Last night we celebrated Matt’s birthday. Those of us coming off of work met up in Kita-Tatsumi near one of the exits, among those waiting for us Rob and Alex were included in the numbers, much to my delight. They were waiting by the exit opposite the one we came up, and instead of walking ahead with the others I had left OCAT with, I naturally opted to go across the street at a full freakish run to head butt Alex.
I really miss doing that.
Now that we no longer work together, he can fight back. Little did I know what this would entail for the next thing I knew I was hanging upside down.
“Aaahh!!”
We laughed and there was general play between us.
The journey to the remote bar took quite a while, or so it seemed to me; but then again, as we’ve discovered, the way to places is always longer than the way home. I walked with Rob and Melinda, trying some of my French since Le is in France and I haven’t had the chance to practice much.
The bar itself was tucked away in a residential area, so much so that I was convinced Matt led us astray due to his alcohol fuzzed brain (both he and Alex were drinking from open flagons of Asahi, and yes, I do mean “flagons”).
It was a small establishment, no bigger than old Dunk I daresay. The bar itself was occupied with several Japanese people who seemed quite surprised by the number of gaijin walking in the door. Some of our other friends were already situated at the tables and the propietors ended up bringing out more tables and chairs to accomodate our party.
Rob bought me a cola and I sat down in across from Matt. He was grinning happily, surrounded by friends; people were laughing and taking pictures, eating and in my case, play-fighting with Alex again. He even went so far as to say I was his favorite core-group member.
“Is it ‘cuz I’m four?”
“Maybe,” he replied, laughing, “maybe.”
I think he said it ‘cuz of the alcohol personally, but I can’t be too sure.
It was a highly enjoyable evening.
Alex and I got to talking other stuff, too. I had seen him earlier in the week and head butted him while he was standing with his girlfriend Miki. I had heard that she was all kinds of territorial about him, so I wanted to make sure things were five-by-five.
“I didn’t scare her too much, right?”
“Nah, she’s fine,” Alex replied easily. “She was a bit confused at first, but then I explained things to her.”
“And she’s not like mad or anything?”
He went on to explain that she just doesn’t like any girls touching him and I laughed. “You could always tell her that I’d sooner fancy her than you,” I remarked.
“I did.”
Suddenly, it occurred to me what I had said. I guess I’m comfortable around Alex, ‘cuz the next thing I know he’s telling me about how he doesn’t really think Miki is my type. “I know you better than you think I do,” he told me seriously, well, seriously for a slightly inebriated British man.
He also said he’d totally go to the bar with me. I think it’s hilarious how many of the people here are all about getting me to Umeda. He also thinks we should hang out more instead of just sending random texts to each other with such messages as “flying head-butt” and “poke to the side”.
On the way home, as I opted to not continue the night at the karaoke bar with the others, Rob and I were walking down one of the sidestreets. I was surprised as it was actually lit up with streetlights, a rare occurrence in this area of Osaka.
I related the conversation to him, and was talking things out, as I am want to do. I said something to him about how I should just take Mike’s advice and “calm the fuck down” about it.
“Why do you do that?”
I couldn’t help but chuckle. That seems to be the question of the season. “I don’t know,” I admitted. “Maybe ‘cuz I’ve been conditioned to believe that it’s wrong.”
Fuck if I know the reason. I have no conscious idea why I’m a spaz about so many things. It ain’t exactly like I choose to be this way, or that I want to be such a freak about the dumbest things. It just happens. Like the self-deprication thing. I’m pretty damn sure it’s a defense mechanism, not like any of you didn’t already know that. Where is stems from though is a mystery. I’m just gonna blame Catholic school for now. I mean, you lot know how I was last year after that ruttin’ “reunion” — I couldn’t get out of there fast enough! Those people…
Anyway, I missed Rob. I feel like we hadn’t seen each other in a long time, and I’d said as much.
“Well, I was away for a week.”
“And I’ve more or less been moved to the 16th floor.”
But, if we keep seeing each other socially, it should be all five-by-five.
We turned down my street. “I think it’s odd how I can talk to you so easily,” I said. “All you have to do is ask me a question, and I find myself telling you things unrestrained. If Jacob asks something, I’m usually very short.”
“Well, once you get your boots, maybe you’ll be a little taller.”
“Yeah, haven’t found ‘em yet, though.”
Such is our relationship. He listens to me gripe about everything under the sun, he make jokes (sometimes bad ones), and we share in our TV show tastes.
All in all, ’twas a good night.
