The Facebook Add.

This thread from yesterday reminded me of something else having to do with Facebook requests. I figured I'd combine the two.


* * *
It had been at least two months since the last time we hung out. You were worried you were starting to forget what I looked like so you asked me to send you photos. True to my trolling ways, I only sent ones where you couldn't see my entire face. They were all links from my Facebook. And because you're such a smart cookie, you immediately said that you'd just add me on Facebook.

Finally. After 10 months. You were going to add me on Facebook.

You were able to find me with a quickness, which made me realize my privacy settings were shit, but you weren't able to actually add me. I knew why but I played stupid. Mostly because I found your Facebook-ineptness hilarious. You thought I blocked you so I gave you a fake add URL, which you probably believed and clicked. I was literally rolling on the floor laughing. You were really adamant about adding me.

After a solid half hour of back-and-forths, I finally added you.

I can only assume you immediately saw that I was in a relationship. You probably thought "What the hell? I thought this girl was single." Or maybe you thought, "THIS BETCH IS A LIAR!" But true to your conflict-avoidance ways, you remained behind your pleasant demeanor and changed the topic of our chat.

You told me some time later that you immediately told your friends of my relationship status. You even circulated my profile picture of us (that's not weird at all). And while I wasn't inside your brain, I can't help but want to narrate what went on:

Initially there was anger towards me. You felt lied to.
Then, anger towards yourself. You were wondering why it bothered you so much.
Then, denial that frequently bounced between mild to extreme. You finally realized you wanted more than whatever we had.
You tried to put it behind you but it kept gnawing at you. Because you thought you could change my mind.
And all the while, the fact that I didn't address it, probably enraged you even more.

I treated you the same: with a sense of fond camaraderie. Some may have interpreted this as cold and heartless, but I stand my ground in that I had no obligation to you.

For months, we never had any sort of emotional exchange. Sure, we got along: conversations flowed right into one another, we laughed a lot, we would think each others' thoughts and not have to say a word, and for once you didn't have to deal with some uptight, materialistic froufrou. But you never asked about my personal life or had an interest in who or what I did when I wasn't with you.

I had no reason to ask if you were comfortable with my decision.

However, I am sort of sad that you found out. You started acting and treating me differently. It was like a Facebook friend request suddenly ended our real-life friendship and that's disappointing because I really liked being your friend.