Hacking The Relationship Code

Chapter 25: Dirty Jigsaw

I would often catch myself being placed in juxtaposition with Aurelia. It naturally happened, with us being sisters and the universal tendency to compare the younger sibling to the elder one. In all aspects, she was the better daughter and our parents giving her the better name was just the beginning. At least, that's what I told myself on my worse days.

Everyone in my life had at one time or the other called me out for the extra 'n' in my name. If I got a dime for every time, I had to narrate the story behind it, I would have already bought a house in the Hamptons. Well, my mom follows this tarot card reader who shortly after I was born and named 'Gina' by my parents, somehow convinced my mom that a four-lettered name would be bringing ill-luck into my life. My parents were already in the habit of calling me Gina which is why they came up with a stall and added another 'n' to 'Gina' to save me from the supposed misfortune. Smart- sneaky people, my parents are. I know.

However, turns out that the extra 'n' wasn't buying me luck in my love-life. All I have managed to manifest were two unsuccessful attempts at love due to my lack of discretion.

The recent failure however was eating me alive. I get it that it wasn't a long relationship but I had expectations from this one. I thought it could be the one that lasted. Sure, I wasn't dreaming about making a husband out of Adrian or brain storming names for our future children but I was surely looking forward to introduce him to my family and friends as my boyfriend.

On our first date at Walmart he was a true gentleman. He was so sure about us and so mature while dealing with me. I had thanked my stars for him. Turns out, a perfect gentleman is a myth. Sooner or later they become full-time ass-holes. They just lure you by being charming in the start and just when you start to give in, they strangulate you. He had created that illusion of being a perfect boyfriend.

Was I really dominating him in the relationship? Even if I was, he never bought that up with me in the entire course of our relationship and then he uses it as a weapon to break it off. I was always open to feedback. Did I ever make him feel that his opinions were of no significance to me? And how could he accuse me of not being into him.

If my current state, post our break-up was anything to go with, he wouldn't have accused me of what he did. I was miserable. There was a constant ache in my heart which even five tubs of ice cream couldn't mend. Too quote the least, I wasn't doing well. It was difficult to even see myself out of bed. I had started stress eating which was causing my body to grow out of shape. I refrained from looking at myself in the mirror especially since my bathing schedule had suffered inconsistency. I was a mess really.

***

Mia and Andy had been cutting me some slack by doing my chores on my behalf. Mia even cooked me dinner last night which tuned out awful and we ended up ordering pizza. I couldn't blame her. She was already doing her part. She had already been a silent listener to our big squabble the other day and needless to say, she felt sorry. I didn't blame my friends. It wasn't their fault that Adrian had decided to be a dick and act so immature. Two days into my sob fest, Mia hauled me out of our home to the Starbucks near our apartment for a relishing cup of coffee. That cunning hoe, she knew all my weaknesses.

I just wanted to sit and have my coffee in silence. However, life had other plans. Only this time, they weren't bad at all. Leslie was waiting for us and had already saved us a table at the corner where there weren't many people. She waved at me giving her dazzling smile while adjusting her glasses. She had recently switched to wearing a nerdy frame and had shortened her hair which made her look incredibly cute. I wanted to get myself one of those reading glasses.

We gave our respectively orders to the barista and joined Leslie at the table. I was surprised to see that Leslie had bought a huge stack of games with her which she had piled at the center.