It's Okay, It's Love

Remembering the past

We were sitting on the swings in the playground. There were a few kids running around, playing and there were two moms on the bench looking over their kids.

I was looking at the ground and kicking the small pebles with my feet.

"We became best friends in fifth grade," I began talking. "I was the kind of person to have lots of friends. I was fun and I was actually having fun at school playing with the other kids. But I never had the one best friend. Whenever we needed to work in pairs all my friends would pair up and I was left alone. I would be in a pair either with a kid whose best friend was absent or alone. So when the fifth grade started and our classes mixed a little and I was in the same class with Jake we instantly became best friends. We were very similar, he also had a lot of friends, but he didn't have a best friend. When we needed to work in pairs Jake and me were left alone so we naturally paired up. We got along very well and had a lot in common so we became each other's best friend," I stopped for a brief moment and continued with my story. "As time went on and we got older I started developing romantic feelings towards Jake. The first time I realized that I actually liked him was when he insulted me. It wasn't a big insult, but at that time I understood that I wanted him to talk only good things about me. It was sports day in school. There was a challenge when a guy had to carry a girl piggyback style. Jake carried Erica, our classmate. He didn't complain that she was heavy, he even said that she was very light at the end of the competition. Later in the challenges I injured my foot and could barely walk so Jake carried me all the way home, when everything ended. He didn't say anything so I asked him if I was heavy. He just laughed and said "Yeah, you're like a fat pig". That's when I got so jealous of Erica that I insisted on going home myself. Even with my kicking and punching he didn't let me down and carried me all the way home." I said remembering the fond memories. I made a slight pause and looked at Henry. He was attentively listening and urged me to go on. "The first time I confessed my feelings for him was the day after the sports festival, right the next day after I realized my feelings for him. Actually I spent the rest of the day thinking about him, my feelings and what I want from our relationship. Of course I considered the possibility of ruining our friendship and loosing my best friend, but the fear wasn't big enough to overwhelm the strong need to be in his embrace. So I confessed to him. On our way home from school I told him that I liked him. He just laughed and said that he likes me too. The moment he said that my heart stopped. I really thought I was having a heart attack. But then he added "You're my best friend" and smiled. My heart sunk to my heels. I stood still and quietly whispered "That's not what I meant". He turned to me and said "I know what you meant" and smiled with a warm smile. I was so confused then. I couldn't understand what he meant by that. So that's how my first ever confession was brushed off. After the first confession I wasn't scared to confess anymore. Not that he accepted any of my confessions." I said and laughed. "There was one time that I confessed to him on Valentine's day. I gifted him a box of heart shaped chocolates. I actually melted them and molded them myself. "I like you. Do you want to be my boyfriend?" I asked him as I was giving him the chocolates. He stared at the box for a second and then looked up at me and smiled warmly. "I am a boy and I'm your friend." He said and laughed. "Thanks for the chocolates," he added as he patted me on the shoulder and walked out of the classroom. That's when I clearly realized that he wanted to only be friends and tried not to ruin our friendship by playing oblivious to my confessions. I kind of gave up on us being a couple, but I still liked him. When he told me that he liked a girl from another school I got angry. I know I was selfish, because he was a real friend and shared his feelings and I only cared about my own. That's when I decided to root him on his relationship. But when he wanted to set me up with one of his friends I got really mad. When he got together with Mindy I was happy for him, but also sad because I knew that he would spend less time with me now. They've been dating for a little over two weeks now and he already loves her so much to listen to her and 'not hang out with me' until she's okay with it," I said with mock in my voice not believing that Mindy would ever be okay with us hanging out. "Can he already love her that much in two weeks?" I asked Henry looking at him.

Henry looked like he thought for a little and then said, "For me even two days is too long," he laughed.

He made me laugh too, I lightly punched him on the arm, "Jerk," I said through laughter.

We sat quietly slightly swinging for a few seconds until Henry spoke, "How about I help you get over Jake and find you a loving boyfriend?" He asked and looked at me.

I looked back at him and thought for a second, "What's in it to you?" I asked because he sounded suspicious.

"Umm..." he paused and thought. His face changed to a barely visible smirk. "How about we make a deal?" He asked and smiled.

"What kind of deal?" I asked and shifted in the swings I was sitting in.

"Let's find each other a partner," he said and smiled like what he came up with was the best idea ever. I was ready to protest but he spoke first, "Until Christmas I will find potential partners and set you up on dates with them and you will do the same for me. And if neither of us find a boyfriend/girlfriend then we will spend Christmas together." He explained and looked at me waiting for my response.

I actually thought about it. I did say that I need to find a boyfriend and Henry probably knows a lot of guys. And every year until now I used to spend Christmas with Jake and a few friends and if Jake was going to spend this Christmas with his lovable girlfriend then why don't I spend them with Henry?

"So how about it?" He rushed me to respond and I actually responded positively.

On the way home I thought about which girls should I introduce to Henry. I could set him up with Monica. They should hit it off. And she was complaining how she doesn't want to spend Christmas alone recently.

We agreed that the first date was going to be on the day after tomorrow and tomorrow we were going to exchange information when and where.

When I got back home and changed into my cozy clothes I decided to make myself a cup of tea so I heated up the water. I suddenly remembered what Jake told me today and as I was pouring the boiling hot water into my cup I spilled and it got onto my hand. I instantly jumped because it was burning hot and set the kettle down rushing to put my hand under cold water. In the process I hit the cup and it fell down and crashed into small pieces. I ignored it for now because I needed to aid my hand. After a reasonable amount of time standing with my hand under pouring cold water I decided to put some ointment on my burn but as I spun around my foot got caught under my other foot and I fell down. I tried to protect my burned hand so I didn't stretch it out to support myself from the fall but I stretched my other hand and I landed right on the broken shards from the cup with my good hand and a lot of small pieces got stuck in my hand.

Great, now both of my hands were injured...