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Ariana Greenblatt
I come home after a long day at school, exhausted but but like I still wanna get some homework done. As I settle into my room,
focusing on my assignments, Manni walks in. He's holding a toy truck, his eyes bright with curiosity and a hint of sadness.
"Hey, Manni. U good?" I ask, glancing up from my stack of books i just layed across my desk.
"Where's DD? I miss him," Emmanuel says, his voice small. A pang hits my chest. I know how close Emmanuel and DD were, dd is rlly like the big brother tht manni never had
I don't really know what to tell him. I pause, then pull out my phone. "Do you want to talk to him?" I ask,
already looking through my contacts for DD's number. I never ended up blocking him... Emmanuel nods eagerly, climbing onto my bed as he waits.
The phone rings a few times before DD picks up. "Yo," he says and when he does I feel my heart jump a little.
Before I can say something back, Manni rushes off the bed and grabs the phone. Oh well. I sit back, watching as Emmanuel's face lights up.
"DD!" He shouts. "I miss you."
"I miss you too, buddy," DD replies warmly. "How have you been?"
As Emmanuel yaps excitedly about his day, I listen quietly, forgetting about my all my assignments and stuff.
The sound of DD's voice, gentle and caring as he talks to Emmanuel, makes my heart ache. I forgot just how sweet he could be,
especially with Manni. I watch as Emmanuel's eyes sparkle with literal joy, feeling a bittersweet craving for the times when everything was easier.
After a while of them just talking non stop and laughing their heads off, DD's tone shifts, making me come out of my thoughts. "Manni, where's Ari?" Oh.
Emmanuel glances at me, gets up, and hands me the phone. "Here, it's for you."
"Bye, I love you, mh," DD says to Emmanuel.
"I love you too, DD!" Emmanuel replies, his voice full of genuine affection as he runs out of my room, singing something about that skibidi toilet stuff.
I take the phone, my heart pounding. "Hey?" I say softly.
"Yo," DD repeats, his voice casual but I can tell there's more he wants to say
