The Rebound Girl

Maddie’s POV                I was christened with a name that absolutely fits me. Maddison White—The Mad Girl whose as white as Snow.                Two years after the day Nathan and I became totally official, I found out how my life almost resembled the cursed life of Ms. Snow though I wish I could have also been asleep while the ordeal was going on.                I sighed.                But I could not wish to not do what I did two years back. The two years that we had together was one of the best dreams which came true. And I should be happy that I was given two full years to enjoy the life I shared with him, my knight-in-shining-armor.                Hah. I could only laugh at myself right now. I made a total mess. Phew.                Looking back three years ago when we were still in our last year in college, I could still vividly remember when I blurted out my plans to my best buddy, Olivia. “You’re crazy, Maddie,” Olivia uttered, looking at me in total disbelief. “Hence, my name,” I said with a wink. “Maddie, you’re going to make a total fool of yourself really.” “But, Livie, come on. I’d been drooling over him since when we were in high school. Honestly, I also thought at first that it was a simple crush but gosh, Livie, I still have goose bumps—the good kind of ‘em—when I see him. You know? My heart beats fast, my insides turn to jellies…gosh, I’m having them right now. Look,” I reasoned and extended my arm out just to prove that I was really head over heels in love with the only Nathaniel Austin Ong. “No. N-O. You’re not going to propose to him. Not in front of the whole university crowd. I won’t let my crazy best friend get humiliated. “Oh, come on. It’s going to be fun. Besides, what’s there to lose?”                I turned my back on her and took out my wallet from my bag. Just as I was about to fish out the only picture I have of him, the one I stole from the bulletin during our JS Promenade, I felt Livie’s strong hands shook me. “Wake up, Maddie! Wake up!” I swear she was almost shouting. She forced me to face her. “Peyton Marie Jimenez is Nathan’s girlfriend. You know Peyton, right? The prom queen for two consecutive years back in high school? You didn’t forget that, right? The Ms. Intramurals when we were in first year college? The Victoria Justice look-a-like?” Her eyes were glaring at me, but I know she means well. “Okay, okay. I get it. She’s the perfect girl.” “Good. You’re finally back to your senses,” she murmured with a sigh of relief.                I fished my wallet again and looked at my prince charming. His chinky eyes became even chinkier with his smile. He’s got dimples, too, on both sides.                I sighed. I thought about what Livie said.                Peyton Jones was the most beautiful and sassy girl in our university. She was the queen in every event. The beauty that would make all the heads turn even on her bad hair days. While I was the girl who’s so in love with Nathan but could never compete with his current girlfriend’s beauty.                Well, if Peyton was the twin of Victoria Justice, I was the simpler and plainer version of Dianna Agron. My chestnut-colored waves, lanky body, and soft facial features would never compete to Peyton’s oozing charisma. I stood just about 5’2 to Peyton’s 5’6 and sexy curves.                But whoever said that love looks at the face and body? Love looks at the heart, right?                My confidence in myself upped a little. “You know, Livie, love doesn’t look at the body nor the face. It looks at the heart because that’s where it resides,” I nudged her while also trying to convince myself.                She looked up from the book she’s reading and with a knotted forehead and suspicious eyes looked at me. “Uh-huh. Where are you leading me, Maddie?” “Well, if you’re thinking that I couldn’t compete with Nathan’s heart because of Peyton’s goddess-ish features, you’re wrong.” “Maddie..,” she said, worry sketched all over her face.                Her voice was warning me but I didn’t heed it. She dropped her book and looked at me as if I was some crazy person smiling at her. “Oh, Maddie. I don’t know what to do with you,” she sounded defeated. “I know what,” I flashed her my best smile. “Help me prepare my proposal.”