He was handsome, athletic and boasted a ripped, gym-honed body. Eric was flattered and we started chatting. We were both in the civil service, but had never met as we were in separate branches. After our first meeting, we SMSed and e-mailed each other. A fortnight later, we went on our first date. He was eight years older and certainly knew how to impress a girl. When I was sick, he would call to check on me three times a day and bring me medicine and nourishing drinks. Being outdoorsy, we sometimes jogged together.
Once, I felt faint as we scaled a steep hill. I fell into his arms, quite literally, as he caught me. As he fussed over me, he blamed himself for not being more attentive. The first couple of months with Eric were bliss. We would meet almost every day after work. We enjoyed working out together or going for a run. Things progressed quickly. Eric started talking about our future together, suggesting that we get married within two years. I was introduced to his family β he was Malaysian, and his family members lived across the Causeway.
But as quickly as it started, our fairy tale started to unravel. I soon discovered that Eric had a dark, capricious side and would flare up over the smallest matters. We had our first major argument two months into the relationship.
We were out shopping and I had complained about a rude salesgirl. He lashed out, accusing me of being unreasonable and for making a fuss over nothing.
It got worse. A few weeks later, he skipped out on celebrating my birthday, saying he had to visit his family in Malaysia. He would ignore my SMSes and phone calls. I messaged him on Facebook, asking if he still wanted the relationship.
