I Hate You, I Love You | Challengers

Chapter Thirty-Three Could this work?

Patrick and Art had kept their distance, obeying Sabrinas plead to let her have space and think about this.

While Sabrina had tried to move on, the lingering feelings for both Art and Patrick remained. She had thrown herself into her work at the café, turning it into a haven for the local community. The warm aroma of freshly baked pastries and the gentle hum of laughter and conversation filled the space. It was her sanctuary, a place where she could be herself without the shadow of their love triangle looming over her. 

 As Sabrina is about to close the Cafe, she gets a surprised visitor who sits down her eyes scanned the room before landing on Sabrina, who was busy behind the counter. "Sabrina?" she called out, a hint of disbelief in her voice. Sabrina looked up, her heart skipping a beat. Tashi's unexpected visit brought a rush of memories flooding back—memories. 

She quickly wiped her hands on her apron and rushed over to give her friend a tight hug. "Tashi! What are you doing here?"

Tashi grinned, her eyes sparkling with mischief. "I heard about the drama with Art and Patrick," she said, taking a seat at the counter. "I had to come see if it was all true."

Sabrina rolled her eyes, trying to downplay the situation. "We're all just trying to be adults and move on."

Tashi leaned in, her curiosity piqued. "But who did you choose?"

Sabrina sighed, pouring them both a cup of coffee. "I didn't choose either of them," she admitted, her voice low. "I couldn't. It's just too complicated."

Tashi nodded, sipping her coffee thoughtfully. "Well, I have an idea," she said, a sly smile playing on her lips. "Chose neither, we use to be good together then i went and fucked that by involving two boys. We don't need them"

"Tashi, I love you I do, but I'm not..." Sabrina pauses

"In love with me?" Tashi said "it was never Patrick or Art, with me, it was always you"

"I'm sorry, Tashi"

"Can we start fresh, be friends?" Tashi asked with hope in her eyes

Sabrina's heart tightened at the words. She had always valued her friendship with Tashi, and the idea of losing that was more painful than the love triangle she had been caught in. "Of course," she said, her voice genuine. "Friendship is something I can handle right now."

The two women sat in companionable silence for a moment, the comfort of old friends rekindling between them. Then Tashi leaned back in her chair, her gaze thoughtful. "You know, Sabrina, I've been watching you from afar, and I see how much you've grown. You're so strong, running this place all by yourself. Your right, you not tennis anymore! This is who your meant to be. You don't need either of them to be happy."

Sabrina nodded, taking a sip of her coffee. "I know that" she said, a hint of sadness in her voice. "But it's hard to ignore the past, especially when it's right in front of me every day." 

Tashi reached out and squeezed her hand. "You deserve happiness, no matter who it's with. And if it's not with them, then maybe it's with someone else, or maybe it's just with you and your little girl. But don't let them define you. You're more than just a prize to be won."

The conversation lingered in the air as Tashi left the café, and Sabrina found herself pondering her words. She had been so focused on the love she couldn't have that she had forgotten to appreciate the love she already had—her daughter and the joy she found in her work. As she watched Tashi walk down the street, she realized that maybe, just maybe, she had been looking for love in the wrong places all along. But Gabriella spoke and had her thought of that vanish very quickly... Gabriella leaning against the wall in the kitchen, walking in "I have to agree with the stupid puta... But I also have to disagree, those boys are your world Sabrina, maybe it's time to chose"