friendships...

How do you tell someone.
That you do not wish to meet up with him for a meal.
That you wish to just keep things as it is. i.e. only the very occassional SMS & the online chat.
That the previous time you had a meal with him put you off so bad that 6 months later, you still don't want to meet up with him.
That the friendship is still ok when it's behind a virtual screen.
But that when you pull that screen off an come face-to-face in real life, it just changes so drastically.

At this point,
I am ok if things are kept at a distance.
I am ok if the friendship, the care, the concerns are communicated via technological means.
But a meal?
Nah, I am still not keen on the idea.
Yeah, 6 months later, somehow the distaste is still there..

So how to say all this to someone?

===========
I got criticized by a 31? 32?...aiyah.. a-guy-in-his-early-30s...this afternoon.

He was miffed and said that I didn't put in the effort to contact him.
That I didn't bother with him.

Coming from a guy..who just got married a few months back and who's gonna be a dad in 7 months time...
Sigh..maybe he's pissed with me that I didn't attend his wedding..

And to think that actually, we aren't really that oh-so-close after all...How many times do we see each other in a year? Got to know him in NTUC...and for the past 3 years, I think I've only met up with him like 5-6 times max?
Out of which 2 were coincidental meetings in the street. And the rest of the time was for work...

Sigh...so many friends...so little time.
How am I supposed to go stroke each person & pay close attention to each relationship all the time??

===========
It's weird sometimes.
When friendships turn out as such...
One party wanting to maintain & nurture it more than the other party..

*pouts*