Obsession with Her

Chapter 2 - Fractured Bonds

The weight of Secrets.

Amy's struggles with her sexuality, which she hides from her best friend since she knows it could make, but most likely break their ever growing bond of a friendship, as the weeks turned into months, Amy began to feel a growing sense of confusion and fear. She couldn't shake her feelings for Zariana, and the more she tried to understand herself, the more tangled her emotions became. Amy decided that the best way to handle this was to hide her true feelings from Zariana. She couldn't risk their friendship or the delicate balance they had established.

Times and times before when Amy would go to bed seeing her best friend sleeping peacefully across the room, she kept replaying that night when they were in high school, Zari was sleeping over her house, that one special conversation that they shared.

"Do you ever feel like we are more than friends. . . more than. . . friends?" Amy suffered every time she would wake up and see her best friend get up in the morning or even just getting ready to go to bed. She is deeply suffering with her emotions, her feelings, towards her best friend. And to think, it would be sunshine and rainbows, living with your best friend since high school, going to the same college, living in the same dorm. Who ever thought it would turn out to be such a . . . such a nightmare.

At first, the secrecy seemed manageable. Amy convinced herself that she could keep her feelings in check, but as time passed, the burden became heavier. Her emotions churned inside her, creating a storm she could no longer control. In her attempts to mask her true feelings, Amy's behavior towards Zariana began to change.

It started with small things. Amy would snap at Zariana over trivial matters or make sarcastic comments that left Zariana feeling hurt and confused. The warm, supportive atmosphere they had always shared was slowly being replaced by tension and misunderstandings.

One evening, as they studied together in their dorm room, Zariana noticed Amy's frustration.

"Do you need help with that?" Zariana asked gently, seeing Amy struggling with her art project.

"I don't need your help, Zari," Amy snapped, her tone harsh and uncharacteristic.

Zariana flinched at the sharpness of Amy's words. "I was just trying to help..."

"Well, don't. I can handle it," Amy retorted, not even looking up from her sketchbook.

Zariana felt a lump form in her throat. Amy's sudden irritability left her feeling unsettled. She missed the days when they could laugh and talk freely without any underlying tension.The room felt colder, the air thicker, and the distance between them more palpable.

As the evening wore on, Zariana tried to focus on her own work, but she couldn't shake the feeling of unease. She kept glancing over at Amy, who was now furiously erasing something on her paper. It hurt to see her best friend in such distress and to be the target of her frustration.

The next morning, Zariana woke up with a sense of dread. The tension from the previous night lingered in the air, heavy and oppressive. She got ready for class in silence, hoping that a new day would bring some relief, but as she glanced at Amy, who was sitting at her desk with a furrowed brow and dark circles under her eyes, she knew that hope was in vain.

The weeks that followed were marked by more frequent outbursts and manipulative behavior from Amy. She began to isolate herself further, spending less time with Zariana and more time alone. Zariana's attempts to bridge the gap were often met with cold indifference or outright hostility.

One Saturday, hoping to rekindle their old bond, Zariana suggested they watch one of their favorite K-dramas together. They used to have marathon sessions that lasted well into the night, sharing snacks and commentary.