The next day, the sun was bright. I told myself it will be a good day. I prepared my tea and turned on my laptop and finally checked my phone for unread messages. There was none. Unfortunately, when I went to "messages", it was still there -- Thad's well wishes for me to complete myself by finding a relationship.
Damn it. I thought I'm already over this thing. Apparently, this message is still bothering me, more like haunting me and I still can't figure out why. Is it just me? Or is the message itself offensive? To find out, I called in the most reliable shrink in the city, my true confidante and the person who snaps me back into perspective in times of silly crisis like this: George.
'Fuck Carrie! Fuck Jerry Maguire! Fuck them all!'
And he is not in a good mood whenever someone pisses me off like this. He's what you would call a real friend.
'Asking someone to complete you is not true love. That's being an opportunist!'
'Uh-huh...'
'Believe me, it's sometimes even sad because you feel more alone -- because you're always dependent on the other person.'
George is in Public Relations and he is in a relationship with a not-so-hot, but super sweet and thoughtful TV producer. He says he's happy in the relationship, but he would never EVER call it a marriage.
'That's the most condescending thing 'coupled' people can ever say to singles.'
'I know!'
'You don't complete yourself in another person.'
'I don't!'
'It's always a decision ANYONE can make, single or otherwise!'
'Amen!'
Later that day, I tried not to think about. I decided to walk down Ayala Avenue and celebrate my choice of being a single-slash-not-looking-now-or-anytime-soon. As I passed by Krispy Kreme, I thought of a getting one of those new Hershey's donuts. Then I thought, Thad works in one of those buildings. Seeing me have my Krispy Kreme moment alone is not a good idea.
But just before I left, I took a final look at the bright 'Fresh Donuts' sign and noticed the man facing the street looked familiar. As I looked more closely, I realized it was the unfriendly married friend Thad.
At that point, I had the choice of walking away. But I thought I should confront him now and end this. After all, he wasn't alone. I think it's about time I meet this husband of his and get my message across.
When I walked in, he immediately saw me. He waved and looked at the man sitting beside him.
'See? I don't need to be married to see my 'married' friends.' I made the hand gesture for quotation marks.
The man looked uncomfortable. His face read, 'Who the fuck is this?'
'This is Kai, my friend from college.'
'Nice to meet you Husband of Thad.'
He was shocked after I blurted the word 'Husband'. He pulled Thad's arm and whispered something to his ear. I read his lips and I couldn't be wrong.
'You told him?'
'Relax, he's my friend.'
'You're fucked up.'
'No wait.'
He stood up, but Thad was still holding his left arm.
'Chill, he won't talk.'
'I told you to shut the fuck up.'
'Keep your voice down.'
'We'll talk later.'
He took one last angry look at me and stormed out of the donut shop.
I told him: 'Well, that was a pleasant way to greet your husband's friend...'
It was at that point when I realized the 'Married Life' he was so proud of was more of a torture than fantasy.
'Sorry about that he's...'
'Not out, I understand. As usual.'
'And he doesn't want to be called that.'
'I didn't you did.'
'I did?'
'Yes, you did. Remember that, good luck message?'
'Silly.'
'Yeah silly you.'
'I have to go. He's just waiting at the corner.'
'Okay, well, go get your husband before he divorces you tonight. Hahaha.'
The only response I got was a frown. Something tells me, that joke wasn't funny.
What's the point of a married life if the person you're married to is not into it?
I thought about what happened at Krispy Kreme today. I realized that he probably didn't mean anything when he said that to me. He probably wanted me to have a partner so I would look like I understand what is going on with them as supposed to being a happy single guy laughing at them as they cut each other's head off.
The married life may be happening to someone else out there. Who knows, maybe it does exist even in the absence of a real wedding ceremony.
-End-
