If only I knew

Chapter Twenty-five

I gave him a hug and kiss before he left. He promised he'll try to come back earlier.

Then I'm back to square one.. what should I do today?

I took a bath, and screening through my IG I saw a friend who's also now visiting Beijing because she posted her pics. So I texted her.

Me : Hey Jeannie! Are you in Beijing?

She replied me almost immediately. She was a friend from college. We usually meet up as a group for gatherings.

J : Hey Casey! Yes I am!

Me : I'm in Beijing too! What are you doing today?

J : Seriously?? Haha, I'm meeting a client for lunch then I'm free for the day

Me : Cool, want to meet for coffee?

J : Sure! Where?

Me : Where will you be?

We agreed to meet up near where she would be. I searched online and found a chic cafe nearby so I text her the place address.

It's so random. I don't normally meet her alone. I guess I'm really bored.

The neighbourhood is a sub-cbd area I think. And they have many cafes and coffee places around. The one that I have picked up was recommended by instagrammers and tourists. I only hope it's not too crowded..

It wasn't, fortunately. I found a two-seater easily. She was not here yet. When was the last time I saw her..? I think three years. I got to know Jeannie in college when we had to work on a project together. Five of us. Now two of them are married and have kids. I think Sofia just gave birth a few months back. We sent a hamper to her house.

Jeannie was the most social one, she kept the conversations going in the group and she's the one who organises the gatherings, birthdays gifts whatsoever. I remember back then she dated a model who's quite cute. They dated for some many years. I don't know if they're still together.

"Hey!" I waved, as I see her coming in. She waved back enthusiastically.

"Hey!"

A few guys looked up. She's gotten prettier, or rather, charming, she knows how to dress up.

"Sorry - I'm late," she apologised.

"No, I just got here. What would you like to drink?"

We went to the counter and ordered our drinks. She ordered a frappe and I ordered an iced tea. The guy behind us offered to buy. He's quite cute though. But we rejected him.

"How have you been? What are you doing in Beijing by the way? Vacation?" she asked me.

"I was in our Shanghai office for a month last month. Extended a week before going back."

"Ah.. I see."

"What about you?" I asked. I recalled she's working in some consulting firm.

"Business trip. Those typical regular catch up with clients kind, you know," she chuckled.

"I saw your IG posting that's why I text you," I chuckled.

"I was surprised to see your text actually haha, but I'm glad to meet you here. We should take a pic," she said. And we took a selfie and she posted it. "When are you going back?"

"Sunday. You?"

"Tomorrow morning. I'm done with work here. Free time from now on, thought I'll go shopping hehe."

"Ah.." I nodded.

We don't actually have much common topics. We talked about work, about the others, then typical - to our boyfriends. Apparently she had broke up with that model boyfriend long time back.