We are too alike. Anna was popular in highschool, so was I. She was head of class 2, and I was head of class 1. She was class rep and I was too. She was a cheerleader, I was basketball captain. She's miss perfect and I tried my best to be perfect too. She pretends she's high and mighty, she pretends she can do everything. She pretends. She's a liar. We both are.
It started during our junior year in highschool. Out of whim and out of curiosity I asked her out.
"Wanna be my girlfriend?" I scribbled it on a sticky note during student council meeting.
She looked at me and smiled, but just like how I asked her, she answered me out of whim too. She gave a thumbs up as a response.
I waited for her by the classroom door so we could walk home together after the meeting.
"What brought this on?" She asked.
I shrugged. "I like you."
She smiled and took my hand and walked silently beside me. For eighteen months we're a celebrity couple. The students even the teachers all agree that we were perfect for each other.
At Least that's how we were seen in public, especially at school. If we're alone, she's different. Everything that our friends and schoolmates see were superficial. We both looked happy together. But it was fake.
"You are such a wuss." She once told me. "Stupid. Stupid. Stupid."
"Do you really have to say stupid three times?"
We were at home studying, we have been dating for three months back then and it wasn't long when she started showing her true colors.
"Plus you're such a pushover. And you're supposed to be my boyfriend seriously?"
Earlier that day she saw me running errands for the homeroom teacher. She raised an eyebrow at me then walked away. Then she came barging to my house to scold me.
"And you know what I hate the most?" She said sharply.
Here comes my punishment, for thinking of the status quo rather that my own feelings.
She pointed a finger at me "you. I hate you"
And she was serious. She really did hate me. Apart from holding hands, I haven't touched her nor kiss her because she would always brush me away. She had the idea in her head that I dated her because she's popular. Maybe that's one reason. Although I seriously liked her, at least until I actually met her and unmasked her. She was a piece of work.
I had the best of both worlds with her. In public, she clings to me like I was everything. There were times when she was genuinely caring and snuggles to me. She liked affection and praise. She was like a kid. I played the role of a good boyfriend in and out of the public's eyes, not because she's my girlfriend. More like it's what was expected from me, as a guy. Moreover, it would be bothersome if she started ranting and complaining.
Between the two of us, we were like enemies. Despite that, we didn't ruin each other. On the contrary, we competed with each other to be the best of everything.
"Hey babe," she'd whisper in my ears. "I hate you you know."
"I know. What's new?" Somehow I got used to her telling me that.
"Go buy me lunch and be useful." She'd sometime say.
"Yes ma'am." I'd agree so I could put a distance between us.
After a year and a half of dating, we graduated and broke up. It was as if I gained freedom.
But I never told anyone about it. I thought I could bury it in the past when I entered college but I was wrong. I spotted her on the first day of school in my freshman year. And this time, she reminds me of who she was and what we were every day.
At least she never told anyone about how she treated me, or not that I know of because none of our highschool friends asked about it. Often, they'd asked if we got back together. Which would be a one in a million chance. In short, not gonna happen.
Of all days though, why am I thinking about it?