant. It’s a thing. Let me Google it for you.” I said and then remembered I had no reception. “Another time. Let’s go and eat. I’m starving.”
Daniel looked amused as I tried to avoid his gaze.
Eventually we found a place to eat, under a giant, golden, illuminated dragon. The first thing Daniel did was take some shots for Instagram.
“What? It’s really beautiful!” he defended himself when he saw me roll my eyes.
“You think everything’s beautiful!”
“Even you.”
“So why don’t you take pictures of me for Instagram?”
Daniel hesitated.
“Forget it,” I said. “I’d rather you didn’t.”
“No, it’s ok. I was thinking about something the influencer Imet in Mexico said. She said I would lose followers if they knew I was dating someone.”
“Homophobia?”
“No. Not those morons. She has millions of followers, most of them men. She says it’s because they fantasize about her. If she were to include a man in her pictures, it would deflate their fantasies, and they would lose interest. I didn’t buy what she said until I talked to other influencers who said the same thing.”
“So you’re afraid that a picture of me would make you lose a lot of followers?”
“Don’t be mad, Amit. It’s how I make my living – not who I am.”
“I know that. I just wish you weren’t involved with this shallow stuff.”
“But it brought me to you, so I’m grateful to it.”
