It was late. Thus, he sent me off in a cab alone.

He passed me my bag, 22 bucks and gave me a quick peck on my lips before I got into the taxi.

“Good evening,” the driver greeted me. I was surprised. For so many years of taking a cab, I do not recall the first thing cab drivers say besides “Where you wanna go?”.

“Bedok North, please,” I told him.
“Ok. I’ll take the ECP route. Is that fine?”
“Sure. Thanks!”
“Is the radio ok for you? Or would you like another station?”
“Um, it’s fine. Thanks.”

I put my safety belt on and prepared for the half an hour long ride.

Suddenly, my Nokia rang out. Mother called, wondering when I was coming home. As I talked to her, I realised that the driver had turned the radio off. How considerate of him! After my call, he turned the radio back on.

I remembered listening to some dorky report on some blind/speed date that happened between this couple and the guy was giving his side first. Then some love songs came on air. I then realised I was listening to Class 95 FM.

As I gave him directions to turn to my street, he commented, “So far…”

Huh?

“… the distance between you and your boyfriend.”

Oh.

“Oh,” I said, somewhat semi-embarrassed. “Yeah, I guess so.”
“So how, if you watch late-night movie at Orchard, the cab fare very high, yah?”
“Uhm… we don’t really watch late-night movies.”
“Yeah, that’s good. But at least your case not so bad.”
“Is it?”

“Yah! I remember picking up this couple at Orchard after their late night movie. The girl live in Jurong East and when got there, the guy pass me his IC and I ask, ‘What for?’ then he say, ‘Uncle, wait for me, I send my girlfriend up first.’ I say, ‘Aiyah, never mind lah. I trust you!’ Then when he came down, I thought, ‘Hallelujah!’ he asked me to go to Pasir Ris.

“The cab fare came up to 30 plus leh! Some more still need to pay for movie ticket. Then before that they walk around Orchard. Eat also only east fast food. Tsk tsk. Movies so expensive some more…”

He went on to say about advising that guy when approaching a girl next time, take a peek at her IC to find out where she lives first before getting her.

“After the junction, turn right at the first carpark,” I told him as we neared my block.

“O-k, your damage tonight would be $12.60,” he informed me.

I paid him, thanked him, and wished him a nice evening.

Thank you, Mr. Vincent.

—
EDIT: Apparently, Marz made a taxi-post as well.