Bubble Tea

ink stained apologies

Song for the chapter: When I was your man by Bruno Mars

Narrator's POV:

Andres was living a blissful life with Audrey. Ever since they had started dating, everything seemed to fall into place. He had a tight-knit group of friends, and Audrey by his side made everything even better. Life was good, and he was content.

One sunny afternoon, as Andres was lounging in the living room, his mom called out to him from the front door. "Andres, there's a letter for you!"

Andres furrowed his brow. A letter? In this day and age? Who even sends letters anymore? Curiosity piqued, he got up and walked over to his mom, taking the envelope from her hand. As he looked at the sender's name, his heart skipped a beat. Nicoli.

It had been six months since he last heard anything about Nikolai. The guy had vanished without a trace, leaving everyone to wonder where he had gone. Andres hadn't heard from him, and he didn't know anyone who had. Seeing Nicoli's name on the envelope brought a mix of emotions: confusion, curiosity, and a hint of apprehension.

He hesitated for a moment before deciding to open the letter. He wanted to know what Nicoli had to say after all this time. He took a deep breath and began to read.

"Hi Andres,

I hope this letter finds you well. It's been a while since we last spoke, and I can only imagine the kind of life you're living now. I bet you're happy with Audrey and the rest of the gang.

First and foremost, I want to apologize. I deeply regret the way I treated you and the things I did. You always tried to pull me out of the darkness, but I was too consumed by my own issues to see your efforts for what they were. You were my best friend, and I failed to appreciate that. Instead, I pushed you away, bullied you, and made you feel like an outcast. There was no justification for my actions, only my own inner demons.

I want you to know that I'm working on becoming a better person. I've been in therapy and have taken significant steps to improve myself. After being homeschooled for the past semester, I'm now preparing to leave for London to continue my high school education. My relationship with my parents has also improved significantly, thanks in part to the courage your words instilled in me.

I am genuinely sorry for the pain I caused you. I hope you find all the love and happiness you deserve in life. While I understand if you never want to reconcile or be friends again, I want you to know that you will always be my best friend in my heart.

When I return from London, I hope we can have a face-to-face conversation. Even if we can't rebuild our friendship, I hope you won't ignore me if we cross paths. You deserve all the happiness in the world, and I wish the best for you and your family.

Thank you for being there for me, even when I didn't deserve it.

Best regards,
Nicoli"

Andres finished reading the letter, feeling a whirlwind of emotions. The apology felt genuine, and he could sense the regret in Nicoli's words. It wasn't easy to forget the past, but maybe, just maybe, it was a step towards healing old wounds.

He folded the letter carefully and placed it back in the envelope. For the first time in months, he thought about the possibility of forgiving Nicoli and the potential of reconciling with his old friend. It wouldn't be easy, but perhaps it was worth considering.

-----

Jeremiah was sitting in his room, scrolling through his phone when his house help knocked and entered. "Sir, you have a letter."

Jeremiah looked up, surprised. "A letter? Who sends letters these days?" He took the envelope, opened it, and saw it was from Nicoli He hesitated for a moment before unfolding the paper and reading.