Haar's Half Measure

What I talk about when I talk about physics.

02 Jun 1999

Just One Slight Smile is Very Alluring

Thành phố Hồ Chí Minh, 30/05/2019

Day 01

We were looking for a coffee shop after hours of League of Legends. The parental-control-free first year of college gave us more excitement than we had imagined.

We stopped by a famous one, The Coffee House. I didn’t even know the name of the street, but wandering around Phu Nhuan in rush hour is not that smart, obviously.

Day 05

We came back, just because my friend had told me about the endearing waitress at the bar. I couldn’t remember the last time I saw someone with a smile as alluring as hers.

Day 10

I’ve developed a tendency to order ‘bạc xỉu vừa’ (Vietnamese coffee with condensed and a touch of fresh milk), without intending to, because I was so nervous talking to her. “It’s been a while since the moment I got butterflies in my stomach.”

Day 12

The rain season has begun in Sai Gon. They came pouring down the street, bringing a smell of freshness to the city while drawing both of our attention. I would never forget the moment we caught each other’s eyes unexpectedly.

Day 15

Came to the coffee shop, alone, again, and as usual, bạc xỉu vừa. I still had one month until the new semester, so being with her, surrounded by the fragrance of coffee was not a bad idea.

Day 16

I started to think about her all day long.

Day 20

My phone rang, it was my friend.

Hey, are you at the place?
I am.
And how ’bout your girl tday? Is she at work?
Yes, right here. Just glanced at her.
I bet 100000 VND that your summer will end up having no conversation with her.
Stfu, I’m doing it.
Doing what?
I am asking her out!
– 😱.

Here came the rain again, each steady, soft drop falling off the roof. I mustered up all courage I had, crossed the long table and walked straight to the bar.

May I help you? The waitress asked.
Yes…One Banh mi Giam Bong, please. I was mubling. Dare I had the guts looking into her eyes. What the hell am I doing?
Can I have your membership barcode?

I handed her my phone, shaky and shivering, with the Facebook search box that had already been typed in.

Cậu cho tớ xin Facebook được không?

She stopped for a second, looked up, and smiled, the most beautiful smile that I have ever seen in my life.

Next time, we'll talk about "How to convince a particle theorist that quasiparticles are dangerous!"