James story is my story....(I)

It was Sunday morning when my mobile ringing and James cheerful voice at the other end.

‘Can we meet up for brunch soon?’ he said with very happy voice. ‘Of course this time on me.’ he added.

‘I got so much to do today, got date line to rush for, maybe later in the evening?’ I said, and still wondering why he sound so happy.

‘Come on, I need to see you,’ he said and ‘I really need you to come out from your cave just for me today.’

I glance at the time, it was 10.00am in the morning, not many people could drag me out from my place on Sunday especially when I got a lot of things in hands to settle right now.

‘Give me an hour and I’ll be there.’ I said.

‘Excellent,’ says James. ‘There’s someone I want you to meet. And we’ve just got time for a swift one before they arrive.’

I get sudden feeling of déjà vu. ‘Don’t tell me – another potential ‘boyfriend’ for me.’

James laugh ’Well, you’re right about the ‘male’ part.’

I stop for moments, and lean heavily against my wall. James has tried to set me upon a number of occasions, none of which have worked out. Our tastes in man, like our tastes in music, are a little different. ‘This better not to be another prospective ex.’

‘No,’ says James. ‘At least, I hope not.’

An hour later, I am sitting at a table in La Bodega, the bar just round the corner at Bangsar Shopping Complex.

‘Here you go,’ James puts a pint down on the table in front of me, then - and not for the first time – glances anxiously at the main entrance. Given how nervous he’s looking, I am starting to get a little worried about what he might been up to.

‘Checking your escape route?’

‘What? No.’

He looks at his watch, then gulps down a large mouthful of larger.

‘Listen, George. I’ve got something to tell you. Well, it’s more of an announcement, really.”

When James doesn’t continue, I put my beer down and study his face, wondering what is it he’s having so much trouble saying. He’s perspiring, an it’s hardly hot in the bar, so either the brisk walk here took more out of him than normal, or he’s really worried about something.

For a moment, I wonder whether the ‘worries’ thing was just a ruse to get me here, and he feels he needs to be in a public place – with witness – before he can say what he’s got to say. But what? I know he’s gay, no man trouble – particularly since as far as I am aware he hasn’t had a boyfriend for the best part of the year – which just leaves one thing. And it’s the thing closest to James’s heart –money.

‘Hold on, James. I can guess what this is.”

He look a little surprised. ‘You can’t.’

James suddenly holds both hands up, as if he’s trying to fend off a beach-ball. ‘The guy that I am chatting online is coming to see me today,’ he said and ‘All the way from England.’

‘What?’

James nods. ‘Yes, can you believe it?' He says, evidently not quite believing it himself.

For a moment, I can’t think what the appropriate response should be, ‘When? Why?’ I start to say, then fortunately manage to turn them into a hurried. ‘Who’s this man?’

Before draining most of my beer in one gulp. ‘I mean, I didn’t even know that you had a long distance ‘chat-romance’ or ‘dating’ and you never tell me anything about this man.’

I shake my head, and then realized that as surprised as I am at his news, James is even more stunned at my reaction. ‘I am sorry, James, What I mean to say is ‘congratulations’, of course.’

He breaks into a relieved grin. ‘Thanks.’

We clink our beer glasses together, then regard each other across the table, grinning like idiots, until I actually have to ask. “But seriously, who’s this man? What’s he like? And how long have you two been chatting online?’

‘Matthew,’ he says, glancing at his watch again, and then at the entrance.

‘Is he?’

James frowns, ‘Is he what?’

‘Handsome, good looking, how old is he?’

James reaches into his wallet, then hands me a photograph of an extremely handsome man. ‘Although as a matter of fact, he is.’

I whistle appreciatively, ‘You’re telling me, he’s an Englishman from England, rights?’I say, studying the photo closely.

I shake my head incredulously.’ Well, you certainly managed to keep that quiet. And how long this has been going on?’

James shrugs, than adjusts his sunny. ‘I’ve been chatting with him for the past 6 months, only speak properly on the phone three times, but hundreds of times on my yahoo chat.’

I nearly drop the photo into my beer glass. ‘What? And he’s coming here to live with you?’

James snatches Matthew picture from me and carefully slides it back into his wallet.

‘Well, okey, maybe more than three times.’

‘Yes, James.’ I say, finally understand who today’s mystery guest is going to be, and why James is so nervous.

‘And you don’t think it’s a bit … Weird?’

‘Nah. A lot people out there does the same.’

‘But you haven’t see him yourself yet?’

‘Nope, but he’ll be along any minute.”

‘Hang on. So, how if he turn out to be fat old an ugly man, what, fifty year old?’

‘No worry, it’s only visiting me and get to know me and if all come along nicely,’ says

James, ‘he'll make a move and settle down with me.’ James added.

‘And you’ve arranged to meet him here? This afternoon?’

‘Yup.’

‘With me?’

‘Well, I wanted to make a good impression.’

‘Don’t you think you’d have made a better one by picking him up from the airport yourself?’

‘Nah, he thinks I am a businessman, So I said I had a brunch with my client.’

‘So I am the client?’

James grins. ‘I may have neglected to mention that particular fact. But you’re a famous writer, everyone read your blog!’

‘Well, that’s very nice of you to say so,’ I say, swelling a little with pride, ‘but I hardly think that’s true.’

‘Maybe not,’ says James, immediately bursting my bubble. ‘But he doesn’t know that does he?’

‘And what does he know about you? That you’re..’

‘Like I said a businessman,’ repeat James.’ And a successful one.’

As James fixes his gaze on the entrance. I don’t quite know what to say. For all his outward anxiety. James seems to be treating this as a pretty normal sequence of event. ‘Listen, Are you sure you wouldn’t prefer to be meeting him on your own?’

‘You’re joking. I’d be a nervous wreck.’

‘As opposed to the cool, calm, collected person sitting in front of me?’

James grabs a service from the dispenser on the table and dabs at the sweat on his upper lip. ‘Is it that obvious?’

‘No, James, you look fine.’

‘Great, because this is important, you know? And I’d hate to mess it..’ He suddenly stops talking and breaks into a huge smile, and when I look over my shoulder, I can see the reason why Matthew looks just like his photo, although he just dress in jeans and t’shirt – and to James’s obvious delight, he certainly lives up to his name.

James waves at him- a pretty unnecessary gesture, seeing as he’s the only other white man in the bar.

‘Hi,’ he says.

‘Hi, James,’ replies Matthew, smiling shyly up at him. His accent’s quite strong, and a little hard to place, although of course, having been live in England myself for few months it wouldn’t make any difference to me.

James half holds a hand out, not sure what the correct greeting is - although I have to say I’d be just as clueless given the circumstances – and they do an awkward little dance, before Matthew grabs him arm and kisses him lightly on the cheek. I can’t help feeling like I am intruding, and wonder whether I should just sneak away, but don’t think I’d be able to get past James, so instead, after I’ve left a suitable pause, just clear my throat awkwardly.

‘Oh yes, sorry,’ says James, looking around suddenly, as if he’s just remembered that I am here, ‘George, this is Matthew, Matthew, this George.’

‘Nice to met you,’ I shake his outstretched hand and concentrate on speaking very slowly, in the hope he’ll understand me. I know that they’re bilingual in a lot of English man, but James doesn’t always speak to his friends in English, so I can’t just assume that, might be a problem in them.

‘Let me get you a drinks.’ Says James, looking like he’s in need of another one himself.

‘Thanks, A lager please.’

As Matthew watches him go, I find myself staring at him, wondering what kind of man would up sticks and move halfway round the world just to meet up with total stranger that he meet and chat through the net!

‘Not too hot for you?’ I ask, noticing that his t’shirt was wet. Here in Kuala Lumpur, I mean, rather than this particular bar. Great. Thirty seconds after meeting Matthew, and I am already talking about the weather. And I wonder why I am single.

‘Oh no, I love it, nice and warm,’ says Matthew, sitting down at the table, ‘I am used to it, being warm and humid, plus, it’s nice to get away from the cold weather.’

I feel myself start to redden. ‘No, I mean, yes. But James hadn’t mentioned, well, anything about you until about five minutes ago. And I thoughts these online dating are all about… Well, I don’t know what I thought, to be honest,’ I say, to no one in particular, bebofe picking my beer up and pretending to be interested in something floating in the glass.

Matthew nods. ‘and so it’s natural to see whether we might hit it off or not.’

I excuse myself and head off to the toilet, leaving an embarrassed James to explain what he meant, hoping for his sake that he hasn’t fallen at the first hurdle. But my fears are unfounded, as by the time I come back, they’re gazing into each other eyes like lovesturck teenagers.

I finish the rest of my beer quickly, than clear my throat. ‘Well, as much as I’d like to stay here and play gooseberry, my work at home is waiting. Matthew, it was lovely to meet you, James, thanks for the beer. And congratulations, both of you and have some fun.'

‘Thanks, George,’ says Matthew, standing up, and giving me a peck on the cheek.

’Great to meet you too. And I’d love your blog, it was great and real.’ He smiles down at James.

‘Thanks.’ I say as I make my way toward the main entrance.