Enchanted

Chapter 3

Nicolette

Last Friday of the summer. Sabrina texted me early this morning and told me she will be over in a bit.

We have not seen each other since that awkward conversation of ours that ended two Tuesdays ago. Just a few days ago we chatted about the school's orientation day which happened last Saturday.

I went to school to help set up a booth for the chess club. There was a whole stretch of tables arranged near the cafeteria and posters hung around the school. Every club and organisation tried to catch the attention of those freshmen by passing out mini gifts to bribe them.

Promoting and reaching out to strangers is not my strength and I swore I could feel the narrowed eyes of other members who stood beside me. The hours passed by and I grabbed my lunchbox and fled the school compound after cleaning up the mess.

I wanted to ask Sabrina about her date with Brent but I guessed I chickened out.

I never talked to Brent before since he's one year younger than me. Nevertheless, he was a decent dodgeball player in the school team and I must admit he got quite some attention in school for his good physical looks.

Sabrina had always praised him for being a great Geography project partner and had helped her to score better grades in the subject.

Since Sabrina is coming over for an unclear reason, I should take the opportunity to ask her more about this guy.

Ding dong.

I hopped out of the couch and grabbed the front door immediately.

The sunlight crept into the house when I flung the door open. Sabrina threw her arms around me and placed her chin on my shoulder.

I took in a sharp breath and held it because I was too shocked.

Sabrina would have texted something like 'Emergency!' or 'Code red!' but no. She just appeared like how she would on a daily basis but in a messy way.

I tried to exhale slowly as my brain processed the current situation.

I gently caressed her soft black hair with one hand and said, "Hey, Sab. Why don't you take a seat on the couch first? I'll go get you something."

She let go of me and obeyed my instruction. I shut the door before walking at a fast pace to the kitchen. I grabbed Sabrina's favourite Snoopy mug and poured in Coke Zero. Somehow, I always have doughnuts in my fridge because my family loves them. I took a vanilla almond doughnut from the assorted doughnut box of 4 and put it on a plate.

I served Sabrina a weird snack for breakfast combination because I suspected she came here empty stomach. I then quickly grabbed a box of tissues from the dining area and sat beside her.

"What's wrong, Sab?" I looked into those bloodshot teary eyes of hers while carefully wiping those teardrops hanging on her red cheeks.

I had my answers in mind but I didn't want to sound too straightforward and offend her.

"Brent broke up with me because he said...," Sabrina tried to form a cohesive sentence while gasping frequently for air.

"He said both of us don't give off the same energy and... and I'm way too insensitive with his humour." Sabrina continued with a high-pitched tone.

Bingo. It's about the boy. Brent Kotsky.

Sabrina Chen is not a crybaby. She always makes logical thinking and hides her sadness deep down in her heart so she can be happy around others. However, there are a few things that could wreck her thoroughly- injured kittens, breakups and death.

"Don't listen to him, Sab. He doesn't know you as I do. You are a sweet, passionate and sometimes nerdy person." I defended.

Sabrina returned me with a bitter smile which made my heart ache.

I didn't know how to help Sabrina. All I could do was comfort her verbally but looking at her in agony emotionally is like having invisible sharp thorns pricking at my skin.

"Nicolette."

"Yeah?" I forced a smile.

"I'm sorry for not telling you that I dated Brent Kotsky around May."

"No, you don't have to be. I respect your privacy and I'm not mad. At all." I saluted Sabrina which made her chuckle a little.

"It's just... I wanted our relationship to grow before I share it with others. I've always thought he was a keeper because he was witty, sporty and good-looking."

"In fact, he still is," she added.

"He's an asshole. He just dumped the girl of everybody's dreams. I promise you'll find a better man than him."

"No, no, Colette. He's not an asshole. He broke up with me in a really formal way and even wrote me a letter of apology." Sabrina suddenly stood up for Brent.

"Really, Sab?" I raised my brow. "You just balled your eyes out a couple of minutes ago because he thinks you're cold-hearted," question marks popped out of my head as I searched her face for answers.

"Well, the thing is, I still need him for my Geography coursework so that I can enter a decent college." Sabrina turned to me and made an awkward smile.

"I see, friends with benefits?"

"Yeah, with benefits."

I suggested that we watch a rom-com to lighten her heart but Sabrina refused. Instead, she chose violence and action so we spent the rest of the day watching all the John Wick movies and ordered pizza delivery.