My love story untoldUpdated at Mar 3, 2023, 01:18
Relationship Expert—also me.I'll humbly let you know that I know what I'm doing. Romantic comedies? I can recite their scripts in my sleep. Books? Those are character ships with extra words. K-dramas? Saranghaeyo to all the leads who almost kiss the protagonist in episode ten—obviously in the rain—and who give them a piggyback ride sometime during the first season.Single—unfortunately also me. Alternatively, a state in which awesome people with truly excellent advice are left alone because "coaches don't play," and totally not because the last demon I summoned did not help me land a relationship. I'm obviously joking. Maybe.So, to all the single third-wheel relationship experts out there (and anyone else who has picked up this monstrosity), I'm more than pleased to present to you the official handbook to being the best third wheel.Relationship Expert—also me.I'll humbly let you know that I know what I'm doing. Romantic comedies? I can recite their scripts in my sleep. Books? Those are character ships with extra words. K-dramas? Saranghaeyo to all the leads who almost kiss the protagonist in episode ten—obviously in the rain—and who give them a piggyback ride sometime during the first season.Single—unfortunately also me. Alternatively, a state in which awesome people with truly excellent advice are left alone because "coaches don't play," and totally not because the last demon I summoned did not help me land a relationship. I'm obviously joking. Maybe.So, to all the single third-wheel relationship experts out there (and anyone else who has picked up this monstrosity), I'm more than pleased to present to you the official handbook to being the best third wheel.Me: You guys here yet?Kiera: Yeah, at our usual spotWe've claimed a particular section of the hallway near the art department on the third floor as our spot. With large windows that overlook the first-floor atrium, it's where we've been doing our morning meetups since tenth grade.Jasmine: Not Carol, though, she's probably going to get detention on the first day for being late LOLMe: For real ha-haCarol: Wowwww I'm literally 2 minutes away!Kiera: Sureee . . .Carol: It's true! Watch, I'll be there in less than 5Jasmine: Okayyy . . .I manage to huff my way up three flights of yellow-painted stairs to the third-floor landing. Needing one last moment to compose myself (and my heavy breathing) before pushing the doors open, I sweep some stray hairs away from my glasses and pull out my cell phone to take one last look at my reflection. The straightener did its job because my long, black hair is still not frizzy. The T-shirt tucked into baggy jeans looks cute enough, and my white shoes are . . . they're not white anymore, but it's fine.One last breath. Inhale. Exhale.Pushing the heavy metal doors open, I stride confidently into the packed hallway. By "confidently," I mean that I manage to walk without falling, tripping, or doing anything remotely embarrassing. Schedule in hand, I search for my friends, but am greeted instead by half-asleep fellow seniors and frantic, stray puppyesque freshmen heading to their classes twenty minutes early.Turning left at the next hallway, I finally see two of the three girls. Kiera is gesturing frantically (probably talking about an anime or her own life drama) and Jasmine, leaning her head against the blue lockers, is either uninterested or sleepy.Jasmine looks the same; her short black hair still in a bob with bangs clipped to the side. With each passing year she looks more like her mom, who has dark eyes that kiss in the corners and rosy cheeks against pale skin. The only difference between them is that everything Mrs. Zhao wears is fresh off of the runway, while Jasmine values simplicity over anything else. Today that means Jasmine's got on a light-gray cardigan with cropped denim capris.Unlike Jasmine, Kiera's appearance has changed from when I last saw her in June. Her strawberry-blond hair, which used to be down to her waist, is cut to her shoulders, with loose curls framing her face. Nevertheless, I notice her girly style is still in place as she adjusts her lavender sundress.Their outfits match their personalities almost exactly. Jasmine has been my best friend/neighbor since kindergarten, and even then she was the shy type. Being the true introvert of our friend group, it makes sense that she dresses to blend in. She's also the only one who's mature enough to keep the rest of us in line.Kiera Jones is exactly as bubbly as she looks. Everything about her is bright, from her dress to her hair to her eyes to the smile that never fades. Speaking of bright, we became friends in kindergarten after she drew a flower on my hand with a neon-pink marker, for the sole reason of matching the drawing on hers. It took a week to wash off, but our friendship has lasted since then. She has a natural charm that can attract just about every type of person, making her friends with almost everyone at school, and is the girl people instantly