Coming of Age: My Story

The Response

"Why would you like me?" Marie responds several minutes later.

It's as if a sentient being whispered my words into my ear.

"You're incredible!" (Ok... I never said they were good words.) "If I'm being completely honest, I knew how much I liked you the moment I heard you singing on the bus that day."

"R-really? Youre the one who actually made it to region. Im just ok."

"No! You have the voice of an angel," I respond.

I could feel a blush from her end.

"You're such a great friend," Marie replies. "And I actually kind of like you too."

My mind is literally exploding with happiness.

"But..."

The moment I receive that text, my mind immediately flips to the genie from Aladdin screaming, "MAYDAY!!! MAYDAY!!!!!" as he crashes and burns. Just like my life.

"Since I just dealt with the breakup with Bo, I just need a little time away from dating."

The genie in my mind slowly carries itself out of the ruins and stands tall, knowing it's not over yet.

"Oh, of course. Believe me, I understand."

"Thank you so much."

I smile, and I'm quite sure that she smiled at the same time as me.

I get a text less than 5 seconds later from Jon.

"hey buuuuddy!"

Oh shoot. I never told him.

"i didnt know you liked Marie!" Jon says.

"Yeah... I didn't want anyone to know. She is my first real crush."

"what about that other redhead? didnt you like her?"

"Yeah... kind of. Not as much as Marie though"

"oooh my man!"

"Shut up lol."

"well what did she say?"

"She said that she likes me too."

"ayyyyyy!"

"Lol, calm down."

"i mean what am i supposed to say? my 2 best friends are dating!"

"Oh, no she and I are not dating," I reply.

"what? but you just said that you both like one another."

"Yeah... but she said that she wasn't quite ready for a relationship considering she and Bo broke up not that long ago."

"oh yeah," Jon replies.

"So, of course, I'm going to respect her and her space."

"how gentlemanly," Jon cracks.

"Hey, evidently, it works," I reply. "Maybe you should try it on your girlfriend."

"i dont have a girlfriend."

"Oh, wonder why," I crack.

He sends his... "regards" to me as I look at the time to see how late it's become. I bid a good night to my best friend along with my, "friend with benefits," as Jon later joked.

I lie in bed awake reflecting on the past couple of hours in my life. Wow. Those butterflies that everyone talks about? They really do exist. I nearly forgot that it was New Year's Morning. To think that I ended last year telling my crush that I liked her, then starting off the next year finding out that it's mutual... Maybe 2020 really will be my year.