Hello!!! Oh yes, I'm still alive! It's been over a month yeah??🥺 I'm so sorry for the long wait. I promise to be more regular henceforth. Expect back to back updates please. So tell all your friends we're back to the jolly ride of SHATTERED HEARTSTRINGS🤗

CHAPTER DEDICATION: isegeorge_ Always asking for an update everyday. Thank you for caring about me❤

♤

You will always be...
The sister of my soul, the friend of my heart, and the guardian angel to my mind.
—𝓚𝓲𝓶𝓫𝓮𝓵𝓵 𝓟𝓲𝓻𝓪𝓱

♤

RECAP:

__________

"Sto...p staring at me like..like that." I stutter because of the serious pain affecting my stomach, and because his gaze is becoming too unsettling for my liking. He scratches his neck in an awkward manner and bites his lip, as if he is debating with a serious battle in his mind. Seeing him all flustered and jetty makes me amused. Never have I seen him this way.

"Um, don't be angry if I say this..." he trails off and pleads with his eyes. Grey eyes that looks like those of a cute baby right now.

What?

Where did that come from?!

"Oh, okay?" I query in uncertainty, tightening the grip of the duvet over my body.

"I think you're experiencing your menstrual cramps." My eyes snap so wide at his words, wondering how he came up with such an absurd theory. "I didn't know how to say this, but I think you have a little— um, a little red stain rig...." I didn't even wait for him to complete his statement as I poke my fingers into my ears — inevitably blocking his words out.

Did Jamal just know that I am on my period?

I think I'm going to pass out for real!

__________

END OF RECAP

Deep breaths...

In...out...in...out

Slowly and steadily, I sluggishly let my eyelids flutter open, ready to face Jamal laughing at me for being stupid and careless about my time of the month, or expecting him to kick me out of his personal space. However, instant confusion greets me as I notice my change of environment.

Huh...what the hell just happened?

I swear we were in the music room just now. So how did we get back to his study room?

I tap my stomach reassuringly to feel the pain I felt earlier but nothing is happening.

Okay this is strange.

The only similarity is the duvet that is still draped over my body, so I can't be imagining things either.

"And she's finally awake."

"AGGGHHHHHHH!" I scream and tumble over the seat as I am being startled greatly. The person's voice came as a shock and definitely, I can't handle it like a normal being.

"Baby girl! Are you okay?" The voice filters into my ears in a closer range and I pretend I am hurt and stiff, waiting for the person to get closer to me.

Tap

Tap

Tap

And...action!

I immediately grab them by the neck and crush into the body of the person, as we both roll on the floor simultaneously.

"Araaaa! What the hell!" Jerry bellows beneath me as we are both entangled in a headlock position. Soft sound of giggles escapes my parted lips as I continue to hold tight onto him. His muscles ripple underneath me as he laughs quietly.

"I've missed you big doofus." I mumble and sniff around his neck, where the scent of his cologne hits me hard, my hand trials from holding him firmly, to squashing his face like a mother does to her child affectionately.

"You're not serious." Jerry says with a wide smile as he tries to pry me off his body.

"Are you..." I trail off and pause, the same time losing my grip on his face. "...are you blushing?" I question rhetorically, unable to wipe the cheesy smile off my face. He chokes on air, obviously caught off guard by my mere discovery.

"Oh my God! You're blushing!" I yell over excitedly, pinching his cheeks enthusiastically.

"What? Come on, no!" He yells back, still trying to pry my hands off him. "How can you be this energised when you're just waking up?" He queries in the midst of our struggle. Hearing those words, causes me to still momentarily.

"Wait, I'm just waking up?" I ask in uttermost curiosity as I slowly roll off Jerry's body. He dusts imaginary dirt of his hoodie — giving me a skeptical look the same time.

"Um, of course. When we arrived, you were sound asleep."

Okay that didn't sound right.

Last I remembered, I was having this weird stomach ache, and then Jamal said he thinks I'm experiencing my menstrual cramps and then I freaked out and oh...

Realisation hits me. Hits me hard, like so hard.

Did I pass out?

"Where is Jamal?" I ask Jerry immediately it dawns on me fully. "And wait, when you were referring to we, who came along?" I ask fearfully, hoping that one person that has been making me to thread carefully, didn't come.

Jerry easily catches on the underling fear beneath my question as he inhales deeply reaching out for my hand the same time. "To answer your first question, Jamal is answering the questions you guys left undone. And as for the second..." he trails off as we both feel a new presence in the study room.

I didn't need a prophet to tell me who it was since the fragrance of the perfume is so strong. And it literally screams her name anytime she walks into a place.

"Hey," Jerry acknowledges her presence as she strides into the room like she owned it. I am still tensed on my former position, debating if I should walk out or pretend her existence doesn't matter.

Both options seems useless at the moment because my body has a way of being weak...and my mind being hell bent on being kind and simple, I have no fibre in me to hold grudge against Kiki. It hurts that she didn't acknowledge me right now. She is still avoiding me, same as I am ever since she busted out at the cafeteria that day.

Jerry pats her back, whispering something in her ear and attempts to leave the study room when I immediately stand up to join him. He stares at me with a wry smile as if he is trying to communicate a silent message.

"Stay back!" He whispers with pleading voice. My eyes widen at the nonsense that just came out of his mouth.

"Are you mad? You are seriously going to leave her and I together?" I whisper back harshly. If his plan is to make us to make up, I'm hundred percent sure it isn't going to happen since I am still hurt from Kiki's words of that day. And besides, she doesn't look repentant one bit.

"Look," He begins, draping his hands over my shoulders. "I know what I am doing and it is for the very best. Pleaseeeee?" He begs with that irresistible face. That face that no human being can ever say 'no' to except you're an agent of the devil. I'm not capping at all!

"Okay fine!" I whisper painfully, trying to swallow the big lump that has suddenly clogged my throat in a space of seconds. He smiles widely at my answer and gently backs out of my presence before he finally exits out of the study room. Hereby leaving Kiki and I alone. The imminent silence overwhelms me, freezing me down to the bones of my feet. I refuse to move a bit or even turn back knowing that Kiki is sited comfortably behind me.

She doesn't care.

Yes that's it! She doesn't even know how bad her words hurts me, neither does she know the struggle I go through each day, knowing Tobias isn't fine at all.

I can walk through this door, and lie to Jerry that we made up.

That would be much better. Instead of facing someone I once considered my best friend. Like it's just easy to make my escape right now.

Take a step...

Another...

And another one...

Almost at the doorstep...

Then...

"Aramide," The soft thrill accompanied by the voice isn't one I would have expected in a million years to come. It feels as if a bucket of iced blocks have been dumped on my body, causing me to shiver nonstop. "Please don't go."

The voice comes again, reaffirming that the first voice I heard wasn't a mistake at all. Slowly and steadily, I swirl on the sole of my feet ready to face Kiki without being tensed. The heavy imaginary lump of before, hooks my throat momentarily blocking my ability to speak.

"Can you come over?" She pleads once more as she taps the space beside her with a forlorn expression marring her face. I am fully aware of the fact that Kiki doesn't display emotions at all both voice and facial expression wise; and if by any chance she shows the littlest of an emotion, it moves me to my bones. And this right here, is one of the rare days when you see the true Kiki for who she is.

I walk over to her side hesitantly — in a calculating manner before taking my place beside her. I obviously give a big gap between us on the two-seater couch and interlock my fingers over my laps fidgetedly. No words are being exchanged as we just mope into space, gazing at the spacious and state of art study room. The silence abiding between us is so voluminous and heart clenching that I regret ever listening to Jerry in the first place.

"Look," Kiki voice startles me out of the blues as I did not expect her to speak so soon.

What was I expecting then?

That we will just sit still till the world ends?

Hell no.

Agggh focus my dear mind!

"I know no amount of words can pacify how you feel. I mean, you've been through a lot and yet, I was not considerate enough about that fact." She pauses to see if she can get any reaction from me but then, I swiftly throw my face to the other side so that she would not see the tears brimming at my eye rim. "Trust me I was never the same immediately I realised how much of a stupid mess I must have made." She heaves in deeply.

The pain inside of me refuses to tone down a notch and all the bubbling feeling of pain, betrayal, hurt and disappointment clouds my emotion all at once.

"No. You're not sincere and I know that from the bottom of my heart." I reply, furiously wiping the tears that are now flowing from my eyes. "Okay should I do a little rewind for you? Um, a quick reminder; you hate despicable bïtches like me. Remember? Do you have any idea of how distrust I felt? Do you freaking understand that any little thing at the moment is capable of breaking my fragile soul? I...you are th–the first female friend I have ever had..."

The tears choke and prevent me from speaking further and without warning, I run out of the study room not giving a damn if I left her behind. I can't deal with this at all. The liver in me refuses to accept the fact that Kiki hurt me so bad and now she's apologising like it was my fault.

Jerry, I swear I can't do this. I'm so sorry in advance.

My legs lead me to the first outlet of the study room, which links to a balcony. I quickly thrust the glass sliding door open, only to discover the boys are together. Immediately they turn thier head to what disrupted their moment, they pause and stare at me.

"I'm so sorry guys." I mutter wistfully, attempting to let them be as I back off.

"Where to?" Jide queries before I can go further. I sigh and shake my head in a vain manner.

"Never mind. Just pretend I am not here." I direct my statement to the three of them in a strained voice as I join them on the round table assorted with drinks and small chops. I dig my fingers into the first bowl filled with small shawarma rolls, then I grasp an untouched Pure Haven wine too. The guys didn't seem weirded out by my behaviour which I must say, did not bother me any bit.

"Easy there," Jamal voices out as he takes the wine bottle out of my hold. Just hearing his voice, it occurs to me that he owes me an explanation of what happened.

"Jamal dear!" I screech out loudly, not meaning to do so. I am sure I look miserable as hell because of the tear lines on my face. "What happened? How did I get back to the study room? Why do I have a feeling I passed out after you dropped the bomb? Haha okay that was very funny and hilarious. I know you're a heartless person I just didn't know you could still care for me that way you kn..." Jamal coughs out in an awkward fashion as Jide and Jerry both give him a skeptical look.

"What is she talking about?" Jerry asks Jamal who is still withholding me from having access to the wine.

"I don't know. She just tutored me, got tired and slept off." Jamal answers with an unwavering expression and the same time my hand mistakenly clears the wine bottle to the ground causing it to shatter.

"Shït!" The boys mumble in unison and for a reason I cannot pinpoint, that sounded so amusing to me.

"Oh my God! You guys said shït the same time. L-m-a-o-o-o-o."

"Jide, please take her away from here. Jerry and I will take care of this mess." Jamal states in an authoritative voice leaving no room for questioning whatsoever. Jide keeps his phone in his pocket and holds me by my left arm as he directs me to the sliding door point, making sure the glass doesn't penetrate our feet.

"I said you guys should freaking pretend I am not there and now see what happened." I rant and face palm as we continue to walk to an unknown direction. Jide is quiet by my side, listening to me intently. "...And I have a feeling Jamal is lying. I could have sworn we had a little encounter at the music room then I passed out. He thinks I'm dumb, oh wow. Can you imagine?" And upon finishing my ranting, I realised we ended up at the study room again. This time, Kiki is standing at the doorstep.

Here we go again!

"Aramide please wait," Kiki literally begs while Jide literally joins in begging me too.

"You guys, stop this! Why are you begging me? Jide I'm so disappointed you are joining her to beg me too I can't take this.

Kiki strides and engulfs me in a big hug as my tears soak up her top.

"I'm so sorry. I swear I am! I wasn't thinking when I said those words because obviously Tobias is my very flesh and blood. I couldn't bear the thought that he had a relapse and I had to foolishly blame you because of my insecurities of my failed friendships with female. Aramide, I hope you forgive me from the very depth of your heart. And I have come to realise you will always be the sister of my soul, the friend of my heart and the guardian angel of my mind."

Her words.

I've never felt the intensity of someone's word that deep, except for Ayo but apart from him, this Kiki speech made me realise humans are liable to make mistakes. If I put myself in her shoes, I would have probably blamed her if Ayo had an ailment of such.

But that does not still change the single fact that she called me names and literally blamed me like she doesn't know who I really am, and what I have gone through for so long.

"Please forgive her Ara." Jide who is standing beside us adds his own voice as he rocks his feet in anticipation. And just as if I have already made my mind from onset, my face breaks into a sweet smile as I pat Kiki's back.

"I forgive you Kimbell. Dosen't still change the fact that your words hurt me deeply though." I quickly add as we release from the embrace. She smiles weakly and does a salute for me.

"Okay good. This calls for celebration!" Jide hollers from the entrance of the room, trying to probably alert Jamal and Jerry.

"Guys, I think I'm seeing double." I laugh with the little remainder of the tears still in my eyes. Jide quickly comes up to hold me and sighs under his breath.

"What happened to her?" Kiki queries from Jide as my body moves in a funny fashion.

"She cannot hold a liquor at all. She just took few sips from the wine and I think she's tipsy." He replies as he supports my frame on his body fully.

"I'm not tipsy y'all!" I yell while giggling like a child. Kiki laughs quietly at my childish display and does a sign to Jide, indicating that she would be back in a minute. He nods and holds me more firmly by the shoulders and like a nonexistent whisper that I am not too sure I heard because I'm tipsy, or I might be dreaming, Jide mumbles something.

Author's note.

And here it is! After the long wait. I dunno why I feel so rusty right now🤧

Anyways, I need motivation. I know I must have lost a lot of my potential readers because of my inactivness. I swear I didn't mean to. School has been so stressful af and now I appreciate writers who juggle both school works and Wattpad. Please COMMENT and VOTE guys👀

*coughs* so your thoughts on this chapter?? Do you think Kiki deserves the forgiveness? And I hope Aramide imagined that last statement from Jide tho.

Next update: Sooner than you'll expect. Thanks to y'all for always checking up on me. My DM's are open to all.

Book recommendation: Obliterated beginnings by _utopian  Y'all she's literally my twin!!! Go check her work. I promise you won't regret it yooo😍

Q: Can you ever forgive and forget a friend who back-stabbed, betrayed or hurt you so deeply?