Friends

Chapter 17

Jasmine's POV:

"It's nice to meet you finally, Jasmine," my therapist says warmly, extending her hand toward me. "I'm Kahina."

"Thank you, it's nice meeting you too, Kahina," I say with a smile, doing my best to mask any awkwardness. From the very first moments, she feels like my opposite—her steady eye contact, the effortless sincerity in her smile. Nothing about her seems fake.

The room itself radiates a quiet warmth, its ambiance both calming and inviting. Soft, golden light casts a gentle glow over beige walls, deepening their natural tone into something richer, almost honey-like. A sleek black desk anchors one corner, its sharp lines softened by the vibrant green of a nearby potted plant. The furniture completes the room's grounding palette: The couch is a soft, reddish-brown color, like clay, and the chair is a peaceful deep green, like leaves. A simple black coffee table rests between them, tying everything together.

"This is our first session. Nothing groundbreaking is gonna happen today," Kahina says, her smile fading into a calm, serious expression. Her tone shifts, steady and deliberate, signaling that I now have her full and undivided attention. She leans down and pulls a notepad and pen from under her chair, a movement so seamless I didn't even notice the items were there.

"Let's start with why you decided to come to therapy," she says, composed and ready.

"Oh, wow, just diving right in, huh?" I reply, caught slightly off guard.

"Well," she says, her lips curving into a faint smile, "you are paying me by the hour."

"Good point," I mumble, stalling for a moment. "Umm... I'm in love with my ex, Kendrick," I finally admit, feeling heat rush to my cheeks as embarrassment sets in.

"Mhm," she hums, encouraging me to continue.

"And he doesn't love me the way I love him," I say, the words tumbling out in a rush. "There's this... cycle. He comes in and out of my life whenever it suits him. He won't let me go, but he won't love me back either. And now I've met this guy—my roommate, Marcqwuan—who honestly doesn't even feel real. He's like something out of one of my books, just... perfect." I pause, biting my lip. "But the thing is, I know if Kendrick saw me happy or even trying to move on, he'd come right back and try to ruin it."

Kahina tilts her head slightly, her pen hovering over the notepad. "That's not how that works," she says firmly.

"What do you mean?" I ask, furrowing my brow.

"Attraction is a two-way street," Kahina says, her voice calm yet pointed. "It takes two to tango. The only way he could come back into your life is if you allowed him back."

"I've tried not to let him come back, but it doesn't work," I counter, frustration lacing my tone.

"So, every guy who wants to be in your life—do you let them in?" she asks, raising an eyebrow.

"No, of course not. I didn't say that. Just him."

"Exactly," she says, leaning back slightly. "You have control over who you allow into your life. As you just admitted, it's not every man—just him. Regardless, it's a choice, and you've chosen to allow it."

"I guess," I mutter, my cheeks flushing with embarrassment.

"So," she continues, her pen poised over her notepad, "you want to move on from your ex—for this guy?"

"For me too," I add quickly, my voice softening.

"Mhm," she hums, a flicker of doubt crossing her face as she writes something down. "You mentioned that he doesn't love you the way you love him. How do you love him, compared to how he loves you?"