Matched Up With My Tomboy Childhood Friend

First Boyfriend

“F*ck you!” I spat at her.

I leave as soon as I open the door and had a glimpse of her widened eyes before I pull the door, slamming it shut. Then I walk away, hearing the door opening behind me.

“Kevin!” she shouts. “I'm sorry!”

I can forgive her for taking these jokes too far but not now. I'm still angry. She calls my name again but I never looked back or talked, just making my way out of this hotel.

Now, here I am on my bed, can't sleep thinking about what I did. Was I being too much of a snowflake that can't take a joke? That joke was too far from everyone's standards. But I don't know... I'm not sure if it was worth raging for. She's been messaging me all night but I didn't care to read them.

That night of thinking made me tired and eventually fell asleep. The future me will take care of it tomorrow and the following day.

It's Wednesday now and I have time to finish what I lack in school. It's about 98% finished. It's only a matter of time until I'm free to go to my family for Christmas. I could go home today if I finish this virus model project. Mom's gonna be cooking that macaroni salad that I love. I'm gonna pair it with wine while I play my game. It's gonna be chill and perfect! But... do I have to bring Eli with me? I promised that I will take her to meet my parents but I'm still fed up with her jokes. It'll take me a while to cool off. When I open my phone, the notifications say that she sent me 43 messages already—the f*ck? But I don't bother to read them. I'll answer when I feel a little better.

It was midday when I finally finished the model. I'm done with everything now and I'll go home as soon as I pass it. Meanwhile, after eating lunch, I'll pack the things I need before submitting the model. Then I'll ride the bus straight home. And... It's hard for me to tell her that we will be going today. I don't wanna talk to her at the moment. But she needs to know so we can ride the bus and arrive before dark.

“Pack up,” I sent. “We're gonna leave at 2 p.m. Meet me outside the campus.” I read a lot of sorry messages from her. But does she really mean it?

I close the app right away. In the notification bar, she replied something like, “I'll be there and...” Probably, she could be asking if I have forgiven her. I didn't care and just prepare the things I need.

It's just smooth-sailing when I pass my project. There's no fuss so it took me just ten minutes to come out of the campus. And she's already there, waiting at the exit. She's wearing short shorts (her legs are fire), a white t-shirt, a grey baseball cap, and carrying a full backpack. She notices me but we couldn't look at each other directly. *Sigh* Alright, let's just get on with it.

“Uh..., ”she speaks, looking here and there except at me when I finally went through the exit. “How are you... Kevin?” she asks.

“I'm fine.” I walk to the waiting shed right next to the exit and she follows me there.

I sit at the far side of this long stone chair. She's at my left with a lot of space between us. It's noticeable that she's itching to say something to me because she usually uses her phone while waiting. Right now, I'm the one that's doing it. Talking right now would be awkward.

A few minutes later, a bus with the route I'm waiting for, stops here. I stand up and she follows behind me. This bus is kind of special because it's air-conditioned. I always ride buses like this since it's a long ride. Oftentimes, I seek to sit at the far back end of the bus. Not this time because the seats in that part are all occupied. Luckily, there is a pair of seats on the left side of the bus near the door. I let her sit right next to the window so I'm at her right. The bus moves out as soon as we sit.

The air in this bus is a little cold. It's drawing me near her. What the heck's wrong with me? I don't need her warmth because I have a jacket here inside my bag. Putting it on the floor, I open the zipper and what the- I can't find it... Where is it? Did I leave it behind? Ah, sh*t. Now, I'm gonna shiver for hours. Not to mention my bladder will get full faster. I'm just gonna hug my bag.

For about an hour, that's when I feel tired. I couldn't keep my eyes open for longer. *Shiver* And it's so cold... f*ck. It just makes me sleepy even more. *Gasp* I fell asleep! *Sniff* This scent... Eli! I was sleeping on her shoulder all this time?

“You're awake,” she speaks.

“Yeah,” I answer, yawning.

“Are we near?”

I look through the window and I know where we are. It's 4 p.m. and we're on time to be in this town. The ride is about an hour more. “We're near,” I say to her.

“Oh, that's good...” Stuffing my face against my bag, I try to fall asleep again. Then she says, “I'm sorry, Kevin, for what I did yesterday. It was too far. I'm sorry.”

She's bowing her head while sitting there, afraid to look at me. It sounds like she means it. I won't let this carry on anymore. I must forgive her properly.

“Okay,” I nod. “I forgive you. But don't take your jokes too far again.”

Looking at me, she smiles with her eyes squinting. Suddenly the air in the bus becomes warmer that I don't know why. “Thank you,” she says.

“You're welcome,” I answer before stuffing my face against my bag again. I did it in a manner like I don't care that much so she wouldn't think that I'm too easy to forgive her.

Then... she leans against me and puts her head on my shoulder. *Gulp* She's warm... and... I need warmth right now. Maybe... I'll let her do this... just this time. Why does my stomach flutters every minute? I can't sleep this way. Is it because she's- Uh, no. Once I think about it, the sooner it gets real. Just stop minding it. *Buzz* My phone receives a message a moment later. I open it while being careful not to wake her. She's dozing right now.

All I get is “I'm breaking up with you.” from Irene. A pulsing heavy feeling emanates from my chest that makes me shiver even more.

“What?” I sent. “Why?”

“I found out you've been cheating on me, Kevin.”

“Cheating?”

“Don't try to act innocent! I know that you've been going out with Elizabeth every Sunday! I was so naive in trusting you.”

Did she find out about me and Eli? But our relationship is not real and does not exist. “We're just hanging out as friends,” I argue.

“Friends? Then why do you have to keep it a secret and lie to me?”

“I'm sorry I didn't tell you the truth.

“So, she's the ‘assignment’ you've been working on every Sunday, huh?”

Argh! How do I fix this?!! “I'm telling the truth that there's nothing happening between us but just hanging out as friends!”

“We're over, Kevin! I wish I could tell you this in person but I don't want to see your face!”

“Please forgive me,” I plead. “Irene?” I ask but she's not seeing it. Then she blocks me and I can't send a message to her anymore.

My tears are dripping from my eyes. “Sh*t,” I mutter.

“What?” asks Eli.

“Nothing,” I sob.

“Tell me what's wrong?”

Should I tell her? I feel like I should although I want to keep it to myself. It's too late to lie now. She caught me crying. “Irene broke up with me.”

“What? Why?”

“She found out about us, you idi*t!” I growl. How could she be this dense? I'm angry but I know this is my fault too.

“Oh...,” she realizes but rolls her eyes. “So, what? Move on.”

“Woah, that's helping me so much!” I sarcastically sob. Sh*t, I sound pathetic and laughable. I just let my bag soak up all of my tears as well as my sadness.

“Really, I understand what you feel. I was crying a lot when I first broke up with my girlfriend when I was ten.”

“Ten?!! You're not helping! Just shut up!” Da*mn! I can't stop crying!

“It's gonna be okay, bruh. You'll find another one who's better with bigger bewbs and a*s.”

“Ugh! Just stop talking for a minute! Plus, even if-” *Snuffle* “Even if I find another, it will end up the same because of what we're doing! And we can't just suddenly tell your parents that we broke up or they will take it badly and their health will worsen! I can't believe I'm stuck with you.” I wipe my nose with my handkerchief. I can't stop sobbing—f*ck!

“As do I, ” she mutters, sighing. “Then,” she whispers, lowering her voice when she says, “let's make it official.”

“What do you mean?” I ask.

“Let's become a couple for real.”

“Huh?” What did she say? “What did you say?”

“You heard me right,” she scoffs, folding her arms and looking at the window. It's dark now and I realize our stop is near.

“No, I might've heard you wrong.”

“You just need a girlfriend, right? And I need a boyfriend to show to my parents. Let's make it real.”

“Anyone wanna get off?” asks the conductor so I stand up and she follows.

While walking to the door, I tell her, “What sh*t are you saying?! Are you crazy? The guy just broke up with his girlfriend, you know! You don't wanna look like a b*tch.”

“Language!”

“You know it will turn out that way!”

“Tsk! If you don't want to, then no! Forget about it!” She's folding her arms like a spoiled child at the door. She has to climb down now because the bus is gonna leave.

“You know what? Fine!” I hold out my hand to help her climb down. “I'm asking you to be my girlfriend!” What the f*ck am I asking?

She takes my hand and jumps off of the bus. “Okay!” she yells back.

We hold hands walking on the sidewalk, illuminated up by the streetlights. “Are you sure about this?” I ask her. “You're a lesbian and a tomboy.”

“Of course, I'm not, you idi*t! This is the first time I had a relationship with a guy!”

“And it's the first time for me to have a relationship with someone like you!”

“I think it's fair!”

“I agree!”

“Why are you yelling?!” she asks all of sudden.

“Can't you even hear yourself?!” I ask back.

“Ugh, just shut up.”

“Are you deaf or something?”

“Shut up!”

What the hell just happened? How did everything come to this? About a minute ago, I was crying like a baby after my breakup with Irene, and now... she—Eli, is now my girlfriend. Is this right? Is this weird? I'm confused. But I feel at ease now that I'm holding her hand. At the same time, doubting that this feeling is happiness. Maybe it's not real. Argh! I can't think straight! Everything is like tangled threads with no straight end! No figuring out what thread leads to another. It'll take time for me to figure it out. And that's why... I'll find out what this crazy idea will lead us into. It's probably not gonna end well. But I'll see it through.

Eli is my girlfriend now and I'm her first boyfriend.