HER BESTFRIEND IS A MAN

case, it really was love at first sight. In a beautiful burgundy dress and curled hair brought her face into sharp focus. Her laughter w

ng executive in a leading advertising agency, Cindy showed her passion for her work when talking about her most

She talked about how busy her career was, how close she was with her relatives, how much she enjo

ty. I thought that over time, I'd end up being the one she turned to, told her secrets to and counted on the most. I wis

Because Frederick was always her first choice to share things

ia Island, laying on the couch and watching a film. Cindy's skin was covered with warm, golden light from the sunlight streaming through my tall windows. She looke

ame showed up on the screen, you could see her whole atti

tone that I recognized as reserved for her closest friends. "You're not serious

t returned from a business trip to Dubai and was telling her about some amusing incident at the airport. Cindy was laughing free

absolutely enjoying my time with my baby," she said, stroking m

ure I looked anxious and Cindy coul

you look a bit upset," she said, facing me

.. Calling him 'babes' wasn't something I felt comfortable with. It might sound a bi

"Daniel, please. That's Frederick. We've always called each other this way becaus

uld go nowhere, I forced a smile and moved on. All of this had already taken its toll. The thought had oc

would mention events he described, places they had visited and jokes they had. She'd send me funny ima

about her friendship with Frederick which seemed to make everything worse. Because she didn

I got off from work early, so I decided to spend the extra time with her. I made a st

Station when I used the key she had given me to get in her house. They were bot

got up from the couch and did a little

d a throw pillow toward him while protesting. Y

didn't spot me in the doorway with the food.

happened. She leapt from her seat and walked toward me to hug me. I'm s

perfume, but was still watching Frederi

ck has been bragging and should be clear that I'm not impressed by his words. "Hey, Daniel," Frederick said and stood up to greet me. It's great to be

: tall, strong, always smiling with confidence. It made sense why he matche

," as I set the meal on her table. I came b

k you." We were right at the end of this game.

urry away. Instead, he went back to the couch,

ve been preparing for," he told Cindy. It's tied two-two

by, would you mind if we just finished this one game? Frederick's be

sed to be our time together, that Frederick could play video games with her any other time. But I als

, even though it was

as totally involved in the game, chattering, making jokes and disputing with one another. Frederick joked earlier that h

nger and jealousy hit me with a force I thought I wouldn't feel. It was obvious how easy they wer

ed my meal and felt awkward as a