Girl, Beware of Your Girl Best Friend

Growing Up

After I've finished college in our hometown, I decided to go to the big city where Kimberly was to look for a job. She went back to the big city after giving birth, leaving her son to her mother. She didn't finish school anymore because she met a foreigner who married her and also offered to support her son. So there they were, a picture of a perfect family. Kim could not ask for anything more because her husband loved her so dearly. 

"Welcome to your new life!" Kim raised her cocktail as she brought me to a posh club in the big city. It was my first weekend off from my first job and I was giddy with excitement to explore what the big city has in store for me. 

"Thank you! I am so glad that you're here with me to guide me through with all the adjustments I have to make," I said clinking on his glass.

"Don't mention it. I am so glad that finally you're here! You can finally start dating!" she said excitingly. 

"No. I'm not here to date. I'm here to work," I said. 

"There you go again, old maid sister! Have a life will you, please!" she said rolling her eyes. 

"Kim, how can I date? I still have to study the lessons I must teach to my students. I don't want to embarrass myself if I can't answer whatever question they might throw at me," I explained. 

"You're still the serious kind of girl!" she said. 

"Well, this is just me," I said. 

"And, you're still in love with that boy!" she accused jokingly. 

"Well, not at all I guess. I am still invisible to him," I said with a sigh. 

"You should stop loving him! He got himself married already!" Kim exclaimed. 

"What?!" I was shocked at the news! What information is this? Is this true?

The boy that always has a soft spot in my heart is married? The only boy I was nursing feelings for is married?! God, he's married! He's finally married! Why haven't I heard of that? I was not ready for this confrontation. The boy whom I love from childhood to adolescence is now married! 

"Yes, haven't you heard of it? I thought our town is small enough for such news," my best friend said mockingly. 

"No, I haven't. Are you sure?" I asked hoping Kim was joking. 

"Yes, I am. I saw their wedding photos on social media," she attested. 

Oh, yeah. Social media. Everybody is into that these days already. I am way too long behind. Behind from my peers, behind from technology, behind from the news, behind from the world! I am behind for my studies, for how to earn a living, and for being focused on what has to be done. I set aside all other things for my future and my family. Kim is indeed right. I am an old maid! 

"Don't worry, Louela. You still have me. You'll always do," my best friend assured me squeezing my hand. Suddenly, I felt the same weird feeling I once felt when I helped her to her bed when she got drunk in college.