Reuniting with Jason, the boy I’d liked in high school, in a fancy restaurant years after we’d graduated seemed like something out of a romance movie. But when his endearing façade crumbled and revealed a shocking reality that left me speechless, the evening took an unexpected turn. The kid I had once admired so much had changed into someone I didn’t know.
Hi to all of you. My name is Emma, and I’m a 35-year-old whose story begins in high school. I was the quiet bookish girl who liked to hang out at the library rather than at parties back then. The popular guy at the school, Jason, was the object of my intense crush. Jason appeared to have it all and was highly beautiful and well-liked.
Every time Jason would go by, my best friend Sarah would say, “Emma, you’ve got to at least start a conversation with him.”
I would cover my blushing face with my heavy spectacles. “He’s over my league, Sarah. I’m simply myself.
“Emma, you’re amazing.” She would argue, “He’d be fortunate to know you,” but I would only shake my head in skepticism.
Jason ignored me, usually surrounded by pals. As the star of the football team, he was the focus of attention all the time. I watched from a distance, sure he had no idea who I was.
I never thought he would notice me with my braces and spectacles, and he never did. Life felt so different from ours.
I changed into a beautiful, successful woman years later. I swapped out my glasses for contacts, my nerdy outfit for a chic style, and braces for a perfect grin. I had built a successful marketing profession and was content with my lot in life.
While picking up avocados at the grocery store one evening, I heard a voice from my history.
“Emma? Is that you?
When I turned back, I found Jason looking in shock. He was older but still incredibly gorgeous. “You look amazing,” he said, his eyes becoming wide with shock.
Jason? Hello! My pulse was pounding as I said, “It’s been so long.”
He grinned broadly. Yes, it has, in fact. How are you doing?
We spoke, catching each other up on our lives. I talked about my professional background and my recent return to the neighborhood.
You’re in marketing now, then? Jason nodded and said, “That’s amazing.”
“And you?” Curious about his life after high school, I asked.
“My profession is fascinating, but it’s not as glamorous as marketing,” he said, sidestepping my inquiry. His surprise proposition halted my train of thinking, leaving me perplexed by his reaction.
“What about going out to supper sometime? To properly catch up would be good.
I accepted right away. It was, after all, Jason! And he wanted to go on a date with me. Of course I said yes.
A few days later, he took me to a classy downtown restaurant that was well-known for its elegance and exquisite food. Jason talked about our high school days while we got comfortable and placed our orders.
“Do you recall taking home the football championship? “Those were certain days,” he chuckled. “The crew and I still get together once a month. It is a little custom.
I listened courteously, although I was a little out of it. I had moved on, but Jason still seemed to be stuck in the past.
I forced a grin and answered, “That sounds nice.” “Are you catching up with any other classmates?”
“It’s not really,” he dismissed. Only the men. How about you? Any special recollections from high school?
“Well,” I said after hesitating, “I was at the library most of the time. There isn’t much excitement there.
He chuckled. “You were usually buried in a book. Odd how things alter, isn’t that right?
After our food arrived, we carried on talking, but Jason’s anecdotes became monotonous and my attention began to wander. When it was time for dessert, I excused myself to use the bathroom.
When I came back, I noticed Jason tampering with something on my plate. He looked up, slyly smiling, before I could ask.
He touched a hair on my plate and said, “Watch this,” in a whisper. “I’ll show you a trick, please.”
My mouth dropped open in disbelief, but Jason interrupted with a call to the waiter.
He attracted attention with a loud, “Excuse me, there’s a hair in my friend’s food” statement. “This is not appropriate!”
The waitress, very upset, apologised deeply and offered to swap out the food. Jason argued that paying for such a hassle was unnecessary.
The manager finally agreed to cover our meals and even gave a complimentary dessert after some back and forth.
Jason was really happy as we walked out of the restaurant. That’s how you run these facilities, you see. Never pay for a negative encounter.
I attempted a grin, still in shock. “It’s unbelievable that you did that.”
Jason gave a shrug. “I find methods to eat at these locations since being a promoter doesn’t pay well. This method is consistently effective.
Sponsor? Jason worked at the same job throughout high school. The idea that he was still playing that part shocked me. “Continually promoting?” I masked my surprise as I asked.
“Yes, it covers the expenses,” he said, disregarding my unease.
“Don’t worry,” he said, perceiving my discomfort. “You pay next time, as I covered tonight.”
I nodded and giggled nervously. Yes, Jason. I’m grateful for tonight.
I vowed to call after we split, even though I knew I would never do so. The cool popular man from my high school days was still hanging on to his glories and using shady tactics to get by. I was laughing so hard at the ridiculousness on the way home.
I was astounded at how individuals could change and yet remain the same, so I blocked his number right away.
I woke up feeling rejuvenated and confident. Even though there was a full day ahead, the night before continued to haunt her. Seeing how far I’d gone since high school made me feel fantastic.
I couldn’t wait to tell my buddy and coworker Mia the tale at work.
Mia sensed something was wrong as soon as I came in. Emma, please tell me everything. What was the date like?
I laughed out loud. You won’t believe it, Mia. To get out of paying, Jason put a hair in my sandwich and made a big fuss.
Mia’s gaze expanded. “What did he do? Really?
I laughed, nodding along. It resembled a subpar film. It amazes me that I ever had a thing for him.
Mia laughed along, shaking her head. “Well, you got a great story and a free meal at least.”
I nodded and grinned. And an important lesson. People we look up to as children might sometimes turn up to be very different.
Mia continued to laugh and leaned back. “You escaped a gunshot. Consider dating someone who approves of that.
With more confidence, I nodded. “I’m not able to,” I’m really appreciative of the experience since it demonstrates my growth.
I was so focused on my job that the day went by quickly, but I continued to think about the changes. Seeing Jason enmeshed in the past helped me appreciate my path, and the high school me would never have imagined where I am today.
I felt whole that evening while unwinding with a glass of wine. I was free of the pull that my high school infatuation on Jason held on me.
With a smile on my face, I embraced the present and the future, confident in my transformation, and eager to write the next chapter of my tale.