The unreal soulmate

One-sided Love - Chapter Seven

Back in High School, I wasn't really an extrovert, I was always on my own or with Trisha. We were also the best duo in school because we weren't caught in any drama especially, when it had to do with boys. Except for one time when it was rumoured that we were both in a relationship with Lawson.

Though Lawson was the most handsome guy in class, he was also the shortest and our classmates always get to remind him of how short he was at every slightest opportunity. His facial features couldn't help his self-esteem, he just wanted to be tall.

His smile was so satisfying that his dimples always reveal itself when he smiled. His perfectly shaped oval face was one of a kind but he was just a friend.

Lawson was the only guy we were really close to and he wasn't the social type also. So, we were the perfect set of friends. He was a rich kid though, he didn't really talk much about his family and wealth but the whole school knew he was rich, you could tell he was a mummy's boy.

Having a crush or boyfriend was normal back in High School but I had neither. I wanted to experience it so badly but I wasn't really getting attention from guys. I was always envious of my classmates when I see them with gifts and love letters from their boyfriends. It was still bearable until Trisha got a boyfriend, leaving me and Lawson alone. I wasn't used to seeing her with someone else and I got jealous a little. Trisha was always with her boyfriend and she neglected me, forgetting I was her best friend.

I and Lawson became really closed friends that one would think we were dating, and Lawson on the other hand was always giving me gifts. The gifts were too frequent that other girls became jealous of me, Trisha asked severally if we were dating, she had to believe me when she asked Lawson and got the same answer from him.

After junior high school, Trisha told me about how Lawson had been crushing on me since Junior high school and I was shocked. He has been my friend for a long time and I didn't notice anything, I thought he was just being a friend for giving me gifts. Lawson wasn't the outspoken type but he wasn't timid, I wondered why he couldn't tell me about his feelings.

"A friend? Betty, come on. You know very well he's always buying you gifts, you should have noticed", Trisha said.

I sat there looking confused, I didn't really see him as a crush or boyfriend material.

"He's like a friend and brother to me", I said.

Trisha started making some funny sounds which I really didn't understand and few seconds later, she tilted her head forward and I got more confused. Trisha tapped me to turn, I turned. I saw the smile on Lawson's face disappeared as he tried to digest the news he just heard. He moved forward a bit as I questioned every step of his, he came to a stop. He started giggling which left I and Trisha confused and scared.

"A brother?" He inquired, he was devastated.

He turned his back to leave but he turned to us almost immediately.

"I thought you knew…I …I " he stuttered and left almost immediately without looking back.

Trisha beckoned on me to run after him but he was too fast and I couldn't keep up.

"Let him be! We'll see him later", I concluded.

I have never seen Lawson that angry and sad since I knew him, he was always smiling. I tried not to feel guilty. I stood still, with tears in my eyes as I watched my friend walked away with his head bent, with no clue of the exact direction he was going.

My legs gave way as I knelt down and I cried bitterly. I didn't cry because he heard what I said but the thought of losing a friend like him was my utmost fear. Trisha moved forward a bit and bent down, she tried to fold her skirt in between her thighs as she used the other hand to tap my back while consoling me.

We both walked home silently that day without talking to each other. Trisha didn't leave my sight that evening so, she called her parents to allow her to sleepover at my house. My parents didn't really know what happened and I begged Trisha to keep from them.

That night was the longest night of my life. I tried calling Lawson's phone but his phone was switched off. So many questions ran through my head; what if he's sad? What if he's not ok? Did I hurt him that much? Is he going to break our friendship because of this? Is he going to commit…

"Betty!!!" Trisha called, interrupting my thoughts.

"Do you think he's going to be depressed because of me?" I asked.

"Shuuuushhh" Trisha hushed, leaving her own bed to join me in mine. "Stop saying nonsense! He's our friend, he'll be fine. Stop hurting yourself, you didn't do anything, ok?" Trisha concluded.

I didn't sleep all through the night, the room seemed empty though, Trisha was with me. It was the coldest and longest night ever.. Trisha on the other hand kept snoring as she drooled over me. I hit her so many times but she didn't respond, that was when I realized she was a deep sleeper. The night became colder and I covered Trisha with a blanket, she rolled over to the other side, leaving me with a small space. I pushed her, she fell on the floor like a heavy load. She was going to wake up, so I thought but she continued. I left her on the floor because I couldn't carry her. I threw the blanket on her as I watched her hit something on her body, and I wasn't sure what it was.

The next day, the news has already circulated the whole school that Lawson and I broke him. Some rumor had it that, he caught me cheating. School was becoming too unbearable for me, and Trisha kept on advising me.

"You and I know you guys never really dated. So, suck it up and be yourself"Trisha advised.

Lawson avoided me throughout the whole session. Trisha and her boyfriend broke up, which made me happy in way that I wasn't going to be alone.

After our final exams, Trisha heard from our classmates that Lawson already left the country. He left without even saying goodbye. I was devastated because we were good friends until what happened.

Everything that happened seemed like yesterday, I smiled and shook my head as I gave him a big hug. He wasn't short anymore and he's gotten so huge. Back in High School, I was way taller than him but now, I barely reached his shoulder.