and told funny stories of things that happened to them in the place. At the party, more than 80% of us were expats or at least looked like Westerners. Many of the groups were speaking Spanish.
More Spaniards, that I did not know, joined our group. Two man and one woman. Damaso, of course, knew all of them and introduced them.
“David, this is Nacho. I don't know if you've ever heard of a photographer named Ignacio Insua.”
“No, but I'm not in the world of photography either.”
“Well, anyway. It’s him. Josele met him at a photo exhibition a few weeks ago. In Spain he exhibited in several museums and art galleries. A well-known local actress noticed him, and he came here to make her a portfolio. Since then, he became the photographer of Singapore's celebrities and major events. Besides being a good golfer, of course.”
“Delighted Nacho. I understand why you know Damaso. I hope to succeed here and that you can be my lead photographer, because in golf I don't think we will meet. I'm more of an action sports person.”
“Of course. That would be great. A Spanish customer who can afford my not so moderate rates. Nice to meet you, David.”
“You can always drive a boat for a photo shoot and get some extra money.”
“Are you for real?” “Yes. Sometimes we make portfolios and ads on boats. I need a driver once in a while.”
“Sure,” I said, smiling at the use of the word driver instead of pilot. “I have the Yacht Captain title. I love boating. You can count on me. I love everything that has to do with boats.”
“I won’t forget.”
Damaso continued with the presentations.
“These two beautiful brunettes are a couple, and their names are Elena and Rachel. They own a gluten-free pastry shop.”
“Hello, two kisses, right? What brings you to Singapore?”
“We wanted to experience another country and we saw that here they had the same celiac as everywhere, but it turned out that they didn't have many shops for them,” Elena explained as I was giving Rachel two kisses.
“I had a celiac friend in Madrid. Some of the sweets he ate were just as good as the normal ones. I couldn't tell them apart. I'll stop by your store one day to try them out.”
“Whenever you want,” Rachel said. “Here's a card for you!”
“Thanks. I see that you came prepared. I like that. And what's your name?” I said turning to the fourth. “I'm still David ...” I said smiling.
“My name is Pamos, Juan Pamos,” he said, imitating the James Bond style.
“Be careful with him, David,” Damaso warned me. “He's an opportunist. He is supposedly a stunt man, but I don’t know if he started his profession. His parents are wealthy entrepreneurs in the export field and he only parties and messes with as many girls as he can, whether they have a boyfriend or not. He only takes a break from the parties to golf with me and Nacho.”
“Golf? It's clear how you've made your friends. Well, I'm alone here, without a partner, and I'm not a girl, so I have nothing to worry about. Maybe you can introduce me to some beautiful friend of yours...” I laughed hard.
I chatted for some time with everyone, co-workers, and new acquaintances. Then, on a walk I took to the bathroom, a man with an English accent approached me and offered me some substance I was not familiar with but that was definitely some kind of drug. I rejected it sharply and went on my way. I had never taken drugs, even in my most rebellious days, nor did I want to start now. I did not like for anything to control my life and that was the typical path to becoming a slave to the daily dose. This was something I was firm about. I didn't smoke either, although I did start, but I had to quit because it was incompatible with the exercise I did, and even though I drank, I never let alcohol make me lose control. My friends sometimes teased me about it, especially Damaso, who was a champion in drinking, but I liked to feel in control. I was a little obsessive with it.
When I came back, I offered to get drinks for Tere and my co-worker, the crazy Jerome. While at the bar waiting for a waiter to see me, a beautiful Thai-looking girl came next to me. She had dark, long, curly hair in two endless ponytails that hung on both sides of her head over her chest. She was wearing a green, cloth cap and a strap top of the same colour. Her round face and a beautiful smile were highlighted by a very soft red lipstick. Her eyes were dark brown, a little oriental, but not too much. She was pretty tall, probably close to a meter seventy and was thin. I couldn't say that I fell in love at first sight, that would be silly, but my Iberian male hormones gave a triple mortal leap; especially when she turned to me and spoke to me in a perfect English with a sweet and musical voice that I could only hear because it coincided with a drop in the music volume.
“I'm sorry, did I cut in front of you?”
“No, no. It’s ok... Don't worry about it. I'm still waiting to be served. You can order first so that you don’t keep your companion waiting.”
“My companion? I am alone. I came with a friend, but she had to leave... wait! It was a strategy to find out just that, right?”
“Well, you got me,” I recognized smiling. “Although I find it hard to believe that such a beautiful woman doesn’t have company.”
My comment seemed to amuse her, and she began to laugh with a singing laugh that instantly enchanted me. We remained quiet and looked at each other for a few minutes.
“I'm sorry, I didn't introduce myself,” I said, reacting. “My name is David; I am one of the Spanish expats honoured at this party.”
“Spanish? From your English I thought you were American...” she said with a grimace.
“That's because my mother is American. From Boerne, a small town of ten thousand inhabitants in Texas, near San Antonio. A hiking paradise full of beautiful routes, though not as much as you, that I have never seen in my life. And what's your name? I think you forgot to tell me, or is it a secret?”
“No, no, it's not any secret. My name is Sumalee, Sumalee Sintawichai. In Thai, my name means beautiful flower.”
“Beautiful flower? I'll keep to myself the compliment, but it's obviously a perfect name for you. They say Thailand is the country of smiles. If everyone has it as pretty as yours, it must be paradise.”
“It's hard not to smile at a guy like you,” she replied.
I swear that her smile was worth a war. She was gorgeous. It was clear that this woman had caught my attention.
“Did you say Simalee Sintawachi?” I screamed trying to overcome the sound around us. “I will try to remember it.”
“No, Sumalee Sintawichai,” she repeated in my ear so that she wouldn’t have to scream, which gave me goosebumps. “Although I think Sumalee will do. I don't want your head to explode on the first day.”
First day? Did she want us to see each other again? Because I did, that was clear. As many times as I could. Such a pretty girl I would always want her by my side. I didn't say anything about her comment and offered her to join us. She accepted delighted on the condition that would not leave her alone at any time. There was no harm
