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…
