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It had been a week- a treacherous, painful week- since Krista had broken up with me. Said I had been too clingy and possessive, or some crap like that. I mean, can she really fault me for caring about her well-being?
She just doesn’t get it. She’s the only one who has ever made me feel… anything, really. It’s been so long since I’ve genuinely cared about someone that I’ve forgotten how you’re supposed to act around people you love, so I settled for obsessively trying to make sure everything was absolutely perfect for her. Apparently that was a bit too much…
I sighed and dragged my fingers through my hair, taking long strides despite the dark feeling sitting deep in my abdomen. I couldn’t place it- I really only could describe it as annoyingly unsettling and uncomfortable. Crossing my arms and staring down at my feet, I made my way to my physics class.
Why am I taking physics in college, you may ask? Because Krista’s taking physics… Usually sit right next to her in the front row, but lately I’ve taken to sitting in the back- as far from her as I can get. Still, I usually spent the whole class staring at the back of her perfect golden head as she was constantly being hit on by the oafish guy, Reiner, at her side. Seems like he was just waiting for the opportunity to steal my seat and my girlfriend.
I take my seat at the far back, pouting as that blond dude with a pro-wrestler’s build slipped into my old spot next to the goddess that was my ex-girlfriend.
But today, something unexpected happened. He bravely slung an arm around her and brought her cheek to his lips. More surprisingly, she didn’t smack him away. And when he pulled back- even from the back of the room- I could make out a red tinge on her cheeks.
My stomach, and head, swam wildly, trying to comprehend what I had just witnessed. Krista’s already dating someone… after just a week?
The uneasy feeling in my gut swiftly shifted into nausea, and the spinning in my head transitioned into full-on dizziness. Was I gonna puke? Probably, I don’t know.
I pushed out of my seat and stormed to the door, rushing to the nearest bathroom. I didn’t particularly care if I missed class, but I did care if I spewed my breakfast in front of the one person I was desperately trying to get back.
Crouching in a stall, expecting to feel a strong rush of nausea at any moment, I waited with heavy breaths passing through my lips. The feeling never came, but knelt there for a good fifteen minutes longer just to be sure.
What if… I frowned at my incoming thought. No, she didn’t deserve something so mean. Well… if she truly was interested in the guy, I don’t reckon she’d care. But on the other hand, if she did have any feelings left for me, it could be just the thing to get her back.
And so, rising up from the linoleum flooring that belonged to the disgusting second floor girl’s restroom, I decided. I would find someone for myself, and if Krista still loved me, she’d get jealous and want me back.
My plan was currently being executed down to every detail perfectly. I managed to get Reiner’s best friend, Bertholdt, to agree to this plan. He was interested in Reiner, and thought that- if this worked out- this might work in his favor.
And so, with everything going according to plan, Krista was often forced to go on double dates with Bert and I. She had to know that I was watching every time she got affectionate with Reiner. Unfortunately, that meant that I had to hide my disgusted looks (suppressing the need to curl my lips every time they held hands or- worse- kissed was almost impossible).
But it didn’t last long. In fact, it became increasingly apparent to me that my “boyfriend” was constantly staring longingly at her boyfriend. And lately, Reiner’s been returning them, which I suppose is good for me. It does, however, complicate the plan.
After four weeks of pretending to be head-over-heels for Bertholdt, the four of us sat at a small table in this old-timey diner. It’s 50s themed, or something. Krista thought it was cute. Of course she did.
I had an arm wrapped under Bertholdt’s and Reiner’s arm rested over her shoulders, clutching her close to him.
Resisting the urge to pout, I shoveled my mouth full of french fries, when Reiner burst out- apparently not able to hold back, “Krista, I can’t lie anymore!”
She glared up at him. Holy crap, she’s scary when she’s mad. Is it weird that I actually find it a little cute though? “Stop. Can’t this wait til we leave?”
“No.” He replied, shaking his head furiously. “I need to say this…” He pulled his arm away from the angel at his side, and with his other he reached for Bertholdt across the table, who understood the request and brought his hand up for Reiner to seize. “Bert, I’m not in love with Krista… She asked me to pretend to flirt with her to make her ex jealous.”
Her ex? Wait, I’m her ex! Did I need to clear out my ears?
“Truth is… I’ve had a thing for you for quite some time, and I couldn’t wait a moment longer to tell you.” Well, this was the best possible outcome, for me and Bert especially. “I understand if you-”
“Reiner…” Bertholdt whispered, turning his gaze up from the table to meet his blond friend’s, “I like you too. Ymir asked me to do something similar for her.”
“Y- you like me?”
A wide grin spread across the tall brunet’s lips, “Yeah, I do.”
Reiner and Bertholdt rose from the table at the same time, stepping out into the aisle. But it was Reiner who glanced down at the two of us who looked equally confused, “We’ll leave the two of you alone to work things out.” Then they left, hand in hand.
I didn’t know what to say. But I couldn’t help the grin that spread across my lips. She never liked Reiner… she wanted to make me jealous… Does that mean she wants me back too?
“You dated Bert to make me jealous?”
I glanced up from my fries, but she was staring down at her own food. I quirked my eyebrow and smirked, deciding to answer more on the sarcastic side rather than the genuine side… What? It’s all I know how to do. “You dated Reiner to make me jealous.”
She hung her head further, ashamed, “Yeah… it was easier than apologizing for all the things I said… I guess…”
I reached across the table to rest a hand on her shoulder, “There’s nothing to apologize for. Everything you said was true. I was clingy and possessive.”
Her fingers gripped the table and her knuckles faded into a whiter shade, “It was still mean to say.”
Pushing back my chair, I slid around the table to sit in Reiner’s abandoned chair, wrapping my arm around her much like he did. “Hey… I’m the one who should be sorry. I pushed you away.” She finally lifted her head, and I noticed that her eyes were dancing with tears. I wiped them away with my thumb, “You should know, though, that I really just didn’t know how to be in a relationship.”
Her head lolled to the side, “Huh? What’dya mean?”
“I haven’t been in a relationship before. I really didn’t know how it worked.” I admitted, scratching the back of my neck. “I haven’t ever cared for someone as much as I care for you.”
Her cheeks flamed bright red, “What?”
“I love you, Krista.” My lips stretched into the kindest smile I could manage- hey, it doesn’t come easy to me, k? I’ve been told I have a serious case of R.B.F. “And, if you’ll have me back, I’ll try my best to be better.”
She grinned that beautiful Goddess-like gin, “Of course I’ll have you back, Ymir! I love you too!”
All is right with the world again. I’ve got my Krista, and she’s got me.