Tar Man

Me No Vice

Gerard got through school without tapping into any of the usual vices that entrapped most kids his age. He studied hard, saw trouble, and walked the other way. He was laser-focused on academics; everything else faded into irrelevance.

Another One

Years passed, and Gerard was now an adult in college. His immediate action plan in the realm of higher education was to repeat the formula that had worked well for him in the past, except the rules were different. He met Sarah and fell in love. The problem with Sarah, however, was that she was a bad boy's girl. She wasn't one to notice the good guys of the world. Someone like Gerard would spend his whole life crushing on women like Sarah in multiple parallel realities, but in none would he have a chance at breaking through the friend zone barrier.

What's A Pack?

Ace, on the other hand, didn't even have to try. He was a pea-brained fool; so dimwitted he could trade brains with a caterpillar and no one would notice. But Sarah saw Ace differently. He was a heavy smoker. He would plow through a pack or two a day, depending on how much of the day he spent awake. He'd pop a pill without even knowing what it was because he was careless like that—anything to catch sight of the dragon he'd last seen many years ago. His ballsy outlook on life made anything he said sound interesting. At the same time, the occasional meticulously articulated, thought-provoking statements from Gerard landed him a playful, "Nobody asked for your opinion, nerd."

Riddle Me This

It puzzled Gerard. "What does she see in this fucker?" was a question that consumed his existence. As for Ace, he didn't really mind Gerard's presence, likely because he never really viewed him as a threat. Ace, too, had reasons to envy Gerard. From where he stood, Gerard was intellectual, healthy, and book smart. The dynamic between the two was the epitome of "grass is greener."

I, Too, Shall Hit It

Gerard was willing to compromise on some of his core values. He was ready to put his health on the line at the chance of showing Sarah he had it in him, too. He picked up cigarettes and started missing classes. He became a chain smoker, and carelessness gradually became his adopted shtick.

Reconnection

Five years later, Gerard was too deep into drugs and health-deteriorating vices. It had been a few years since he'd last seen Sarah and Ace. He was surprised to receive a notification on WhatsApp that he'd been added to a group chat with names he thought he'd left behind: Ace was back in town, and he wanted to throw a reunion party for the trio.

Still In Love

Gerard rushed to see the profile picture of Sarah, someone he had long lost touch with, for the chances of the two becoming an item were subzero. Indeed, it was easier to move on by keeping her out of sight. The problem was that one look at her profile photo brought the memories rushing back, almost as though whatever happened in the last couple of years was a complete time skip.

Million Dollars

It was reunion time. Gerard went with the expectation that he was what Sarah wanted to see in a man: short of fucks to give. Ace got to the bar first; as for Sarah, she sent a message saying she was running late. Ace looked spectacular—he had that million-dollar look. All suited and booted, fit, and justifiably aloof. “Heeey, Gerard!” Gerard took a minute to register what was going on. He looked sickly and let out a cancer-sounding cough that interrupted his greeting. "Acc—" he tried to say, before a fit of coughs and wheezes cut him off.

Invisible Man

Envy brewed within Gerard. It was soul-crushing to see the man he had despised and loathed for the better part of his life thriving. "It is alright," he told himself, "I could still win the other half of the game." Sarah arrived at the locale, and holy fuck, was she hot. As she recognized the two, Gerard could tell, even from afar, that her eyes were locked on one person, and it wasn't him anywhere near sexually charged crosshairs.

Shooting The Shit

The trio caught up and reminisced about college days. While shooting the shit, it was clear as daylight that Sarah was still interested in Ace. First, it was his careless character, and now it was his radical transformation. "The goalpost kept moving, didn't it?" Gerard wondered. Meanwhile, Gerard would cough up black mucus mid-conversation, and all he got for it was a pitiful, "Are you okay?"

Emotional Compromise

Gerard wondered where he had gone wrong. Did he ever have a chance at being with Sarah? Was it a personality trait he lacked, or was he compromised from the get-go? He squandered his potential chasing Ace's ghost on dragonback for someone who overlooked his existence, only for Ace to embrace the path Gerard abandoned and still come out ahead.

Jabs, Crosses, And Hooks

Gerard couldn't keep a lid on his emotions. He scanned the area for something that could do real damage and saw a glass ashtray. He hurled it at Ace with all his strength. Ace raised his hand just in time to slow the speed of the ashtray. It hit him in the arm, ricocheting into his lower lip and busting it open. Even then, Gerard had taken his shot and missed—and now he had to deal with the aftermath against someone fit and healthy. Ace ran towards Gerard and landed a flurry of one-twos, even threes and fours. He stopped the onslaught when he saw that Gerard was all curled up on the floor, completely defenseless. Sarah was screaming, "Stop! Stop!" and when the two finally listened, she asked, "What was this all about?" Gerard came clean: "You always fancied Ace."

"Fancied?" she snapped. "I'm in a happy marriage and a mother of two beautiful kids, you dumbass."