BEST FRIENDS

Chapter11

Ammar
Yesmeen and I sat by the pool, our legs dipped in the water. I rolled up my jeans, and as I shifted my gaze to her, I placed my hands on my thighs, letting out a heavy sigh.

"Well," I breathed.

She looked up at the sky, and I can see the sadness in her eyes. "You know, I miss him a lot. We made a lot of memories together," she said, her voice filled with emotion. "But just one day, everything messed up." She paused, taking a deep breath and wiping away her tears.

"You guys had an argument?" I asked, trying to understand the situation.

"No, not an argument. In fact, we talked to each other through the phone on the day he was leaving," she explained. "You know, we stayed in Kano first before my dad got a promotion and we moved to Abuja."

"I just find out that they also moved to Abuja. Do you know why I'm mad at him? If he truly took me as his friend, why wouldn't he tell me that they're moving? I was hurt by that," she continued, her voice trembling.

"For a moment, my heart stopped beating," , feeling a connection to her story. "It's like she's saying the exact same things as me and Yesmeen. The memories come flooding in, sharp and painful. I tried to hide the crack in my voice."

I thought for a moment before responding, "Maybe you should give him some space. Maybe he has his own reasons for not telling you. It's important to communicate and understand each other's perspectives. Sometimes, things happen that we don't expect, but it doesn't mean the friendship is lost. Give it some time, and maybe you can talk things through."

  "No, this isn't Mister Choco, and it never has been. He's supposed to be different, but I don't want him anymore. I can do perfectly fine without him.

No, no, no, that's bad. But what if he's waiting for you too? What if he's been searching for you his entire life?

No, you really don't know him? He's different! But I don't need him now.

You think you don't need him? Yesmeen, you always need him. You can't be without him. He's the one who makes you happy and completes your life.

The tears welled up in her eyes. "You think so? But I always thought I can move on without him. Anyways, tell me, why are you playing with Ameerah's feelings?" she asked, fiddling with her fingers.

I was never in a serious relationship with her. I just dated her for fun, you know, to pass the time. To cut the story short, I don't love her or have any feelings for her.

My father and her dad were buddies, and to say we were having a good time together, you know, something like that. She's the one who has feelings for me. Just because of our closeness, our parents fixed our marriage without even asking me.

When they asked her, she fed them lies, telling them that we were in a serious relationship. That's it," I said, staring down at her.

"I never thought she'll do something like this," she pressed her lips together. "Are you in love with anyone else?" she questioned me.

Not really, we just have something in common, you know? I once had this best friend whom I met on a very rainy day.

And you love her?
No, in fact, our stories look so similar. It's exactly what happened between me and her. And you know, we also moved unexpectedly because my father got a promotion.

The day I met you, when Yusrah called you "Yesmeen," for a while, I thought you were my Yesmeen. But I just knew you cannot be her, although sometimes you act like her.

Tears began to fall in her eyes, and I didn't know why. No soft rains to be found here, only the harsh downpour that leaves one breathless and cold.

The tension started to break, like thin ice, and the sun was beginning to rise above the mess.