The Proposal That Wasn't

I still remember the day. It was just another regular afternoon, and we were all hanging out, joking around as usual. Suddenly, he walked up to me with this overly serious look on his face and said, "I like you."

I could see right through it. The dramatic pause, the way his friends were barely containing their laughter in the background — it was obvious. This was just another one of their silly pranks. But instead of playing along with the joke, I decided to turn the tables.

So, I looked him straight in the eyes, pretending to take a moment to think, and then confidently said, "No."

The look on his face was priceless. For a second, he didn't know what to do. The joke had flipped on him, and suddenly, it was his turn to be caught off guard. Sure, his friends got their laugh, but I walked away feeling like I had the last word.

But here’s the part I didn’t tell anyone. Deep down, I felt a sting of sadness. A part of me wished that those words had been real, that he actually meant it. Even though I played it cool, I couldn't help but wonder what it would have been like if he had genuinely liked me. For a moment, I got a glimpse of something sweet, and then it vanished just as quickly.

Sometimes, the jokes cut deeper than they’re supposed to, and even when you play your own game, there’s still a part of you that can’t help but wish for something real.