“You can’t send me text messages like that when I’m in class!,” I scolded The Lawyer. “I didn’t even hear the last part of the syphilis lecture!”
He audibly laughed at the last part of my declaration.
“I love it!,” he teased. “Is that what you were learning about?”
I was in a study room and had called him as soon as my Microbiology lecture was finished.
Yesterday, The Lawyer had casually mentioned that he had air miles that are expiring on Wednesday and that he needed to book a trip to Asia ASAP. He had asked for “suggestions and requests” for cities over email, but I chose not to acknowledge the “requests” part of his message.
I thought that I knew the implication of it, but I didn’t want to believe it. Especially after chiding him for moving too fast on Saturday night, a small platonic trip to the Asian mainland seemed like a little...much.
While replying to emails at breakfast, I told him that I’d investigate Asian cities and send him suggestions today. Two hours later, though--while sitting in Microbiology lecture--I got the following text message:
Do you have any interest in a quick trip to Hong Kong next year? It’ll have to be coach class.
First of all, since when is a trip to Hong Kong referred to as a “quick trip?” And, apologies for the coach class status? I think The Lawyer overestimates the mostly middle-class life that I lived with Rich. I freaked out (both from excitement and the obvious reasons) and told The Lawyer to wait for my call.
When I called after class, he started explaining before I could protest.
“I know that you don’t really have a break until after your Boards in June, but the dates are flexible,” he started defending himself. “It’s only $70 to change the dates later. Besides, two coach tickets cost the same amount of miles as a single business class ticket, so I figured…”
“…You might as well bring a friend,” I finished his sentence.
The rational part of me was screaming, “You cannot accept a plane ticket to Hong Kong, along with its implications, from this man!” Unfortunately, that voice was being dampened by the socially deprived, financially constrained medical student chanting, “HONG KONG! HONG KONG! HONG KONG!,” to deafening excitatory music in the background.
After a few moments of forced self-control, I responded,
“You know that I can’t accept a plane ticket to Asia from you."
Before I could continue, though, he had another explanation.
“It would still just be as friends…if we can tolerate each other. It’s 16 hours in coach,” he said, laughing.
I know that The Lawyer is hoping that by next August, a combination of my completion of MSII and Boards, as well as his diminished "newly divorced" status will result in a not-exactly-platonic relationship. I should probably say something about him being presumptious, but I do like him a lot and I'd be lying if I said that I wasn't flattered by his interest.
Also, two weeks ago, The Lawyer and I decided that we are going to drive home to Florida together for Christmas. For the first time in my life, I am the literal Girl Next Door, with his parents living less than a mile away from my mother. Our parents still live in the houses that they did when we were in high school.
When I casually mentioned that I needed a long, cathartic drive like the one that I had to Asheville in March, he admitted that he’s been driving 14 hours home for the past two years for the same reason. The decision was made immediately that we were going together. Parental units were informed of our plan (benefit of having gone to high school with the person!) and since then, there has been playful teasing about whether or not we will make it without killing each other.
So no, it’s not like The Lawyer randomly started planning trips for us. It’s just that after lunch, I received another text message:
When is your birthday, btw?
I turn 30 in August. His birthday is a week later. Let's just say that if an email itinerary appears in my Inbox tonight for the second week of August, it's going to be the least shocking thing that I've seen all day.
8 comments:
I think it's WAAAAAYYYY to early to commit to a Hong Kong trip 7 months away. However, the drive home to FL sounds very promising. Maybe you could convince him that he should hold off on buying the tickets for a few months so you can see how things play out.
OMDG- He's rushing because he wants to use his miles before they expire. I just sent him an email saying that we don't know where we'll be next year and I don't know if it will be appropriate at that point, etc. His response was that if that's what happens, he can still use his ticket and fly coach with no losses. He also said something about how he's choosing to veto my skepticism.
(But yes, who knows where we'll be in 9 months!)
Woop Hong Kong!!! I'm definitely hoping your plutonic friendship grows into something more and meaningful in 9 months :). I think this Lawyer is a real man who respects and understands you. The perfect man for you!
This is all so much more exciting than anything going on in my life at the moment. Here's hoping everything works out well.
I know it sounds opposite to what I told you in a previous post.....but travelling with him is a good yardstick for compatibility.
I travelled with many of my man friends - romantic or friendship only...and I could always tell by the end of the trip whether we would make a good couple or not. Truth.
I don't see any reason why you shouldn't accept the trip as offered. If you can't stand him by trip time....since it's purchased with airmiles that would have expired anyway, and YOU didn't instigate the purchase...you have absolutely no obligation or guilt if you reneg.
Perhaps you can change the ticket to elsewhere for $70 and thank him for the free trip (as a broke student)
Either way, it's something nice to look forward to, and get you through the mire of studies. ;)
Notesinmywhitecoat-You're sweet! We'll see what happens.
SD- He may have time for booking international trips during working hours, but for real, I totally missed the last half of the syphilis lecture. I think my life is exciting BECAUSE of him. :)
CC- I see what you're saying. The first sign that I had that Rich and I weren't going to work out as a couple was a horrible, blowout fight. In Milan. There's definitely something about traveling that brings out your true colors.
I agree that we'll see what happens in July. It was a nice gesture and I actually understand his reasoning that he would regret it more later if he didn't do something stupid and ballsy and just book it. He's right that regardless of whether or not I come, he's still going and has lost nothing.
Again, too late to be posting but here's my thoughts if I had commented when you first posted this: I think it's too soon to plan a trip months away. Although you may like him now, a lot can happen in 9 months. I am one of those people who think that old flames or people you've known before usually end up being the person you spend the rest of your life with if you're not one of those person whom randomly meets your Mr. Right. Well if you think about it, those are the only two options you have, childhood friends or college buddies. But seriously, I'm a little bit fragmented over this situation. It sounds like a fun and exciting gift but the whole thing about you and him not being on speaking terms a few months from now still lingers. No one wants to go on a trip when they're not speaking to a person, trust me I did that in July/August, not a good experience. Anyway you're an adult so I trust you will make the best decision for you at the moment.
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