A Scandal at the Mall

11 months ago (Edited)

And it begins...

You know that the weekend has begun once you lazily open your eyes without that annoying alarm on your phone going off, shocking you to a dreadful state of awareness. It's a moment of blissful realization that you can savor a few extra hours of sleep and surrender to the luxury of leisure.

As I stretched and yawned, the anticipation of the weekend's possibilities filled the air. The possibilities seemed endless, like a blank canvas waiting to be painted with strokes of adventure, relaxation, and pure enjoyment.

With a renewed sense of freedom, I threw off the covers and hopped out of bed, my feet meeting the cool touch of the hardwood floor. The morning light gently filtered through the curtains, casting a warm glow that hinted at the promise of a perfect day. I took up my phone from the bedside table and realized that almost half of "morning" already has gone by. It's a little before noon.

I tossed gently towards the right side of the bed and saw my significant other's sleeping face. I leaned in and planted a kiss on her cheek to wake her up and I invited her to brunch outside. She agreed and we dined out.

After the quick brunch, we went to the mall to look around and maybe shop around. And of course, first off, shoes!

You can't really walk around the mall without looking at some kicks. You feel me? Any sneaker heads around here? Am I right or what?

And of course, if you're anything like me, broke and helpless, the only thing you can do with some newly drop shoes is look at them and curse at the wind for not having enough money to buy some new pairs. That little calculator inside your brain goes off and tries to compute how much of an adjustment you have to do to get one. Anyhow, it was time to move on.

A little later...

We strolled hand in hand through the bustling corridors of the mall, our steps falling in sync with the rhythm of our shared excitement. The allure of window shopping beckoned us, inviting us to immerse ourselves in the world of fashion, style, and endless possibilities. Fellas who are in that kind of relationship could relate to this, we always see couple holding hands while walking at the mall right? We think... "awww. that's so sweet, so affectionate...blah blah blah" but some of us know that it's also economical as it is sweet. Once you saw something on the displays that could potentially make a dent on your wallet, you can yank your partner out of the way, brilliant right? Lol.

As we were walking around, in the corner of my eye, I saw something that is out of place. I couldn't pinpoint what it was so I sharpened my senses and kept my eyes peeled. And then, there it was, staring back right at me:

I don't know what happened to this promotional display but I'm pretty sure it wasn't supposed to show that. Someone's A## had a lot of explaining to do about that.

As Night Time Falls...

Weekends are the perfect time for a cherished tradition: date night. It's an opportunity to spend quality time with loved ones, whether it's family, friends, or a significant other. These moments create lasting memories and strengthen bonds that matter most. And as one wanting to keep the fire alive, seizing the opportunity as it arises is imperative. It doesn't matter if it's laying in bed, jumping off trees, or just staring out into the night sky, as long as you are spending quality time together.

And as for as, we chose to hang around in a neat cafe in the outskirt of the city.

We ordered some tea and this big serving of bingsu (Korean shaved-ice dessert). Mango-flavoured cream over milky fine-shaved ice. It was the perfect sweet to end the night.

The Next Day ...

Weekend's not only fun and games; they're also prime time for tackling those pesky chores and errands. It's a perfect opportunity to power through your to-do list and conquer those tasks that have been hiding in the shadows. And as for us, the big one on the list is doing groceries.

Working without a shopping list is hard. We found ourselves combing the entire supermarket from aisle to aisle. And we end up with bunch of stuff we neither need nor afford. And you know how daunting of a task budgeting nowadays with all the inflation going around.

Later that night...

Armed with fresh ingredients and a tired pair of legs, I took on the challenge of creating a hearty dinner. With the ampalaya (bitter gourd) as the star, I decided to cook a simple yet inspired dish. I threw in some meat and a can of corned beef to complete it. In my kitchen sanctuary, the aromas of herbs and spices rejuvenated me. With each chop and stir, the ingredients transformed into a culinary symphony.

Finally, I plated a visually stunning dish and sat down to savor the rewarding outcome.

Feeling guilty with all those meat bits in there, I threw some leaves together, soaked some old bread lying around in olive oil and toasted them in the oven. Sprinkle some parmesan cheese, drizzle with some dressing, a bing-badaaboom, and voila, homemade green salad.

What can I say? It's a weekend that's good for the body, heart , and soul. Looking forward to the next relaxing phase of life. But for now, let's slave away for some dough.