333 A chance for reunion

Bridgette walked back home, following her dinner with Laura. After departing, soon to her sight, she spotted Gavin across the street, along with his friend whom she saw at the bar. It seems they were hanging out together. Gavin is probably showing his friend around places. She paused to stare at him.

His black skin shone in the street light, making him the brightest star and his chiseled face that formed wrinkles around his eyes whenever he smiles. His gentle mannerisms are always a delight and are what draws people to love his company. His tall, athletic frame compliments his suave and polite nature. From the way he treats his peers to his flawless performances, both on and off the stage, Gavin is an admirable actor.

'What's not to like about him?' Bridgette thought to startle herself.

She continued to watch him from far, studying his minute expressions and unconsciously falling from his demeanor. Gavin, who was busily guiding his friend from across the street, haven't spotted Bridgette yet.

There was one time when both got to play in a show together but had different roles, as a side character she watched him sway and bloom to a beautiful actor, mesmerizing people in front of him as well as the ones that shared the stage with him. For quite some time, Bridgette forgot that she was staring at him quite fondly for a lengthy period. Only when she noticed a few receiving glances from the passing by strangers, did she realize her delusional state.

It was then a fraction of the moment when Gavin's gaze traveled towards her direction, and Bridgette rushed out of the scene, hurrying her steps to escape from getting discovered. When Gavin glanced across the street, he found none but a bunch of active people passing along. He returned to his friend, and they marched to the next fun activity.

Even after escaping, Bridgette could still hear her heart slightly pounding faster from the encounter. She couldn't stop it no matter how hard she tried, and it annoyed her.

She knew that Gavin holds a particular spot in her heart, but it was all because she wanted to prove it to him. As someone who started at the same time as he, Bridgette yearned to make it on to the stage and stand alongside him. She desperately wanted to catch up to his level or at least try to earn herself the credibility.

'No! It is not love! It's not love!'

Bridgette paused to realize herself slightly contradicting to her inner voice, driving her to instant panic. She rushed to her home as soon as possible, not sparing a moment's pause to let such doubts grow into her head.

**

It's been a month now, and Ivy still hasn't reached out to her, and that worried Bridgette personally. Even though she puts on a great show on the stage, behind the scenes, she is just as gloomy as it can be. She hasn't gone such a sustained period, distancing herself with her beloved friend, but since respecting Ivy and her truth, she knew giving space was the right choice. The thought of Ivy restricted anything else to enter her mind to entertain. Bridgette returned to grieve alone, like every other day since their sad separation.

Dropping her belongings on the couch to take its side, Bridgette lied on her back to wonder when did her life became so stressful. She shut her eyes momentarily to rest in that silence.

However, the moment became too painful to bear when in random, Giselle's image crossed her mind in a flash, which startled Bridgette to jerk from her position. She sprang up to a sudden horror, and all the memories returned along with a pang of guilt.

Now remembering the things she had done to a poor classmate, ruined her life, and left with a painful memory that could harm her forever.

At that age, it seemed right to overthrow someone's life for her happiness, but as an adult, now recognizes the consequences of such actions and the scars it can leave behind.

'I wonder if Ivy is alright!'

Such thoughts manifested in retribution when she realizes that it is one of her closest friends who turned out like Giselle.

'Is it possible that Ivy can be angry at me?' - a disturbing image crossed her mind to put their friendship on trial.

"She wouldn't, right?" she mumbled to herself.

With a terrible timing came a loud buzz of her phone ringing. Annoyed to the interruption, she picked up to answer the call, without glancing who it was calling her now!

"She picked up!"

Bridgette heard a dazed whisper and immediately recognized who it was.

"Ivy?"

"Hey, Bridgette!"

Both stunned to exhibit disquiet, a state of feeling worried and a bit of unease. It was Ivy who broken the tension as it was she who called.

"What's up? How is it going?"

Bridgette remains hushed just from hearing Ivy's voice. Admittedly, it grew uncomfortable between the two as they hesitated much to speak out.

"So- I- I hear that your show is doing great," Ivy praised, ignoring the blank response.

"Hmm, I heard that you are making movies-" Bridgette exclaimed naturally.

Even though they shut communications, the two best friends went out of their way to learn new things about each other. Ivy learned about Bridgette's house-full shows, one after the other, from their mutual friends while Bridgette came to hear about Ivy's movie from an inside gossip. Soon, she confirmed it to one of her theatre buddy's correction.

'Ivy's first feature film!' - she thought, hoping to send a congratulatory message, but restrained herself from doing so since Ivy hasn't herself shared the good news.

"Congratulations!" she said nonetheless, to share the joy.

"Aah- yeah, I ended up having the opportunity to knock at the right time."

"It- It's great!"

Once again, the distance between those replies caused extreme discomfort in their conversation. They tried, but the uneasiness couldn't go away quickly. It is the first time they talked since Bridgette rejected Ivy's feelings and that they chose to be away for a while. That while took a whole month, now scarring the two to speak their hearts off.

"So-" Ivy spoke again only to hear nothing from Bridgette.

Misinterpreting her audible struggle into speaking, Bridgette continued to wait patiently.

"Do- you want-" Ivy paused herself in the middle to worry if it was the right time to call or that if she is disturbing. Bridgette denied, letting her speak freely.

"Oh!"

"So-"

Seeing Ivy resort to stutter, Bridgette reacts to give a spontaneous reaction, encouraging her to talk. Finally, Ivy grits her teeth to spit her wish all at once.

"Do you want to hang out?" she cried all at once in desperation.

"Surprised, Bridgette remained stumped. Her surprised silence conveyed the opposite effect as Ivy began to doubt her proposal.

"I guess, you must be tired!" she muttered solemnly to signal her withdrawal.

"Maybe some other time-"

"No, I'll go. When?"

"What?"

"I said I'll go. We can hang out."

"No, if you're busy we can meet another time,"

"No, right now is fine."

Bridgette knew if she misses this opportunity, then it might take longer to reconcile. Moreover, she feared if their friendship would perish without a fight. She agreed to look at the time, and it displayed 10:10 PM.

"Where do you want to meet?" she asked, ignoring the wintry night.

Ivy looked out to get help and shared the news with her friend as they decided on a place to assemble and hangout.

"Alright! See you soon," Ivy said to hear Bridgette agree.

"Yeah, bye now, Ivy."

**

Ivy checked to phone to gaze at Parker for helping her at the right time. Parker allowed to inform her sternly.

"Now, you understand what I told you, right?" he asked.

Ivy admits to remembering every detail.

"Go, talk to her, and be friends again!" Parker said to leave right away, wishing his friend good luck in her reunion.