Best-Friend Fight

Vivian’s POV

I sat cuddled up on the couch like a lonely kitten. Aside the fight Belinda and I had when I turned my back on all of them and married Syrus, we hadn’t fought. 

Then, I hadn’t felt the impact of the fight, because things between Syrus and I were still very good, and I had him around me almost all the time, so there was barely time to dwell on the fact that my best friend and I were not on speaking terms.

But now, the weight of it was gradually killing me.

Ever since I divorced Syrus and came back home, Belinda had been by my side the entire time. Even when I felt she was doing too much, she remained consistent in her care and love. Belinda helped me find the job at my workplace, and she always stopped by to either check up on me, or drag me out for lunch.

Gosh, it was only twenty-four hours and I already miss her this deeply.

“Are you going to just sit here and sulk all day or actually go and talk things out with her,” Manny said as he sat close to me. He pulled me closer to himself and wrapped himself around me.

I shamelessly allowed myself to soak in the embrace, because now I suddenly feel warm and better.

“You were really starving before I came along,” Manny teased.

I jokingly hit him in his stomach and he yelped. 

“Ouch!” 

We both laughed. It felt better to be able to laugh now, because since Belinda stormed out of our house, I haven’t even managed a tight smile. I also know that Manny and my dad noticed that I picked on my dinner, but they did not say a word to me. They have been giving me more than enough space since I returned home, barely interfering in my business, and I understand that it must have something to do with the fact that before I left home to be with Syrus, they did everything to control my life and make decisions for me.

“But I didn’t lie, did I? You almost entered into my flesh a second ago,” Manny teased.

His words made me think of Syrus, but I instantly pushed the thought of him out of my head. I was more than determined now more than ever to not think about him at all.

“It’s just a little chilly today,” I said instead.

“But I am sure it is nothing compared to how you are feeling regarding your little rift with Belinda,” Manny said.

“Why didn’t you or dad say anything?” I asked him. Even though I understood that they were trying to respect boundaries with me now, it still did not feel right that they were skeptical about speaking about things that bothered me.

“We wanted you to figure things out on your own like you always did,” Manny said and dragged the tip of my nose playfully, “But clearly, you are doing a terrible job at it. The whole thing is obviously messing you up.”

“So it is safe to say that my family is walking on eggshells around me? That is not cool, Manny,” I said and meant every word of it.

“We just want the best for you, alright?” Manny said gently.

“But what happened between Belinda and I was not a ‘little’ rift. I am worried that I might have overreacted or said things out of line. She basically stormed out of here yesterday, and she hasn’t spoken to me since then,” I said, pouting like a spoilt little child, but Manny understood that the pain I was feeling deep inside was more than I was willing to let on.

“And I am guessing that it has something to do with Syrus?” Manny asked cautiously.

“Yes,” I said. “She went behind me to file for damages and Syrus walked in here angrily. I did not feel good about it. I just thought that Belinda understood that I did not really want anything from Syrus and his family, especially after what they had put me through,” I vented.

“I should have been here to put him in his place,” Manny’s jaw tightened in anger.

I chuckled lightly, because it made me remember Belinda’s words. 

“I am more worried about Belinda than Syrus right now,” I said in an attempt to steer the conversation away from Syrus. Talking about him just made me feel sick to my stomach.

Manny’s jaw loosened a bit. “I understand that you are angry with her and I am not going to judge you for how you reacted, or the things you might have said to her, but we all need you to be happy, so you need to fix whatever is going on between the both of you before it gets deeper than this,” Manny said.

“You think she will listen to me?” I asked him. It was the same question I had been asking myself since yesterday after the fight, which was why I was yet to call or text her.

“You won’t know until you try, right? Besides, Belinda is not hard-hearted,” Manny said, kissed me on my forehead and got up. “In as much as I would have liked to stay and cuddle you, I have to run,” he said and left.

After he left, I dragged myself out of the couch into my bedroom, changed my clothes, and in less than fifteen minutes, I was on my way to Belinda’s apartment.

I arrived at her apartment with a double-minded feeling, but I was here now, and there was no turning back. More than ever before, I wanted my best friend back, so I rang the door bell and waited for Belinda to answer it. As I waited, my heart pounded against my chest, making me feel uneasy. 

Belinda eventually opened the door and when she saw that it was me, she glared at me.

“Belinda…” I started to apologize but to my greatest shock, Belinda slammed the door in my face.