𝐝𝐚𝐧𝐢'𝐬 𝐩𝐨𝐯

the air in the apartment felt heavy, charged with an unspoken tension that neither jasmine nor i wanted to address, but couldn't ignore. 

i paced around the living room, my mind racing about an upcoming studio session which i was waiting for news about. i was potentially about to have one of my biggest collaborations with a mainstream artist on a single that will receive full promotions, which would be good for my upcoming album. 

jasmine was at the door, her suitcase already packed and ready. her presence was a mix of frustration and sadness; she was leaving for germany tomorrow to film her movie, and the distance between us was starting to wear on both of us.

"dani, we need to talk," jasmine said, her voice tight. she stood near the window, looking out at the distant city lights with a frown. her usually warm brown eyes were colder tonight, and her posture was stiff. the room seemed smaller, more confined with the weight of our conversation.

"about what?" I replied, my tone clipped. i was already stressed out work, and this conversation felt like one more thing I didn't need.

suddenly my phone pinged with a message and my eyes darted towards it, knowing that it was from dante on the news about the collaboration. 

as I turned away to grab my phone, jas' fingers brushed against the surface of the coffee table, and she picked it up without a word. confused and too stunned to speak i watched her intensely as she started frantically scrolling on my phone. 

my eyes looked down at my screen and the real kicker came when i saw her thumb glide over the screen, landing on a conversation I had with skai.

"jasmine, what are you doin'?" i asked, my voice sharp. i felt a surge of irritation as I saw her reading our messages. it's not like there was anything incriminating at all, majority if not all the messages was memes and laughing emojis. 

i knew that being in contact with your ex was weird, but i felt a lack of interest to discuss this right now. not to mention that i wouldn't dare flirt or move on that level because that was behind me now. but the truth is, i have been really enjoying skai's presence as of late, she felt like a breath of fresh air in my current hectic and tense life.

"why are you texting her?" jas demanded, her voice rising at the word her. she looked up at me, her face flushed with anger. "why do you have her number?"

i took a deep breath, trying to keep my composure. "jasmine, it's not what you think. skai and I are just talking as friends and friends only. you can literally see that it's nothin' serious."

"nothing serious?" she snapped. "you're still in contact with your ex, and you're telling me it's nothing serious? dani, this is ridiculous!"

i opened my mouth to explain but she shuts me down straight away, continuing on her rant as she waves my phone in the air as she speaks. "i knew there was something weird going on. you're on your phone way more than usual, heck to even hear back from you is a struggle and half. but here you are waiting hand and foot for her messages!"

"look jasmine, you're right i should have let you known," i said, trying to keep my voice calm despite the turmoil inside. "but it's just messages. we were friends before. we're not trying to get back together or anythin'. i always made sure to uphold boundaries because of you."

"friends?" she spat. "do you think i'm dumb? clearly she's trying to steal you away from me!"

"skai doesn't move like that first of all, and no one's gonna or can steal me." i protested but her face screwed up by the mention of skai's name.

"do not say her name in front of me ever again, do you understand me?" jas shouts before throwing my phone like a frisbee at me and stormed off. 

i caught the phone with my left hand and before i could go after her, my phone rang. it was my dante, and I seized the moment to escape the argument, hoping for a distraction.

"hey dani," my manager's voice crackled through the line. "travis scott cleared his verse. when can you come to the studio?"

"i can come right now." i said and cut the phone, grabbing my car keys from the kitchen counter. i could feel jasmine's eyes on me, her frustration clear. i turned towards her as she stood in the hallway, hands crossed with a snarl on her soft features. "look jas, i have been expectin' this call all day, i told you. so how about we both calm down and then have this discussion when i come back."

her face was a storm of emotions, ranging from betrayal to hurt. "are you kidding me? you're leaving now?" she asked, her voice breaking slightly.

"yes, I have to," I said, feeling a pang of guilt. "travis' verse is critical for the track. i need to be there."

jasmine' eyes were wet, her lips trembling. "of course. just go," she said bitterly. "go do what you always do. leave when things get tough."

i felt a sudden rush of anger appear out of nowhere inside of me. how on earth was i leaving when things get tough? every time we are together we always argue. who was the one trying to be the peacemaker? it was always me.

"i literally haven't done anythin' to disrespect this relationship. i have always been the only one who has been trying to communicate and sort our issues out. you're the one runnin' away from solving our issues, it's almost as if you're always arguing to get a reaction outta me." i replied sternly, slightly raising my voice.

"but how are you helping by running around town with your fucking ex?" she says in a loud bitter voice.

"i wasn't doing anythin' of the sort. we literally always hang out in a group, since she is technically friends with trenice and we're in the same industry so what should i tell her to leave?" i protested only to get a scoff.

"oh so it is true, you guys are not only texting but hanging out too, how cute! why the fuck is she hanging out with your friends, whilst i'm just being tucked away in the background?"

"at this point." i began, running a hand through my hair in frustration, since it felt like i was talking to a brick wall. "it seems like i am always catering to you. you're always critical of this relationship, you make me feel like my passion is a burden sometimes and you don't even try and hang out with my co-workers or friends who by the way are like family to me. i have suggested so many times for you to come and tag along as my partner, but even that you can't do since it's all beneath you! so no you were never tucked away, you placed yourself there. i am not your little puppet jasmine, you don't own me."  

i finished and took a deep breath, feeling a weight being lifted off my shoulders. i have been keeping this in, for the sake of not starting another argument, but there was only so much i could take. jasmine's face remained unmoved, as she turned away from me. a silent stand to uphold her stubbornness.

i really couldn't be asked anymore. "fine don't believe me." i shrugged before stalking out of the door.

𓏲𝄢 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐞𝐧𝐣𝐨𝐲𝐞𝐝!