Find your faith

Chapter 125: Ethan's true feelings

Ethan's POV
As a late birthday present, Crystal offered to go out with her to study for A Math once her biology exam finished and then we'd have a snack. I agreed because she was my friend, and because I knew it would be a good time to talk to her about how I actually wanted to unfriend her sister. There was so much she didn't know behind that long message I sent to her that night...I decided to tell her everything after 2 and a half hours of locking in for A Math; outside the national library.
Flashback
Crystal and I were still talking to each other during recess, before NDP rehearsals or we'd still text each other when we had the time—as if Crystal got her first choice of secondary school. However, in the middle of our second year, I made the worst decision in my life.
Chat: Ethan, Nicole, Simon, Chloe :)
Chloe: Oh why tf were you talking to Crystal before NDP rehearsals?

Ethan: Why can't I? 🥺

Chloe: Because we're classmates, and you're not classmates with her.

Nicole: Come on, they're not in the same class as they were in primary school. Please, be a little bit sensible and let them be.

Chloe: voice recording
The voice recording: Let them be? Hmph, WTF is that?! Ethan has always been partnering me for everything since day 1! I should be his one and only partner for everything—recess, beep test and group work...Ethan, you better not talk to her and her friends during the combined rehearsals or else...! You. Stay. With. Me. You don't tell anyone about this, not even Crystal or you're regretting it.
Present day
Crystal: gives Ethan a shocked face as she takes out his earphones She actually said all that?!

Ethan: sighs, takes back his phone and earbuds from Crystal Yes, she was threatening me to stay with her, and I could only obey. I really wanted to tell you, but I couldn't. I'm sorry for not explaining the full story to you.

Crystal: Thanks for telling me. Yes, you better unfriend her. I have no idea what's she going to do to harm you. It sounds like you were really scared back then.

Ethan: Really. I didn't know what she was going to do with me back then, and I still don't. You know she can still act like this during geography, like I don't have a life. It's like I owe her my life.

Crystal: You don't, you deserve your own life and I'd very much rather be with Ethan.

Ethan: You're with me right now.

Crystal: Not as "Chloe's friend!" As yourself. And the comparisons are already waning, what's there to worry about?

Ethan: Well, there was an incident in Secondary 1 where Chloe got cyber bullied on a Roblox game. It was an Obby I remember, and she was struggling to get to the next stage. The three bullies were using the chat to report her, so I reported them to the authorities of Roblox and our form teacher, who ordered the class chat to be closed. She became super clingy towards me after that. But now that I talked to you, I know for sure, I can let her go. Because, I see a forever with you, not her.*

Crystal: Like friends forever?

Ethan: Yeah. When I became distant from you, you were only following me for a while to ask what's going on. When I told you to stay away, you respected my space. That's why...we can become we. (We become We reference).

Crystal: Come on, I just wanted to make sure you're fine. That's all I wanted to know back then, and when I got my answer, I knew I could just focus on all my other friends.

Ethan: And that's my favourite part about you. Your strong identity and your independence. Not because you can travel by yourself or you started taking public transport yourself much earlier than Chloe, but also how you didn't need me to feel complete.

Crystal: Look, I'm in 3 friend groups. Joy, compass and NDP. And I've got some not so close friends too. I don't have time to cling to you!

Ethan: BAHAHA! The way you phrase the words; I love that
*For clarification: Ethan means this as a friend