Lunch For One

I went to Dal Cuore Italian Restaurant a little before 12pm. Noon came and went, but Theresa never appeared. I can't say I wasn't surprised, but still I was disappointed.

I was about to call her to see if anything came up, but then I realized that I didn't have her phone number anymore. And she didn't have my cell phone number, so she couldn't have called me either.

I did call my answering machine to check for messages. Only two: One was a hangup call, the other was a telemarketer offering a special for family portraits (I live alone). I doubted the hangup call was from her, so I assume she simply changed her mind about seeing me. Just as well.

I ordered lunch for myself and left after 1pm.

Something is bothering me though - Just a nagging feeling. I'm not one for paranoia - The last time I really ever felt self-conscious was when I was a teenager. But I really felt that one of the patrons at the restaurant kept watching me. He was an older gentleman, clean-cut, well dressed, but not quite like a businessman. Probably a retiree.

Of course, it's common to accidentally make eye contact with a stranger, and then as a form of compulsion, keep looking back to see if he is still looking at you. It's often funny because the stranger must feel the same way as well and will look back too, thus making repetitive eye contact. A vicious-cycle of paranoia.

But for some reason, this felt different. Perhaps it's my lack of sleep last night, but I felt very uneasy as he furtively eyed me. I don't know why I'm even bother mentioning it - Just something that is hard to shake off my mind at the moment.

Well, enough for now. Back to my domestic chores...