This past weekend was B's Wedding. The ceremony and reception were small, but beautifully done. I don't think I've cried at a wedding that much before, but it seemed fairly normal as even the older more composed men wiped at their eyes. I'm sure the constant pour of beer into everyone helped.

At our table of 7 I was seated between N (a fellow English teacher friend) and Hiro. Hiro works in the same office B and I do, but in a different department. Hiro has always intimidated me. Not in a scary overbearing way, but he just strikes me as one of those too cute, too cool guys that would never give me the time of day. He and B are good friends, so I have hung out with him a few times at parties and dinners. The whole time I'm usually tongue-tied and surprisingly, despite first impressions, Hiro a shy guy. I think he speaks and understands a lot more English than what he lets on, but our awkward conversations are usually all in Japanese. Of course I was nervous sitting next to him for a 4 hour reception where neither of us knew many other people.

After table introductions and some general comments about how pretty B looks, Hiro leans over and says he saw Sar and I the other night at the local convenience store. He gives me a sly look and asks, "Karaoke?" Damn he actually does know a bit about me. I give the affirmative and he chuckles, "Yeah I've seen you guys two or three times at that time of night." I haven't even started drinking yet, but my face is flushed. I'm always really loud and drunk right after karaoke parading around town. Plus if he has seen us that many times recently why didn't he say hi? Somehow I manage to form a proper Japanese sentence and say (in what I hope was a casual tone), "So how about next time you come with us?" Another smile from him and he suggests we exchange cell phone information! YES!

The reception goes on and at the end as everyone stands up to leave he pulls out his cell phone and wiggles it in my direction (that sounds so very bad). I have to be the one to say "Let's exchange!” but in any case it got done. Since he might even be shyer than I am, I'll have to make the next step and the whole conversation implied group activities, but still yay!