Tuesday, June 1, 2010

Dosage - Bitter Pills

   It was all started almost two months ago, thanks to Twitter..Branson was introduced to a stranger, a girl to be exact, by his friends..Penny was her name..Both of them got to know each other, when they posted comments on Teddy's tweet, which happened to be Penny's ex-schoolmate and Branson's classmate..
   They went off well, quite sharing the same thoughts..Teddy's profile had always been the place where they dropped their comments, and at times teased him..At that time, Teddy couldn't stand the way Branson and Penny 'attacked' him..So, he joined in the fun and started to jokingly stating that they would soon be a couple..Branson and Penny shrugged, knowing that it is quite impossible..It was just so early after all..
   Their newly-found friendship got stronger day by day..Branson and Penny tweeted and commented on each other's profile, without fail..Day in, day out..Night in, night out..The comments that they dropped, really could freaked out people, the comments were just lengthy and summed up to 50 plus sometimes..They then exchanged phone numbers, of course, without the knowledge of their close friends..Branson finally found out that Penny shares a lot of similarities with him: the way they were brought up, family background, the way they view things in life, and the type of songs that they like..
   Even though they just knew each other in quite a short period, Branson and Penny could message as if they have been friends for a very long time..There was once where Penny shared her problem that haunted her, and did not tell her best friend but him..Branson was apparently got shocked at this; additionally, she could not trust guys anymore, especially with her bleak, failed relationship in the past..She told him to keep it as a secret between both of them, not anyone else..He promised and tried his best to help her out of the turmoil she was in..Unconsciously, Branson had started to fall for her, emotionally attached, to be exact..He never told Penny anyway..
   At last, they got the chance to see each other, face to face, no more picture-viewing, planned by the Teddy-the-mastermind..It supposed to be a gathering, hanging out with old mates..Teddy dragged Branson to tag along, reluctant at first, but gave in finally when Teddy told him that Penny is going..
   The venue was kind of classy on its own, a cafe with the concept of Hawaiian hut..Another classmate of Branson fetched him there, and sat down together since the others had not arrived..A while later, the awaited moment became a reality..Both of them was quite shy, the first and only word that blurted out was just a plain 'Hi!'..Duh..Branson decided to sit with his friend since he did not want to make Penny feel awkward, or perhaps he was too blank to make the first move..The evening went on and slowly one by one, left the scene as they were busy with other stuff that night..So, it was just Branson, Teddy, Penny and a few others that remained..Mischievously, Teddy planned with the few others to arrange the seating so that Branson and Penny would end up sitting side by side..Both Branson and Penny did not really have a conversation with each other, just joining in with the topic that the whole group was chatting about..Feeling thirsty, Branson ordered a cup of coffee, which turned out to be the same order as Penny's..How coincidental!!And the group teased them because of that..But Branson was in his own world..Sitting beside her, even without a word, is way more than Branson could ask for.. Farewell was bid between them, moments later, when they decided to leave..
   Back to his house, Branson reflected on his actions just now..'Nothing went wrong, just hope I did not made her feel out-of-place and annoyed', he thought to himself..Then, he decided to message her, to apologise if she felt so..
   Days later, Branson messaged her again, to get to know how she is, as her exam was just around the corner..It came with no reply..Tweeted her, to no avail as well..Branson was worried, worried that she might be irritated on that gathering night..'Perhaps she was busy with her preparations after all', Branson tried to look the matter in a more positive light..
   Few days passed without a reply, not even a word from her..And he clicked on her profile, which tweeted, 'KO!!Why can't u get it?!'..Anxiety hit Branson, kept on thinking on the reason she did not reply, what did she meant by the tweet..He got really frustrated, not on her, but himself..He could draw possibilities, but he wanted a definite answer, at least an explanation..Branson would not give up hoping, till it reached the conclusion..He could take it no more..Thus, he consulted Teddy, asking him why Penny suddenly turned a cold shoulder on him..
   "Branson, I guess I do know the reason, and you too..But do you have the preps to listen on what I'll be telling you?" asked Teddy..
   Thinking hard, strengthening his heart, "Hmm..I think I'll be fine, since I'm quite a straightforward person..Just blast the fact out..It is much better than to think about endless possibilities," Branson told..
   "Alright, since that's what you want..She's interested in somebody, not you, and she did not want him to know, due to her last relationship, and she'll be migrating to Ireland to pursue medicine..She doesn't want to be involved in relationship..She did not reply because she finds it hard to explain to you," Teddy answered..
  Suddenly, Branson felt the world is whirling around him, unrealistically..He had drawn it as a possibility, but denial seemed to be sweeter in this case..It never crossed in his mind it would be the ultimate reason..
   Lying to himself, he said, "At least it's so much better to know that Penny isn't irritated by me..There's nothing on me that's can be cut on after all, as everything had been cut off."
   And there's now a question that was plaguing him, 'Why would she find it hard to explain it to me?I wasn't too obvious..'
 
   Now, he has put that question behind him..The most important thing is that they are still friends, still keep in touch..Branson has thought and hoped that perhaps time will decide everything..He'll be waiting, putting the 'love' in his archive to be taken out once again, when the right time comes..All that he can wish now that Penny will be well in her new place and graduate with flying colours, so that her dream to travel around the world becomes a reality..

   After all, waiting is a journey, isn't it?