Weeks after Phoebe's departure, I was still intensely remorseful. I missed her so much. Sweet memories of moments we spent together kept flashing in my mind, devastating me all over again. It was hard to keep her off my mind. At times , in moments like this, I would pop in a swig or two of Chivas to drown off my brokenness. One fateful day, while in such a state, I drove downtown and made a detour to the lobby of the Hyatt-Kinabalu for some quiet time and soft music to soothe my mind. I took my seat at the table, where Phoebe and I were together the last time we were around, to reminisce on the past.
A waitress came to take my order. I had a passing glimpse of her, whom I thought was quite pretty, but I did not really take a good look. I ordered Irish coffee, which became two, three..... The next few days I was back for more until suddenly I realized I was there most evenings. By then her friends were already teasing her about me, referring to me as her 'special' customer every time I came in. She would be the one to serve me. I continued going Irish which she, as a matter of hotel gimmick, had to concoct in my presence. Small conversations ensued which turned friendly and in subsequent days became more personal. We exchanged background and histories and soon we were addressing each other on first name basis. Her name was Suzanne, Suzanne Patrick Adau.
Suzanne hailed from Apin-apin, Keningau but she, "grew up all over places", she confided. Her father was a marine policeman who got transferred all over places during her growing-up period. At the time of our meeting, she was twenty. She had just returned from Singapore where she took up her internship at the Raffles Hotel as a prerequisite for a course of study in catering and hospitality conducted by the National Productivity Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
A waitress came to take my order. I had a passing glimpse of her, whom I thought was quite pretty, but I did not really take a good look. I ordered Irish coffee, which became two, three..... The next few days I was back for more until suddenly I realized I was there most evenings. By then her friends were already teasing her about me, referring to me as her 'special' customer every time I came in. She would be the one to serve me. I continued going Irish which she, as a matter of hotel gimmick, had to concoct in my presence. Small conversations ensued which turned friendly and in subsequent days became more personal. We exchanged background and histories and soon we were addressing each other on first name basis. Her name was Suzanne, Suzanne Patrick Adau.
Suzanne hailed from Apin-apin, Keningau but she, "grew up all over places", she confided. Her father was a marine policeman who got transferred all over places during her growing-up period. At the time of our meeting, she was twenty. She had just returned from Singapore where she took up her internship at the Raffles Hotel as a prerequisite for a course of study in catering and hospitality conducted by the National Productivity Centre in Kuala Lumpur.
