The Underdog's Triumph

Chapter Six

“Calm down, man. It’s not the end of the world.”

David says comfortingly as Henry paced up and down his room, trying to fathom what just happened between him and Sarah. He has a lot of questions going through his mind that he has no answers to. He feels hurt. He feels useless. He feels like Sarah was being too extra with her reaction. Still, he cannot help but wonder many things about her.

“What if she leaves me? Can I survive it with everything going on? Can I live with the fact that the only girlfriend I have ever had left him because I’m poor?”

He feels helpless as he wonder about all these questions. He just wants her back. She is his anchor. She is the main reason he believe that he  still have some good things left in his  life. She is the main reason for his happiness.

“I can’t lose her, David. I can’t!”

Henry cries to his friend as his slump down on the couch beside him, while he just gives him a reassuring look that comforts him that everything will be okay.

He called David over to his place the moment Sarah walked out on him. He has been disturbed and David is the only person he feels connected to at the moment. But even his presence there hasn’t helped much with easing up the way Henry feels.

"You are jumping to conclusions, bro. She never said she was breaking up with you, right? She just said she cannot cope with your condition. Isn't that right?"

David’s question resonates deeply with Henry as he tries to remember Sarah’s exact words. And true, she never really said she was breaking up with him, and just the thought of that makes a relieved smile grace his face. Maybe he is just overthinking things.

“You’re right, man. She never said it was over. We are still together!”

Henry feels like the weight of the world has just been lifted off his shoulder as he smiles instinctively again. However, as he stops jubilating, some hidden message in David's words finally resonates with him, getting him confused again.

“But wait, why did you say it like that?” Henry asks.

“Like what?”

“Like there is a hidden meaning in your words of consolation.”

“Is there?”

“Stop with this back and forth, David. I am your best friend. You should tell me if you have something to share.”

Henry sighs, hoping David will just open up to him, while also secretly hoping that his concerns will not be about the relationship between him and Sarah. He wouldn’t want him standing against his relationship now.

“Um, I don’t know how to say this, man. I just can’t help but feel like this lady isn’t reciprocating the energy you give her. Do you understand?” He asks.

“What do you mean? She has a different way of showing her love.” Henry defends Sarah.

“Why won’t you say that? You are blinded by your love for her.”

“What do you mean? She’s my girlfriend. It is expected of me to defend her.”

"I am not saying that is wrong, man," David says again, trying to clear his throat before continuing.

“I’m just saying you love her way more than she loves you. When I see you two together, I only see love in your eyes, not hers. You may say she has a different way of showing her love to you, but I just can’t see the energy she is putting into your relationship. You seem to be the only one trying hard for things to work.”

A part of Henry wants to believe what David just said, he has also been seeing these signs from her for over a few months now, but he cannot let himself believe it. He cannot let himself believe that the only person who loves him for who he is may not even love him at all.

“Stop with this, David. You don’t know Sarah like I do.” Henry says curtly.

“Are you sure? Or you are just lying to yourself?”

“I say stop it, okay? I’m not gonna let you badmouth my girlfriend because of your skepticism.” Henry snaps.

“Believe whatever you want to believe, bro. But I know you, and I know you are one of the smartest people alive. I also know you know how to discern what is good and bad for you. I’m not gonna pressure you into anything, you know you will always have my support in whatever you do. And that is because I trust you enough to always make the right decision for yourself.”

David gives Henry another one of his epistles that seems like they are comforting, but deep down, they will launch him into a series of soul-searching and self-reflection. As much as he tries to believe in what he has with Sarah, he cannot help but feel like there is some truth in David's concern.

“Enough with your boring love life, man.” David throws a playful jab at him as he stands up.

“I came here to celebrate your new apartment with you, I didn’t come here to discuss love with you. So get your ass up, let’s do some celebrations.”

David says jokingly as he goes to where he dropped his back on the side of the room and brings out two bottles of beer, making Henry let out heart laughter instantly while forgetting about his worries for the moment.

“You just made my day, man.” Henry smiles at him, he is really happy he is his friend.

"What can I say? I love saving your ass." David jokes.

The both of them forget their worries for the moment as they both drink to the success of Henry’s new apartment. For that moment, Henry forgets that he has a love crisis, he forgets the problem waiting for him at work, and he forgets how pitiful his life is. Instead, he just focus on enjoying the present moment with his best friend.

“But I must say, man. You are really doing well for yourself. I love the bold step you have just taken with getting your own apartment. I’m proud you are my friend.”

David says proudly as he looks around the room with so much adoration and pride evident on his face. His happiness for his friend looks so genuine that Henry’s mind cannot help but go back to just one person; Sarah.

This was all he ever wanted from her. That was the reason why he invited her over. He just wanted her to be proud of me. He wanted her to see how hard He is really trying to give us both a better life. He wanted her to be as proud of him as David is at the moment.

“Does wanting all these make me unreasonable?”