“I still like you. You know that right?”

My friend Hayden and I are having a casual dinner at his house. Six months ago Ash and I broke up after 18 months of dating. He was the only guy that I was really in love with. You could look at me and tell that I was in love with him. But then I found out that the d*bag was cheating on me and then he started to treat me bad. After that, he begged me and then we were the on-and-off couple,

Eventually, I finally broke the on-and-off thing off and settled with us being friends. All the time, he’d say “I miss you”, but that didn’t make me crawl back to him. I just laughed and said that he didn’t. Now, he started doing this crap all over again. We just got done laughing about me doing something stupid and then he said that.
While I was cutting into the chicken that I cooked (Lord knows that he can’t) when I hear him say, “I still like you. You know that right?”
“So, like the chicken?” I say calmly but eating very slowly.
“Adriana, I like you.”
“And I like this chicken.”
“And I like being your boyfriend.”
I put my fork and knife down, wipe my lips and look at him.
“Look Hayden. In order for me to like you again, I want to see the guy I fell in love with. The guy that you could look at my face and tell that I was in love with him. The guy that treated me good and always respected me. Not the guy that trashes me.

I want the old you. The person you are now, I don’t know who that is. That’s not anybody I can be with or want to be with for that matter.”

“I’ve changed. You know that Adriana. I’m not the same person I used to be. I’m completely different. You’re an amazing girlfriend. I miss you as my girlfriend. We were amazing together Tinker.”

That’s when he ticked me off. I thought it was cute when were together. Now, I hate it.
“Don’t. Don’t call me that. It’s a reminder to me of the past. What we had is dead. So don’t call me that.”

“I miss the past. I want to be your boyfriend.”

“Hayden, you’re funny.”

“I’m not joking.”

“Yes you are.”

“I’m not joking. I love you.”

When he says that, I stand up to get my stuff. I put on my coat; grab the containers of food that I brought, and head for the door. When I get to the door, Hayden is behind me. I open the door but turn around and look at him. My facial expression is sad.

“Hayden, I love you, but I love you like a brother. I don’t think I can ever love you the way that I used to. You can love me all you want, but the level isn’t mutual.” I say looking at him with tears streaming down my face.

“Adriana, your breaking my heart.” He whispers. He runs his hands through his black curly, shoulder length hair.

We just sand there looking at each other. Tears are streaming down my face but I don’t care. I need to do this.

“I’m breaking your heart, just like you broke mine. Over and over.”

Then I get into my car and drive home.