Friends

Chapter 48

Marcqwuan's POV:

I don't know why my palms are sweating.

It's not like I haven't seen Maria before. Hell, I've seen her more times than I can count. But this time... this time's different.

Because this isn't just a conversation.

I've never thought I'd end things with her. But it's the right thing to do.

Jasmine is everything I wanted Maria to be—and so much more.

To be honest, Jaylin has been scolding me nonstop since I've been on the phone with him. "This is the worst idea you've ever had. And that's saying a lot." I let him talk. Mostly because I know he's right. But also because I need to hear someone say all the things I'm already thinking. "You should be with Jasmine right now. You just had one of the most emotionally raw nights of your life, and instead of holding your girl, you're pulling up on your ex like this is a 2015 R&B music video."

The elevator opens to her apartment floor, I start walking down the hallway, which feels never ending.

"I'm not going to see her," I say. "I'm going to end it. Clean. Like I should've done a long time ago."

Jaylin sighs. "You think you're going for closure. But she's not built for closure, Marc. She's built for keeping doors open."

I grit my teeth, trying not to let his words crawl under my skin. "This isn't about her," I say. "This is about Jasmine."

"Exactly," Jaylin shoots back. "Which is why you shouldn't be anywhere near that girl."

"No, listen—Jasmine saw the way Maria looked at me. The way she touched me. The way she acted like she still had a claim on me. And I didn't do enough in the moment. I should've shut it down harder. I should've introduced Jasmine, made it clear who I came in with, who I was going home with. But I didn't. And now, she's in her head about it."

"So text Maria. Block her. Move on. Don't hand-deliver the message like you owe her something."

"I do owe her something," I say, quieter now. "Not love. Not space in my life. But honesty. Clarity."

I pause, watching a couple walk out of the coffee shop holding hands.

"Maria was my first love, Jaylin. For five years, we planned a life together. Talked about forever like it was guaranteed. And even though I'm choosing Jasmine—every day I will choose Jasmine—Maria still deserves the truth. A clean ending. Not just silence and distance."

"You think she's gonna let you walk out clean?"

"I don't know," I admit. "But I need to say it. For her. For Jasmine. For me."

"You better say it with your chest, then," he mutters. "Because if you leave anything open-ended, she's gonna take it and run."

"She won't have to," I say. "After today, there won't be anything left to question."

"Why are you showing up to her place unannounced?" he asks.

"Because, if I plan something, it's going to give her time to come up with a million scenarios in her head of everything I can say. I just want to go in, say my peace and leave it at that."

Then Jaylin says, "Alright, man. Just remember—don't let nostalgia trick you into feeling responsible for someone who doesn't hold your heart anymore."

I nod even though he can't see it. "I got this." I hang up on Jaylin.

Time to end it—for real this time.