Have you ever said something casually like, “Next time, I’ll treat you,” and then your brain decides to archive it in bold, capital letters, highlighted, underlined… and replay it at random hours?
Because same.
That’s me.
Months ago, in one of our random conversations, I told my partner I wanted to treat him to lunch at 10 Pots—my favourite hotpot place. He had never been there before, and obviously, I had been hyping it up like it was some five-star Michelin experience. I might have slightly exaggerated the soup base and the fresh ingredients… but that’s beside the point. I just really wanted him to experience it. And maybe, just maybe, I liked the idea of proudly saying, “See? I told you it’s good.”
It wasn’t even a big promise. Just lunch.
But if you know me, you know this: whenever I say I’ll do something, my brain stamps it as a commitment. No expiry date. No extensions. No excuses.
My mind would go, “You owe him this. You said you would treat him. When are you going to do it?” 😂
So before Ramadhan, I told myself, okay. Enough postponing. No more “next time.” No more “maybe next week.” That’s it—we’re going.
Let’s go to 10 Pots.
Lunch at 10 Pots: The Good, The Not-So-Good
This was my 4th time having lunch here, but my very first time coming on a Sunday. Usually, I go before 12 pm on Saturday with my best friend. No queue. This time? We arrived around 2 pm on Sunday. And yes… we had to queue.
But to be fair, it wasn’t too bad. We waited about 30 minutes. They actually prepared drinking water and benches for customers waiting outside, which I appreciated. Small gestures like that make a difference.
Once inside, everything tasted just like I remembered:
✔ Fresh ingredients
✔ Good quality meat
✔ Flavorful soup bases
The quality of the food? Still consistent. Still good. That part didn’t disappoint at all. But here’s the honest review.
The service felt like it was slowly going downhill.
The restaurant was completely packed, and it was obvious they were understaffed. You could feel the rush. I noticed a few things that weren’t as smooth as my previous visits:
✖ No bowls left for sauces (I had to personally walk to the kitchen to ask for one)
✖ Some sauces were empty and took time to be refilled
✖ My partner asked for extra beef slices… and it never came
✖ It was quite hot inside, probably from the hotpot steam and crowd, and we were sweating while eating
It wasn’t terrible. Just… not as smooth as before. Still, despite the flaws, we truly enjoyed our meal.
Of Course, We Stopped by the Bookstore
Lately, my new obsession has been spending time in bookstores. It became my quiet form of therapy. I can spend hours inside and never once feel bored.
So obviously, I couldn’t leave without stepping into BookXcess at Tamarind Square. This branch used to be famous for staying open 24 hours, and I’ve always wanted to explore it properly instead of just walking past.
It’s hard to explain, but being inside a bookstore makes me feel… full. Not in a loud, exciting way. But in a peaceful, grounding way.
Maybe it’s the smell of books. Maybe it’s the quiet atmosphere. Maybe it’s the thought that every shelf is filled with someone’s ideas, experiences, heartbreaks, lessons, imagination—entire worlds waiting to be opened.
Each book feels like a piece of someone’s soul carefully placed on paper. And somehow, just being surrounded by all that thought and creativity feels healing to me. Like I’m borrowing a little bit of wisdom and comfort just by standing there.
I didn’t need to buy a whole stack of books to feel satisfied. Just being there was enough.
The Day Isn’t Complete Without Coffee
No outing is complete without coffee.
There are plenty of cafés at Tamarind Square. Literally every corner looks aesthetic and tempting. But we ended up at Toast Maker for one very specific reason. On their menu, I saw the magical words: Sea Salt Caramel Latte.
And apparently, my current coffee personality is “anything with sea salt.” 😂
Ever since I tried my first Sea Salt Caramel Latte at Alcea cafe, I’ve been obsessed. It was love at first sip. That balance of sweet caramel and salty kick? I loved it! Since then, whenever I look at a café menu, my eyes automatically scan for the word “sea salt.”
This one at Toast Maker? It was good. Smooth, nicely balanced, comforting. But if I’m being honest… I would still choose Alcea. Maybe it was just that perfect ratio of sweet and salty that set the standard too high.
Still, sitting there with my latte in hand, in a bright and cozy space, felt like the perfect pause to our little day out.
Looking for a Pharmacy… Found Photo Spots Instead
I wanted to buy cough medication. Google said there was a pharmacy nearby. We walked. And walked. And somehow… never found it. But what we did find? The most unexpected photo spots.
I’ve been to Tamarind Square a few times, but I couldn’t believe I had never explored this part before. The architecture, the light, the greenery—it was impossible not to take photos.
So instead of buying medicine, we had a spontaneous photography session. And of course, as always, he automatically stepped into his most important role: My personal photographer.
Honestly, I think he has fully accepted this job description. Other than being my partner, this might be his most consistent responsibility. 😂
What started as “just lunch” slowly turned into a full little date day. No fancy plans. Just us deciding to spend time together at Tamarind Square, walking around, exploring, taking it slow.
One More Drink (Because It Was So Hot!)
The weather was HOT. We were both sweating like crazy. So before heading home, we made one final stop at Mixue. We’ve actually tasted Mixue before—but funny enough, it was a treat from my gyno doctor. 😂 We had never actually bought our own properly. So this time, we stood there staring at the menu, trying to remember “What was the drink the doctor gave us?”
After a few “Was it this one?” and “I think it was something peach?” moments, we randomly chose Peach Tea.
And yes… it was the right choice!
Refreshing. Sweet. Perfect for the heat.
A Small Outing, But Big Memories
Before lunch, I’ll be honest… I was slightly annoyed with my partner. It wasn’t dramatic. No big argument. Just one of those moments where our differences felt louder than usual. And for a while, I held onto it.
But somewhere between walking to the restaurant and sitting down at the table, I realized something. Not everything needs to be carried. Sometimes, instead of replaying the issue in your head, instead of proving a point, instead of waiting for the “right moment” to address it, you just need to take a deep breath. And let it slowly go.
By the end of the day, I felt closer to him.
Not because everything was perfect.
Not because we went somewhere fancy.
But because we chose to show up for each other.
Relationships aren’t about never feeling annoyed. They’re about choosing connection over ego. Choosing to spend time instead of staying distant. Choosing to create memories even on ordinary days.
That little promise I made months ago? It wasn’t just about paying for lunch. It was about keeping my word. It was about intention. It was about nurturing something small before it turns into something big.
And maybe that’s the lesson.
Don’t underestimate simple dates.
Don’t postpone small promises.
And don’t wait for perfect days to build meaningful memories.
Sometimes the most ordinary Sunday turns into the kind you remember for a long time.
And those are my favourite kinds of days. 💛
—Auri Duham🌻
