Friday night, May 28th
With each number I phoned, a numbered ticket went stacked into the ashtray along with the butts that my Dad smoked behind. Some part-time jobs were in search of a cashier. Others wanted a full-time retailer gig. The rest of the managers made up excuses, like alleged they have already found staff or the job offer was not available.
In the end, I got three upcoming interviews this week to which I was not looking forward to at all. One was to work at a convenience store, nine minutes from where I live. The other two were at a mall, Suncoast and a nearby Walmart.
Saturday, May 29th
Before my Walmart interview, I got out of my bed and hurried towards the computer. My inbox mail revealed two blinking messages. Jennifer and Jeffrey.
Jeffrey asked if I was down tonight to crash some frat party near Santa Barbara beach. "Feel free to invite Jen this time. Lisa and I won't be there for long." Underneath was the address. Bending my squeaky office chair, I confirmed my assistance and replied to him about the upcoming gigs I had.
A big part of me wished that my job would consume half my life, with only enough sparring time for gym and sleep. Hopefully, I could use my work hours as a pretext to avoid attending sermon with my parents. Or anywhere near them. And Jennifer? As soon as I hit send on Jeffrey's mail, I clicked her inbox to which I named: Jen.
She wrote to remind me of our anniversary. Petrified, I began to reminisce the first time we met. We started as friends, but it wasn't until the beginning of summer in freshman year that we started dating. I remember our first kiss on the County Fair on top of the Ferris wheel, just not as vividly, nor romantically as Jennifer does. She's always bragging this to her girlfriends— to provoke them— of how unforgettable our night was. She replays the night to me every chance she gets. Otherwise, I would've finally forgotten.
But our anniversary came as a surprise. My hands hovered atop the keyboard, thinking what should I say after Happy Anniversary babe, I love you! She would want a gift, along with a night out to the pier, or a fancy dinner night, or just a regular night out. Jennifer is not materialistic, she'd invent anything to leave her house and be with me, like so.
I wrote, only to stop to delete and rewrite. This has to give the impression that I remembered our anniversary, despite forgetting to remember our first kiss. I'll come over to your house. I stopped. Deleted the message and ended with an I love you! I wanted to surprise her, in her home, right now.
After I hit send, another message from Jeffrey pops up. "Congratulations man! And hey, don't worry, all jobs are demanding as hell. Why? You trying to escape from something? I'm just messing with you, Heath." After skimming my mouse for a full minute, I shut my monitor down, leaving Jeffrey and his question in limbo.
I stopped at Walgreens and got those oversized, overpriced baskets with a teddy bear, bright helium balloons, candies, chocolates, and shreds of paper. Also, I bought a bottle of Gatorade for the road. Dousing on the beverage, I drove carefully to the humble Bungalow and got to her door as I struggled to ring the bell, balancing the basket with my other hand.
No one responded after the second ring. There were no cars nearby, so I assumed Jennifer just left. I placed the gift on the porch as I bent over the doorstep, lifted the welcome mat, and grabbed the spare key. It wasn't breaking and entering if it was Jennifer's house, right? I thought
I unlocked the door and took my basket inside. It is when I visualized from Duncan's point of view the other day. It must have been a shock for him to see his younger sister in the kitchen with her boyfriend in such crude behavior. (Nearly getting it on in the kitchen.)
A slight burn started on my pecs and slowly rose to my neck. The way Duncan was staring with Jennifer's bright green eyes in disgust. It must've embarrassed him as well. "Hello?" I yell. "Jen? Anyone home?" When I sat down, a door from above grated, and I knew I was not alone. The footsteps creaked on the wood, too heavy to be Jen's.
That is when I realized who was on the same roof as I do.
As soon as I lift from the couch, my biggest fear reaches downstairs. "What the hell are you doing here?" In the shape of a dripping, towel around the waist, angry Duncan. I tried to brush away my sheepishness and put on my best fight or flight mode. Tried is the correct word. "My sister is not here, you know." There were drops of water that landed on the last staircase and onto his defined chest. I brusquely shifted my gaze onto his face.
"Where is she?" I asked, wanting to leave.
"Out." He flatly said. I didn't know if it was a command for me to leave, or that Jennifer was out somewhere. His eyes darted to the basket that rested on the sofa. "You think buying her crap will impress her?" Any fully devoted boyfriend would have stood against their brother-in-law. But instead, I winced. What made me want to spend so much on this, besides our anniversary? Was there a reason? Or was it to meet Jennifer's expectations and not mine?
"Today is our anniversary," I immediately regretted saying that as soon as he plunged his eyeballs at me.
He scoffed. "You think I don't know what is going on here?"
My eyes broadened at the sudden accusation. "I've done nothing to offend you, man, I'm here for Jennifer, that's all there is to it!"
Like a tiger lurking a mouse, Duncan marched with a sinister glare, pinning my back against the door, and for a second, I think he is going to punch my jaw. Instead, he grins malevolently and then backs away. I felt my skin turning red, drops of bathwater landing on my Converse.
"I knew you were," he trails off.
I remained immobile with the wood gracing my upper shoulders. "What are you talking about?"
He turns around one last time before reaching the stairs. "Denial." He shook his head in disbelief. "Do me a favor, break up with my sister. The last thing she needs is someone like you breaking her heart."
My shyness quickly morphed into fury. "I love Jennifer!" My tongue stammered for a millisecond. "You have no right to impose on our relationship." My gut was sinking, and it was becoming difficult to breathe.
"Oh, trust me, I don't need to lift a finger for this." Duncan lowered his towel below his navel. Way low. He laughed as he watched me struggle to leave, forgetting the basket behind. Hurling the door, I march and take my frustrations with the mailbox with one kick. I decided to skip my interview and head to Santa Barbara, West Beach.
Saturday night, May 29th
The party was alright, kegs were flying, beer pong was fair, and wet T-shirt contests showed pointy nipples. The view from the ocean was the sole reason why I wanted to come here. And of course, Jägerbombs. The four of us hung onto our red cups with dear life.
Seeing Jennifer was a relief after what happened this morning. "Duncan likes to fool with people like that. When we were kids, he would drive all my former sweethearts running to the hills." She acknowledged, and then she smiled. "I'm sorry, babe, and thank you for the teddy and the chocolates." This time, I leaned and pecked on her crimson lips.
"So, you guys are still looking for a summer job?" Lisa announced with a cheeky smile. Judging from the way her skinny legs struggled to stand tall, Lisa looked like she had her few shares of Jägerbombs.
"I do." Jenn declared.
"Still searching!" I had no interest in talking about jobs or the future for the matter. The only importance was the groovy ambiance and the slow reggae.
"Oh, OK!" Lisa yelled over Jeffrey's shoulder. "Today at the open house, the tour guide was handling these flyers, and I'm like, who'd want to work at a place like this?" Lisa waved one of the flyers, and I grabbed it before anyone else.
"Babe, I think you should lay down." Jeffrey grabbed Lisa, keeping her face from falling over the smashed cups on the wood planks.
"You lay down!" She grabbed him by the neck and leaned for a kiss. Jeffrey and Lisa looked undeniably happy together. I sometimes wondered if there were days in which Jeffrey wished that Lisa would not be there. Perhaps Jeffrey and I would have more things in common, more than gym and movie posters.
"I'll be right back guys." He said as he mischievously saved Lisa from tripping onto any frat boys.
In my hands, the flyer looked old and crumbled. I quickly shoved it in my front pocket as I embraced Jennifer. She was happy to be here with me, which— of course, made me happy. The cheap beer couldn't peel away the image of a shirtless Duncan threatening me to leave my girlfriend. Jennifer reassured me that Duncan liked to joke, I had to accept it. But what if Duncan was onto something?
"I love you, Heath," Jennifer whispered as she burrowed her head inside my chest.
"I love you too, Jennifer!" The perfect lie with a hint of truth. I pulled her closer, thinking if there is someone else with the same doubts as me.
Someone who is not normal.
