No Wing Women, Just Wings.

We walked into the bar and sat on two stools by the window. Happy hour is good on the pocket. Within five minutes, two men spot us like an eagle scouts his prey. Two drinks are served our way, hassle free and number free – ”just the way it should be.

I will admit it. Sometimes, it is just darn good to be an alcohol whore. It is not that I cannot afford my own drink. On the contrary, there have been plenty of occasions that I choose to keep a low profile with the girls and build a man wall for the evening. And then there are instances that we are looking for potential men. But sometimes, just sometimes, it’s just great to get loose, have some awesome conversations and meet new people without having any real intentions. Those are the type of nights when “Mr. No ones” sometimes have a chance of becoming potential “Mr. Someones”. The nights when your guard is down, you are least expecting and you are not really looking for anything– well, except getting free alcohol, of course.

And if today’s aim is the latter of the three, you had better find yourself a good partner in crime. Bar hopping with the wrong girl will get you nothing. The wrong girl consist of one who acts like a crazy drunk, incapable of carrying a conversation, and although obvious – ”someone who is incompatible with you.

I’d like to call my perfect partner in crime “my other wing”.

We can bounce from topic to topic flawlessly and finesse each other’s words. She won’t be the girl telling embarrassing stories of you to the men you hardly know. She is, however, the partner who with the slight nudge on the shoulder or a quick wink in the eye will instinctively know when you want to leave.

My wing and I went bar hopping in Midtown. The crowd was filled with young professionals who were half drunk or at least trying to get there. Three men approached us and offered us a shot. We accepted.

You are only required to stay so long as the alcohol is there. If interested, stay longer. If not, move on and have fun. There’s no reason to waste your night talking to duds you dislike. After 15-20 minutes, we were in dire need for some better conversations. A quick exchange of eye contact with my wing indicated our need to exit. She politely excused us and mentioned we were “running late” for drinks with a friend. The men had a mutual understanding of our lack of chemistry with them.

No awkward exchange of numbers was necessary. We never put ourselves in the position to be offered it. We left the bar… for a bar around the corner.

When we arrived, we were riding high and my wing bought us a round of drinks to get us started. As soon as we settled in, we realized there were no seats available. A petite man (yes, there is such a thing) immediately offered us his seat steps behind him.

It really is okay to mingle with everyone. Even though we were not completely attracted to the gentlemen, we did find them engaging. We sat down and had a few good laughs.

Funny jokes soon turned corny.

After two rounds of complimentary drinks, we realized we were ready to move on yet again. Instead of lying to them though, honesty can be the best policy.

“We’ve never been here and would love to look around–would you mind if we wander for a bit?” my wing asked. In a game of chess, we had checkmate. There was no way they could say “no,” without sounding stalker-ish. We bid goodbye and walked to the back of the crowded bar. It was a perfect getaway that was only possible with the right wing – ”she was suave yet polite.

At this point, I felt the warming effects of the alcohol rush to my cheeks, the muscles relax near my shoulders, and a permanent smile was mounted on my face.

We were three steps away from the bartender when I felt a tap on my shoulder:

“How do you two like your drinks?” asked Mr. Rimmed Glasses guy. Although alcohol has its negative effects (beer goggles, hangovers, and stripper pole dancing), alcohol also gives a person a sense of confidence (whether it is real or not). It is an attitude hidden beneath those layers of shyness.

“What’s the catch?”

“Have a conversation with me,” he smiled.

My wing and I traded glances in agreement to his wish. Of the three encounters, Rimmed Glasses was by far the funniest (that – ”or the drinks were finally getting to us). The perfect wing made it possible to juggle words to form wittiness in our conversation. As for Rimmed Glasses, he was precisely what we wanted.

Sometimes, it’s the days you just don’t care that you meet the right match – ”whether it is only for good times or the guy of your dreams – ”he comes when you least expect it.

He was a symbol of what the night was about–plain and good ol’ fun. Oh, and free alcohol.

Sandra Fay is twenty something living and dating in New York City. To learn more about her visit her MyAsiance page at my.asiancemagazine.com/sandrafay