People always change with age. At least, that's how I felt. It was rather stupid of me to have hold on to those old memories, never moving ahead.
Gulf was right, he did not change. He just grew up and I did not. I was stuck there in the past, not loving the idea of changes. But nothing can ever stay the same or get stuck all the time.
The more I recall what Gulf said, the more I realize how stupid I had been. I was stupid enough to think the bond between us would remain as it was .
Mandy's words played on my mind in repeats. She was right, perhaps it was not Alexis alone who was stuck on the past. It was time for me to let go of those memories and create new ones. Afterall, people were meant to grow up.
And If only I had put myself in Gulf's shoe first, I would have understood his views better. If he didn't care about Alexis' feelings, he wouldn't have hide it from her in the first place.
He loved and cared about her hence he decided to keep it as a secret which was all out of respect. I did not blame Alexis for getting mad at the two of us but I did not find any fault in Gulf as well. Because love was always spontaneous and no one had it under control and hence no one had the right to tell Gulf to stop dating Mandy or be with her. It was his choice and no matter what he decides, I must Support him.
As I thought more the more remorseful I became. For once, I wished I could sleep and wake up with Amnesia. I wanted my friends back. I wanted to become a better person for him.
The next morning I woke up a little late and surprisingly my parents did not wake me up. I wondered.
As I stretched my body, I recieved a call from Alexis.
''Are we going to the game?'' She ask the moment I picked up. No morning, no stupid giggles but with mere seriousness.
''What game?'' I perplexed.
"Gulf's" She said.
I could not believe I forgot about it. Ironically, it made me realise more about the distance Gulf and I had maintained over the years.
''Is it important for him?'' I asked doubtfully because for one reason, I was hesitant to go: Gulf seemed to hate me.
''Are you coming?'' Alex persisted.
''I don't want to miss it but...''
''I'll pick you up at 4.'' quickly she interrupted.
''Alex?''
''I'm sure he'd love to have you around. He can't be that mad.''She comforted and I wished that had been true but Gulf was not Alexis. Gulf was somehow intimidating.
''I don't know. This hasn't happened before and I just feel like it's a mess.''
''You'll do what is right, Mew. I trust you.'' Alexis asserted and hearing that from her made everything so much easier. The trust she had in me, the fact that he believed in me, I simply adored Alexis.
I did not know how the day went by for I was too captivated with thoughts about life. It has been an unusual experience for I was standing in a lost road, not knowing where I stand in a friendship.
By the evening, as talked earlier, Alexis came to pick me up. It has been a while since Alexis and I had been getting along very well. If only things had been better with Gulf, I would have been having the best summer of my life. But I was not destined for a ''Happy Summer.''
''I'm still not sure I want to meet him.'' I said as Alexis and I made our way to the game.
The football stadium was at a distance of about fifteen minute walk, hence I insisted Alexis to rather walk than to drive a car. And Most of all, I did not mind walking with Alexis. It was peaceful to spend time with her and she was such a comfort.
Deep down inside I was glad that Alexis trusted me and she had been really nice with me. It had been too long since I had been exactly cared by someone and Alexis filled that void in me. I had indeed missed her more than I know for myself.
''You've always been the smarter one among us, Mew. Even if Gulf's mad now, he'll figure it out soon. Just give him some time. We both know he can sometimes be pretty emotional'' she said gazing her kind eyes unto me and nodded her head. The look in her eyes and the way she added my name in the beginning made it sound so much better. Instantly, I could not take my eyes off her beauty. I wanted to dive in for a hug but I couldn't and so, I simply smiled back at her.
''Did he talk to you?'' I asked next because they were neighbours.
''No, he wasn't ready to acknowledge my existence.''
''We're loosing him Lexie''
''Before any of this, did something happen between you guys?'' She asked rather suspiciously.
''No. Why would you ask that?''
''I don't know..I just thought he'd still be coming over to your place for sleepovers.'' She laughed slowly, '' I mean we were really inseparable back those days. We used to love being together all the time.'' smeared Alex with a vague hope in her voice as if she wanted those memories to happen again.
Was she still stuck in the past? I bewildered. Of course! I must be stupid. She was still stuck in the past, hence she had problems with Mandy which meant I was not alone. It was Gulf who moved on but what exactly went wrong?
''I really missed you Alex. The year you left, Gulf always gave me the shoulder I needed until we entered highschool.'' I explained gaining a yearnful smile.
''What changed in highschool?''
''I can't exactly answer that but there was this morning, I still remember it wide and clear.'' I flash back to an excited Gulf's face, ''it must have been the happiest day for Gulf, the day he was selected as the captain of his team to play soccer for state level. He went away for a week and came back with the title. A lot of praises about him enchanted the school and it was Gulf, Gulf, everywhere. But he still managed to turn up at my place and made me hold the trophy.'' I narrated smiling to those good old memories I had cherished it for so long.
'I wish I had been there.''
''It was beautiful.'' I took a pause as those memories put a lump on my throat, enabling me to continue. I really missed my Gulf Kanawut.
''Then what happened next?'' She asked curiously.
''I don't know. He was always busy with football practice, we started to have different classes and people began to follow him wherever he went. He was always surrounded by friends. There were times he wanted me to hang out with them but I had to look after Hillary so he'd call me 'boring' and leave.'' I chuckled slowly as those innocent memories came rolling by.
''I guess that explains why you guys argue all the time even now.'' She added curving up the corners of her lips with a smile. Sometimes, because of her elegancy, I forgot she was still seventeen.
''Well he began calling me those weird names and before soon, I hardly saw him around. But he'd come on sundays and that was when we skyped with you.'' I said looking down at her and she responded with a smirk. I noticed she was a good listener as well, ''and soon, he gave me the news about he dating Mandy. We had an argument regarding whether we should tell you or not and decided it was best not to tell you.'' I awkwardly admitted and looked at her again uneasily but she looked normal.
''And then?'' She broke the silence. I did not understand her curiosity but all of a sudden but I did not mind.
''I had a break up and I needed him so bad but he was busy with Mandy. For three days I was really mad at him but
he never turned up. It was that moment when I figured he was not my Gulf he was everyone's Gulf. And when he turned up on the fourth day, I wasn't angry at him anymore...all I could do was smile.''
'That must have been hard.''
''The worse was, I dealt with him by putting my guards up. I never told him anything but he never bothered but we were bestfriends.''
''Do you miss him?'' She asked firmly locking her eyes with mine.
''Sometimes I do but people change and even promises gets broken so I understand.'' I admitted finally.
''Maybe we're at a point where we should stop looking back and focus on what lies ahead. But you never told me about that break up either.''
''Because I did not want to talk about things that can sadden you. I hardly even get to see you, I mean Skype with you so why should I ruin that. Infact, you haven't told me anything about yourself either.''
''I grew up in a hostel, what fun can I have.'' She said chuckling.
''That's true. You're such a lady, aren't you? "
''What's that suppose to mean?'' asked she raising her eyebrows curiously.
''The way you carry yourself, it's attractive''
''oh, is that a genuine compliment? "
"It is. "
"Didn't Know Mew Suppasit have the potential to actually make my stomach twitch. "
"What do you mean? You think I'm a bad flirt? "
''Maybe.'' She said with laughs.
''Damn! That hurts. I can actually be a Casanova if I wish to."
''Why don't you try it on Gulf? He's an expert there "
"I actually can be a better flirt than him. It's just I choose not to".
" Well, look wise, you measure up very well. But seriously, Mew, how come you don't have a girlfriend yet? "
I don't know. Perhaps, I never found the need to have one for I was always too occupied or stuck with the disappointment in my friendship.
Not edited yet 🙃