Irony: The Backbone of My Relationship

When I look back on the course of my relationship with my fiance`, one of the things that stands out in my mind is the way we got together. It was one of those cheesy romantic scenarios. We were high-school sweethearts, but before that we were best friends both sheltering that fateful secret: that we were unknowingly both hopelessly smitten with one another.

It was one of those things where you don't want to ruin a friendship, because you're great together - but you're great together, so you can't help but hope it will turn into more. The chemistry is unmistakable, and you love him to death and know it's mutual, so your relationship has this constant, promising irony about it, just waiting for that possible moment of truth.

True to the world of high-school intrigue, that moment of truth came by way of that whispering frequency that is the never-failing radio of gossip. Teenagers seem to be tuned into their very own station in this area. By this avenue, I acquired the scandalous tidbit that he had a crush on someone, and I told him I would sing for him if he told me who it was. He had always wanted to hear me sing. And if he spilled his secret, he would be privileged indeed; my talent was one I kept behind shy, closed doors.

So he did the deed, and admitted his secret crush, and the whole world fell into a dazzling fairytale of replete suspicions. I returned the sentiment, and it became something entirely different than a mere bargain between friends. But no relationship can get off without a hitch, right? The best part is that when he actually asked if I would like to give a go to being a couple, he thought I said no! Finally, the curse of being a writer and using fancy words had backfired with misunderstanding, and we began our relationship without beginning at all - but I had no idea.

I went forth in ignorant bliss, and only later did he bring it back up just to confirm that I had denied him. Needless to say, it was a disoriented few attempts before we got off on the right foot, and we can never quite agree on the date of our anniversary. But I'm just glad he thought to confirm, because now we're engaged - and I sing for him every day.