strangely soothing.

that's what those 40 plus minutes at gelare, plaza singapura, felt like.

bubba and i agreed to meet around noon today. late this morning, he asked if we could meet at half past.

so there i was, standing at our supposed meeting place at the dhoby ghaut mrt faregates at 1230.

five minutes later and still no bubba, i messaged him to say that i wasn't in the mood for a full meal and would prefer ice cream instead...and to meet me at gelare at the fifth level. then i went up. truth is: i was kinda famished.

so i took a seat at one of the booths, bought two scoops of wild strawberry, pulled out my copy of the edge and started reading.

he messaged back that he's really sorry and was on his way. he had to catch his cat, that's why. i didn't think that message warranted an answer, so i didn't reply.

about a couple of minutes later, he messaged that he was approaching and again..."sorry".

i answered "am already having my ice cream. once i'm done with this, i'll be heading home...work beckons".

then he keeps messaging sorries and i just didn't see the point in responding to those.

it was a feat to make my two scoops of ice cream last for half an hour or so.

as i slowly took in that last bit, i leant back, closed my eyes, to take it all in.

then i packed up and started towards the mrt.

he messaged that he was there around the time i was about to enter the faregates.

my response?

"don't rush...we're not meeting today."

and obviously, that brought on a string of apologies and even an phone call. but of course, i didn't bother to pick up.

through all this, i didn't feel angry...i guess i've just gotten back my resolve.

people need to be taught a lesson.

i know some of you guys keep saying our district leaders are close and all, and that we work really well together. you probably would've noticed how i always clam up when you say it'd be good to work with bubba, peter and gang.

that's because i've seen how haphazard these guys can get, and how much of a scatterbrain bubba can be.

and yes...while bubba is my friend, i won't stand for friends taking advantage of me.

what i did today...not waiting for bubba, is the culmination of repeated late-comings...on his part, obviously.

the guy has been at least half an hour late every single time we've arranged to meet.

today, i finally got up and left.

that time spent waiting wasn't all wasted though.

i felt rejuvenated, confident, and proud that i could sit somewhere, pull out a paper and eat something without having to bother at how people looked at me.

in fact, if the tables around did stare, they'd probably be staring at the confidence i radiate...(geez...when did i develop such a huge ego?!!)

i say the above because it takes a lot of confidence (there's that word again...) for a girl, to walk into a crowded place and sit down at a table amidst a lunch crowd of groups of friends, couples and the like, ALONE.

i've made it.

and today was evidence enough.