Chapter 40 - Walking is good cardio.

I took a long bath, wore my best clothes, and applied some cologne.

Lots of cologne.

If I can't start a romantic relationship with a former high school or college classmate, then I just have to go outside and explore the world! Well, not literally the "Whole Wide World". An international trip abroad is a luxury I can never afford. What I mean is, to explore our place, the old province.

Ever since we came here, I never had the chance to do some sight-seeing. I've been coop up in my room and in my hot spring business for so long, I desperately need to have some change in scenery.

And now is the perfect time to do just that!

My plan is to go to the public square (the most commercial part of the province) and visit some novelty and souvenir shops there. Maybe I'll get lucky and meet a beautiful lady there...

Maybe... I'll finally meet, "The One", "My True Love", "My Destiny". >w<

My mood slowly turned brighter and I'm already smiling. :)

The prospect of a new romance is so exciting!

I grabbed my wallet on the bedside table and rushed out of our house.

"Whoa! Hold your horses, cowboy! What's with all the hurry? Where you goin, son?" My dad asked as he lowered his newspaper to his lap.

"Uhmm... I'm gonna go... Shopping! Take over the hot spring for me, Dad. I'll be gone for the whole day!"

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa! Hold up, Teslan. This is the first time you asked for permission to go out and do some shopping in a long time. This is also the very first time you asked me, your father, to take care of your hot spring business! For a whole day! Oh no, pretty boy. Something's up. Just look at you, all suited up like you're going to the dance floor! Something's up. I smell something fishy. What's goin on, son?"

Crud... Am I so obvious? And double crud, I totally forgot to put into consideration the "Nosy Dad Variable" into my plans! How can I get away unscathed from his suspicions...?

Silence...

Oh well... For every good reason to lie, there's always a better reason to tell the truth. Besides, one way or another, the parents will eventually know.

Might as well the truth.

"I'm gonna look for a wife, dad."

To say the world stopped on spinning, is an understatement.

My dad's jaw dropped.

There was a lull, a total and absolute silence between us...

Maybe I shouldn't have said that...

And then...

"PFFT!!!"

"Dad... Why are you trying so hard to suppress your laughter?"

"Nah! It's nothing, Teslan! I just remembered something funny in the past, that's all!"

Man... You're so obvious, Dad.

"That time has finally come, huh? Sigh... My one and only son is all grown up now... Well, good luck with that! You're gonna need all the luck you can get!"

"Thanks, Dad, thanks..."

That is one of the most awkward father and son conversation I've ever had.

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I went to the public square as planned and did some reconnaissance for wife material candidates, err, I mean, window shopping! I did some honest and actual window shopping! It's been such a long time since I did this and I truly missed all the sights, the sounds, the scents, the shops, the street food, the merchandise, the traffic, and all the activities of commerce! I'm so glad to experience it all once again! HA! HA! HA! Ha! Ha...

"Reconnaissance for Wife Material Candidates"... Sheesh... That came out way too creepy. I can't believe I just said those words!

But still, that's the main reason why I'm here in the first place. I'm really here to look for a wife. I just wish I didn't sound too shady or desperate. I need to be wholesome and exude decorum! The ladies loves a respectful gentleman and I've got to be that kind of man for them!

And so, for hours and hours, I explored the whole commercial area...

But found none.

Sigh... It's like... This province is a place of retirement! The majority of the population here are old people! Where are the young girls?! Oh, uhmm, ehem! Ehem! I mean, where are the girls with my same age?! Why aren't they here?!

I answered my own question.

"There not here, Teslan. When they graduated from the state university, they immediately left this province for the city. The economy is slower here. There's not much commerce, jobs, career opportunities, and money here. The daily wage rate the employers give in the city is much higher than rural provinces..."

Such bad luck...

And to top it all of, I'm famished from hours and hours of walking.

I want to save as much money as possible (Money Saving Tip #01: Eating in a restaurant is way more expensive compared to eating food in your home. You want to save lots of money? Avoid eating in restaurants.), but my current situation left me no choice. I'm really starving.

I went on a restaurant that offers the cheapest meal and then, BOOM!!! FREAKING FINALLY!!! I found the one I was looking for!

Did you ever had that once in a lifetime moment when you met the most beautiful woman in your eyes, in the whole wide world, that enraptured your heart and whole being? That moment when you said to yourself, "I'm gonna marry her someday."?

I did.

In my sadness, love is a long awaited guest that finally came.

And I gladly welcomed it inside my lonely mind.

The Cashier on line two...

She's 5-feet tall with a black headband on her shoulder-length red hair, amber eyes, very cute face, white complexion, and slim figure, wearing a traditional white Vietnamese dress...

Gosh... She's mesmerizing...

She's like... a rainbow that shines through my dark world.

An inspiration in my negative outlook of life.

A ray of hope in my hopeless romantic case.

I can go on and on and on, but suddenly, without warning, I'm already in front of her.

"Good afternoon, Sir. Welcome to Pho Restaurant. May I take your order?"

She looks even more beautiful up close.

"Ah, oh, yes! The cheapest meal on the menu please."

"Sir, that would be the Instant Rice Noodles, Chicken Flavor."

"Yes. One of that, please."

"O-kay... Is there anything else, sir?"

I can see in her face that she's quite confused.

"Yes. A pitcher of cold water and a glass, please."

Maybe it's because of the many customers in line. But as I came to my senses, I realized that it was not a very good first impression to make in front of her. Gosh! I'm such a cheapskate! I should have ordered the most expensive meal! But there's no going back now!

"O-kay, Sir... You ordered one bowl of Instant Rice Noodles, Chicken Flavor and a pitcher of water for your lunch meal."

"Yes, that's correct."

"That would be thirty pesos, sir."

"Here you go."

"O-kay... Thank you, Sir. Your order is coming right up."

That moment... Even if it's just less than a minute... is pure bliss...

Her smile, her soft voice, her friendly aura...

No girl had ever been that kind to me...

I've got to know her name...

In less than three minutes, my ordered meal is given to me.

"Thank you for your patronage, Sir. Please come again. Next please."

I quickly looked at her face. It kinda have a weird expression on it. It's still cute though. It's like, she's trying very hard not to laugh. I guess I look funny to her. But that's okay. She looks cuter that way.

"Ah yes. I'll definitely will. Thank you."

I secretly looked at her I.D. as I turn around.

(Hi! I'm Nikita. Happy to serve you!)

Beautiful name... I'll sear that name in my memory...

I quickly walked away and sat on an empty small chair with a circular wooden table.

I then looked at my meal.

What the heck is this...?!!

At that moment, I finally figured it all out.

So that's why she's trying so hard not to laugh...

What kind of a guy orders a simple instant noodles with no egg or dumplings or meat toppings whatsoever for lunch?! This lunch is just cooked noodles with artificially flavored chicken water!

Sigh...

Sadly, I'm the "limited budget" kind.

Darn! I didn't think straight when I was looking at her! And I still can't stop looking at her! Darn it! Darn It! Darn it! That's so embarrassing! And that's not all! I also ordered a pitcher of water! Gosh! She'll really think I'm a poor guy! Gosh I'm such a fool!

This is pathetic...

How can I redeem myself from this...?

Then again... As I think about it, I guess this mistake is all worth it.

If I hadn't been curious about this restaurant in the first place, I would have never seen her in my life...

If I hadn't made this mistake, I wouldn't have made her laugh. They say girls like guys with a good sense of humor.

Next time, I will never embarrass myself in front of her anymore. I'll keep my cool.

Next time... I'll be rich... I'll come here driving my Toyota GT 86 sports car, wearing a Queensman coat and tie, and order the most expensive meal in this restaurant, she'll be impressed!

I quickly ate the hot noodles and slurped the chicken soup.

"That's a promise, Nikita. We'll definitely see each other again."