did someone say more boy gossip?

yeah, that's what i thought.

i met a guy through mixi several weeks ago, Mackie. after an initial flurry of messaging and texting, and some "doesn't quite feel right" moments, there was nothing. i didn't feel the need to pursue anything, thinking my initial refusal to meet him one on one and saying "i just don't trust the internet and after finding out your whole profile is a lie, it makes me wonder how many other things you'll lie about" was enough for him to consider me a lost cause. (to be completely honest, from some of his texts, it seemed like he just met girls on mixi to hook-up...so.not.my.style.)

and then saturday evening i got a text for him, "long time no see. remember me? wanna go out for drinks tomorrow?" i replied, "i have plans in the afternoon but i can probably go depending on the place. and, is it just the two of us? can i bring a friend?"

he wrote back in the morning asking how many friends and whether it would be a guy. after much texting, much standing my ground (him: "why don't we just go the two of us. i want to talk with you." me: "why are you in such a rush?? after we go out with 3 or 4 people, we can discuss meeting again." go me!) and much wondering who he really is and what he's after, we decided on a neutral location in saitama.

meanwhile i invited a recently made girl friend and she said she'd come, and made a reservation at a restaurant near the station that i've been to a few times.

i got to the station early. so did he. as he walked up to me and said hello, my friend happened to be standing almost right in front of us. we stood talking until his friend came.

we went to yakitori for a couple hours and chatted away. my friend was fairly quiet and Mackie and i did most of the talking, which, was fine by me (haha). after two hours, we left and walked my friend to the station. the remaining three of us went to another restaurant for a couple more drinks (on them!), then said goodbye and headed our separate ways.

first impressions?
he's tall and on the heavier side (finally a japanese guy taller and not skinnier than me!! haha) he wears glasses, which are cute in that geeky kind of way. he's smart (does antibody research) and when he gets tipsy, he lets the occasional dirty topic slip into conversation. in other words, he is a perfectly normal guy.

i'd even been willing to hang out again, if he's willing to initiate it.

there is something to be said for being pursued. ;)


p.s. on my way to this "blind group date", i emailed the subject of last week's boy gossip and said, "hey let's go out for dinner! i was thinking about mentioning it to your friend too..." and he wrote back, "thanks for the invite! i'll email my friend and get back to you!" i figured it safer (and less direct) to go out with both of them, but am wondering if i'm just setting myself up for more confusion. guaranteed to be fun either way, that's for sure.