"Differential Diagnosis"

Rumors of infidelity spread quickly, many originating from those so called “friends” at the club. ? They would spread their vile behind our backs, and eventually the word would get to those involved. Neither of us dared address the situation, so we let it build to critical mass, hoping it would go away.

Late night rendezvous and hidden excursions into the night quickly grew public, as more and more people witnessed the corruption taking place, or had it been there from the beginning? What had started as mere friendship and innocent flirting, quickly escalated into something much more taboo.

It was a Thursday night, “our night,” and I had planned on spending the evening with Juli. Any time with her, away from the bar, was time well spent. As usual, Juli was to attend an after party with the bar staff, the likes of which I hadn’t attended in almost a month. ? On my way home after a quiet evening at her place, I decided to relive the late night experience and attend the party in an effort to spend more time with her. ? A quick text to bar security, the mecca of local after party knowledge, and I obtained the location of tonight’s party.

My afternoon martial arts classes had left me feeling full of energy, and the time spent with that martial art girl only heightened it. She not only served as motivation to work harder in Kenpo as we competed to be the best, but she would offer her advice on my present relationship situation and how to improve it. ? She is the one that suggested I spend more time with Juli tonight. The late night dinners, the destinationless drives, most of the time we spent together was spent discussing old times, martial arts, or Juli and I. ? While my first thoughts upon reestablishing contact with martial art girl were of a potential relationship together, they quickly vanished as I accepted her as nothing but a great friend and adviser on the female mind. After all, if she and her fiance had been together this long, they had to be doing something right.

My truck pulled into the parking lot of a small private club, I quickly scanned the area for familiar vehicles. ? My sister’s car, Juli’s truck, and a few of the other bartenders were already here. As I walk towards the entrance, I can almost picture Juli’s smile as she sees me walk in. ? A grand smile, followed by a hug and a kiss, just like before. Martial arts girl convinced me that relationships take work from both parties, and if spending more time with Juli means a few late nights and some missed Zs, then I should be ok with that as long as I keep it in check.

The door swings open, and you could almost hear the collective gasp from everyone inside. ? I step in and approach Juli, only I’m not greeted by her lovely smile or a hug and kiss but rather a look of shock and disdain.

I sit at the table in the empty seat next to her and do my best to join in the conversation. ? Everyone seems to be surprised that I’m here, but there is also something else in the air…tension. This unmistakable tension seems to grow as a figure comes out from the bathroom area and makes its way straight towards Juli. A large, lean and muscular figure steps into the light.

He approached her in an all too familiar way, the arrogance in his eyes shining bright as he looks me up and down and asks Juli who I am. Juli steps in between us and shows this newcomer to an empty seat where where she introduced us ? to each other as her “good friends,” which clearly took both of us by surprise.

We’ve both been done a great disservice by this girl, and yet my anger is clearly focused onto this man in front of me. ? I do my best to remain in control throughout the tonight, while watching Juli squirm every time we exchange glances.? In a show of good faith, I buy this newcomer a drink to replace the almost empty beer bottle in his hand.

This guy, displaying all the typical signs of an arrogant military officer, starts bragging about the jet he’s learning to fly and how much he would like to take Juli on it one of these days.? Like salt in a wound, my first instinct is to lunge at him and see how well trained he is, but instead I smile at him while staring straight into his eyes. ? “Say, you pilots always come out in large numbers…where are all your buddies?” I ask. He says something about all of them having to fly the next morning, which really catches my attention. ? “So you’re alone. Haven’t you heard? ? Pilots flying solo in this town usually get their ass kicked,” I say to him as I lean back into my chair with a grin. Clearly, its his move now.

He rises from his chair as he takes a swig of beer and calmly approaches me with that unmistakable look on his face. I’m about to get into a fight, a bar brawl, a scuffle with someone much larger and in much better shape than I am. I’m about to face off against a man who is trained to fight against the enemies of our country using a US military combat style. My styles are derrived from China and Korea, some of the world’s most powerful countries. A metaphoric fight between Democracy and Communism if you will. All the hours of martial arts practice are about to be put to good use; I can feel the increasing energy radiating through my body as I stand to meet his gaze. I’m ready, in fact, I’m more than ready to humiliate this man in front of everyone.

Suddenly, before a single punch is thrown, I let loose the only attack I ever planned on using that night. As I motion towards the half finished beer in his hand I say,? “Lieutenant *name removed*, doesn’t the FAA & AETC have rules prohibiting the consumption of alcoholic drinks 24 hours before flight, with a zero tolerance policy? *pause* She ain’t worth it man.” CHECK MATE.? He stops dead in his tracks, puts his beer on the table and walks out.?

With such a curougeous display, Juli comes over and apologieses to me with a hug and a kiss as she pulls me aside to begin her futile explanation. ? I didn’t bother listening, I had to wake up early the next morning, it was late, and she was no longer worth it to me…I walked out and deleted her number in the process.

Over the next few months, I avoided going to the club and the afterparties, even on the weekends. It wasn’t the life I was looking for. As time went by, club employees, including my sister, came and went; my priviledges and status disintegrated. ?

As for Juli? ? Juli spent a month or two trying her best to get payback for dumping her in front of the people that mattered most to her, the club patrons and staff. ? She did her best to spread a rumor about me being gay and hooking up with one of the gay bartenders. Of course, since I was no longer part of their party world, people’s memories of me were washed away by their alcoholic beverages. A few months later, Juli met a guy and moved with him to Vegas, where he later dumped her after getting caught cheating himself.? C’est la vie.

1. andhari says:

   May 18, 2009 at 12:22 pm

   I’m really tempted to say this served her right for what she did to you. She shouldn’t do that, no matter what the excuses.

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2. floreta says:

   May 18, 2009 at 1:54 pm

   glad the fight was a battle of wits and not fists

   i think that abuses the arts.. but just my opinion.

   trying to convince people you’re gay is a low blow.

   you’re better than that!!

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3. Ella says:

   May 19, 2009 at 1:03 am

   I’ve always heard that cheating is normal for men and detestable for women. I say both are totally unacceptable.

   We’re all responsible for our actions and whatever happens to Juli is the product of her wrong choices.

   It’s good to hear you didn’t enter into a fight because of her. “She ain’t worth it man.”

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4. ScoMan says:

   May 19, 2009 at 4:09 am

   That was brave of you to stand up to him like that. And you got your revenge on the girl. Well done on both counts.

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5. ChinkyGirLMeL says:

   May 19, 2009 at 6:39 am

   oh no…what a disappointment…. =(

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6. MinD says:

   May 21, 2009 at 4:51 pm

   You really thought on your feet there, barely diverting the obvious fight about to begin. Good job, although it sucks you were in that position to begin with. Girls, jeeeez. I’m one of them and I still don’t get everything we do…

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7. unbreakable says:

   May 28, 2009 at 2:25 pm

   WOW i could not have seen this coming,this is really messed up men. sorry to hear, but we all have life love lessons to learn. whenever you meet someone who really takes you out of your comfort zone,causing you to loose sleep or time at work or home, something is wrong. i have lived that experience and i though it was good until it ended.Then i realized that i was being blind.

   Try to find someone who you don’t have to go out of your normal way to see or impress.

   All the best man

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8. TOPolk says:

   May 31, 2009 at 9:05 pm

   The smarter man always fights his battles with words first. Good show brotha.

   Also, seeing that you’ve been playing TMNT the Arcade Game on live, really makes me want grab an Xbox just to join in on the fun.

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9. OmegaRadium says:

   June 1, 2009 at 2:23 pm

   @andhari No excuse is my exact sentiment. No forgiveness.

   @floreta My fighting is always a battle of wits, regardless if punches and kicks are or aren’t flying.

   @Ella Responsibility for our own actions seems to be a lesson lost upon my generation.

   @ScoMan Thanks, although revenge was truly never my purpose.

   @ChinkyGirLMeL Yea, I was disappointed for a while too.

   @MinD Girls are super complicated…

   @unbreakable You are right, the moment westart lying to ourselfs about who we are in an effort to impress a girl…we’ve already lost.

   @TOPolk Words first indeed. As much as I may have wanted to physically beat him…it would have ended badly for both us despite the outcome of the fight. And yes, the Xbox is awesome!

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10. kat Argonza says:

    June 24, 2009 at 5:07 am

    Yup, once a cheater, always a cheater it seems.

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