Chapter 1: The Beginning of My Crushes

It all began when I was eleven years old, a time when I was a bit late to the crush game. But when it hit, it hit hard.

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Suddenly, I found myself crushing on every boy around me—along with actors and singers. Each week, I was smitten with a different member of the New Kids on the Block. Oh, Jonathan...

Image courtesy of Page Six.

Yet, there was one actor who completely captured my heart, not just for his irresistible charm but also for his name.

HAWT—just look at him! Image courtesy of Pinterest.

Mel Gibson was the epitome of attractiveness for me back then. He was not just a cute guy; he was the ultimate hottie, and nothing was more coveted than that title. To top it off, he shared part of my name. Well, sort of.

My infatuation with the illustrious Mel lasted for two years. By the time I turned 13, I joyfully proclaimed that if I were to marry Mel Gibson, I would become Mel Gibson.

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However, as I matured, Mel Gibson found himself embroiled in various controversies. I soon realized that I no longer desired to marry him and adopt his name. Instead, I wanted to embrace my full name: Melanie Wijeratna, the embodiment of ultimate attractiveness.

From that moment on, I gently but firmly encouraged people to call me by my full name. I preferred to be addressed as Melanie.

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I also noticed that when people called me Mel, they began to take liberties. It felt like a casual familiarity that I wasn't comfortable with. “Hey Mel! How's it going? Mind if I borrow your car? Oh, and can you handle my work calls at 11 PM? We’re friends now, right?”

Wrong! We are not friends, and you cannot borrow my car! Please do not contact me about work issues at midnight. Call me Melanie, please!

Alright, I might be exaggerating a bit, but only slightly.

Section 1.1: The Importance of Names

This is the tale of why I opt for Melanie over Mel.

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So, please, call me Melanie. If you choose to call me Mel, I might not respond, and I’ll be reminded of those cringeworthy memories when I wanted to be Mrs. Mel Gibson.

The end.