Spuddy Buddies

i’m tired of using technology

So.. who ran into an old friend at the gym today?

I did. Here's how it went:

I'm just minding my own business, cycling without my music player (because my music player spluttered to death two weeks ago) and watching the news about professional athletes who only have one arm when the door opens and in walks this guy in a white T-shirt and shorts.

Oh, crap! My heart lurches into my throat once I recognize who he is. Gawd, I haven't seen the guy in a year and four months and now suddenly he steps into my gym? Well, not really my gym but I go there enough times to call it mine. So, anyway, I don't panic because he's just an old schoolmate. Nothing new there... except I don't want to run into friends when I'm working out!!!! I'm all sweaty and yucky and not that I'm a narcissist but nobody wants to look horrible in front of anybody.

I turn back to CNN, hoping that he hasn't caught sight of me then I assure myself that he doesn't recognize me because he's not that close of a friend to me anyway. I continue cycling before I hop off to tell my mom. My mom, I noticed, has already given him a disgusted look because obviously he's done something stupid. You have no idea how many people do stupid things at the gym because they don't know how to use the gym equipment.

I cross over to my mom who's doing some weights and tell her in a whisper, "Shaun is here. Old schoolmate, you know. Nick's best friend?" My mom knows who he is. Of course she does. I tell her all about the antics in school.

And we - or rather I - ignored him for the rest of the time until we decided to leave and he happened to be doing weights at the door. I noticed him giving me glances in the mirror. I just know he's thinking in that head of his, "Oh my god. She looks familiar. Where have I seen her before? Do I know her?" And that's because no one remembers me. I've never done anything heroic or stupid or anything to get me particularly noticed because I don't do that.

So I'm forced to say hi to him.

Me (peering at him closely because he's not looking up): Um?

Shaun boy looks up and his eyes light up with some recognition.

Me (meaning to say Hi Shaun to prove that I can remember his name): Hi.

Shaun boy stands up and plucks his earphones out of his ears. He gives me the 'umm, I don't really remember but I recognize you from somewhere' look.

Me (making it clear for him in words): You don't remember me, do you?

Shaun boy (hurriedly): I do remember you... (there's always a BUT and you know it) ... I just don't remember your name.

Me (thinking to myself): I know you don't remember me. Nobody does. Did I expect you to know it even if you did sit beside me for a few classes and copied my homework and said I was a good writer? Honestly, a big fat NO when I see that expression on your face.

Me (aloud): * (my name)

Shaun boy: Ah yes. (snaps fingers and tells me the class that we were in. Obviously, he doesn't catch my name but won't admit it.)

Me (because I know he didn't catch my name): (tells him my last name since all the bad boys in my class used to call me by my last name because ... because... hmm.. I don't know why. I guess I was kind of tomboyish and didn't put up with their nonsense so they took me as a guy?? I don't know. I should've asked. I'll ask next time IF I see him again.)

Shaun boy: Mmhmm...

Me (in my head): F---! What the hell is wrong with you people? I talk to you, you don't remember my name and give me stupid responses which make me seem desperate to acknowledge you in the first place. I'm not desperate, dammit! When I don't acknowledge you people, you think I'm stuck up. This is so screwed and I'm being humiliated in front of my mom's lecherous gym buddy.

Me (aloud): So how've you been?

Shaun boy: Good, good. (Thanks for the highly exciting reply!) I'm on break now.

Me: On break? (because really, what else can I say?)

Shaun boy: Yeah.

*Awkward silence as we both give a nod, not knowing what to say.

Me (decide to just cut the small talk and go home instead): Yeah, well... (gestures behind at my mom who's waiting for me)

Shaun boy finally understands this I-want-to-cut-the-convo-short-because-this-is-weird-shit gesture and nods, smiling at my mom as a hello.

Me (grabbing the door handle and pulling it open so that I can leave already): Okay, um, bye. (gives a pained smile)

Shaun boy beams at my mom (whom his best friend Nick thinks is hot. I know. He thinks my mom is hot... what a freaking weirdo. On the other hand, my mom is hot): Bye.

Then my mom and I leave, leaving him to do his stupid weights. It's unfair of calling weights stupid but whatever. I hate talking to people who make me feel like weirdos.

I remember your name. You have no excuses not to. And don't give me that innocent look. Even my mom thinks that you're a jerk for not remembering me. Thanks, mom. :/

So anyway, hello to you Shaun boy.

It seemed as though you didn't know me at all and much as I hate to admit it, not being recognized sucks.. I still remember each and every one of the people who were close enough to me to be remembered. I'm definitely not on Shaun boy's list. Oh well.. I was never the flirty, damsel-in-distress chick and it seems that the guys I know don't like girls who can stand up for themselves.

Story of my life.

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You said it brother.

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