ᴇᴄʜᴏᴇꜱ ᴏꜰ ᴜꜱ

Chapter 16: Unbreakable Bonds

Nya's POV

I was on my way to pick up Izuko when my phone buzzed with a message from Avy. Izu is having a rough time. Can you come over?

Great. Just what I needed today. I couldn't stand seeing Izuko upset, especially for a few days in a row. I knew how much she cared about Sarah, and it was infuriating that their friendship was hanging by a thread. As I pulled into the driveway, I tried to shake off the worries swirling in my mind.

"Hey, Izuko!" I called, entering her house. I was immediately hit by the heavy atmosphere. It felt like I was stepping into a drama scene straight out of a K-drama—lots of tension and too many unresolved feelings.

Avy was already there, sitting on the couch with Izuko. I could tell my best friend had been crying; her eyes were red, and her usually bright smile was nowhere to be found. My heart sank, but I couldn't let her see how much it affected me.

"Okay, ladies, what's the plan? Are we crying over ice cream, or is there some epic slumber party action happening here?" I said, throwing my bag down with a dramatic flair to lighten the mood.

Izuko managed a small laugh, but it didn't reach her eyes. "Just trying to figure things out with Sarah."

"Ugh, that girl. Seriously, what's her problem?" I rolled my eyes. "You can't just ghost your friend and expect everything to be fine. It's like she thinks you're supposed to wait around for her like some kind of backup plan!"

Izuko bit her lip, and I knew I had to tone it down. "Sorry, I just—"

"No, it's okay," she interrupted softly. "I get it. I just feel like everything is falling apart, and I don't know how to fix it."

"Listen, Izuko," I said, leaning closer. "You are not responsible for fixing everything. Sarah needs to realize that too. You're amazing just as you are, and if she can't see that, it's her loss."

"I just miss her," Izuko admitted, looking down at her hands.

I sighed, feeling that familiar frustration bubbling up inside me. "Okay, but you can't just sit around and hope she comes back. You have to take charge, make a move! You're not just going to sit back and let her walk all over you, right?"

Izuko shook her head, a flicker of determination crossing her face. "You're right. I should reach out to her."

"Damn right! You can't let her think she can just pull this stunt without consequences. I mean, what is she even doing? Playing hard to get? That only works in rom-coms, not real life!"

Avy chimed in, "Exactly! It's time to put on your battle armor and go after what you want."

Izuko hesitated, then nodded slowly. "I just need to figure out what to say."

"Let's brainstorm," I suggested. "You need a killer speech—something that'll make her realize she can't live without you! Because, honestly, who wouldn't want you in their life?"

Izuko laughed, a genuine smile breaking through her earlier gloom. "You really think so?"

"Of course! You're like a ray of sunshine mixed with a sassy hurricane. No one can resist that! Plus, We've got your back, and we'll work on this together," I said, feeling more confident as I talked.

As we gathered around the coffee table, I could see Izuko's mood gradually lifting. It was like watching a flower bloom after a long winter. The three of us brainstormed ideas and phrases she could use to reach out to Sarah. Each suggestion made Izuko's smile grow a little wider.

"This is good," she said, her confidence building. "I can do this. I just have to be honest about how I feel."

"That's the spirit!" I cheered, pumping my fist in the air. "Now, let's practice this speech until you're ready to take on the world!"

With each passing moment, I could feel our bond growing stronger. Izuko might have been going through a tough time, but I was determined to be her rock. Friendship wasn't always easy, but it was worth fighting for.

As the night went on, I felt proud of my best friend. She was ready to face whatever came next, and I would be right there beside her, no matter what. After all, that's what best friends do—they lift each other up and fight together, no matter the odds.

Istfg this is exactly how l feel with mah bestie, l'll always be there for her <33, no matter what typhoons come in our way (and by typhoons l mean some biatches in our class)