Deep emotions

It was a bit snowy, and the freezing weather outside made Courtney shiver as she dialed Leah's number.

"Hello, Leah, is that you?"

"Hey, Courtney, what's up? Are you free? I really need your company right now," Leah replied, her voice tinged with urgency.

Courtney chuckled. "Actually, I'm at your house right now."

"What? Really?" Leah exclaimed, rushing out of the hall to open the door. There stood Courtney, smiling warmly. Leah hugged her tightly, surprising Courtney further when she started crying.

"Leah, what's wrong? Come inside and tell me," Courtney said, concerned.

"It's Kevin. I hate him!" Leah blurted out between sobs. "I went to see him at his house, but he wasn't there. He went to Los Angeles to see Rose! Even his maid knows he's in love with her. I can't stand him anymore! I bet he's all over her, kissing and—"

"Whoa, hold on!" Courtney interrupted. "Do you even know why he went there? I don't think it's just for sightseeing. It might be some kind of business issue. Come on, Leah, why don't you try to think positively? And even if he loves Rose, there's no way he can marry her. Remember, Sam is the one who will. So let's put this aside for now and do something fun, like drawing."

Leah wiped her tears, her voice still shaky. "Alright," she said, heading to wash her face.

A few minutes later, they sat by the window, sketching the snowy backyard. The scene reminded them of when they were just seven years old. Back then, Courtney had been bullied by another girl. Leah had pulled her away and said, "Come to my house; you'll feel better."

Courtney had followed, stepping into Leah's grand mansion. That day, they had started drawing together, a simple activity that brought them closer—and ever since, they had always turned to each other in times of need.

Whenever Courtney and Leah felt down, they would sit together and draw, losing themselves in the process until their worries faded away. But Courtney's mother was always jealous of Leah's luxurious lifestyle and never let Courtney visit Leah's house. Everything changed, however, when Courtney's father got a job offer in Los Angeles. Only then did her mother reluctantly allow Courtney to maintain her friendship with Leah.

Courtney often thought her mother's jealousy could ruin any relationship. Because of this, she never mentioned John—he was just a crush, and she knew he wasn't interested in her anyway. Her suspicions were confirmed during a Thanksgiving gathering at Kevin's house. Watching how everyone seemed to be vying for one girl—Rose—made Courtney realize she didn't belong in their league.

She had tried to warn Leah about Rose, but Leah dismissed her concerns, unwilling to believe that Kevin could be infatuated with someone else. It was only later, through a painful process, that Leah understood the truth. Despite the rough patch, she and Courtney managed to rebuild their friendship, free of misunderstandings. They returned to the simple joys of being together, their bond stronger than ever.

Courtney was lost in these memories when Mr. Thompson's voice echoed from the hall.

"Ms. Leah, you have a call!"

Leah rushed to answer it. "Hello?" she said, pressing the phone tightly to her ear.

A bold voice came through. "Leah, it's Kevin. I know this is sudden, but could you come over to Sarah's house? You can bring Courtney too."

Leah couldn't believe what was happening. She froze, unable to utter a single word.

"Hello?" Kevin's voice came through the phone again.

"Oh, um, yes, I'll be there," Leah stammered, quickly noting down the address in the phone book beside her. Everything in Leah's home was always perfectly organized, so much so that it rarely caused any tension for anyone.

Courtney, observing Leah's reaction, began to suspect that the call might be from Kevin. However, Leah's uncharacteristic behavior left her uncertain.

"Hey, Court, come on! We're going to Sarah's house," Leah announced, snapping Courtney out of her thoughts.

"What?!" Courtney exclaimed. "You're this excited over Sarah? Ugh, this is getting nowhere. And what about our drawing?"

"Oh, never mind the drawing. We'll finish it when we get back," Leah replied dismissively.

Courtney reluctantly agreed, but a nagging discomfort settled in her gut—something she couldn't shake off. Deep down, she feared something, though she couldn't quite pinpoint what it was.

When they arrived, Kevin greeted Leah enthusiastically, holding her hands. "Leah, thank God you came. I'm so glad you're here," he said with a bright smile, handing her a small wrapped present. "Open it at home," he added.

Leah felt like she was in a fairy tale. She couldn't believe what was happening, but everything about it felt magical to her. Courtney, however, wasn't convinced. Something about the whole situation seemed off.

Sensing the tension in the air, Courtney decided to confront Kevin directly. Without hesitation, she asked, "Is this because you want to work with Leah?"

Everyone who had been smiling at Leah turned to look at Courtney, shocked by her blunt question.

Kevin sighed and responded, "Actually, it's because I wanted to apologize to her in person. I know you don't trust me, so I asked Leah to bring you too. But it's not what you think—the reason is different. Come inside, both of you," he added in his deep voice, gesturing toward the house.

Kevin led them to a room where Rose was resting on the bed, unconscious. Leah's heart sank as she took in the sight, feeling a wave of emotions she couldn't process. She had always thought of Rose as a rival, someone who had taken Kevin's attention away. But now, seeing her like this, everything changed.

Kevin explained calmly, "Rose is in a coma. I brought you here because I need your support, Leah. I wanted to clear all the misunderstandings and tell you the truth."

Leah felt a sharp pang of guilt. Her heart ached as she realized how petty her jealousy had been. She had hated Rose simply because Kevin was always around her, never once thinking there might be more to the story. Tears welled up in her eyes as she whispered, "Why is she in a coma? When will she wake up?"

Kevin was taken aback by Leah's tears. He hadn't expected her to react this emotionally, but it was clear she felt deeply remorseful. "It's alright, Leah," he said gently. "Rose would be pleased to know you're one of our friends. And Courtney, you too."

Courtney, who had been standing with her arms folded across her chest, frowned. "There's just no way," she said firmly, refusing to be swept into Kevin's narrative. Something about his explanation still didn't sit right with her, and she wasn't ready to let her guard down just yet.

"Courtney! What are you talking about?" Leah exclaimed, looking at her in confusion.

Courtney simply stared back, her expression firm. "Our drawing is undone," she said, as if that was the only thing that mattered in that moment.

Meanwhile, in another part of the room, Sam's frustration boiled over. "What, Rose went back to New York? I better go," he muttered, anger flashing across his face.

But Rose, who had been quietly listening, interrupted him. "No, Sam. I wanted her to choose. It seems like she didn't choose you, so just let her be. Don't force her."

Sam gritted his teeth, his hands clenched into fists. The situation had gone from bad to worse. He had thought that marrying Rose would bring him all the recognition he desired, but now that she had left, it felt like everything had slipped away. He regretted bringing her to Los Angeles and was considering going to New York to find her.

Just then, Rose's father called Sam. "Let's go to New York together," he said, his voice heavy with worry.

Sam, though confused, replied, "Um, sure, Dad. No problem." He couldn't shake the feeling that something was off, but he didn't understand why.

Once in New York, Rose's father received a call from Sarah, who informed him that Rose was in a coma. She wanted to make sure he knew before anyone else could tell him. The urgency in her voice made it clear that something serious had happened.

They arrived in New York within five hours, and Rose's father rushed straight to Sarah's home. Sam followed, still unsure of what was happening. As soon as he stepped inside, he was overwhelmed by the sight of candles, incense, and flowers surrounding Rose, who was lying unconscious. For a moment, Sam thought she was dead.

But Sarah hurried to reassure him. "She's in a coma, Sam, not dead."

Sam stood frozen, unable to fully process what he was seeing. His mind struggled to grasp the reality of it all. Tears filled his eyes, and for the first time in his life, he cried in front of his friends.

Rose's father sank to his knees, overwhelmed with guilt as he gazed at his daughter. He felt ashamed of himself for not allowing her to make her own decisions and for forcing her into a life that wasn't truly hers. It was all his fault, and the weight of that realization hit him hard. Tears welled up in his eyes as he tightly clasped Rose's hand, silently apologizing for the pain he had caused her.

Sarah, witnessing the scene, felt a deep sorrow for both Sam and Rose's father. She knew she couldn't comfort them, but she had to speak. With a steady voice, she addressed them both: "Uncle Sam, Rose's dad, I kindly ask you to allow us to take care of Rose now. Please, a kind request."

Rose's father rose from his knees, still devastated. "I thought I could make things right, but it seems I can't do anything for my daughter," he said, his voice heavy with regret.

Sarah stepped forward, her tone gentle yet firm. "No, sir. What you're about to do will make her happy for a lifetime. You need to understand that, and please, don't worry. Everything will be alright. Now, let's give everyone some space and time to reflect. We can make something memorable for Rose."

Turning to Sam and Rose's father, Sarah added, "I know you both have your own futures to focus on, and I'm just beginning a small business venture to learn what business truly is, with the help of my friends. I want to do this on my own, without recommendations, but you're always welcome to help. I am grateful to be a part of your family."

Sarah smiled warmly as she finished, feeling a bit embarrassed by her honesty. The words had come out in a rush, but she was glad to have said them. Sam and Rose's father exchanged glances, their expressions softening, and Sarah couldn't help but blush at the sincerity of the moment.

Kevin chuckled, shaking his head. "No, no, Sarah, we're much more grateful to you for always helping Rose, for thinking about her happiness, and wanting everyone to be content. You must be some kind of angel," he said, covering his mouth as he giggled.

"Oh yeah, tennis babe, way to go," Sarah teased, laughing back at him.

Sam, who had been quietly observing them, suddenly felt awful for not spending more time with Kevin. The guilt weighed on him. "I'd like to stay here for a while, if you guys don't mind," he said, his voice quiet.

"No problem at all," Rose's dad replied. "We'll be resting in the backyard, if you want to join us."

Kevin and John both agreed to stay as well. Sarah almost forgot about Leah, who had arrived earlier. "Hey guys, where's Leah?" she asked.

Courtney, now a bit frustrated, spoke up, "I thought you went home."

"This is my home," Courtney replied, a little irritated. "Now come on, let's finish the drawing."

"I can understand why you're angry, but..." Leah started, trying to ease the tension, but Courtney interrupted, her sarcasm cutting through.

"Yeah, of course! A snow-white lying in her glass coffin, waiting for a prince to come. But in this case, it's three princes. Probably those three would have seen her naked, and, to be honest, they probably..."

Before Courtney could finish, Leah, unable to hold back, gave her a sharp slap across the face, stopping her words mid-sentence. Leah's eyes flashed with a mix of frustration and anger. She couldn't let Courtney continue with that kind of comment.

"Shut up, Courtney!" Leah shouted, her voice filled with anger. "You don't know anything about her, and yet you say awful things about her!"

"What?!" Courtney yelled back, taken aback. "I said awful things about her? You're the one who started all of this! I tried to warn you that you had no chance, and you were the one imagining all these terrible things about her in the first place!"

Leah paused, her anger simmering, but she didn't say much more. Courtney, in a fit of rage, stormed off, her eyes red and watery as she ran home, not looking back.

Later that Monday afternoon, Sarah turned to Kevin and John, trying to lighten the mood. "So, what's the plan for Christmas?"

Kevin, with a thoughtful expression, replied, "I do have a plan I'd like to share. I want to dedicate half of my building for Rose. Each floor will have something related to her dreams. The first floor will be filled with musical instruments for performing, the second floor for practice space, the third floor will have her favorite clothes, the fourth floor will be a makeup room with all her favorite products, and the last floor will have a basketball court. I know it sounds dreamy, but it's half done. The only thing left is to polish the basketball court. This is my surprise for her."

Sarah was stunned. She hadn't realized how deeply Kevin knew Rose, even more than she did. As she processed his words, a question lingered in her mind.