my 'the summer i turned pretty'

confrontation

april 2022.

his girlfriend was right next to him, yet he stared at me like i was the only person in the room

it was my first time meeting conrad's girlfriend. she entered the house while we were all wraping dumplings in their kitchen.

their family had just gotten back from a trip to hawaii and his mom was telling me about their experience at the polynesian cultural center.

"you would totally fit it! you were better than some of the people there" his mom encouraged me. it had been my lifelong goal to work and perform there.

throughout the conversation erik kept looking at me and smiling. although i really wasn't in the mood. i had spent hours begging my mom not to come. i just didn't want to meet his new girlfriend yet. but lo and behold it didn't work and i was stuck squashed between her and one of my sisters while conrad taught her how to wrap dumpings..... just like he's done to me all these years.

a few hours later it was just me, conrad, and his girlfriend in the kitchen. i was snacking on all the leftovers from dinner when they walked in together.

i wasn't in the mood so i didn't look up at them. instead i just sat there sipping my water.

conrad was graduating in a few days and they were talking about their graduation ceremony practices.

it occured to me then that i had no clue where he was going to college. so i mustered up all my courage to finally talk to him infront of his girl.

"hey, where did you decided to go to college?" i tried my best to sound casual.

"oh just the one a few minutes from here, i wanted to stay close to home". he stared at me while he spoke. right into my eyes like the guys do in all the movies.

i smiled. "i guess i won't get a break from you any time soon." we laughed and continued the conversation with nicole still standing behind him.

"are you planning to go to hawaii for college and work at the pcc? i've seen you dance and i think you'd do very well there."

i have no clue why, but these words were oddly comforting. he paid attention to my dance performances, he thought of me while he was there. he even complimented me!

"yeah, i really hope so." i answered. "i think it'd be a perfect fit for you" he ended

we just stood there looking at each other for what felt like the longest time before i finally decided to walk away and give them some privacy.

we didn't see much of each other for the rest of the night until my family was leaving.

he walked upstairs from the basement with nicole and stood next to the door while we all got our shoes on. when i walked up to him to say goodbye, he said "i saw your tiktoks".

i have never cringed soo hard in my life.

i have never, ever posted on tiktok. but it just so happened i had recently attended a concert and decided to post a few fun videos of me and my cousins there.

"omg i can't believe you actually saw them. don't watch them" i said cringing again and trying to look away. i was so embarrassed.

but his gaze stayed on me.

"no i liked them" he started. he continued to look into my eyes, just like before in the kitchen.

"i support your adventures."

what was up with him today? why was he being so nice.

i really liked what he said, and as i replayed it in my mind in the car, i felt like crying.

he supports me. one of the very few things about our relationship that hasn't changed.