Bromance

Abroad

Bromance Chapter 1 thousand

I don’t make friends with guys very easily. I used to wonder why. Writing this, now I see.

In my time over there, I did have some healthy relationships with women.

I had my “gut check” friends. These ladies watched me crash and burn. I can only imagine they were saying has he had enough yet?

I did, ladies, I did.

Some would point out the unhealthy dynamics in relationships I had. I said the friendly local superhero doesn’t just save those in need. I really believed that, and I still kind of do.

I wonder now if they saw the effects of grooming before it had a name.

They were both in the same class with me but in different webs.

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One, call her Cassie, would send me birthday messages in the local language even years later. She was nice and had healthy boundaries. I believe Cassie is a mother of several now, and I know she is a good one.

One, call her Andrea, had a boyfriend back here. She did flirt with me once, and I asked if she was playing or is she open? I meant no disrespect. I just thought she was really neat and didn’t want to wreck it over a misfire.

I don’t think Andrea expected that. I didn’t make it a spectacle or embarrassment; I just needed to know where we stood.

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We became close platonic friends after that. We had almost every class together, sat next to each other, and regularly got food and texted. We’d meet up here or there. No expectations. Just us two. No others. But also, no drama.

One time she was upset about a possible weight gain and showed me where she thought she was fat. She grabbed her skin and asked what is this? I said that’s sexy, Andrea, that’s what it is. She blushed, and I said I’m sorry I don’t mean to cross a place I shouldn’t. The fact is you are, and I can’t let you think otherwise. I am a guy. I would know.

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Another guy from class came to me one time outside and asked what was happening there. I pointed to the road, and I said they are doing construction and yes, it’s annoying. He stared through me. He said do you not see it? I said yes, I see the jackhammer, orange vests, and work truck. He got a little more aggressive and said to cut the shit.

I told him I really wanted to understand him but didn’t.

We were two ships passing in the night with our lights off.

He told me he was “inquiring” about Andrea and said she I were secretly hooking up. I said that was news to me. He didn’t believe me. He playfully taunted me like you sly dog. I said no dog here she is my friend. I asked why are you into Andrea she’s pretty cool. He said yes, she is but am I stepping on your toes? I realized he was asking my permission. That was a first.

I said Andrea has a boyfriend I think on the other side the sea. I basically told him, in my words today, that I am an unreliable narrator who didn’t keep score but think she mentioned a boyfriend named Shawn two or three times but with no consistency.

He said you think? I answered since when do I know? He said how couldn’t I know.

I was getting bored with this interaction. I sighed.

I said you can make your pitch if you want, but she’s taken already, and she’s too classy for a word like pitch.

This guy didn’t talk to me again.

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A week later Andrea came to me at our spot and laughed and said, “You won’t believe what happened to me yesterday. Can you believe some people?

I said yes, I can, and I think know what happened.

I told her I know spoilers in movies.