The Batchelorette

I was awaken that morning by a call from crew scheduling, telling me I have a last-minute trip to Orange County. I was reluctant after an exhausting week of flying to Zürich and London back-to-back. I can’t believe they’re sending me off again too soon.

In between sleep and wakefulness, I remember you must live close to the area and impulsively thought of asking you over on Instagram if you want to meet up. I used to think Orange County is in LA and you’re probably somewhere near. I wouldn’t normally see a guy on a layover, much more someone whom I haven’t talked to a lot in the last decade. That’s just crazy. But then I thought, hey, we both could use some company of an old friend (or more like an acquaintance) and maybe you’d appreciate the invite.

You replied shortly, which came off as a surprise knowing it’s 6 am in California. Much to my dismay though, you were staying in your military base for the weekend, some two hour-drive away. After maybe three attempts of platonic invitations in the past, I honestly thought you’re just making up an excuse again. I would’ve taken it personally if I didn’t know how shy you tend to get and that you don’t really meet up with people often (which I only realized later on.) I shrugged it off and thought I’ll just use the layover to rest.

All of a sudden, you took back your word and said you’d drive up after all to see me. I didn’t know what changed but now that I look back at it, things really do happen for a reason. That day opened a floodgate of things for us that would otherwise have a butterfly effect if we didn’t meet up.

I just had the same layover not too long ago so I didn’t really have any agenda in mind. I thought we could just have a quick bite and call it a day. When I landed at 4 pm, I saw a message from you that said “I planned something. Wear something comfortable.” To be honest, that already gave me a good first impression. It’s kind of like meeting you again for the first time since I’m sure we’ve both changed drastically since high school. Even more, my clearer memory of you from when we were 12. It’s as if I’m meeting the adult version of you—a much more gentleman and well-groomed one from our younger years. I instantly liked your control over things which is arguably a scarce quality to find in a guy. I wasn’t even viewing it from a romantic standpoint but it already felt good to be under your wing.

I was famished from the 6-hour flight but I had a bigger problem on hand. The dress I packed up that morning seems shorter than I remember. I didn’t want to give you the wrong notion that I dress so skimpily so I even thought of running to the nearest mall to get something more decent. As I was waiting for my Uber in the lobby, I saw a blue car approaching and shockingly, it was you—punctual than the meeting time I told you about. I had to pretend I was running to the pharmacy to get something but since you’re already there, I wouldn’t bother anymore. I quickly made my way up back to my room to refresh for a bit and get my purse while you settled into a parking spot.

I don’t usually overthink how I would approach somebody but I debated if it was appropriate to give you a peck on the cheek since we’re ~adults~ now. As I climbed to your car, I reached out to you anyway. Might as well get through the awkward part, right? I’ve seen a few photos of you through the years and thought you look exactly the same. One of those people from my childhood who actually aged well. You looked dapper in your crisp, white polo shirt I still vividly remember up to this day. I, on the other hand, thought I probably looked a bit haggard since I didn’t even have time to reapply my make-up. Months after, you would reveal to me how nervous you got finally seeing me up close that moment and that your heart was racing. For a platonic meet-up, we sure both had a lot of jitters.

You unfolded a piece of paper that had our tickets for a pumpkin patch. I’ve never been to one before and I got so excited! It’s almost Halloween after all and it’s just timely. Once again, I was impressed with how you already booked it in advance. It just showed how well-prepared you were for this abrupt meeting even if we almost didn’t push through. We arrived at the place and you ran to open my door—a gesture you would consistently do for the whole day. What a gentleman, I thought. I’ve never experienced that before and thought you grew up with such good manners.

Tanaka Farms was absolutely charming with its Hello Kitty theme. I was shy to take photos at first but thought you already had a good grasp on how much I post on Instagram. I even made you wear this silly Hello Kitty hat with me, which you did by all means, and then we took our first ever photo together. I’ve kind of pegged you for a guy who dislikes being in front of the camera but you turned out to be such a trooper. We walked through the pumpkin area first that led to a sunflower field towards the end. I was looking forward to see some flowers but they were already wilted at that point. I remember cracking up a joke to hide my disappointment. You said that was the part when a good ray of sunshine hit my face and something inside you just lit up. I couldn’t remember the exact moment but I know it was when you started to look at me more intently.

We rode the wagon that goes through the entire property after that. You were asking me party questions that you know by heart for some reason. I’d like to think it was a good icebreaker for us but I saw how genuinely interested you were with me. It’s funny how we even got to talk about what my ideal wedding would look like. You were looking at me with such depth that I didn’t know what to make of it. Somehow, I got sucked in the presence of you that I felt like we were the only two people in that wagon.

We went to the petting zoo after that and while it scared me out of my wits to touch the lamb, I didn’t want to look like a coward in front of you. We moved on to the small farmer’s market to try the free samples and had a good laugh about it. In between those little moments, I realized how much fun I was having with you.

The trip to the pumpkin patch ended sooner than I expected and I honestly thought you’re ready to drive me back after that. You asked me if there was anywhere else I wanted to go to. I thought of The Broad right away as I’ve been meaning to visit for a while. I was so geographically-naive I didn’t know it would take us almost two hours in traffic to get there but you drove with no qualms. Along with some good music and easy conversations, I can still associate that memory of us with one of the best golden hours I’ve ever witnessed while we’re on the road. I think I only became keen with how much I adore that time of the day since then.

I booked our complimentary tickets online and got to the museum just in the nick of time. It was already evening at that point and as you opened my door, you handed me your denim jacket. You already anticipated I might get chilly even before I thought of it. I couldn’t help but to smile with such gallant gesture that my admiration grew stronger. It was confusing because I knew we’re just friends and there’s nothing more to that. You’re probably just being courteous.

We needed to browse quickly as they’re about to close in an hour. You were so kind to take photos of me in front of Glenn Ligon’s Double America 2, a neon signage that was one of the most popular installations they had at the time. I even took some candid shots of you as well which all turned out amazing. Who would’ve thought you would be my favorite subject from then on? The highlight of that museum visit though was when you asked a curator about this particular artwork that we had to spend the next 15 minutes pretending we’re actually that deep into it.

I was already so, so hungry given it’s almost 10 pm for my usual body clock in the east coast. I was just shy to confess and up until now, we still get a good laugh thinking about how you underestimated my appetite back then. Little Tokyo was a few minutes of walk away and we decided to just go there. I spotted an okonomiyaki restaurant during our drive and that was all I could think about. It was chilly while we were walking and you were still asking me those party questions from earlier, as if wanting to get to know me more. Our conversations were just free-flowing from the beginning and it’s one of the things that drew me to you eventually.

Chinchikurin was packed when we got there and we were told the waiting time would be thirty minutes. Even if I was already so hungry, I really wanted to try the place out and you remained to be a trooper. You were such a gentleman through it all and even asked me if I want to check the rest of the plaza to see if we could get some snacks for the meantime. We eventually got seated and ordered takoyaki to share and individual okonomiyakis. We sat side by side in front of the open kitchen, closer than ever, when you touched the part under my eye and said the veins I had from when we were younger are still there. I got stunned thinking how much you remember about me when I didn’t even know I already had it back then. You said I hardly changed. It took another thirty minutes before our food got served and while it wasn’t the best customer service experience, I could say I at least had the best time with you.

We were supposed to head to LACMA and Santa Monica Pier after dinner, which now that I think of it was a huge ask from me since it’s already late. You seemed to be looking forward to it and I saw the slight disappointment in your face when I said we should probably head back to Orange County so I could rest. Like you said when we’re finally dating, you wanted more time with me back then. I would’ve wanted too but physically, I was already so exhausted. Somehow, I had an inkling that it wouldn’t be the last time we’ll see each other and I was pretty confident it wouldn’t take another decade.

In the car, the mood became a little somber since my energy level already dropped. I applied some hand lotion on my dry palms and offered you some, too, which I could trace back to be the first ever moment we held hands unplanned. I felt how rough your palms were and thought maybe you lift heavy in the gym. It’s a funny memory I hope to not forget.

We were generally talking about random topics the whole day but the atmosphere changed that night. I found myself opening up to you more wholeheartedly. Mainly, about how I struggled in my first couple of years since moving to the US and had a hard time adjusting. You were so engrossed in my stories I feel like it’s the first time somebody ever truly listened to me. I knew I have a good friend in you even after years of absence in each other’s lives.

I was feeling butterflies as we were approaching the hotel. We had such a good day that I didn’t want it to end so quickly. I was probably self-sabotaging for even asking to go back that early.

As I reached out to you again to say our good byes, you asked “this sounds like a crazy idea but do you want to go out on a real date with me next time?” I was dazed. First of all, it sounded like a movie line that you perfectly delivered despite the obvious nerves in your voice. You eventually said it took you a lot of guts to ask me that, practically planning it the whole drive back. I remember beaming as if that’s the only decent response I could make at that moment and said “sure. Santa Monica next time?”

I got out of your car and looked back one last time before you drive away. You said it’s one of the most magical moments we’ve shared early on which I now kept as a habit every time you would drop me off somewhere. I knew from that brief moment when our gazes locked that you would be a part of my life moving forward. I didn’t know how to bridge our cross-country distance but all the uncertainties of before already seemed like a different lifetime ago.

Thank you for showing up that day and driving two hours to see me.

On Memorial Day, we drove to Las Vegas for a staycation with Choco’s family. They rented an entire home on AirBnB with plenty of room and a pool which all of us enjoyed despite the heatwave that weekend. It’s both a celebration for his two sisters’ birthday and a much-needed break for everyone as most of his relatives are front liners.

The house is located quite near from The Strip, but before we made our way there, we first stopped by Seven Magic Mountains– an art installation consisting of seven gigantic boulders painted in different colors. Created by Swiss artist Ugo Rondinone, it was supposed to be a temporary exhibit but later on found a permanent fixture in the deserts of Nevada. I’ve been wanting to see it in person but only had the chance now despite a handful of past trips in Las Vegas. There were a lot of people at the time that made it quite tricky to get a decent shot and we couldn’t stay for more than five minutes because of the unbearable heat. It was still a good sight to behold and I definitely recommend it.

Where we stayed:

It’s my first time visiting Las Vegas with Choco and I wanted to experience the revelry with him. We decided to extend our stay for one more day after getting a good hotel deal. MGM Grand was well-worth the price despite our last-minute booking. It’s in a prime location, just right off The Strip, and little did we know that most (if not all) hotel parking spaces are complimentary. I’m not sure if this was already the case before Covid happened but it saved us some bucks after hopping from one casino to another.

I hate the term “new normal” with a passion but there is no better term to describe how Las Vegas has been running amid the pandemic. Its people learned how to adapt in this current environment while practicing safety precautions. Our hotel, for one, has safety stickers for important spots which indicate they were thoroughly disinfected. They also gave us a kit that contains masks, a sanitizer, and a key tool used to avoid touching surfaces like elevator buttons and etc.

Where we ate:

One of the main reasons why we wanted to prolong our vacation was for the food scene in Las Vegas. Most buffets have remained closed but Wicked Spoon inside Cosmopolitan Las Vegas has already reopened. I was so excited to try it, having seen it in the buffet episode of Worth It. It’s one of the higher-end buffets in the area but worthy of the price, in my opinion. We were just supposed to book reservations for the next day but found out they’re closed on Tuesdays and Wednesdays so that day was the only chance we have. Luckily enough, we were able to get seats at the last minute.

I know the concept of buffets is not the most doable in a pandemic but Wicked Spoon was able to adjust effectively. It is still divided to different areas such as Asian, southern, seafood, and dessert among many others. We were impressed with how a staff member was assigned to each station who would courteously hand you a serving of your choice. This hampers close contact to the foods while still enjoying the buffet experience.

Typically, restaurants such as this concentrate more on quantity than quality but Wicked Spoon nailed both aspects. The crab legs dipped in butter have to be on top of my favorites, as well as the Texan barbecue platter (that pulled pork and mac and cheese combo was so good.) We also picked a variety of desserts and every single one of them was just amazing. The Thai tea gelato was so flavorful and that meringue-like texture of the passionfruit dome was out of the ordinary.

The next day before leaving for Arizona, we headed back to Cosmopolitan for a favorite of mine. I always say The Strip is like a pocket version of the US that features renowned foods of different states and one of which is Hattie B’s. I’ve been raving about this southern fried chicken spot since the first time I tried it on one of my layovers. I also made sure I’d get to try the original location in Nashville although this Vegas counterpart is already as authentic as it can get.

I went overboard on my first try not knowing how hot southern fried chicken can be. This time, we only went for mild which supposedly only has a “touch of heat,” but it was still so spicy! Just a fair warning for everyone unless your spice tolerance is high. We paired our dark meat chicken with crinkle cut fries and pimiento mac and cheese which easily became Choco’s favorite. All of it was complemented by their Nashville Comeback sauce made with mayonnaise, honey and a signature spice blend. I still dream about that dip up until this day.

I love frequenting Block 16 Urban Food Hall, where Hattie B’s is located, for its wide array of cuisines and good ambience. Across from it, there are other options such as LA-homegrown Eggslut and of course, Milk Bar, a New York classic owned by celebrity chef Christina Tossi. I knew Choco would most likely love their cereal milk soft serve and I didn’t stand corrected. He loves how the simplicity of cereal milk worked well with the additional crunch from the cereal toppings. I also bought some b’day cake truffles, which is a personal favorite of mine, best eaten while still chilled.

What we did:

Choco always says he doesn’t have the good fortune when it comes to gambling but strongly believes that I do. This was caused by my beginner’s luck when we played Roulette in the Bahamas last year where I won over $200. I don’t even know how that happened considering I’m not a big risk-taker. That was my first time ever playing the game and it became our sole option whenever we would find ourselves in a casino. Of course, the new normal requires people to wear masks at all times when inside the casino premises which everyone obliged to. We took our time playing the same game in ARIA and then again in The Venetian when we went out the first night. We strolled along the Grand Canal Shoppes as well but most stores were closed early. There is a certain glum hovering in the atmosphere and I felt it’s not as alive anymore compared to the last time I was there four years ago. It was still such an experience hearing the gondola singers serenade the crowd. That never gets old.

Las Vegas is both thriving and careful at the same time. It’s still a no-brainer weekend getaway especially now that it is within a driving reach from us in San Diego. While it still hasn’t earned back its old splendor, I hope people who will visit would take extra precautions and practice enough distancing while we all traverse through this “new normal.”