What if? | Frank x Brenda

Chapter 08

As the days passed, Brenda found herself more conflicted than ever. Teresa's sudden reappearance and heartfelt plea had thrown her into a whirlwind of emotions. The memories of their past together kept resurfacing, making it hard to focus on anything else. Frank had been supportive, giving her the space she needed, but she could sense his own feelings hanging in the balance.

One evening, as Brenda sat on her porch, reflecting on everything that had happened, she heard a faint humming sound in the distance. Looking up, she saw a fleet of small drones approaching, their lights blinking in the twilight. The drones hovered above her house for a moment before descending, gently depositing a package at her feet.

Curious, Brenda picked up the package and opened it, finding a small note inside. It was from Teresa, written in her familiar, precise handwriting:

"Brenda, I know I've put you in a difficult position, and I'm truly sorry for that. I wanted to apologize in a way that reflects how much you mean to me. Please, look up at the sky tonight. I hope you'll find it in your heart to forgive me. Love, Teresa."

Brenda's heart raced as she read the note. She hesitated for a moment, then followed Teresa's instruction and looked up at the sky. As the sun began to set, the first of the drones started to move, flying in perfect formation. Slowly, they began inscribing words across the darkening sky, their lights shining brightly against the growing night.

"I'm sorry, Brenda. I miss you. Please forgive me."

Brenda watched in awe as the message unfolded, her emotions stirring with every word. It was a grand gesture, one that Teresa had clearly put a lot of thought and effort into. The sky continued to light up with more messages, recounting moments from their past, their shared dreams, and the love they once had.

As she stood there, mesmerized, she felt a hand gently rest on her shoulder. She turned to see Frank, who had come to check on her. His expression was soft, understanding, as he followed her gaze to the sky.

"She really does care about you, Brenda," Frank said quietly, his voice filled with sincerity. "And, as much as I'd like to see where things could go with us... I think you owe it to yourself to see if this can be mended. Teresa made some mistakes, but if you still have feelings for her, maybe it's worth giving her another chance."

Brenda looked at Frank, her eyes filled with gratitude. "You really think so?"

Frank nodded, offering her a small, encouraging smile. "I do. And whatever happens, I'll always be here for you, Brenda. You deserve to be happy."

Moved by his words, Brenda felt a wave of clarity wash over her. She realized that she did still have feelings for Teresa, feelings she hadn't fully acknowledged until now. With Frank's support, she knew what she had to do.

The next morning, Brenda contacted Teresa and agreed to meet her. They spent hours talking, addressing their past mistakes and discussing how they could move forward together. Teresa's apology had been sincere, and she was determined to prove that she had changed for the better.

A few days later, Teresa arranged another grand gesture. This time, she used her drones to write Brenda's graduation speech across the sky, honoring the accomplishment that had marked such an important chapter in Brenda's life. As the words illuminated the night, Brenda felt a renewed sense of hope.

With Frank's blessing and encouragement, Brenda decided to reconcile with Teresa. She knew it wouldn't be easy, but with both of them committed to making it work, she was ready to take that leap of faith. As they embraced under the shimmering sky, Brenda felt a sense of peace she hadn't experienced in a long time, knowing that she was exactly where she was meant to be.

After Brenda left to meet Teresa, Frank remained at the spot where they had last talked, staring at the sky as the drones spelled out her graduation speech. The words seemed to mock him, a reminder of what he could never quite have with Brenda. He felt a knot tightening in his chest, a mix of regret, frustration, and helplessness. 

He replayed their conversation in his mind, kicking himself for being the "good guy" who had encouraged her to give Teresa another chance. He thought about all the years they'd been apart, the missed opportunities, and how close they had come to reconnecting, only for him to push her back toward Teresa.

"Damn it, Frank!" he growled to himself, pacing back and forth. "Why couldn't you just... say something, do something?"

His thoughts spiraled, each one adding weight to the growing burden on his heart. He had always prided himself on doing the right thing, but now it felt like the right thing had cost him what he really wanted. It felt like a sick joke, a cruel twist of fate that he had orchestrated himself.

Without thinking, Frank suddenly raised his hand and slapped himself hard across the face. The sting was sharp, and the sound echoed in the quiet night. But it did little to alleviate the anger and disappointment coursing through him. If anything, it only deepened his frustration.

"Stupid, stupid, stupid..." Frank muttered, rubbing his cheek where it throbbed. "What the fuck were you thinking? You had a chance, and you blew it... again."

He let out a long, shaky breath, trying to steady himself. But the pain in his chest was harder to shake. He knew deep down that he had done the right thing by encouraging Brenda to reconcile with Teresa, but that didn't make it any easier to accept that she wasn't with him.

Frank stood there for a few more minutes, feeling the cool night air against his face, trying to collect himself. The slap had left a red mark on his cheek, a physical manifestation of the turmoil inside him. He knew he needed to move on, to let Brenda make her own choices and be happy. But it was a bitter pill to swallow.

Finally, with a heavy sigh, Frank turned and began walking away from the spot where they had talked. He didn't know where he was going or what he would do next, but he knew one thing for sure—he couldn't keep letting these moments slip through his fingers. Something had to change, and maybe, just maybe, he needed to start with himself.