Kyla Makes Amends

On a particularly dreary Monday morning, I was sitting uneasily on the bench with no friend to talk to. For the first time since day one of first grade, I felt like an outsider and a novice.

Normally, my mornings start by hanging out and greeting Michelle and Ella. For most of my childhood and adolescent life, they were together with me, always making things comfortable and secure at every turn.

But without those two, I looked nothing more than a loner desperately trying to fit in. And as I stared grimly towards the dull clouds and tears fell incessantly from my eyes, hope inevitably gave way to pessimism.

The thought of getting teased, mocked, and despised by other people once again reared its hideous head. I would never forget how Jenny made life miserable by pouring whatever stuff she had in her bag.

In one egregious instance, Jenny poured bottles of poster paint on my face during art class. Upon reflecting on that miserable moment, I slumped down the table and cried inconsolably.

Minutes passed before somebody gently stroked my back. As I looked up with tears in my eyes, a familiar face stood out sobbing in front of me.

It was Kyla, Michelle's teammate and co-captain.

"What are you doing here?" I tearfully asked her. "Weren't you supposed to be with a backstabber like Michelle?"

"Christine, I didn't come here to argue and start a fight," Kyla opened. "We must straighten things out eye to eye."

Kyla promptly sat down and started talking. As I looked keenly at her gloomy face, it became clear she was just as inconsolable as me.

"Christine, honestly I still care about you 100%," Kyla began explaining. "When we were at the mall with Michelle and both of you argued over Jenny, my heart became extremely devastated."

Kyla paused and sobbed anew. Even my eyes could not bear watching her writhe in agony.

"You and Michelle are the only people in the world who undoubtedly made my life meaningful," Kyla resumed. "It's tough to see both of you fight, and things just got worse when Michelle pulled the plug on your friendship."

I gently wiped my face free of tears, only to feel it flow anew. Watching Kyla talk like a distraught girl who was left alone by her boyfriend made me feel devastated and downtrodden.

"Christine, I was discouraged and dejected at the slightest," Kyla continued. "Even as Michelle forcibly pulled me away, I still looked intently at you. To be honest, there was no pent-up hatred inside my heart at all. Michelle only forced to make me think like that."

"So Kyla, do you still love and care for me after all?" I humbly asked her as she wiped some tears from her face.

"Definitely Christine," Kyla responded favorably without hesitation. "Why would I believe in Michelle at all? She just fooled you into thinking no one would ever come to your aid."

"But Kyla, even if you were willing to make amends, there is still one problem," I revealed. "My heart is nowhere close to reconciliation with Michelle, and after what happened a few weeks ago, I feel it's not the proper time."

"Christine, sooner or later you must graciously accept Michelle back into your life," Kyla explained. "She hasn't been herself ever since the incident with Jenny. Without you, Michelle sorely lacked the inspiration and desire to succeed."

I paused for a moment, turned back, and cried in pained silence. Kyla consoled me like a devoted friend she truly was and generously offered a hug.

Slowly I encountered Kyla and willingly accepted her embrace. She subsequently offered me some words of encouragement.

"Christine, you should go talk to her," Kyla said passionately. "It's the only way to mend a broken heart."

Just then, Francesca and Claire promptly joined us on the bench. Within a matter of seconds, rain began pouring outside.

"We still cared for you, Christine," Claire declared as she held my right hand.

"So do I, housemate," Francesca responded appropriately as she caressed my left hand.

In a moment of pure encouragement, I was once again surrounded by kind people who can relate to me when things go wrong. My noble heart was genuinely touched and gratified by their moral support and undying love towards me.

Later that night, I was inside Francesca's home when my phone suddenly rang.

It was Cathy who promptly came out calling.

Cathy: "Hello? Christine, how are you feeling?"

Christine: "A whole lot better aunt. I just reconciled with a few friends including Kyla. It turns out there are still devoted people who genuinely cared for me after all."

Cathy: "That's good to hear. Perhaps you should return home and reconcile with your mother as well."

Christine: "I'm still not okay with her, though. Unless Michelle and I patched things up, there's no way mother and daughter would do the same."

Cathy: "Christine, my advice is better talk to Michelle as soon as possible and amicably resolve whatever problem you faced. That's the only way Charissa will gratefully accept you again."

Christine: "I will, aunt. Give me some time to think, okay?"

Cathy: "As you wish."

After the conversation had ended, I walked back to Francesca's room only to see her in a deep sleep. Her radiant face appeared calm and peaceful, and her rosy lips flashed a reticent smile.

Upon turning off the lights, I joined Francesca for a peaceful slumber. The next morning, my cellphone vibrated so loud that I suddenly woke up.

Jenny had just texted another hateful message against me.

"Do you want another coat of paint?" it said. "I enjoy the feeling of you getting embarrassed in art class during that day."

At that moment, Francesca walked towards me and sat down.

"Is that Jenny again?" she inquired. "If I were you, delete them as soon as possible. If your grave suspicions were true, don't hesitate to do the right thing. You were just getting undermined by her."

Later that morning, Kyla came out for an important conversation.

"Christine, I talked to Michelle earlier and she said that Jenny had texted her today," she revealed. "I suspect that was the same message Jenny had left for both of you today."

As I contemplated about Jenny's actions, the urge to reconcile with Michelle became increasingly apparent. We are about to confront a common enemy.