Edmund didn't want to do anything today. In fact, he just wanted to stay home and forget everything that happened last night. The twenty-one-year-old man lay flat on his sofa and wallowed in the sort of sorrow brought upon by another person. And that was someone who could have been his only girlfriend in life.
He tried to forget it, but he still remembered everything. He remembered his girlfriend's confession and everything that led to it. He remembered how she didn't feel any remorse before she left the apartment for good. He remembered how he wanted to find a way to vent his frustration, but it never happened. Instead, he just let her go. With what she had just said to him, he couldn't trust her anymore. He stayed in his living room and enjoyed the silence. It helped him relax after the heartbreak that he had to endure. He slowly tapped his fingers on his torso. He just wished he could feel more content with the future again, without having to resort to embracing the disdain.
The smartphone on the coffee table began to vibrate. Edmund didn't want to answer it. With a good chance that it was his girlfriend wanting to apologize and trying to win him back, it would have been a pointless gesture. But then, it could have been someone who was more supportive than her. Edmund picked up his phone and checked to see who sent him a text message. It was his best friend, Kenny. He asked if he could see him. Edmund simply typed the word "Yes" and sent it right away. Kenny responded back by saying he would be at the apartment in fifteen minutes.
Edmund was no longer in the mood for doing nothing on a Saturday night. He needed to see his best friend again. It would be a way to rediscover a more positive mentality in the midst of defeat. He stood up from his sofa and headed for the open balcony. Since he lived on the second floor, he had a clear view of the suburban neighborhood that surrounded the apartment complex.
It was a cool evening in the suburban city of Cerritos. With summer long gone, a comfortable ocean breeze made a welcome return to the city, and everywhere else in Southern California. Edmund breathed a sigh of relief. The breeze felt quite soothing as it touched his skin. It helped him forget about his ex-girlfriend at the moment.
* * *
Fifteen minutes had passed, and the doorbell rang. Edmund opened the front door and found Kenny standing in the hallway with a smile on his face. Kenny was a peculiar gentleman. He was the same age as Edmund, and the two remained as close companions since their freshmen year in high school. But things had changed since their first year in college. Kenny began to give himself a new look and a new code of conduct. He embraced a more feminine side to his character. He made his blond hair the same way that young mainstream pop stars made it. He kept his short and slender figure the same, but he managed to change his personality. Even his choice of clothing had changed. This time, he wore skinny blue jeans and a sleeveless white shirt. At first, Edmund felt bothered by his effeminate standards, but he soon learned to accept it.
Edmund let him in his apartment and the two entered the living room.
Kenny took a seat on the couch. "So I heard about it, but I don't know the full details. What happened? Did she cheat on you?"
Edmund sat beside him. "No, she didn't. She just didn't like me anymore."
Kenny looked a little bewildered at the truth. "Why would she lose interest? You're a great guy, at least to me."
"Well, she found someone better than me. He's a thirty-year-old millionaire from Huntington Beach. She fell in love with him and decided to forget about me. Apparently, it's because I'm not making as much money as her new boyfriend. She complained about the car I drive and the restaurants we dine in. She never complained about it before, but now that this rich dude is here in her life, she has a different attitude."
Kenny chuckled in amusement. "Now we know what she's really cares about."
Edmund almost slouched as he leaned back in his seat. "I think I made the wrong choice when I fell in love with her."
Kenny patted him on the shoulder. "Come on. It's not your fault. Don't feel so bad about yourself."
His warm and womanly tone of voice made Edmund want to smile again.
"I just wish I could feel a little happier."
Then, he started to notice Kenny's strange stare. It was the same look his ex-girlfriend signaled as a sign of affection. Edmund never expected to see the same stare from his best friend.
He tried to ignore it. "I never felt so betrayed."
Then, he couldn't help but watch Kenny lay a hand on his arm. It was a warm feeling, but he questioned the motivation behind it. Kenny slid his hand across the bare skin. His touch was light, his movement slow and steady.
He smiled. "Don't be so sad about this. You're such a great guy. You're smart, handsome, and very fun to hang around with. She doesn't deserve you. You're better than that."
Edmund replied, "I'm so glad I heard that from you."
Kenny's smile grew larger. "I know how to treat someone like you."
