[EnigmaofSorrow]

On Wednesday I was able to book out of camp to meet Diane. It was to be our first official date.

Usually, I would have driven to meet her, but she volunteered to pick me up from outside my camp.

As I waited at the camp gates, a couple of my men walked by and asked why I was not driving. We stood there smoking for awhile when the WRX roared up to us and stopped in front of me. When Diane stepped out, I was pretty sure I heard the collective sound of jaws dropping and probably boners forming in the pants of those deprived NSFs.

1: Wah Sergeant, your girlfriend ah?

It did not help that Diane was dressed in her office wear, a tight white blouse with a skirt that ended a few inches above her knees. A few inches too high perhaps.

2: Sergeant, intro leh...

3: Ya la. Chiobu must share...

Sometimes I really wondered if my men knew when the appropriate time to say appropriate things was.

Me: Er...

D: Hello boys...

Her sweet voice mesmerized the shellshocked trio.

D: You wanna drive?

Me: Sure.

I opened the passenger door and Diane slid in slowly, on purpose I presume. One of the guys actually dropped his cigarette. He quickie stepped on it to stub it out, as though he was done smoking. I headed to the drivers seat.

Me: Any of you need a lift anywhere?

I could tell they were considering the offer but the smartest of the lot decided not to intrude on our private time.

2: No need sergeant! Thank you sergeant.

Me: Alright. Make sure you book in by 2230 ok?

1, 2 & 3: Yes sergeant!

I got into the car and revved the engine on purpose, then drove off.

Me: So where are we going?

D: Hmm. I don't know. There's this place in Punggol...

Me: What kind of place?

D: It's like a pub? Or a bar? With food of course.

Me: Hmm. Ok. Just gimme the directions.

D: Get on the SLE, head onto TPE, exit Punggol Way. I'll give you more directions from there.

Me: Ok.

D: By the way your men are quite cute?

Me: Huh?

D: Reminds me of the time I had to call you sergeant...

Me: Actually, you called me instructor most of the time...

D: Same la...

Me: Brings back memories?

D: Of course. Knocking us down in the courtyard at noon... Shouting at so loudly that the teacher-in-charge came over... Making us hentak-kaki for hours...

Me: It couldn't have been hours...

D: Ok fine. HALF an hour.

Me: Hey. I bet your legs are really strong now ok? Haha...

D: Well, wanna get into pumping position with me?

Me: Right. Let's go slow ok?

D: Damn. I thought you were the type to fuck on the first date...

Me: Nope. Must have confused me with someone else.

D: Oh really?

She slid her hand on my thigh.

Me: Erm. Driving a really fast car here...

D: You're going at 80 on the left lane...

Me: Still...

D: Ok I won't touch you....

Diane unbuttoned the top two buttons of her blouse.

D: Hot in here isn't it?

I ignore her and turned the air-conditioning to max.

Me: Is there any particular reason why you wanna go to this pub?

D: The foods good?

Me: Really?

D: I think so. You like good food?

Me: No real preference. As long as it's tasty and fills me up I guess...

D: Well, their mussels are good, and their pasta. And the dessert....

Me: You sound hungry...

D: Well, I haven't eaten lunch.

Me: What? Why?

D: I skipped lunch to finish my work so I could pick you...

Me: What.....

D: Yeah.

Me: I could have driven to meet you.

D: This is more environmentally friendly. One less car producing emissions.

Me: At the expense of your health? Doesn't sound very worth it...

D: It is. I get to meet you.

Me: Wait a minute... I thought you were independent.

D: I miss my boyfriend. Cannot ah?

Me: Er...

D: Did you miss me?

Me: Er...

D: Ok I can see why you're so horrible at relationships now. Haha.

Me: Thanks.

D: I'm gonna take a short nap. Since you drive like my grandfather...

Me: Hilarious.

D: Wake me when you exit at Punggol Way.

Me: Ok.

Diane lowered the incline of the car and lay back. I lowered the air-conditioning to a less chilling level.

Soon, I exited Punggol Way and shook her.

D: Hmm? Oh. Straight all the way.

I went straight.

D: Turn right.

Kept going.

D: Left then right then left into Tebing Lane.

And we arrived.

Quite a cool place really. A bistro bar place by the Punggol waterfront.

I ordered a spaghetti on recommendation of the waitress while Diane had some sort of steak. We also shared some mussels which apparently was a signature dish or something.

Our drinks arrived before the food and we lit up at the smoking area.

Me: Will you be ok to drive?

D: It's one beer...

Me: Yeah. But aren't you tired?

D: Well, you could always send me home and take my car back to camp and be the object of envy of your men...

Me: Some of my men drive bigger and more expensive cars...

D: I'll be fine la...

Me: Ok.

The arrived shortly after and we ate quickly as Diane wanted to stroll along the waterfront.

I footed the bill and joined her at the walking path by the river. She was staring at the vast expanse, and the mangrove jungle on the other side.

D: Chinese New Year's around the corner. What are you doing?

Me: Hiding in camp?

D: Oh come on. It's the festive season. Get a life.

Me: I'm not gonna go home and see my father. Therefore, I won't be doing any visiting.

D: Seriously?

Me: Yeah.

D: Will you come visiting with me then?

Me: Err.

D: At least to see my grandmother.

Me: Really?

D: She's almost 90, I want her to meet my boyfriend before anything happens to her...

Me: Well I suppose I could...

D: Thanks.

Me: But I don't have any clothes...

D: What?

Me: No new year clothes.

D: Go and buy some.

Me: Ok.

Diane hugged me.

D: Thanks for doing this.

I kissed her forehead.

Me: Don't mention it. I guess it's time for my life to change.

D: I think I'm really falling in love with you...

Me: One day I guess I'll be able to say the same.