Music Recommendation:- Overpass Graffiti – Ed Sheeran.
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It took a lot of convincing for Marcel to go for the scan, especially after that drama with Mimi. But then, Ezra stepped in and stopped her emotional friend from doing more damage. Only then, was he able to leave with the doctor and promised to be back as soon as he was through.
The slap left Arianna so emotionally drained that she did nothing but sit down on the bench all alone and waited for the news on Victor while Marcel underwent treatment.
To be honest, Arianna was not mad at Mimi for hitting her but rather at herself for keeping the truth from her. She had good intentions for keeping the truth from Mimi though. Her friend was in the first trimester and shouldn’t be stressed since there was a higher risk of a miscarriage. Victor’s Incident was shocking and she was merely looking out for Mimi.
At this point, Arianna didn’t know if Mimi would want to be her friend anymore considering what happened between them and it made tears slide from her eyes. Mimi was the only best friend she had known for years and ever had. Arianna didn’t know how she would move on without her. Her heart ached at the thought.
“Crying at the corner doesn’t fit you, you know,” someone said and Arianna didn’t even need to lift her head to look at him, having recognized the voice.
Ezra wasn’t offended by her silence, instead, he went and sat down beside her on the same bench.
“How did Mimi know to get here? Did you tell her?” Arianna interrogated him. Lately, the both of them – Mimi and Ezra – had become so close that she was even beginning to get jealous. Arianna couldn’t help but feel that he was trying to snatch her best friend from her.
.....
But Ezra scoffed at the accusation, “What? You think that I’m what? A snitch? She probably got into the boot while we were distracted and followed us here.” He found it amusing.
That was when Arianna’s mind flashed back to that instant Ezra was distracted right after he got into the car.
She frowned, “You knew she got into the car?”
“I didn’t. It was dark and I couldn’t see a thing yet I had my suspicion and it seems somehow my suspicion came to pass.”
“Ezra! You could have told me!”
“And then what? What would you do?”
Arianna opened her mouth to say something, but she couldn’t produce a word. She sighed instead, rubbing her temple.
Ezra told her, “You should know Mimi already and when she makes up her mind to do something, nothing can get in her way. No one at all.”
As annoying as it was to admit it, Arianna knew deep down that Ezra was right. Perhaps, she had become too comfortable with her bestie that she completely overlooked her flaws and forgot her doggedness.
In some ways, both of them were similar in the sense that they fought hard for what they treasured. Perhaps, that was why they lasted for so long. The both of them loved and held each other in high esteem.
Arianna suddenly groaned, lowering her head to her lap and letting her hair fall over her face like a curtain. A few seconds later, she lifted her face and wiped her palms down her face, saying,
“I think I just messed up our friendship. Mimi and I have had quarrels over the years, but this is the first time she ever hit me since the first day we met at school. I can’t help but feel that this is the sign of the first remarkable crack in our relationship.” Arianna groaned once again, wishing she could magically make things right between her and Mimi again.
“Are you sure?” Ezra said with confidence that make her look at him strangely.
“What?” She shook her head, he wasn’t making any sense. He saw the heated dispute between her and Mimi, how could he still ask such a question?
“You sure have small faith, Arianna,” He smirked and that reaction enough left Arianna confused. It wasn’t until she noticed that his gaze has been fixed at a point now that she turned and was stunned to see Mimi standing a few meters from them.
Arianna sprang up to her feet at once, nearly losing her balance. “Mimi….?” she whispered, wondering how long she has been standing there. And to think that asshole relative of hers didn’t inform her, Arianna tactically glared at Ezra who looked away smugly. He wasn’t bothered.
Both friends stared at each other unsure. Mimi had red eyes from crying while Arianna’s hair looked like a bird made a nest out of it from running her hands through it the entire time.
“Mimi, I’m sor – ” Arianna was still saying when her best friend walked over to her and simply pulled her into her arms and her pounding heart finally settled.
“I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to keep you in the dark. I thought that I was protecting you,” Arianna finally apologized to her while hugging her friend, and Mimi who had been trying to hold the tears back, couldn’t anymore. It was as if the dam was broken and she burst into tears.
Arianna never once blamed Arianna for slapping her knowing she deserved it. Moreover, she knew Mimi was simply being emotional, coupled with the stress. That was enough to make even the most innocent of people lash out.
“I’m… s-sorry too,” Mimi apologized to her through the difficulty of the tears. But then, she meant it. She didn’t mean to slap Arianna, but then she had been filled with so much despair and anger. How could she keep such important news from her?
“I know,” Arianna said, unable to keep her tears from falling as she held her friend. Just like Marcel, the thought of losing Mimi was scary too. She was very important to her.
And just like that, both friends cried on each other’s shoulders while Ezra had the privilege of recording the scene with his phone. As an approved godfather – by the baby’s mother – Ezra intended to make a little film for the baby depicting the dramas and his mother’s travails during the period of pregnancy to his birth.