Hiya guys, long time no chat

Throwback to April 1st — my colleagues decided to pull a joke on me. The problem was, I’d had a mildly traumatic experience that weekend and was about to face an incredibly stressful court session two days later, so I was really, really not having it.

The main actor was my (27F) then work bestie (43M), who pretended to be having a fight with his nonexistent girlfriend over the phone in the conference room. They knew I was going to get worried and start asking him what was wrong, etc. He was a hell of a good actor, as well as everyone else who acted concerned. At some point, after he came back and started ranting about the imaginary situation, he stormed out of the office into the conference room again, buried his face in his hands, and began what sounded like sobbing to me. Instinctively, I pulled him in for a hug and started whispering that everything was okay, that I was there. I literally lost feeling in my legs from how much it hurt to hear him “cry.”

Seconds later, he pulled away and yelled, “April fools,” at which point I just gave him a look and stormed out to calm down, because I was really on the edge of beating his ass…I forgot the key to the gate, and he started pleading with me from the window to come back (he panicked, especially because I was about to jump over the fence to leave the premises). I finally gave in and climbed back up.

When we came face-to-face, I was almost full-on screaming at him. I asked how he could joke in such a way — it was not funny in the slightest. I think I even mildly hit him in the chest in my emotional turmoil. During that meltdown, he pulled me back into the conference room. The whole time I was yelling at him, repeating how he could joke like that, knowing damn well how sensitive I am about crying. Finally, my voice started cracking, and he pulled me into a tight hug, burying my face into his shoulder. At that, I absolutely lost it. I started sobbing uncontrollably and whimpering, repeating “it was not funny, it was not funny” in an agonized voice. The hug made me cry even harder, and within seconds, my tears were soaking his hoodie as he kept repeating, “I’m sorry, I’m so sorry.” I stopped talking at some point and just continued sobbing, hugging him back the whole time. When I finally calmed down, I pulled away, and he offered me an energy drink and a snack before sitting down to talk about it.

Unfortunately, I wiped what was left of my tears on my own, but given that I’m in a long-term relationship and his general social awkwardness, I understand why he didn’t go there.

It was really, really overwhelming — mostly because I do have father issues, and this was the first time I cried into an older male’s shoulder. That hug literally broke me to pieces. I still get emotional just remembering it.

I’m open to questions about any details. Some time has passed, and I probably can’t recall everything five months later on my own

Last edited by andjyx (September 11, 2025 9:01 am)