Page 24 of Status Undefined
“To score an autograph for you sister, maybe?”
“That too! She’s been missing you. Will you come over again?”
“You’re inviting me for her sake?”
“Of course. It’s not for Naama’s sake – she’s not trash generation, thank god.”
“Oh, drop the defense mechanisms already and admit you want me to come.”
I was momentarily impressed that he’d psychoanalyzed me, but I was stubborn.
“You’ll have to work hard to get it out of me.”
“Challenge accepted. Prepare to declare it soon.”
Daniel sent me a location and asked me to meet him there the next day at noon. He knew I didn’t work on Fridays.
Later, I had an urge to call it all off. To tell him I couldn’t make it tomorrow. Just like that. Everything had happened so fast. A month ago we were complete strangers and now I didn’t know how I was going to get over him. And there it was. I couldn’t help wondering if I was falling for a ruse. Perhaps Daniel went from place to place, starting relationships quickly because that’s all he had time for, and then dropping the axe on the unsuspecting person when he decided to move on. How could I trust someone so quickly? He, unlike me, lived life as a nomad. I just lived in a foreign country. Sometimes I wondered if I should go with him, but I was scared of the emotional fallout. After everything I’d been through, the stability I’d found in Thailand was very precious. How could I give it up for someone I’d only known for a month?
December 23
(visa expires in 22 days)
“I’ve got an idea.” Daniel sounded serious.
It was Friday afternoon, and we were sitting in a café with a sea view near Karon beach on the south side of the island. In the shade of the trees, with a breeze coming off the ocean, it felt like paradise. I ordered my usual mango shake and he had an iced latte. He’d been quieter than usual.
“Should I worry?”
“Umm. Nope. Don’t think so. Billions have tried it, and it hasn’t done them any harm.”
“For the millionth time… I am not going on Instagram!”
“Wait until you’ve heard my suggestion!”
“Won’t make any difference.”
“If you go on Instagram…”
“I won’t.”
“You don’t have to do anything. Just accept me as a follower.”
“I’m not one of your followers.”
“No, no. I’ll be followingyou! But let me finish.”
“Go ahead.”
“I’ll post a picture of us together and tag you. You know what tagging is?”
“Yes. I’m not a dinosaur.”
“I want to introduce you to my followers because you’re part of my life.”
“Temporarily.”
“Not temporarily. Even if we’re not in the same place, we can still stay in touch. Anyway, you’ll always be part of my life.”
