Hi. I’m Gerome, and this is my story on how I realized why women think, they tend to get hurt more than men.

It was just like any Monday morning, hectic, frantic, and manic. It’s Monday for god’s sake, as my idol "Garfield" (yeah the orange cat) would say, I’m beginning to hate Mondays more and more.

My minds too idle, the time is soooo slow; just kept passing the time chatting with my friends Arty and Gem. The day was a bum so I decided to make the most out of it. Pulled them out, and asked them to hang out on this place called “King Phillip’s” after work. Not really a fancy place, but I just can’t get over the coziness of the place. I will, if I have not yet, make it my second home. My own little sanctuary if you please.

Apparently the three of us were having the same kind of day, so everyone was a get go, until Arty had to back. I was kind of downhearted a bit, because we usually have this hyped up debates every time all of us get together.

So it was Gem and me, had our SV’s and Chix, and talked about how bad the day was. Then came Wheat, I was surprised, yet expecting him. Haven’t seen him for the longest time, but he seems to have been really busy; lost weight and all, but still good. So if Wheat was here, Carla would surely be following. They like two peas in a pod, like peanut butter and jelly, like… well you get the picture.

Promptly so, Carla came but to my surprise was with Arty. Damn dude blew me off earlier, but decided to go still since Carla was there. Anyhow, I got my revenge, I burnt him every chance I got, and he even took a condiment shot.

Anyway, so here it is, everybody’s gotten their fix of food and alcohol, the game is on. Debate topic: Women get hurt more than men. Damn love that debate. They say that it’s easy for men to move on because generally women get hurt and men don’t. I on the other hand argue that even though we don’t show our emotions, we don’t get hurt. Hours fly by like a flick of the finger. I have gotten almost everyone to agree except Carla. That girl is as stubborn as can be. I know she sees my point but heck, she goes around like: “This is what I see and that is final, men are a-holes and women get hurt”. Reason and logic just can’t get through her thick skull. Even her best friend Wheat agreed with me.

Anyway, we called it quits; I was too tired to argue with a close minded person. Maybe it was the lack of patience, or the alcohol, but I can’t even if I still wanted to. Sad to say, the debate was not settled, round two will be a sight to see. I made it to a point to break her down and feed her mind with my thoughts. But right now I have to re-charge my brain. One word: overheat.

A week after that we went back to King Phillip’s. But this time it was only me, Gem and Carla. Arty had to beg off, broke and tired, and Wheat, well… let’s just say Wheat and Carla are not in good terms as of the moment.

So debates off for now. We can’t settle the whole women get hurt more than men topic. A bit disappointed as I readied myself for round 2. Anyway, so we talked about Wheat and Carla being best friends. Apparently Carla feels she’s being ignored and taken for granted by Wheat. She just got into a severe vehicular accident, and Wheat did not even tried to check if she was OK. Apparently Carla saw Wheat as more than her best friend. But Wheat just took her as a friend. Often time She would be there if he needed her, and he won’t even on the gravest times she did.

Long story short he treated her like crap. The princess born with a silver spoon (Carla) was treated like crap.

Now I understood... I understood why she was so closed minded about the topic women get hurt more than men do. For this is what she is currently feeling. I suddenly felt guilt crawl upon my spine, as I imagine all the sorrows and pains she goes through day in and day out.

So I called it a day, took Gem home, then took Carla home. And as I look at Carla going inside her house, I said to myself, now I understand, but you still don’t. I still say we (men) do get hurt more, it’s just that we don’t show it.

I understand that you are hurting as Wheat is taking you for granted and treating you like crap. But the thing is I am hurting more, as I look and see that happening... yet I don’t make a peep, nor any sound, and prevent myself from bursting of anger, prevent myself from knocking some sense into Wheat; just because I know Carla treats him as her best friend... I may not show the pain, but that doesn’t mean my heart does not bleed.

I hurt more, as I look away and pretend that I don’t know anything, and I don’t even care... Now you tell me, do you still think that women get hurt more than men?

I’m Gerome, and this is my story.

- Wonder Years, Episode 25