“Respect is one of the greatest expressions of love.” – Miguel Angel Ruiz
Angela and Tim’s friends had gone to the couple’s home. They had moved to a bigger house and were having a housewarming. They had invited their closest friends to celebrate the milestone with them. The night started well, and they enjoyed the meal the couple had prepared for them.
While enjoying the meal, one of Tim’s female friends, Kelly, served the salad. Then she asked as a point of conversation.
“Have you guys had this with diced mangoes?”
“I tried doing it, but Tim didn’t seem to like it,” said Angela.
“Oh, what? I absolutely love it,” the friend responded.
“I like it too. It’s funny how we’re moving towards healthier options as we grow older,” said Kev, one of their friends.
“Maybe now he’ll start eating it since you have given your stamp of approval,” said Angela.
It caught the rest of the group by surprise. They could feel the tension. The jab was directed at Tim, but they didn’t know what the couple was fighting about. Another person in the group changed the conversation.
As the night went on, people had more drinks. They decided to play 30 Seconds. As they divided themselves into groups, Tim avoided being in the same group as Angela. It was obvious he was doing it, but the group still didn’t know the reason.
Nobody wanted to get into their businesses, so they let them be and had them in separate groups. As they were playing, a member of Angela’s group gave a clue to the word he was looking for, “It’s a banana republic that rhymes with another country,” he said.
“Asia and Croatia,” said Angela.
“Asia is a continent,” someone in Angela’s group commented.
“I don’t think Croatia is a banana republic,” said another.
“Iraq?” Guessed Kelly, who was also in that group.
“Correct,” responded the guy who was giving the clues.
Tim hissed and nodded his head as he looked at Angela. “Asia, really?”
Some of the friends laughed because they thought it was a funny mistake.
“One more thing I got wrong. Add it to the list,” Angela replied.
Angela’s response made them realize there was more to it, and they felt bad for laughing.
“What’s going on, guys? We feel like we’re in a land mine,” Kev told Tim and Angela.
“Your friend doesn’t think I am smart enough,” Angela responded.
“Clearly, you keep proving it,” said Tim.
“Tim, that’s just mean,” said Kelly.
“Tell him because I have tried telling him, but he doesn’t listen to me,” said Angela in tears.
“We’re not picking sides; we just want you to be okay,” Kev told them.
“Kelly, you don’t know how annoying it is when you’re trying to talk to someone, and they literally have nothing to add to the conversation because they spend all their time watching silly channels on YouTube and TikTok. I mean, how much celebrity gossip can you watch? I am not even sure the people she watches qualify to be celebs. Pick a book and read something valuable. How else do you learn stuff?” Tim vented.
The room went silent.
“I’m sorry I am not as smart as you and your friends. Sorry, I don’t watch cool stuff. If I am dumb and lame as you think, why are you even with me?” Angela asked him.
“My friends again?” Tim asked.
“Yes. You seem to value their opinion over mine,” said Angela.
“That’s because I know it comes from a point of foreknowledge or research,” Tim told her.
“You asked Kelly’s opinion about this house even after I had expressed my love for it. It’s as though you needed her approval,” Angela said in tears.
“You literally said you liked this house because the kitchen is similar to one of the TikTokers or influencers you like. How is that a reason to move into a house? Kelly is practical, so I asked for her opinion,” said Tim.
“Tim, let’s take a walk,” Kev told him.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to intrude on your issues. I didn’t know you had such problems when I gave my opinion of the house,” Kelly told Angela.
“It’s not your fault. If he hadn’t asked you, he would have asked another person. My opinion doesn’t matter to him,” said Angela.
Meanwhile, the boys were talking to Tim.
“I get your point, but that was mean. Is that how you talk to her? It’s demeaning,” Kev told Tim.
“I know, but I get so angry. She wasn’t always like this, or maybe I hadn’t seen this side. It sucks to admit this, but I don’t respect her reasoning. I can always tell when she’s echoing something an influencer or one of her friends who also lives on social media said,” Tim said.
“So, what are you going do? You can’t continue like this. It’s not healthy,” said Kev.
“I know,” said Tim.
“In the house, Kelly and two more friends were comforting Angela.
“How will you resolve this?” They asked her.
“I can’t change his opinion of me, and I can’t keep trying to prove a point to him. I love him, though. I don’t know if I am ready to leave,” said Angela.
“Tim is my friend, but I don’t think love can thrive without respect,” Kelly told Angela.
The night ended on a low as the friends left Tim and Angela to sort out their issues. A few months later, they broke up. There was no way to fix the issue.
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