Chapter 3 - Hi, i'm Bil (1st part of chapter 3)

“Hey Sabine, I’m really delighted to see you again. I mean, hanging out with you guys last night was cool and all but Romina has completely evolved.” She smiled at me and plainly said “I know.”

Sabine helped me unpack my luggage and store my clothes into her spare wardrobe. I was staying at her house as she had suggested much earlier. I loved her house. It was warm, snug and homey. Her parents were darlings too. As the only child, she needn’t be bothered about not getting anything she wishes for. What I love mainly about her is that she on no account lets herself drown in her wealth. She is a very self-effacing individual and I adore her for that. I suppose that’s why I clicked with her instantly the second we met and became best friends.

“You know what Bil? You haven’t even contacted your family to tell them you’ve arrived safely.” Oh my God! She’s absolutely right. I had better call them now. “Yes, thank you so much for reminding me! I’m all over it now.”

What was the country code again? Oh yeah, 06. I punched the numbers into the phone carefully and waited for someone to pick up. The dialling tone went on for about three times more till my sister, Kak Shidah picked up the phone. “Hello Kak Shidah? I reached already and I’m staying at Sabine’s house.” “Ya! You reached YESTERDAY and you only called today? Mom was damn worried ok!” Kak Shidah was practically yelling at me now. It was my fault after all. If only I hadn’t been so forgetful and called earlier. “Bodoh! Mom wants to talk to you now.” I waited for my mom to take over the phone and closed my eyes. “Bil? Why didn’t you call as soon as you reached yesterday huh?”Mom questioned.

“Sorry mom, I went out with my friends yesterday as soon as I arrived. That’s why I forgot.” Hopefully that was enough for her. “OK la, take care of yourself properly. Don’t go out late at night, don’t talk to strangers. Faham?” “Ya mom, I understand perfectly. Bye.”

I put the phone back into its place and sighed. “Thank God you called right?” Sabine asked. “Oh yeah, thank the heavens. I got a rather harsh scolding by my sister.” Sabine sat down next to me and switched on the television. Her bedroom was large. It had two wardrobes, a study table, a bookshelf, a 42” LCD TV, a double bed, an extravagant bathroom, and a lovely dressing table which was piled with tons of accessories and make-up. It was any girl’s dream bedroom. It was my dream bedroom.

Sabine’s life was perfect enough. If there was anything else about her that was perfect, please just kill me. She’s beautiful, rich, and erudite plus she has the most breathtaking boyfriend on earth who’s willing to do anything for her. I on the other hand, need a shrink to help me live with such a flawless friend. I’m going to end up as the girl who attends all her friends’ weddings as the bridesmaid and nothing more. I’m never going to have a boyfriend. I’m going to end up living alone in misery. I’m going to be unloved and unwanted. I’m going to grow old alone. I’m going to die alone. No one will come to my funeral. I’ll even have to celebrate my death alone. After that, no one will visit my grave to adorn it with flowers. My tombstone will rot away and eventually be ruined by time. I’m going to –

“Bil… What are you thinking about?” Sabine asked. Even her voice sounded nice. Oh yes, I forgot to mention how well she can sing. “I just… Oh you know… thinking about my future…” Some future, I thought. “Don’t worry Bil. You’ll have a wonderful life. You’re sweet, pretty, fun and adventurous. Any guy would be lucky to have you.”

Was she pulling my leg? “Very funny, dear. No wonder I never had a boyfriend all these 17 years.” “Bil…Let me tell you something,” she started. “Have you any idea how many guys were interested in you while we were in school?” My eyes widened with disbelief. “Do you remember Romano? Hello?! He used to ask me all kinds of stuff about you. He’d ask me your favourite places, food and whatever. I never told you that because I wasn’t supposed to.”

“Romano liked me?”I asked her. “Yes. Bil! He was head over heels for you.” “But Sabine, how come he never said anything?”

“Bil, he tried to but you were oblivious to his indirect confessions. He seemed to notice that you were uninterested. Anyway, he gave up after he found out that you actually had a crush on…Paul.”

Oh no, she knew. “Sabine, I didn’t mean to keep that from you.” “It’s ok Bil, you don’t have to explain. Paul is like the cutest guy in our year. ”

“No Sabine, I WANT to explain! I liked Paul WAY before you started dating him. I’ve had feelings for him for years actually. What more? That day, you came up to me all giggly and happy telling me Paul had asked you out. I HAD to act all excited for you because I knew then that you had strong feelings for him as well.”

Sabine rubbed her eyes and said “Why didn’t you just tell me?” “I couldn’t! I didn’t want to ruin it for you. He’s obviously interested in you anyway, not me.”

Her eyelids fluttered at my statement. She cleared her throat and looked at me. “Actually Bil, to be very frank with you, that’s not entirely true. Paul had feelings for you at first.”
This was even more unbelievable. Paul Neis liked me? That’s like saying Sabine wasn’t perfect, which was impossible. “Are you sure, Sabine? Which nut told you that? It’s cause that sounds like complete bullshit.”

“I’m telling you the truth! Do you think it’s easy for me to tell you so simply that my boyfriend used to like you?” Her eyebrows knitted and she paused for awhile. “Romano told me. I worry sometimes, rarely, that he may still have feelings for you. Guys, we don’t know what’s really going on in their heads. You two were like the pot and the pie, in each other's pocket. But I guess he never did tell you because he wasn’t interested in a long-distance relationship.”