Page 31 of Status Undefined
“Seriously, babe. If this is what an illusion feels like, I can’t even imagine the real thing.” As always, Daniel had a comeback.
Next stop was “Phuket’s finest Ramen” – according to Daniel, that is. The waiters yelled something that sounded like “welcome” in Japanese when we arrived. Seated at our table, I looked around at the Japanese posters on the walls and the Japanese customers – evidence that it really was the best ramen in Phuket. Daniel fiddled with his chopsticks as we waited for our food.
“Do you know how to use these?” he asked.
“Of course. It’s a basic skill if you live in East Asia.”
“Okay. It’s about time I learned. Show me.”
I showed him how to hold them, correcting his grip.
“This stick has to be supported by this finger so that it doesn’t move.”
“It keeps slipping.”
The server arrived with his ramen.
“Now we’ll see if you’ve got it.”
“Take a video. I want to document the first time I manage to eat with chopsticks.”
“Good idea. Definitely an important milestone in your development.” I laughed but took his phone and did as he asked.
We filmed about five clips before he actually got some noodles into his mouth with the chopsticks. I cheered and clapped my hands. The server, back with my ramen, giggled.
“It’ll take a while to upload five clips to Instagram but it’s worth it,” said Daniel, busy with his phone.
“You’re posting them all? Even the failures?”
“If I only post the last one, people won’t understand how hard I had to work to get it right. It would be a boring clip of me eating with chopsticks.”
I stared at him, baffled by his logic.
“I’m not interested in portraying life as perfect. It isn’t.Vulnerability and the ability to laugh at myself is also important to the followers. It’s what makes them relate to me. What about you? Does it make you relate to me more?”
I flushed and tucked into my ramen. I couldn’t explain why, but Daniel’s vulnerability did make me want him even more. It’s weird. You’re supposed to want the person you love to have it all. I didn’t want Daniel to fail, but watching him struggle with this skill made me want to hug him – and more.
Afterwards we took a taxi to the south of the island. We watched the sunset from the foot of the windmill, the vast golden ocean stretching below us. There were hundreds of people around us, mostly couples, sitting on the grass. A busker was doing his best to provide slow love songs as background music and occasionally someone would toss a coin into his open guitar case. The brisk wind tousled our hair and made its own music. Flocks of birds swept to and fro, probably photo-bombing the sunset shots being snapped by the people around us. There were a couple of sunset cruise boats visible in the distance. Daniel was quiet. He’d taken some pictures and clips which I imagined were already on Instagram and I assumed he was just appreciating the view. But then he smiled at me and took out his wallet. He was up to something!
He took out a 100 baht note and got to his feet.
“What are you…”
Without saying a word, he went over to the busker, put the money in his guitar case and whispered something in his ear. The guy nodded and Daniel came back with a suspicious expression on his face.
“This had better not be what I think…”
The busker started to play a familiar song.
“It’s our song, babe. It will always remind me of you.”
He put his arm around my shoulders and the memory of the beach in Patong came into focus in my mind.
Well, fuck. He really did know how to get to me.
The sun had set, but we didn’t move. People began wandering off. They clearly didn’t know the secret: the most beautiful part happens about 20 minutes after the sun has dipped below the horizon. Then the sky turns into a magical canvas of reds, oranges and purples. Daniel made sure to share the spectacle with his followers. I was 25 and, for the first time in years, I felt like the coming year was going to be a fantastic one.
December 31
