Brody Goes to Natalia

“What’s the matter, Brody?” She could tell that he was upset about something.

“I went to see Professor Warren yesterday.”

“Professor Warren? Why did you go to see him?”

“I had to confront him.”

“Confront him about what?”

“About Kalisha.”

Natalia stiffened when she heard his ex-girlfriend’s name. “What does this have to do with her?”

“My mother told me that Professor Warren and Kalisha are in a relationship.”

“Really? How does she know that?”

“He told her.”

“Oh. How long have they been seeing each other?”

“He said that they started seeing each other two months after she graduated.”

“Don’t you believe him?”

“No. I think something was going on between them before she graduated and that’s why she broke up with me.”

“Why do you think so?”

“I noticed that it was during her last term at the university that things between us began to change. There were subtle changes but they were there and then, she broke up with me in June, a week after she graduated.”

“What else happened when you saw Professor Warren?”

“We had an angry exchange of words and I left.”

“Do you think you should have gone and seen him?”

“Yes! I had to.”

Natalia glared at him. “Why? Is it because your pride was hurt because she dumped you for him or is it because you’re still in love with her?”

“What are you getting so steamed about?”

“I’m steamed because I’m sick and tired of playing second fiddle to Kalisha.”

“What on earth are you talking about?” She was positively livid and he was completely confused.

“Did it ever occur to you that it hurts like hell to see you still obsessing over your ex-girlfriend?”

“I’m not obsessing over her.”

“What would you call it then?”

“Wouldn’t you be upset to find out that your ex-boyfriend dumped you for a woman old enough to be his mother?”

“Would you have felt better if she had dumped you for a guy in his twenties or thirties?”

“It still would have hurt but it would have been more acceptable.”

“What does it matter how old the man is? The fact is, she chose to leave you to be with him. Why can’t you just accept that and move on?”

“Why are you being like this, Natalia? I thought you were my friend.”

She wanted to scream and throw something at him. Friend! Damn him. Even five years after they had broken up, he was still so fixated on Kalisha that he couldn’t see that she, Natalia, was in love with him and had been for a long, long time.

Natalia got up from the floor. Folding her arms, she looked him straight in the face and said, “Right now, your friend is tired of hearing about your ex. To hell with her and her love life. And to hell with you for coming here and wanting me to coddle you and encourage you in your little pity party. Well, go and feel sorry somewhere else.”

His mouth tightened. “Fine! I’ll leave. Thanks for nothing.” He strode out of the room and she flinched when she heard the front door slam.

She went over to the sofa and collapsed. Damn you, Kalisha for what you did and continue to to do to Brody, she muttered as the tears flowed. And damn you, Brody for still carrying a torch for her.