bj joe, the swallowing atm and the smoking table - 3

we entered HSBC which housed also STARBUCK, up the escalator and soon we approached the receptionist counter. joe asked me to wait for him in the "PRESTIGE ACCOUNTS LOUNGE".

wow! it was really spacious. as i passed by the coffee dispenser, a friendly auntie asked me what drink did i want?
LTS: free is it?
smiling auntie: yes free ( bigger smile)
LTS: ok...er...capuccino can?
auntie: no problem. please take a seat. will be with u in a moment. (more smiles and a bow)

wow!! they really made u feel very 'VIP' and grand!

as i sat on the sofa, i grabbed hold of BUSINESS TIMES and started to read. soon the my kopi capuccino was here. wow! what was there? a HSBC shaped butter cookie! yummy!!
and the capuccino tasted exactly like starbucks!

soon joe had got his personal banking matters settled. he was served his espresso while going through his documents. when he was satisfied, we headed downstair to the atm cos' joe needed to withdraw some cash.

JOE suddenly yelped: HELL!!! fuck!!!
i went to him: what's wrong joe?
joe: the fucking machine swallowed my card!!!

he approached the receptionist stationed there but she was occupied at that moment. joe was pissed!! and that frowns on his face was threatening indeed!
joe: what a fuck is this place!! i was trying to change my PIN and after changing it, i keyed in my new PIN...and the bloody card got swallowed by the fucking atm!!

gosh!! it was first time i heard so many fierce expletives from gorgeous bj joe.

the receptionist noticed how pissed joe was, momemtarily excused herself from her immediate client and attended to joe. she gave joe a slip and told him to return the next day when the card could be retrieved after the bank closed.

well, what to do? we exited the bank and joe was one furious dissatisfied customer. he was brooding and mumbling more to himself then to me...

joe: bob...what a fuck up practice this place have!!
LTS: simmer down joe....relax....coool...coool...c'mon let me buy u a good makan in takashimaya. there is a good dimsum restaurant at B1. let's go to CRYSTAL JADE.
joe: sorry bob...i don't ve much cash now cos that fucking atm swallowed my bloody card!!
lts: joe....don't worry la...i m paying!! c'mon let's go and enjoy our meal. tomorrow u can come again...anyway, they still have to finalise some details with you what...relaxx....and joe, do u need some cash or not? i could lend you first.
joe: it's ok...oh!! a money changer....i go change some spare cash first.

we went there and boy!! how our currency had appreciated. 1000 rmb was only S$195. in the end, joe changed USD100 which was only S$133.

we reached CRYSTAL JADE, placed our order and ate. joe ordered a honeyed pork noodle while i had a stewed beef noodle. he ordered another plate of char siew. then joe asked: could i have egg?
LTS: huh? egg? as in fu rong dan?? (scrambled eggs with chopped char siew and shrimps)
joe: whatever...so long as egg. can i have diet coke.
LTS: fine....i ve puer er tea. ( this one was free flow and for only 80c per person)
in a jiffy, our ordered was served and we dug in.
after the makan, joe was deeply engrossed in his pda on one hand and his local handphone sms-ing on the other. i felt so bored and neglected so i browsed through the receipt.

huh? what was that?? towel?? we didn't use any towel. we used the tissue which i carried with me.
LTS: auntie, how come got towel charges. we didn't use leh.
auntie: oh...sorli...i go deduct from the bill.
lts: thanks (turning to joe) joe!! u damn busy hor!! what am i suppose to do now ...watching u fiddling ur 2 handphones is it?
joe: sorli la, bob....must msg back to beijing....about my instruction...wait a while please for their reponse.
lts: why are u here this time joe? the bank thing is it?
joe: yes...but also to see if there's a post here i could transfer over...i very sick with my bj job...

so we chatted and finally, we decided to drop by a pal's shop which was nearby. unfortunately, he wasn't around so joe and me decided to go back.

it was almost 5.15pm. joe wanted to take the cab. i stopped him.
LTS: joe, don't take the cab. it's very expensive now....it's like $3 surcharge and then 35% additional to the fair. u see the long queue of taxis? no one's taking them this peak period!
joe was quite dejected. he had to be cos i told him i don't pay for cab. and he didn't have much money with him for today.
joe: then how bob? i don't have much smaller change either to take bus.
lts: don't worry la...i pay for u. there is a direct bus from here back to your condo. let's take that.
joe: ok, thanks bob.

soon, we reached miramar hotel. we alighted and crossed over. i thought joe was reutrning to hi condo there. but no. instead he brought me to a nice cosy pub by the river.