While he was away, a new visitor arrived. He was tall, with severe-looking Chinese features. He ordered a beer, and sat himself down at the bar to read a magazine.
I know that face! From side on, I did not recognise him. It was Chin, the graphic designer who is gay but won't admit it (at least in my opinion).
I called out a greeting, which he returned.
Chin has Thai-Chinese parents who want him to find a wife. He is well-educated, and has a good income, but he can't find the girl of his dreams. Last night, he was poring through cellphone magazines, looking at the latest models.
When Paew returned, he looked at Chin, and decided he wanted to get to know him. Maybe he likes Chinese, pale-skin features - or maybe he was just trying his luck wherever he could find it.
'Will you get angry, if I talk to him?' he asked me.
Not at all. I wanted to see a bit of real-life theatre: girly Paew flirting with solemn, serious Chin.
Paew did not know that I knew Chin, but that was not important. As Paew sat himself next to Chin and started talking, I could see Mum and her sister, Isra, exchanging looks. Isra passed a brief comment, and the pair laughed. They knew what was going on: Paew was hitting on Chin!
Chin looked hostile at first, as you would if a gay-looking stranger sat himself down and started talking. He declined Paew's offer that he sit at our table.
Paew returned to his place next to me. Restless, he called someone on the phone, and exchanged what sounded like boyfriend talk.
'Is that your boyfriend?' I asked.
'No, just a friend from school days,' he insisted. He opened his telephone. A picture on the screen depicted two men kissing. I shall remember that picture, next time he insists he is straight.
Undeterred by his first brush off, Paew returned to Chin's table. This time they talked about 10 minutes, before Paew motioned me to join them.
I did - but moments later, Paew decided he was too drunk to carry on.
'Don't go,' I pleaded with Paew.
But Paew was spent. He found a taxi, and left.
I looked at Chin, who sat with his head down, pretending to be absorbed in his magazine. He already had a modern cellphone - why did he need another? He really wanted talk, I suspect, but couldn't bring himself to start a conversation.
'I want one with a video, and song player.'
'You already have a song player,' I said, referring to one of his many gadgets, which he showed me last time.
'My office is keen on technology, and I want to stay ahead,' he said unconvincingly.
'Single guys are always looking for the latest gadgets, because they don't have girlfriends to spend money on,' I said unkindly.
After paying my bill, I abruptly left.
Chin still had his head buried in his magazines. I did not bother saying good-bye. He's just too much like hard work.
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