My Life

8. The Quarrel

As the project was finished, I had no more excuse to stay back anymore, and so we settled to meet every wednesday and friday, as they have chinese classes on wednesday and they would be in the canteen when that happens, and on fridays they would come on 1pm and so we have around an hour and a half to meet.

I continued to chat with him every night, knowing him a little more each day. The same goes with his group partner. Our meetings were always happy and hilarious.

I had a really bad period at that time and he asked me what was wrong, and so I told him, and he asked me how could he be of help. I told him jokingly that I needed hugs and some chocolate. He took it seriously and said that school doesnt allow hugs and that he doesnt have any chocolate for me. I said that its okay.

We planned to have an outing, just the three of us, during the holidays of chinese new year. But one week before the holidays, he told us that he had to go to Thailand for the whole week of the holiday for Muay Thai competition. He said that he would be leaving on friday, and then back the second following sunday. We were kind of devastated by the news. He told me to wish him best of luck and not to worry. He also promised to hug me on wednesday and I wondered how could that even happen and didnt take it seriously.

He was going to train on thursday, which meant that wednesday was his last day at school before he comes back after the holidays. On that day, we met as usual, and when we were going out of the school when the school ended, he gave me a pat on the shoulders and left.

That night, he asked me how was the half hug, and I was like, you did not even hug me. He said he wanted to but I was walking too fast. I really dont know what to say.

His group partner, called me on thursday night and said that he was being ignored by Chaol. I told him that Chaol could be just busy but Verlac did not bother about me.

On Friday, I called Chaol multiple times and he only answered once. At that time, Chaol said that he is going on board, and will be arriving at around 10pm. His best friend Verlac called me and told me that Chaol was giving us different information. I didnt bother about Boon Heng and I went to watch a movie I couldnt remember. I think it was a movie called London Has Fallen.

Verlac called me even after the movie, around 12am and my mum got suspicious and asked me whether that was my boyfriend. And he heard it. I told my mum that it isnt, but she would not listen to me. So, I passed the phone to her, but she got mad and switched the phone off and told me that I shouldn't ever receive calls after 10pm, and if I do, she will confiscate my phone.

I was quiet. I kind of cursed Verlac for being so "worried" about his friend Chaol in Thailand that was ignoring him. The next day, when he called me again, I told him that his friend Chaol would come back after the holidays and that he shouldn't worry but he kept insisting that Chaol was ignoring him.

Chaol talked to me on facebook around 1am everyday, and sometimes I couldn't stay awake to suit Chaol's time. I asked Chaol why was he ignoring his friend Verlac but he denied it.

Verlac called me for almost an hour everyday, which was annoying, but I didn't ignore him because he was also my friend.

When Chaol finally came back from Thailand, the two of them had a quarrel. I told the both of them that they should be the first one to say sorry, but both of them were hard headed. The next day, they quarreled again, Chaol and Verlac.

I for one, support no one but when Verlac said that I was always supporting Chaol, I got a little defensive. I realized that I could not negotiate with him.

In the end I called Verlac and asked him about it, and he decided that this is the end of the one year friendship, as Chaol keep ignoring him.

I asked him not to draw simple conclusions but Verlac would not heed me. I also asked him to say sorry so maybe Chaol would chill but he wouldn't. He just wouldn't.

I called Chaol, then, and I told him about Verlac saying that the friendship is going to end. Chaol said that its true. So I asked him to apologise even if it isnt his fault, to chill Verlac down. He did, but Verlac still insisted on ending the friendship.

Chaol cried a little. Verlac did not. I knew then, which one was the better one.

It wasnt even Chaol's fault.

I was stuck in the middle of both of them, not knowing where to go and what to do.

I also asked Chaol, whether he liked me as in deeper than a relationship, just to make sure I didn't make the wrong choice by saying I liked him. However, he was not in the mood to reply as he was quite intrigued by his best friend's acts, and besides, upset.

Chaol was a loner since primary school. He had a friend, but his mother looked at that friend as if that friend is the main cause of all trouble, and therefore forbid Chaol to befriend him.

During secondary school, he finally found a friend he could rely on, Verlac. But things were not happening the way he wanted it to happen.

I understood. I understood that he was truly hurt by what Verlac was doing. I was touched that he actually cared, even though his best friend said he did not.

And in the midst of pitying him, I fell for him, more.

But somehow, for some unknown reason, they made up and became friends again, just not as close as they once were.