But as the news sunk in, I was surprised about how excited I got. So excited was I, that I ended up mentioning the meet to a friend or two at work, who, I can imagine, hardly care about my romantic misadventures. But, yes, the anticipation was genuine, I'd say.
Much to my dismay though, I ended up sharing him with his friends that night, back in another dark bar in the middle of Shinjuku's "livelier" district, and most of the conversation went through one ear and out another as I quietly nodded at what sounded like interesting points being made. Never mind that most of it was entirely lost on me and my barely functioning Japanese comprehension skills.
At least I met the friends, I thought, good friends of his back when he used to haunt the streets of ni-chome looking for a good time, no doubt. He looks like someone who knows how to have a good time, and that's how he probably met these guys: a raucous bunch of men who seems to have seen it all, and aren't afraid to be frank and lewd about it. They were great. That night was great. I mean, I learned something important that night.
The alcohol helped my vocabulary somehow, and I got heavily into the conversation. At one point, I asked two of his friends in plum-wine slurred Japanese "Aren't you two together?" The two looked at each other, laughed, and indicated my misunderstanding. I pushed on, "But you're wearing the same armband?" Nike Fuel, they said, and explained they both work at Nike. "Ah, is that so. And how about you, where's your boyfriend tonight?" I turned towards my buddy for the night.
I saw it, a strange look briefly crossed his face, and he gave me a bemused smile. It was like I asked something so obvious, so clearly apparent, that I embarrassed myself and him for pointing it out. Everyone else was quiet, too, as if they were waiting for me to realize something. And it clicked, "Hey dumb-ass, you're his date tonight!"
But it was late, and I had to go catch the last train leaving for home if I planned to wake-up at 5 in the morning for the ill-fated ski trip the very next day. I said my goodbyes, thanks, and yoroshiku's and once again turned to this date/friend of mine. "Take care, alright?" I whispered as I hugged him and walked away dazed.
I barely heard him say, "You, too."
