You can look young - but your body doesn't lie!! *back pain*

Last Saturday, at the climbing gym, I was asked by the receptionist whether I am a student because if so, I qualify for a student discount. I gave her a resounding NO.

I am surprised by my own answer. I am usually the type who will do anything to get a better deal. I have lied about dying pets to get out of speeding tickets and disabled relatives to get nicer parking lots. For some strange reasons, however adept I am in lying, I just never want to lie about my age.

In fact, I actually feel slightly indignant when others think I am still a young chiku. There’s the bouncers at night clubs, ticket sellers at cinemas for adult shows and even the 7-11 cashiers had their go at me when I try to buy cigarettes. I know I should be pleased that people think I look young but sometimes looking young means you are treated like an imbecile at the outset.

Last night (second time last weekend!) I had to justify my age again albeit in a rather strange place. I was lying naked on a massage table while my masseur was digging her oily paws into my back. She was talking about herself (mostly to herself) when she told me that she is “also 19 years old”.

I have been quiet the entire time but I had to squeak back that I am not “also 19” but already in my “dirties” at that statement. (Hard to enunciate when you are pressed face down!)

She was aghast, and refuses to believe me. (What is it? Do I have an adolescent body? Is it my boy chest?) When I couldn’t convince her otherwise (no IC with me), she insists that I must at least have a very stress-free job then.

She pauses at that point to show me a picture from her mobile phone – one of her all dolled up and partying hard. “See! I look so young in the photo but so old in real life. I only look old at work because my work is so stressful,” she sigh.

I must have looked ten years older just from that massage alone (stress!) Nice to hear though, that my workplace is one big party place…