Round 2: Jason

Jason and I have been texting back and forth daily since our first date. it's almost embarrassing how much we contact each other. nonetheless, i took this as a good sign - a sign that he is interested! we agreed to meet up tonight to catch a movie. i had asked him if he wanted to grab some dinner beforehand and he suggested pho in chinatown. i liked this plan! later, he texted to say that he was worried he might not be able to make it to dinner because just yesterday he had to work late. as it turns out, he doesn't have a set schedule for his work days... he starts at 7am and ends whenever his boss tells him he's finished working. needless to say, it makes it difficult for him to plan. i didn't really know what he was getting at, so i told him that whatever works best for him.... we didn't have to do dinner, it was only a suggestion. the whole point in having dinner was so that we would be able to catch up and chat. the movie theatre is not exactly a conversation friendly zone (despite what some of my previous dates might think). the trouble with two people who can't make an executive decision = SEVERAL messages back and forth re: movie choices, movie times, location, meet up spot, etc. and to top it off, it felt like he was on "standby" in case he couldn't break free from work in time. fortunately, we were able to meet up at the movie theatre. the place was PACKED! it was intense. i kind of forgot that it was cheap movie night + March Break.

after the movie was over, we started making our way to the exit...then the parking lot... anytime you want to offer me a ride home, Jason....really, no.... how about now.... ok, this is awkward.... where are we going....walking around aimlessly.... i couldn't take it anymore. i cracked. i told him that if he'd like, he could come over to my place for a beer (hoping this will lead to a ride home). wow, when you write it like that it comes across as super forward. ha! i fear that this might have also translated the exact same way in person. Jason was silent... hesitant... "oh, that's ok if you can't", i said. then he went on to say something about having to get up at 6am (i later realized this is the exact time that *i* wake up every morning myself!) and checked his watch to see that it was 9:30pm. ok, old man - clearly it is past your bedtime! as most of my friends know, i am no night owl myself, but i honestly never thought he would turn down coming in for a drink and some time to get to know one another. i felt rejected. we stood there awkwardly by his car for a bit and then i went in for the hug (wow, i really do ALL of the legwork on this dating thing), said i had fun, blah blah. and only THEN did he throw out the offer to drive me home. i was so confused at that point, that i turned down the ride. what the hell just happened, i thought as i walked to the bus stop.

or am i overreacting? maybe he was legitimately tired, feeling shy or wants to take things super slow - all perfectly reasonable. in my mind, he made me feel as though i was being a total hussy. sidenote: have i mentioned how i hate dating? i decided to leave it.

well, speak of the devil! he just sent me a text thanking me for the date, expressing how much "fun" he had. fun sitting in silence beside me for two hours? i decided to be upfront and messaged him back explaining that i hope i hadn't come across too forward or made him feel uncomfortable in any way. no response back until the next day... he said that he wasn't expecting me to ask him that, so i think it kind of threw him off. he said that he has a tendency of making awkward situations even more awkward (don't we all!) and is a bit shy (aren't we all!).

i haven't given up on Jason yet, but hopefully i can see him before another week goes by...sometimes it's hard to keep the momentum going.