As Bella and Kathy stepped into their apartment, the weariness of the day was evident on their faces. The clock read 4 pm, and the stress of classes and assignments weighed heavily on them. Bella dropped her bag onto the floor and made a beeline for her phone, which was nestled on the coffee table. She picked it up and dialed her dad's number, waiting for him to answer.
"Hey, Dad," Bella said, her voice a little softer than usual, betraying her exhaustion. "How are you doing?"
"I'm fine, sweetie," her dad replied, his warm voice a comforting presence over the line. "How was class today?"
Bella let out a tired sigh. "It was okay, just a lot going on. We've got a lot of assignments due soon, and I'm trying to get everything done on time."
Her dad listened attentively, offering words of encouragement before changing the subject. "I just sent you and Kathy some money. You girls take care of yourselves, okay? I don't want you worrying about anything except your studies."
Bella's face lit up with a grateful smile. "Thanks, Dad. That means a lot to us. We really appreciate it."
"I miss you so much," her dad said, his voice tinged with longing. "Both of you. Make sure to eat well and get some rest, okay?"
"We will, Dad," Bella promised, feeling a surge of love for her father. "We miss you too. Thanks again for everything."
As they wrapped up their conversation, Bella felt a sense of relief wash over her. Talking to her dad always made her feel better, reminding her that she wasn't alone in navigating the challenges of school and life. With a renewed sense of energy, Bella hung up the phone and turned to Kathy. "Dad sent us some money"
Kathy's face brightened. "That's awesome! I'm starving. Let's order something delicious tonight."
Bella grinned, already scrolling through her favorite food delivery apps.
As Bella scrolled through, a notification from Instagram caught her eye. It was from that same account "Truth Teller," and her curiosity was piqued. She immediately called out to Kathy, who was sitting nearby. "Kathy, come see this!"
Kathy walked over, and together they clicked on the notification. The pictures took a moment to load, but as they appeared on the screen, Bella's eyes widened in shock. The images showed Chloe and Justin together, laughing and smiling at each other, also Chloe's head on Justin's shoulder. The setting looked familiar, and Kathy's eyes narrowed as she took a closer look.
"Isn't this Sugar and Brew Cafe?" Kathy asked, her voice laced with surprise. "The cafe we just left?"
Bella's face crumpled as the reality hit her. Tears began to roll down her cheeks as she stared at the pictures, her heart heavy with pain. "So it was true," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Justin is really seeing Chloe."
Kathy's expression turned from surprise to disappointment and anger. "I'm so sorry, Bella," she said, her voice soft with empathy. "I never thought Justin would do something like this. He's not worth your tears."
As Bella cried, Kathy wrapped her arms around her, offering comfort. She gently petted Bella's hair and cleaned her face, trying to wipe away the tears. "You're better off without him," Kathy said, her voice firm with conviction. "Justin doesn't deserve you. He's clearly not loyal or honest."
Kathy's words of encouragement were punctuated with insults directed at Chloe.
Bella sniffled, feeling a mix of sadness and anger. She knew Kathy was right, Justin didn't deserve her tears or her heart. As Kathy continued to offer words of comfort, Bella slowly began to process her emotions, her heart heavy with the realization that it was time to move on.
Bella's mind was made up. "I'm done," she declared to Kathy, her voice firm with determination. "He can go after whoever he wants now. I'm not even going to dignify this with a response."
Kathy nodded vigorously in support. "Girl, I'm right behind you. Justin's made his bed, now let him lie in it. And that Chloe thinks she's all high and mighty, doesn't she? Newsflash: she's not even worth your time."
Bella's expression turned resolute. "We weren't even dating in the first place, so if I confront him, that's what he'll definitely say. He'll just deny everything and make me look like I'm overreacting. It's better I leave him alone and move on."
Kathy's face showed understanding and solidarity. "You're right, Bella. Don't give him the satisfaction of getting a rise out of you. You're better off without the drama."
Bella wrapped her arms tightly around Kathy, holding her close as tears pricked at the corners of her eyes. She had invested so much of herself in her feelings for Justin, and letting go was going to be a painful process. But the more she thought about it, the more she realized he never seemed to care in the same way.
As she pulled back from the hug, Bella took a deep breath, trying to process the mix of emotions swirling inside her. She knew she deserved better than someone who didn't prioritize her feelings or return her affection with the same intensity. Kathy's supportive presence was a comforting reminder that she wasn't alone, and together, they would navigate this heartbreak.
Back at the cafeteria, the atmosphere was relaxed as Justin, John, and Chloe lingered over their finished meals, enjoying each other's company. The conversation flowed easily, with laughter and good-natured teasing filling the air. As they prepared to leave, Chloe smiled graciously at Justin and John. "Thanks guys, this was really nice. I appreciate the food."
Justin and John exchanged a look, and John nodded. "No problem, we'd be happy to drop you off at your apartment," he offered.
Chloe's face lit up with appreciation. "That's so sweet of you, thanks! I was thinking of texting you later, Justin," she said, her voice casual.
Justin shrugged, his expression neutral. "Sure,."
As they walked out of the cafeteria, the three of them chatted idly, enjoying the evening air. When they reached Chloe's apartment, They dropped her, Chloe waved and disappeared into her building.
Justin and John headed back to their apartment. As they drove, the conversation turned to Chloe. John spoke up, his voice thoughtful. "You know, Chloe's a really chilled person. She seems fun."
Justin nodded in agreement. "Yeah, she actually is"
When they arrived at their apartment, they trudged in, tired and stressed from the day's events. John flopped onto the couch, letting out a deep sigh. "Man, I'm beat."
Justin nodded sympathetically, heading to the kitchen to grab a drink. "Yeah, it's been a long day. I'm looking forward to unwinding."
As they settled in, Justin couldn't help but think about Chloe's comment about texting him later. He wondered what she had in mind, but for now, he was content to relax and recharge.
As Justin and John settled into the couch, John turned to Justin with a curious expression. "Has Bella said anything yet" he asked, his voice low.
Justin shook his head, his eyes fixed on the TV screen. "Not yet."
John's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Damn, what's going on? Maybe she's seeing someone else, who knows?" he speculated, his tone laced with intrigue.
Justin shrugged, his shoulders barely moving. "Maybe. We were never dating, anyway," he said nonchalantly, trying to downplay the situation.
But John wasn't buying it. He knew his friend had feelings for Bella, and he wanted to get to the bottom of it. "But did you ever like her?" John pressed, his eyes locked onto Justin's.
Justin hesitated for a moment before responding, his voice measured. "I did, honestly. I just wasn't ready for a relationship. I know how tough things can get, and I didn't want to drag her into all that."
John nodded thoughtfully, processing Justin's words. "Well, if she doesn't text you, then just leave her," he said bluntly. "Life goes on, man. You've got better things to focus on than someone who's not making an effort to talk to you."
Justin considered John's words, weighing his options. He knew his friend was right , he deserved someone who was interested in him, someone who would make an effort to communicate and build a connection.
The sun had dipped below the horizon, casting a warm orange glow over the apartment before giving way to the soft darkness of night. Justin was in the kitchen, busily preparing a meal for himself and John, who was engrossed in a game on his console. The aroma of sizzling vegetables and savory seasonings filled the air, making their stomachs growl in anticipation.
As Justin finished cooking and sat down to eat, His phone suddenly beeped, breaking the silence. He glanced at the screen, as he saw Chloe's message. "Hey Justin, thanks for today," she said.
Justin replied, "Well, you're welcome. How are you doing?"
Chloe responded, "Got bored and decided to text."
Justin typed out a response, "Oh, no problem, I'm here."
Here's a continuation of the conversation:
Chloe: "Hey Justin, got bored and decided to text."
Justin: "Oh, no problem, I'm here"
"So, how's things going with you and your girlfriend?" Chloe texted
"I never had a girlfriend " Justin replied
Chloe's eyes sparkled with amusement as she typed out her response. "I thought you and Bella were dating?" she asked, curiosity getting the better of her.
Justin's response was immediate. "No, we weren't dating. Just a kinda situationship," he replied, his tone casual.
Chloe's interest was piqued. "Oh, so how's things with you two?" she asked, trying to sound nonchalant.
Justin's response was brief. "She's not talking to me nor replying, idk why."
Chloe's heart skipped a beat as she read Justin's words. She couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction, knowing that Bella wasn't responding to him. "Oh, did you guys fight?" she asked, feigning concern.
Justin's response was quick. "No, we didn't."
Chloe's words of encouragement flowed easily. "Don't feel down about it, Justin. Sometimes people just need space. You'll figure things out." She meant to sound supportive, but deep down, she was thrilled that Justin was now available.
As Chloe typed out her messages, she couldn't help but feel a sense of excitement. She had been interested in Justin for a while, and now she saw an opportunity to get closer to him. She imagined the possibilities, her mind racing with ideas.
Meanwhile, Justin saw Chloe's messages as just friendly concern. He appreciated her words of encouragement and valued their budding friendship. He didn't suspect a thing, oblivious to Chloe's true intentions. The conversation continued, with Chloe carefully navigating the conversation to get closer to Justin, while Justin remained clueless about her feelings.
As Justin and Chloe continued to chat, their conversation flowed effortlessly, punctuated by laughter and witty remarks. They discovered shared interests and exchanged humorous anecdotes, their banter growing more playful with each passing minute. Justin found himself smiling more and more, feeling a sense of ease with Chloe that he hadn't experienced in a while.
John, who had been observing from the sidelines, noticed the change in Justin's demeanor and raised an eyebrow. "Hey, did Bella finally reply, and you two are talking again?" he asked, his tone laced with curiosity.
Justin shook his head, still grinning from ear to ear. "No, it's not Bella. It's Chloe," he replied, gesturing to his phone.
John's eyes widened in surprise, and a mischievous glint sparkled in his eye. "Aww, y'all are getting along now?" he teased, his voice dripping with amusement.
Justin chuckled, feeling a bit self-conscious about the attention. "She seems really good and kind," he said, trying to downplay the situation. "We're just chatting, nothing serious."
John snorted, his teasing relentless. "Oh, sure, sure, just chatting"
Justin rolled his eyes good-naturedly, but couldn't help feeling a sense of pleasure at John's words. He knew he wasn't looking for anything serious, but it was nice to have someone to talk to, someone who seemed to understand him.
As the conversation continued, Justin found himself feeling more and more at ease with Chloe. They talked about everything and nothing, their words flowing freely. Justin couldn't help but notice how kind and genuine Chloe seemed, and he appreciated her sense of humor.
John, meanwhile, watched the exchange with interest, his mind whirling with possibilities.
The evening wore on, with Justin and Chloe's conversation growing more animated and engaging.