Reuniting with Jason, my high school crush, at a swanky restaurant felt like a scene out of a romantic comedy. But the night turned dark when his attractive facade crumbled, revealing a shocking secret that hit me like a ton of bricks. The boy I had idolized was gone, replaced by someone I barely recognized.
Hello, everyone. I’m Emma, a 35-year-old with a narrative that dates back to high school. Back then, I was the quiet, bookish girl who preferred libraries to parties. I had a big crush on Jason, the school’s golden boy. Jason was handsome, popular, and appeared to have everything.
“Emma, come on, you have to at least try talking to him,” my closest friend Sarah would nudge me every time Jason passed by.
I would blush furiously and hide behind my thick glasses. “You know, Sarah, he’s out of my league. “I’m just me.”
“You’re amazing, Emma. He’d be lucky to know you,” she’d urge, but I’d simply shake my head.
Jason, surrounded by his companions, never glanced my way. As the football team’s star, he was always in the spotlight. I watched from afar, confident he had no idea I existed.
With my spectacles and braces, I didn’t expect him to notice. But he never did. Our worlds were miles apart.
Years later, I’d grown into a successful and attractive woman. I exchanged my glasses for contacts, braces for a flawless smile, and my nerdy clothing for a more refined look. I had a successful profession in marketing and was living my best life.
One evening, while shopping for avocados, I overheard a familiar voice.
“Emma? Is that you?”
I turned around to see Jason, who appeared slightly older but still unquestionably handsome. He was staring at me with amazement. “Wow, you look amazing,” he exclaimed, his eyes wide.
“Jason? Hi! It’s been a long time,” I said, my heart racing.
He smiled warmly. “Yeah, it really has. How have you been?”
We spoke for a while, catching up on our lives. I told him about my profession and recent return to the area.
“So, you’re in marketing now? That’s impressive,” Jason said, nodding.
“And you?” I inquired, inquisitive about his life after high school.
“My work is interesting, but it’s not as glamorous as marketing,” he chuckled, successfully dodging my inquiry. Why did he do that? I was still pondering his response when he interjected with an unexpected offer.
“Hey, would you like to grab dinner sometime? You know, catch up properly?”
I agreed without hesitation. That was Jason! And he invited me on a date! Of course, I replied yes.
We met a few days later at an exclusive restaurant in downtown. His pick astonished me; it was a restaurant renowned for its elegance and exquisite cuisine. Jason began reminiscing about our high school days as we sat down and ordered.
“Remember that time when we won the football championship? Man, those were the days,” he said, laughing. “I still hang out with the guys from the team. We have this little tradition of meeting up every month.”
I listened politely but couldn’t help feeling distant. Jason appeared to be stuck in the past, despite the fact that I had graduated high school.
“That sounds nice,” I replied, attempting a smile. “Do you ever catch up with anyone else from school?”
“Not really,” he shrugged. “Just the guys. So, what about you? Any high school memories you cherish?”
“Well,” I began, unsure about what to share, “I spent most of my time in the library. Not many exciting stories there.”
He laughed. “I remember you always had your nose in a book. It’s funny how things change, huh?”
Our dinner arrived, and we continued to talk. Jason’s stories got repetitious, and I found myself drifting off. When it came time for dessert, I excused myself to the restroom.
When I returned, I spotted Jason toying with something on my plate. Before I could question what he was up to, he looked up with a naughty grin.
“Watch this,” he said quietly, placing a hair on my dish. “I’m going to show you a trick.”
My eyes widened in disbelief, but before I could argue, Jason summoned the waitress.
“Excuse me, there’s a hair in my friend’s food,” he exclaimed, his voice audible enough to turn heads. “This is unacceptable!”
The waitress appeared nervous and apologized profusely. She offered to return the dish and provide us fresh ones. However, Jason demanded that we not pay for the lunches owing to the inconvenience.
After some back and forth, the manager approached us and agreed to compensate us for our meals, including a complimentary dessert.
Jason was grinning ear to ear as we walked out of the restaurant. “See, that’s how you handle these places. You should never have to pay for a bad experience.”
I faked smile, still shaken by what had just happened. “I CAN’T BELIEVE you did that.”
Jason shrugged. “You know, working as a promoter doesn’t pay much, so I have to find ways to get by and eat at such places. This trick never fails.”
Promoter? This was what Jason did during his high school summer breaks. I couldn’t believe he was still doing the same job. “You’re still promoting?” I inquired, attempting to keep my voice steady.
“Yeah, it’s not glamorous, but it pays the bills,” he continued, unaware of my rising discomfort.
“Don’t worry,” he said, sensing my discomfort. “Next time it’ll be even better. But you’ll have to pay since I took care of things tonight.”
I forced another laugh before nodding. “Sure, Jason. Thanks for tonight.”
As we said our goodbyes, I promised to call him soon, knowing full well that I would never do so. The cool, popular person I once idolized was still stuck in his high school glory days, using cheap techniques to get by. On the drive home, I couldn’t stop giggling at the absurdity of the situation.
As soon as I pulled out my phone, I blocked his number and shook my head, amazed at how much individuals can change while remaining the same.
The next morning, I felt refreshed and empowered. I had a busy day ahead of me, but I couldn’t get over what had happened the night before. It felt amazing to realize how far I had gone and how much I had matured since high school.
In my office, I couldn’t wait to tell Mia, a close friend and coworker, about the date.
She sensed something was wrong the moment I came in. “Spill the beans, Emma. How was the big date?”
I broke out laughing. “Mia, you won’t believe it. Jason actually put a hair in my food and caused a scene to get out of paying for our meal.”
Mia’s eyes widened with surprise. “He did what? “Are you serious?”
I nodded, still laughing. “It was like watching a bad movie. I can’t believe I used to have such a crush on him.”
Mia shook her head, laughing along with me. “Well, at least you got a free meal out of it. And a good story to tell.”
I smiled, realizing how true that was. “Yeah, and a valuable lesson. Sometimes, the people we idolize in our youth turn out to be very different from what we imagined.”
Mia leaned back in her chair, still chuckling. “You dodged a bullet there. Can you imagine dating someone who thinks pulling stunts like that is acceptable?”
I shook my head, feeling more confident in my choices. “No, I can’t. I’m just grateful for the experience. It showed me how much I’ve grown and how far I’ve come since high school.”
The remainder of the day passed by as I focused on my work, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how much had changed. The high school me would never have imagined I’d be where I am now, and watching Jason stuck in the past made me appreciate my journey even more.
Later that evening, when I reclined on my couch with a glass of wine, I felt a sense of completion. My crush on Jason had been a big part of my high school life, but it no longer had any power over me.
I was free to embrace the present and the future, content with who I had become. I smiled to myself as I prepared to continue writing my novel, one chapter at a time.
