Summary

An observer at an airport reflects on the diverse and contradictory assumptions people make about a man they see there, speculating about his life, personality, and character based on his behavior and mannerisms.

Abstract

The narrative unfolds through the eyes of an onlooker who constructs a series of imaginative profiles about a man observed at an airport. This man, full of life, is perceived as everything from a successful runway model to a meditating stoic, a potential cheater, or a faithful partner. He is admired for his demeanor and lifestyle choices, criticized for his eating habits, and idealized as a husband material. The observer's thoughts oscillate between fascination, envy, and disdain, revealing the complexity of human judgment based on surface-level observations. The man's enigmatic presence prompts introspection from the observer, who questions their own life and worth in comparison.

Opinions

The man's confident walk suggests he could be a successful model at a high-profile fashion show.
His reading of the Harvard Business Review without turning a page implies he is an intelligent Harvard graduate.
The manner in which he eats his donut is found repulsive by the observer, questioning his etiquette and the legality of his behavior.
His focused texting while ignoring passersby leads to assumptions about his loyalty and potential marriage.
The observer perceives him as a philosophical listener of Jordan Peterson, indicating a depth to his character.
The man's ability to smile genuinely in the face of flight delays earns him the label of great husband material.
His failure to display frustration is seen as a sign of arrogance, suggesting he believes he knows everything.
The observer is both intrigued and repelled by the man, reflecting a personal struggle with self-worth and attraction.
The man's possible

#LOVEATFIRSTSIGHT

What I Think Strangers Think About Me When They See Me At the Airport

That guy is full of life

That guy walks like he’s a successful runway model at the Louis Vuitton menswear show. I wish he’d sit next to me on the flight. I wish I knew which flight he’s getting on. Does he not know which flight he’s getting on? He’s been walking every inch of the airport probably searching for his boarding gate.

That guy is reading the latest edition of Harvard Business Review magazine — without turning a page for the last nineteen minutes and forty-nine seconds, which can only mean one thing. He graduated from Harvard — with flying colors.

The way he eats his Voodoo’s Oh Captain, My Captain donut is, for lack of a better word, repulsive. Surely, it’s illegal. Who let him inside the airport? Where is a TSO when you need one?

That guy doesn’t even look at other girls passing by. He would never cheat on his partner. Who’s he texting for the last twenty-three minutes while smiling like a Cheshire cat? His girlfriend? Boyfriend? I hope it’s just a friend or a family member. He’s definitely married. Who wouldn’t marry him?

That cool guy, over there — the one with the cutest donut ever. I’m confident that he’s listening to Jordan Peterson’s podcast on his Beats headphones. He seems philosophical.

I’m obsessed with that guy. And I’m a heterosexual man. #LoveAtFirstSight

That guy strikes me as someone who knows how to make people laugh — while crying inside all the time.

I LOVE LOVE the way he genuinely smiles at the flight information display board on which he notices his flight keeps getting delayed for the last seven hours. How could he not get frustrated? He’d make a great husband. I hope he’s not married. Even if he is, I hope he’d agree to elope with me. Please make this happen, God! Wait! Why is he eating the donut like that? Ew!

Why does he not have any philosophy books in his hand? He’s an arrogant prick who thinks he knows it all.

That guy is full of life. He just makes me want to live — forever.

I’m positive that he neither believes in love at first sight nor at thirty second sight. What do I know? I’m just a mind reader.

Who does that guy think he is? Robert Pattinson? Has he never even accidentally looked at his face in the mirror?

Why does that guy close his eyes for twelve minutes once an hour? He must be meditating the shit out of this stressful world. He doesn’t look like a Buddhist. He’s definitely a stoic. If I’m being honest, he is sexy — only when he’s meditating. What’s wrong with me?

Why does he look so — unfamiliar, yet so familiar?

I can’t for the life of me guess where that guy is traveling to. Tokyo? Sydney? Boston? He seems rich. It must be Saudi Arabia where he owns two hundred and sixty-three oil wells. It’s not impossible that he owns this airport, too. The man knows how to eat his donuts. I’ll give him that.

I wouldn’t touch him with a thirty-six-foot pole. Don’t get me wrong. He’s dashing. It’s not him. It’s me. He makes me want to cry right now. I’m a failure. I don’t deserve him.

Look at that tranquil guy! I bet he doesn’t even care to think about what anyone thinks of him.

That guy is the most pathetic guy I’ve ever seen in my life. His face has ruined my holiday trip. Why does he keep looking back at me? FML!!

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A special thanks to Amy Sea for her expertise.

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