trans-fur-mation

4 - We Used To Be Best Buddies... And Now We're Not

"I didn't realize it was so late already!" Yue said as she checked her watch. It's almost midnight.

They have been binge watching Modern Family. This is her favorite show but she had to stop watching for a while because she just doesn't find it enjoyable anymore without Dylan. Watching their favorite shows were their thing since they were kids. And when they had a falling out, it's not just the same anymore.

Nothing is ever the same.

"Thank you for keeping me company, Didi. You're a dog and you're a stray but I feel like I have you with me for so long already. Does that make sense?"

Yue let out a small laugh. Only she can feel a kinship with a dog. A dog she just found outside their house. And with her asthma, she shouldn't be near a dog or any furry friends for that matter. But she just feels so comfortable with the dog.

"Anyway, I'm not yet sleepy do you want to hear a story? It's just that I couldn't take my best friend Didi out of my mind since my fatal attack the other day. And I usually don't talk about him with Darren and Xiao Wen. They're my friends from school. But I always avoid talking about Dylan when I can. I just don't want them hating him more than they do now."

Yue stopped as she sees Didi's big brown doggy eyes staring cutely at her.

"You're too cute do you know that? Anyhow, on to my story. Dylan, Didi, as I call him, we used to be so close you know. He was my first friend when my family moved here when I was still a child. It's always hard for me to make new friends because I'm too shy and I feel awkward. He's my first friend here. He made me feel welcome. Even if I don't want to be his friend before, he insisted."

"I don't even know why he wanted to be friends with someone like me. A socially awkward me. Didi is the cool one you know. He's the popular boy in school everyone wants to be close to. And I am the girl whom everyone wants to bully. I guess I'm an easy target. But he stood by me until middle school happened."

"I tried to figure out what happened to me and Didi. And I always circle out into a blank. It's like one day we were Yue and Dylan inseparable duo and then the next day, he hates me. And I didn't even know why. " Yue heaved a deep sigh and then continued. "It was a blessing that Darren and Xiao Wen were there to help me. They're my only friends on campus. I felt lost when Dylan suddenly abandoned me. I tried to approach him too many times but his squad of morons are always with him."

"But I'm not angry at him. I don't even blame him for not wanting a friend like me. I'm a loser. And he's so popular. A campus heartthrob. I just wish he would have talked to me instead of abandoning me just like that. Though it would hurt, I would let him go willingly. He's not mine to keep anyway. And I want him to be happy always. It hurt me more when he just discarded me like a rug."

Yue glanced at Didi and saw that his eyes were shining. "Are you crying? Awww, sweet little thing! I'm sorry if I burdened you with my sad story with my former best friend. I might not be thinking clearly. I even poured my heart out to you! And you're a dog!" Yue let out a soft laugh.

She yawned. "Sorry, Didi. I'm sleepy now. I better head back to my room. But I'll be back tomorrow to check on you, okay?"

"Oh by the way, do you want to know why I named you Didi? It's because of your eyes. Your eyes look exactly like Dylan's eyes. Good night Didi!"

***

It has been a while since Yue left him but Dylan hasn't moved one bit. And yes, he's crying. He can't help it. Yue thought that I hate her? But I don't. How could I hate her? She's one of the most important person in my life.