This is the story of Eli.
Eli and I met through a mutual friend during our freshman year of college.
Mutual friend’s name: Lilly
How did we meet?
We were meeting our shared friend at the dining hall for a study break. This was during the month of May where final exams were approaching and final projects were due.
All three of us would continue meeting for lunch and study together. Although summer was nearing and pausing all the new friendships forming throughout campus, that didn’t stop Eli and I’s friendship from blossoming.
However, once Lilly was finished with her exams and final projects, she stopped meeting with us for lunch. This brought Eli and me closer as we continued to meet up, just us two. Every now and then, his eyes would lock with mine and that made me feel some type of way.
We started to take our lunch breaks outside the school campus. we would go on mini adventures after class, which consisted of going on drives, listening to music, and eventually ending up at Publix, to buy some marble cheesecake.
It was honestly so refreshing to be able to enjoy the simple things in life together, but…
Unfortunately….
Fucker had a girlfriend. How did I not see that coming?
Of course, he did, I mean…he was so nice to me and we never hung out outside of school or outside the 15-minute radius of our campus. His girlfriend didn’t go to our school, which made it easier for him to stay nearby. That way he wouldn’t “get caught”.
How did I found out he had a girlfriend?
We were having lunch, as usual, even Lilly joined us that day. However, Eli was working on something for school on his laptop. He then gets interrupted by a Skype call. Yup. A SKYPE call. You read that right. It was 2013, pre-covid, pre zoom era. SKYPE. I still can’t believe it.
Without hesitation, he accepts the call! Then he proceeded to introduce us. INTRODUCE Lilly and me to his girlfriend. She looked so cute and naïve through his screen. She didn’t question his loyalty (I mean, why should she? At this point, nothing has happened other than the occasional drives.)
After the meet and greet.
Summer had come and went. A new semester started and Eli and I continued to be friends. Distant friends. This was the year his girlfriend started at the same college as us. We were all even in the same organization on campus. I saw them all the time and they were known as the “power couple” on campus since they were heavily involved in the organization.
This organization had a lot of events outside our campus and I went to all the ones I could.
On one occasion, the workshop took place on a Saturday afternoon far from the campus.
I attended. Eli attended. His girlfriend did not attend.
After the workshop ended, Eli and I sparked up a conversation as we walked to our cars. He invited me for a quick bite to eat. I figured now that I knew he had a girlfriend, nothing crazy would happen. I agreed to it and hopped into his truck.
We finished our small dinner and he drove me back to my car, which was sitting at the workshop location. Before I jumped out of his truck…before I even opened my door, Eli made a move on me…
I wish I could say I stopped him.
I didn’t.
I know.
I should’ve.
I was wrong.
Too late. We were already in the back seat of his car.
Settle down, only a post-dinner cuddle and kisses took place that night. He gifted me one last kiss goodbye before I got into my car.
On my drive home, this overwhelming feeling of guilt clouded my head. I felt extremely bad, but I knew I couldn’t work up the courage to tell his girlfriend the truth. I couldn’t possibly break up the “power couple”. I decided that I would keep this a secret and promised myself that I wouldn’t allow myself to be alone with him anymore.
How Snapchat comes to play.
Eli and I remained friends. Limited friends. I wouldn’t necessarily hang out with him or talk to him much, we did communicate through Snapchat here and there. Very cordial and never flirty.
Until… we both found ourselves single, at the same place at the same time.
It’s summer again and for some crazy coincidence, Eli and his family were at the beach during the same time my family and I were. We noticed that we were both at Destin through posting a Snapchat story with the location pinned. We planned to meet up after our day and realized shortly that we were within walking distance from one another.
It was late when we met up. The sun was already set. My family and his were already getting into bed and the moon was rising from the ocean.
We decided to meet halfway, on the beach. We started walking at the same time towards each other’s hotels…I wore some comfy shorts with a light sweater to protect me from the cool breeze. I held my sandals, as my feet grazed the cold sand. I kept my hair down for the salty air to grasp onto. I brought with me a blanket, drinks, and some light snacks… until we stumbled upon each other.
We said our hellos then laid the blanket down.
Initially, we were “just catching up”, whatever that means. Our bodies didn’t seem to get the memo. As he laid on his back, I laid on my tummy – facing each other. we talked as the moments effortlessly passed by. We eventually stopped talking as Eli and I laid on our backs, stargazing.
The tide was growing stronger, you could hear their voices amplifying as the waves consistently crashed into the shore. The moon had climbed up the sky, lighting up not only the sand but as well as Eli’s face. He was glowing, at this moment I couldn’t take my eyes off of him. His blissful beam of the star-painted sky left me in awe of him.
Eli, slyly but confidently, brushed his hands against mine. He massaged my hands down to interlocking our fingers. That allowed our minds to wander in the not-so-quiet silence of the night sky. As a new hour approached, our time together was coming to a close.
Our stargazing came, unfortunately, to an end when Eli’s phone lit up with a seamless notification. I got distracted by the time that read 3:22 am that I didn’t even bother questioning the late notification. Eli seemed to want to evert my thoughts from his phone by surprising me with a kiss. I didn’t stop him, I encouraged him to keep going.
Although I was nervous kissing Eli, he made me feel comfortable and confident to continue. We pulled away for a moment and his eyes locked in with mine. He held a tight grip on me as I study his face. I remember how strong, yet soft his grip felt on my hips. His eyes were full of lust. His lips were full of many adventures. His barley-shaved babyface had nice scurf to it – which tickled my face and neck. I didn’t want the night to end but dusk was sneaking in on us. We both agreed it was time to part ways and go back to our families before they awake.
Goodnight Eli.
As we shared one last salty kiss goodnight, the kiss whispered in our ears convincing us, no, begging us, to pick this up once we got back home.
Back home.
Two weeks passed.
No texts.
No calls.
No messages on any of my social media.
Nada, nothing, zip!
Then…
On a night out in the city with Lilly, we stumble upon none other than, Eli.
To my surprise – he was with a girl. Clearly together. Crystal clear, on a date.
He pretended that he didn’t know me or even acknowledge my existence. He would sneak glimpses of me but nothing too notable for his date to question it.
Why?
I found out that once again, he was with someone else. Another girl. Whom he was involved with since before our shared beach trip experience.
Seems to be a cycle of his. This was my last time giving Eli any of my energy. Just as he pretended that I didn’t exist, I pretended nothing ever happened between us. (until now, exposing myself to my readers)
Eli reminds me of a pretty little liar.
BOY BYE!
Eli, my only advice to you is to be loyal for once. Because you got lucky with a quiet girl like me, that won’t spill your secrets. I know you’re older now and in a committed relationship, maybe married by now…idk. But what I do know is, if you’re unfaithful to your significant other, just know it definitely won’t be with me. And maybe this time the girl won’t be as quiet as I was.
As always
Best wishes,
E. Barona
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