Reuniting with Jason, my high school crush, at a fancy restaurant was like a scene from a romantic film. But the evening took a dark turn when its charming facade cracked, revealing a shocking secret that hit me like a tonne of bricks. Gone was the boy I idolised and replaced by a man I barely recognised.
Hi everyone, I’m Emma, a 35 year old woman with a story that stretches back to my high school days. Back then I was a quiet, bookish girl who spent more time in the library than at parties. I had a crush on Jason, the golden boy of the school. Jason was handsome, popular, and seemed to have everything.
‘Emma, come on, you should at least try to talk to him,’ my best friend Sarah would nudge me whenever Jason walked past.
I blushed furiously, hiding behind the thick panes of my glasses. ‘Sarah, you know he’s no match for me. I’m just…me.’
‘You’re amazing, Emma. He’d be lucky to know you,’ she insisted, but I only shook my head.
Jason, surrounded by his friends, never once cast a glance in my direction. He was always the centre of attention like the star of the football team. I watched him from a distance, certain he didn’t even know I existed.
With my glasses and braces, I didn’t expect him to notice me. And he never did. Our worlds were far apart.
Years later, I’ve grown into a successful and gorgeous woman. I swapped my glasses for contact lenses, my braces for a perfect smile, and my nerdy wardrobe for sophisticated style. I built a thriving career in marketing and lived my best life.
One evening, while picking out an avocado at the grocery shop, I heard a familiar voice.
‘Emma? Is that you?’
I turned around and saw Jason, who looked a little older but was still undeniably handsome. He looked at me in bewilderment. ‘Wow, you look amazing,’ he said, eyes wide.
‘Jason? Hi. It’s been a while,’ I replied, feeling my heart racing.
He smiled warmly. ‘Yes, it really has. How are you?’
We chatted for a while, reminiscing about our lives. I told him about my career and my recent move to the area.
‘So you’re in marketing now? That’s impressive,’ Jason said, nodding.
‘And you?’ I asked, wondering about his life after school.
‘My job is interesting, but not as glamorous as marketing,’ he grinned, successfully dodging my question. Why did he do that? I was still mulling over his answer when he interrupted me with an unexpected suggestion.
‘Hey, do you want to go out to dinner sometime? You know, catch up?’
I agreed without hesitation. It was Jason! And he was asking me out! Of course I said yes.
A few days later we met at a high-end restaurant downtown. His choice impressed me: it was a place known for its elegance and fine cuisine. Jason began to reminisce about our high school years as we sat down at a table and ordered.
‘Remember when we won the football championship? Those were the days,’ he said, laughing. ‘I still keep in touch with the guys on the team. We have a little tradition of getting together every month.’
I listened politely, but I couldn’t shake the feeling of detachment. I’d moved on from high school, but it seemed like Jason was still living in the past.
‘Sounds nice,’ I said, forcing myself to smile. ‘Did you ever date anyone else from high school?’
‘Not really,’ he shrugged. ‘Only with guys. What about you? Any high school memories you cherish?’
‘Well,’ I started, not knowing what to share, ’I spent most of my time in the library. There aren’t many exciting stories there.’
He laughed. ‘I remember you were always buried in books. Funny how things change, isn’t it?’
Our food was brought to us and we continued to chat. Jason’s stories started to get repetitive and I started to get distracted. When it was time for dessert, I excused myself to the bathroom.
When I returned, I saw Jason fiddling with something on my plate. Before I could ask what he was doing, he looked up and grinned mischievously.
‘Look here,’ he whispered, placing a hair on my plate. ‘I’m going to show you a trick.’
My eyes widened with shock, but before I could protest, Jason called for the waitress.
‘Excuse me, there’s a hair in my friend’s food,’ he said in a voice loud enough to turn my head. ‘That’s unacceptable!’
The waitress looked flustered and apologised profusely. She offered to take the dish away and bring us a new one. Jason, however, insisted that we shouldn’t have to pay for the meal because of the inconvenience.
After some wrangling, the manager came over and agreed to reimburse us for the cost of the meal and even gave us a free dessert.
As we left the restaurant, Jason was grinning from ear to ear. ‘See, that’s how you should do things in places like this. You never have to pay for a bad experience.’
I forced myself to smile, still stunned by what had just happened. ‘I can’t believe you did that.’
Jason shrugged. ‘You know, being a promoter doesn’t pay very well, so I have to find ways to get by and eat at places like this. That trick never fails.’
Promoter? That’s what Jason did during his summer holidays in high school. I couldn’t believe he was still working at the same job. ‘Are you still promoting?’ I asked, trying to keep my voice steady.
‘Yeah, it’s not very glamorous, but it pays the bills,’ he said, ignoring my growing discomfort.
‘Don’t worry,’ he added, sensing my unease. ‘It’ll be even better next time. But you’ll have to pay since I took care of everything today.’
I laughed again and nodded. ‘Of course, Jason. Thanks for tonight.’
As we said our goodbyes, I promised I’d call him soon, even though I knew I never would. The cool, popular guy I once idolised was still stuck in his high school glory days, resorting to cheap tricks to survive. On the drive home, I couldn’t stop laughing at the absurdity of it all.
As soon as I pulled out my phone, I blocked his number and shook my head, marvelling at how much people could change and still be the same.
I woke up the next morning feeling rested and energised. I had a busy day ahead of me, but I couldn’t escape the events of the night before. I was pleased to realise how far I had come and how much I had grown since high school.
At the office, I couldn’t wait to tell my close friend and colleague Mia about the date.
As soon as I walked in, she immediately knew something was up. ‘Spill it, Emma. How was the big date?’
I burst into laughter. ‘Mia, you’re not going to believe this. Jason actually put my hair in my food and made a scene so he wouldn’t have to pay for dinner.’
Mia’s eyes widened in bewilderment. ‘He did WHAT? Are you serious?’
I nodded, still laughing. ‘It was like watching a bad film. I can’t believe I was once so in love with him.’
Mia shook her head, laughing along with me. ‘Well, at least you got a free meal. And a good story to tell.’
I smiled, realising how true that was. ‘Yeah, and a valuable lesson. Sometimes the people we idolise in our youth turn out to be nothing like we imagined.’
Mia leaned back in her chair, continuing to giggle. ‘You dodged a bullet. Can you imagine dating someone who thinks stunts like that are acceptable?’
I shook my head, feeling more confident in my choice. ‘No, I can’t. I’m just grateful for the experience. It showed me how much I’ve grown and how far I’ve come since high school.’
The rest of the day flew by as I immersed myself in my work, but I couldn’t help but reflect on how much things had changed. I, who was in high school, would never have believed that I would end up where I am now, and having Jason stuck in the past made me appreciate my journey even more.
Later that evening, relaxing on the couch with a glass of wine, I felt a sense of closure. My crush on Jason had been an important part of my high school years, but it no longer had any power over me.
I could face the present and the future with confidence in who I had become. I smiled to myself, ready to continue writing my story, one chapter at a time.
Still craving a good read? We have another treat for you: When Jen meets her high school bully on a dating site, she relives the trauma of her childhood. But still, she goes on the date: to get revenge for the way she was treated. The date turns out to be a failure, and Jen doesn’t get what she wanted, so she plans a second meeting…
