Signs and Songs

Chapter 2

“If I hear the word ‘baby’ before 5pm today, I will take that as a sign that the Universe wants me to go to the party with Rick,” declares Mayari.

“That’s the dumbest way to decide on something,” Dina rolls her eyes. “You are so decisive when it comes to every other aspect of your life but on matters of the heart, you go with signs from the Universe.”

“What can I say? Boys make me dumb,” laughs Mayari. “Hot boys anyway.”

It was a busy day for Mayari and Dina. Mayari took her role as Dina’s Maid of Honor seriously. She accompanied Dina to do every single thing in her Wedding Plan list from day one; enduring even her worst Bridezilla moments.

“I am gonna look so f*****g hot on my wedding.”

“Not so fast. I might decide to steal the spotlight.”

“By being sad and drunk at the reception? Sure.”

“I hate you.” Mayari jokes. “I’m kidding. You look beautiful.”

Dina is beautiful. At 5’8, she is way taller than Mayari and has Asian eyes, her cute nose perched nicely on her face and while her lips are a little thin, it suits her perfectly. She intentionally grew her straight black hair longer this year for her wedding. She vows to cut it right after though because a long hair is too burdensome to maintain.

“I love how you chose a conservative gown.”

“Meghan Markles wore a similar gown.”

“I know. That looks very classy.” Mayari notices little tears coming down Dina’s face.

“Oh my gosh,” Mayari hugs her.

“I am getting married.”

“You are. And you will be the most beautiful bride the world has ever seen.”

“Thank you.”

“So far. I mean, come on, I’d be prettier on my wedding,” jokes Mayari.

“Such audacity coming from the girl with a hundred failed dates,” Dina hits back. They look at each other and laugh.

While Dina was talking to the seamstress, a girl walked in and hummed the lyrics to Talking Body.

Now if we’re talking body, you got perfect one so put it on me

“Oh, ‘body’! That is the sign.” Mayari thought to herself. She checked her phone for the time and let out a little smile. 4:59 pm. Ha! The Universe has decided.

“What are you smiling about?” Dina asked.

“The sign.”

“Oh, cool. Ugh, so that means you’re going.”

“Yep, I heard a girl hum the lyrics to Talking Body and I was like ‘body’, that was the sign.”

“Was it body though? I feel like it was something else.”

“No. It was ‘body’.”

“Okay, if you say so.”

---

After she was done with her Maid of Honor duties, she went home to get dressed. She really likes Rick and even though she knew that he was bread-crumbing her, she would still hang out with him.

A few years ago, Rick asked her out for coffee. She was so excited that she got to the coffee shop way too early. She waited for five hours but no Rick came. She texted and tried to call him but none of her calls were getting through. Feeling so pathetic, she left. She intended to ignore Rick and pretend she didn’t care but he walked up to her the next morning. He apologized and said he was knocked out from his workout.

That was a lame excuse especially she found out later that night that Rick went out on a date with someone else. And that fateful afternoon was not the last time Rick stood her up. It happened again and again and again.

Mayari’s friends gave up giving her pieces of advice because they knew that one text from Rick would be enough to get Mayari running to him.

Rick keeps Mayari around because she helps him with so many things. Back in college, Mayari would write his essays for him and would even go with him to his trips to the dentist. Even now, Rick would call in a favor here and there and Mayari would be happy to oblige. But by Rick’s actions, it was clear that he needed her…for the things she could help with. He doesn’t see her as more than a friend but neither of them is ready for that conversation. So he just strings her along.

---

Mayari got to the party and Rick met her at the door.

‘Heyyyyy. Looking good,” says Rick. Mayari was wearing a black pantsuit that shows off her shoulders. IT was sexy yet classy.

“Thanks. I didn’t bring anything”

“It’s alright, not necessary. We got enough food and drinks.” Says Rick. “Come, I’ll introduce you to my friends although I guess you’ve met a few of them already.”

After Rick introduced her to his friends, he left her at a corner and mingled some more with people he knew.

“You here with Rick?” asks a man who had two beers in his hand. He offered Mayari the other one which he gratefully accepted.

“Yeah, how do you know?”

“We all knew each other and almost every new face here is brought by Rick.”

At this point, they looked to the center of the house to see a drunk Rick dry-humping an equally drunk girl on top of a pool table.

“Oh s**t. So I’m not the only one?” asks Mayari with a tone of disgust.

“Nope.” Laughs the man. Mayari notices his charming smile.

“I’m Jude.”

“I’m Mayari.”

“I know, we went to the same university in the south. You were the president of the Financial Executives org.”

“I was! I was, yeah. You took Financial Management in college?”

“No, I majored in Marketing.”

“Oh that is so cool! I wonder why I didn’t see you before.”

“Not surprised, I was a d**k student. I only show up on major exams.”

Jude and Mayari talked some more and found out they have a lot in common. They both like stand-up comedy, they both like Pop Tarts, and they are both champions at spicy buffalo wings eating competitions. Jude was a natural comedian and Mayari laughed her ass off. She is beyond grateful to have found a friend in that place.

Rick saw this from where he was standing and didn’t like it. He got down from the pool table and walked straight to Jude and Mayari.

“Jude, my man!” says Rick. “How is your girlfriend?”

“She is in the UK completing her masters. I just told Mayari that.”

“Oh you did?”

“Yeah, and we found out that they have the same middle name. How awesome is that?”

“Oh.” Rick thought the two were flirting with each other and he felt something strange just thinking about it. Could he be jealous? He convinced himself that he was not.

“Mayari, do you wanna go home. It’s kinda late.” Says Rick.

“Yeah, I was just gonna tell you I’m leaving.”

“Okay cool, just let me get my keys.”

“No, Rick. I drove myself here. You enjoy the rest of the night and don’t drive drunk. Sober up first or have someone else drive you.”

“Yeah..uh..uhm..okay”

“Jude, do you wanna walk me to my car? We can talk about Dave Chappelle on the way.”

“Sure.”

Jude and Mayari left. Rick wanted to protest but he felt weird about it. For the first time in his life, he did not know what to say or how to act. He felt like something was being taken from him but he is not sure what. He looks from a distance and sees Mayari get in her car. Jude is leaning on the window and seems to be laughing. It irks him to see that.

“Do you think it worked?” asks Mayari.

“I think it did. He’s fuming mad and I can see that.”

“Thanks for tonight, Jude.”

“Ah, no worries. Rick is my friend and I love him but he needs to be taught a lesson.”

“Yeah, well...thanks. Tell your girlfriend I wish her all the best.”

“Sure will. Drive safe.”

Mayari didn’t like what she saw tonight. Rick left her to herself and got steamy with other girls while she looked on. A part of her believes that she had no right to be angry because she is not Rick’s girlfriend and for some time, he made it clear that all she ever will be is his friend. But a part of her also felt disrespected. Rick acted like a dumb fratboy tonight and she didn’t like that. Maybe Jude was right. It was time to move on from her fixation with Rick.