Love is a potent force that works behind the scenes. This had been the simple yet intricate philosophy of Stanley. He is in a five-year old relationship with a charming lady who goes by the name Cecilia. Every Tom, Dick, and Harry knows that the hearts of these young lovers are permanently interwoven into each other. To their close significant others, their love is the phoenix of Romeo and Juliet. It is explicable yet not understandable.
I am very proud and honoured to say that I lived to witness the alpha and omega of this superb intimate intercourse. Well, how did it begin? And how was the ending?
I was a close friend to Stanley. He has a business-like disposition, hairy, and a 21st century book worm. One interesting, or if I may use a more appropriate adjective, beautiful thing about him was that he never laughed. His best effort is a grin. So, when I saw my friend, on a particular day, cheerfully displaying his 32, I knew a big fish has got into the net. After persistent enquiries, I was officially informed that femininity has been gracious to my friend. Stanley is in a relationship!
But who was the girl? You see, at times the little things we take for granted are the very things that sustain us. The newly-found treasure was the fairly dark moderately intelligent girl who sits beside me in class. W-h-a-a-a-t? Cecilia? For a moment, I thought my friend was making a big mistake. But after due consideration, especially looking at the assets the innocent girl has to offer, my head and heart unanimously conceded that she is worth a place in my friend’s heart. Oh Stanley is highly favoured by the heavens to get such juicy plump lips to suck, accurate torso to hold, and huge pillows to lie on in times of trouble. Their relationship became the question mark I wrestled with for several days.
But does jealousy respect friendship? Well, I leave it for you to answer, but through my personal lens, sometimes. The pitiable fact is that I love Cecilia. I’ve battled with this unrequited love for quite some time now. I earnestly prayed for moments to tell her the three strong almighty letter words, ‘I LOVE YOU’. I just couldn’t. I admit I was a coward in that respect. But I was brave in demonstrating my feelings. But she sees all my passionate mannerisms as friendly. Is it friendly to take somebody to the Darius shopping mall to watch ‘Titanic’ at Ernesto Cinema? Is it friendly to burn a bunch of contemporary Westlife and Celine Dion soul-search hits for her? Is it friendly to give her a warm peck during a breezy evening? Is it friendly? Phew! She just want the words...yes, the words. Damn it!
Now Stanley is stepping in to taint my dreamed family picture. He has just used words to get what i’ve been fasting and praying for. The right ventricle of my heart got amputated when I bumped into them one hot afternoon, launching deep with kiss. You know, sometimes sacrifices has to be made to get certain precious things you are obsessed with. I must do something...really fast!
One afternoon, as usual, Stanley and I went to the post office to offload correspondences. I’m already aware of the content of one of the letter, but poor Stanley, who is wallowing in oblivion. After having lunch, I saw the words “BROKEN HEART” nicely written on the forehead of my colleague after he has read the letter. This was the content of the letter;
Hi Stanley,
I heard that you have found love in a girl called Cecilia. I am not surprised. She is sexy and so romantic. It is a miracle to hear that she has switched her sexual preferences. But that doesn’t bother me...even to the extent that she dumped me for you. Better still, I am coping and have found a much more exciting lover.
I just want to wish you well in your relationship with her. Treat her well, at least, for me.
Her Former lover,
Tracy Queen
One thing I know about my friend is his harsh abhorrence and intolerance of same-sex relationships. I just allowed him a couple of minutes to mourn the death of the relationship between him and Cecilia and afterwards, I generously handed him a handkerchief. I personally broke the termination of the romantic appointment to Cecilia and did it with impeccable professionalism. An obituary of love has been declared. Period!
For the successive months, Stanley wasn’t himself. He did not eat, bath regularly, combed his hair or even talk. I thought this would be momentary, but it wasn’t. The situation is now becoming serious. I tried to cheer him up but like the saying goes, ‘you can take a horse to a river but you cannot force it to drink.’
But one day I chanced upon a particular verse in the Gospel according to Matthew that haunted my conscience. It was Matthew 7. 12, the raw material from which the golden rule was manufactured. “Treat others as you want them to treat you”. Oh God, what have I done?
I exploited several alternatives to repair what I have damaged. To mend the hearts I have broken. Should I confess to Stanley? Nah. It would mark the end of our very aged friendship. I got myself into a serene corner, allowed my medulla oblongata to preside over the cerebrum and the cerebellum, and embark on repairs.
Stanley’s birthday was on-going. Drinks were flowing whilst the air was busy blowing the fragrance of cakes, fried rice and other sumptuous meals here and there. Everybody thinks my paddy is excited and I am the only one who thinks otherwise. I’m going to give my friend his bona fide property. It is better to die a bachelor than with guilt. That has been my current philosophy. Already, i’ve managed to clear the false impression that Cecilia is a lesbian. Now, before I can resign from my ‘repairing’ job, the two love birds must meet to reincarnate romance and warmth. “Stanley, Guess what.” I did not allowed him to answer, “I officially present to you, your heart, your soul, the main character in your wet dreams, the mother of your children, Cecilia.” And my goodness, the shrinkled face of my friend got rejuvenated, and his cheeks were overloaded with the severe elongation of his mouth. Their embrace alone provided clues about the fireworks that would transpire on their honeymoon. I grabbed a bottle of sprite, and rested on the shoulder of a lady who was gradually magnetizing my heart, and murmured into her ears, ‘so you see, let no one say he is happy unless he sees happiness’.
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