FollowThere’s this man in his late 60s, let’s call him MC, whom I’ve known for about 13 years now. Our first encounters were at the condo gym where we both worked out regularly. MC, who owns a unit at our condo but lives in a bungalow nearby, is a wealthy man—once an engineer, now a retiree. His children live overseas, and by all accounts, they are successful. MC, however, is divorced and spends a lot of time alone.
From the beginning, MC would always strike up a conversation with me at the gym. He’s nice enough to chat with, but I find him a little annoying. Despite knowing I’m married with three daughters, he has repeatedly asked me out to eat with him over the years. At first, I thought he was joking, but it became clear he meant it. As we live in the same neighborhood, I often bump into him at random places—restaurants, shops, or while running errands.
This week, it felt like fate had us on the same schedule. Every day, I’d see him at the same ‘chap fan’ (economy rice) shop, picking up food at the same time as I was. Afterward, I’d head to the supermarket, and there he’d be again, as if our paths were destined to cross repeatedly. MC never misses an opportunity to tease me. He often comments on how good I look and that I don’t look my age, saying that if he didn’t know me, he’d “tackle” me on the street. Charming, right?
My husband knows about MC and finds the whole situation amusing. Every time he sees MC, he gives him a subtle side-eye, fully aware of the unwanted attention. MC is chatty and friendly, but even if I were single one day, I don’t think I could ever entertain the idea of dating him. His personality just doesn’t appeal to me, though he may be wealthy and drive luxury cars. Honestly, if the day comes that I am alone, I’d rather stay single than deal with someone like MC!
MC remains part of my daily encounters, and while I’ve grown used to his presence and Whatsapp messages, he’s not someone I’ll ever take up on his offers for lunch or dinner. Some things are better left unspoken 😆
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