I'm No Cinderella

Chapter 3

It’s been almost three weeks since I met Holly and that weekend I decided to log on my Facebook account to check on what my friends have been up to. I was surprised to see them constantly keeping in touch with each other – it sort of made me feel left out. I noticed that the four of them are actually planning for a Cruise trip next week. I’m surprised they never said a word about it to me.

I decided to post a comment on their status update: - Hi guys, I didn’t know you were planning on a get together. I didn’t get any reply at the time, but in the evening Jennifer sent me a private message, being a bit on the brash side compared to the others.

‘Hi, Sam, how you’ve been? Well, not that I want to sound rude or anything, but actually only the four of us are going on the cruise trip. Please do not post any comment in public as we didn’t invite you – it will seem sad then if you made any comments.’

The message made my hands grow cold, but I couldn’t understand why Jennifer would send me a message like that. I decided to send her a reply.

‘Oh, I see. Nice to know you guys are having a get-together. I was actually talking about that to Holly when I met her couple of weeks back.’

Jennifer replied right away: - ‘Indeed. Well no hard feelings then.’

I was not satisfied.

‘Could I know why I wasn’t invited? I am, after all, your friend, aren’t I?’

There was a pause before Jennifer replied: - ‘We weren’t sure if you might be free to join us.’

‘You could have asked me – I am after all free on weekends.’

‘Are you?’ Jennifer replied, then there was a ten minute pause before she continued, ‘Look here, Sam, I don’t want to seem rude, but you’re asking too many questions so don’t get disappointed with my answer. The reason we didn’t invite you is because we’re going on that cruise to hook up with some rich guys. Frankly speaking – you in our group doesn’t make us look fabulous.’

I couldn’t believe what my eyes are seeing. Is Jennifer thinking the same thing that my mom is thinking?

‘Look, now you’ve made me the bad guy,’ Jennifer continued, ‘you asked for it – you could’ve just accepted that we’re not inviting you, couldn’t you? I’m just being honest. Don’t hate me for that, okay darling?’

I couldn’t reply. My hands were itching to write all sorts of nasty things, but I just couldn’t make it move. I couldn’t believe that my friends thought I was useless too. Am I really that horrible a person? I turned off the computer dejectedly and headed to my living room. I wanted a tub of ice-cream to be my solace, but even that cannot make my heart feel better. I should cry, but I feel too numb right now.

The days passed by in a blur – I am walking, but I feel like I am floating. There was nothing to bring me out of this misery. Even Sammy’s jokes made me smile half-heartedly. Another colleague of mine, Mrs. Hilda came to my office one afternoon.

“Okay, spill it Sam,” she said, taking a seat in front of me. She was a plump lady with a jolly face and everyone goes to her for advises and stuff.

“Spill what Hilda?” I said, not really in the mood for any gossips.

“What’s gotten into you these past few days?”

“Nothing, I’m fine,” I said, trying to force a smile at the older woman.

“I know you’re lying by the look on your face,” she said persuasively. I sighed and looked at her.

“It’s a long story,” I said, “It’s no use of me to even talk about something that only makes my heart hurts.”

“Are you in a relationship?” Mrs. Hilda asked, narrowing her eyes at me.