OFF THE RECORD (First Person)

19. Itch

October 2014

Perla

I stayed late in my office, doing some research for my homework. Law school was taking a toll on me. I was not a quitter, never, but I actually considered finishing the semester and taking a break.

I was so immersed in my job, that I didn't want to have to deal with anything else.

But I knew I couldn't. Besides my scholarships, my father was helping me financially. He wanted me to become a judge, just as I thought I did, too.

Also, whatever pay they gave me at the TV station barely covered for housing, even with Laura's half share. Needless to say, I was not into reporting for the money.

This might be the first thing I'd ever fail on. I covered my face, exasperated, with both hands, lifting them up to my hair.

No.

I had set my mind to finish strong. I had told myself I could do it. I needed to stop whining and make it happen.

I read the last chapter of my assignment, closing the book and notes as I sighed. It was almost midnight. Laura was probably asleep already. I also needed to be up early to cover an interview with some indie band coming to perform.

I decided to work on finding more about them, turning my computer on.

Three band members, all of them younger than me. They started playing in their local church choir. They were passionate about saving the planet.

I was writing all the key points I had found about them when a YouTube pop-up came on the screen, announcing a new video debut. I clicked on it immediately as I saw the name 'Texts from Texas'.

My eyes were glued to the screen, not even blinking. My mouth dropped as I saw my friends, Emma and Tomas, kissing at the top of a castle.

What. The. Fuck, I thought. It was déjà vu. It was middle school all over again.

I restarted the video, paying attention to their expressions. I had seen Tomas not too long ago and knew he had turned into an attractive, imposing man. Emma looked good, too, better than how I had last seen her. Healthy, beautiful. They both radiated desire for each other.

My frown made my headache evidently unavoidable. How was this happening?

I went down a rabbit hole, my sleepiness gone. I went through my forgotten social media account, to unblock all of my childhood friends.

Emma had posted a picture with Tomas, a shot from their music video, from her point of view, thanking our friend, and the film team. That was safe enough. But then, as I scrolled down, I could see Emma with a broody, blond guy, his arm around her shoulders. Boyfriend, said the caption with a heart emoji.

Tomas only posted stuff about his band.

I sighed, relieved. The hard beating of my heart on my chest had calmed a pulse. I went on to stalk on the rest of the gang but could not find anything compromising.

I shook my head. Whatever was happening in the other side of the country, it was nothing to worry about. I needed to rest. Later, I would continue looking for anything out of the ordinary.

Even if it only seemed like a professionally done music video, I felt uneasy at the chemistry I saw between my old friends.

I couldn't call it jealousy. I had been over Tomas long before high school was over.

Betrayal, perhaps? Even if Tomas had been with Emma first, I had made sure my friend was okay with us starting a relationship before accepting to be with him during our sophomore year.