Tak Kenal Maka Tak Cinta...

• A: Can you believe this soap? Why is that woman wearing such a heavy make-up going to sleep? =Looking at the TV=
• Z: Isk Isk… dramatic sungguh…
• A: Eh... wow… the Waja’s sport rim super cun lah! =Looking at one of the cars parked outside the restaurant=
• Z: Hmmm… I’ll save some money and have mine changed too next year.

Look right, Look left… front... nothing interesting at that moment…

• A: Should I start writing that letter tomorrow?
• Z: You should... and also finish up the photo-editing, and also start compiling your literature reviews. Keep that in mind.
• A: Ouh.. so much work need to be done, Haishh….
• Z: Dun worry, be positive… Slow and steady wins the race =smiling positively=
• A: Weeee, here comes my Roti Pisang
• Z: uuu.. still hot… where’s the fork and spoon eh?

…….

This dialog can go on forever. A and Z are the same person = me! That’s me and an example of a dialog I have when I’m dining alone. When I dine with someone, its 2 ways communication therefore I make way to listen. On the other hand, eating alone, I talk and talk... non-stop. The difference is - no one can hear my inner voice.

What is wrong with eating alone? Haha…

Some people prefer to ‘tapau’ (take-away) food rather than eating alone in a public place –restaurants etc. I used to be like that, until recent years. Undeniably, I prefer and love dining with friends, but sometimes when no one is available at that time, and I am sooo hungry I could eat a dinosour (sambil perut menari2 dangdut gerudi)… I will just hit a café or a restaurant and eat alone (but sometimes I tapau too).

But Yaaah… eating alone is kinda tricky… I can entertain myself to the extent I can be very close to laughing out loud; or seeing interesting things around, I have a tendency of changing my facial expression according to that. Euwww… creepy and so weirdo ok! Never do that in public wek! I’m getting good at controlling it… haha… (takut kena cop psiko)

Yesterday nite… I ate alone… at this mamak restaurant nearby campus. The humongous TV was playing yet another soap drama, about some hantu keliwon kot. I ordered pasemboq and waited for my food to arrive, emptily watching the TV while I was having my usual az-to-az chat.

Suddenly a man around 40+ of age came to my table and held on to the chair diagonally opposite of me.

• A: Ohh.. he wants to take the chair…
• Z: Erkk.. but there’s so many empty tables around.

Then, he pulled the chair and sat.

• Errr… excuse me… why is he sitting here?
• Omg… is he going to lecture me for something I did? What did I do just now? =Usual paranoid attack=
• Nah... he won’t attack… this is a public, open place.

I looked at him… he looked back.

He looked relaxed.

I looked back… he looked at me blankly.

• Z: Ok… this is scarryyy…… Atta… help!!!!!

I looked back at him , my face expression all distorted with confusion and some hints of fear. He looked back and snapped

• Encik Konpius: Ehhhhhh…. Alamakkk!! Ehh...Salah meja!!! =Looking shocked and startled=

me =terlopong luas=

• Encik Konpius: ...saya ingat bini saya…. Ehhh! bini saya kat situ.

He thot I was his wife?? He quickly stood up, pointing to where his wife is seated; two tables away, behind me.

• Encik Konpius: Errr.. minta maaf.. minta maaf… salah orang.
• Me, Dazed: ha… err.. oh… takpa-takpa…. (its ok)

He quickly walked back to his wife. Behind me, a table with a group of girls, giggling “Dia salah meja ka… hihihi”

I sat there, didn’t want to turn around. I was confused for a while... and then I wanted to laugh... I wanted to laugh out LOUD… but how could I??? I am eating ALONE!!!! Haissshhh…. These are some of the challenges of dining all by yourself!

I finished my meal. Then walking to the counter, I passed by the couple. Both of them smiled coyly. They were going back themselves, and were getting in their car by the time I came out.

• Encik Konpius: Sorry naa tadi.. tersilap meja. terkejut ka tadi
• Missy Dazed: =smiling politely= Ha’ahh.. errr takper2…
  Isteri Mithali (wifey): Hehehe… Mintak Maaf naa.. dia terkonfius tadi
  Missy Dazed: Hihihi.. takper2.. terkejut sikit je tadi…

I smiled and waved my hands before heading to my car.

Ok… Lesson Learned!

Next time I eat alone… I should put a signboard beside me

“Saya bukan bini anda, sila cuba meja sebelah”

Akhir Kata...
"Tak kenal maka tak cinta, tak kenal maka memang tersentak"