VANESSA'S POV
"I got you something," Clary said, and I raised an eyebrow. "You better not tell me to close my eyes. I can be just as surprised with them open." She chuckled, and I braced myself. "Whoa, Vanessa... I am not even surprised," she replied. "Anyways, boom!" she said, revealing a charm bracelet. "I know you don't like tacky things, but it's a charm bracelet. Most best friends have them, plus it's the perfect way for us to celebrate our nine-year anniversary." She beamed, and I couldn't help but smile. "See, I have one too," she added, shaking her wrist. The jingles of the bracelet played a melody, but it slowly faded as I snapped back to reality, staring at my empty wrist.
In life, we treasure things, especially those given to us by special people. We attach so many memories to them. But what happens when they lose their importance? Do we let go, or do we hold on until we're finally ready? I should have taken that bracelet off the moment Clary and I made it clear we couldn't be friends anymore. But maybe it was habit. Or maybe it wasn't. How did something I found tacky turn into something so important that I don't need it, yet I can't let it go? It's a question that's been haunting me....while I was lost in thoughts..a knock at the door shattered my reverie. I rose slowly, my feet heavy, and opened the door to find Amy. "Hey," she greeted, a nervous edge to her voice. "Hey," I echoed, the awkwardness between us still thick enough to cut with a knife. "Granny bailed on dinner for a game night, so... it's just us," she explained, and I could feel the unspoken tension hanging in the air. "We could order, or... tinned noodles?" she offered, a hint of a question in her tone. "Anything," I replied, my voice flat.
"Ordering it is, then. I'll take care of it." She started to turn away, then paused, her gaze locking with mine. "Are you okay?" she asked, her voice softer now, a genuine concern etched on her face. "What?" I managed, caught off guard. "You know, everyone has a light, you know? In their eyes, their face... and yours has dimmed. Since... earlier." My heart sank. It wasn't lost on her, then. "It's none of my business, I know, but... since we're going to be living together, you can talk to me if you want. I'm not much of a talker, but I'm a pretty good listener." She offered a small smile before turning away, leaving me standing there, the door ajar. I sighed, the weight of the day pressing down on me, and slowly closed the door, the silence amplifying the ache in my chest.
"Are we really going to eat all this?" I asked, my gaze sweeping over the extravagant spread laid out before us. "It's a bit much, isn't it? I wanted to make it a feast to welcome you, but I might have gotten carried away. I always do when I order takeout," she confessed, a sheepish grin playing on her lips. "Don't worry about it. Eat as much as you can, and I'll take care of the rest. I'm a pro when it comes to food. I even won an eating competition at the festival once..." she trailed off, a chuckle escaping her.
"Sorry, am I talking too much? I tend to do that too," she added, a self-deprecating note in her voice. "No, I like chatty people, especially since I don't have much to say most of the time," I replied, a genuine smile finally gracing my lips. Her face lit up. "That's good. See? We're getting to know each other already." She popped the top of a cola, handing one to me before opening one for herself. "A toast... to the amazing days ahead of us," she declared, clinking her can against mine. I took a sip. "I wish this was beer, though. Granny would freak if she found one of her special cans missing, and they're so expensive we can't replace them." she added, the words tumbling out of her. "Well, let's dig in," she said, and we both began to eat..The meal was a blur of flavors and stories, mostly hers. She talked and talked, and to be honest, it was exactly what I needed. A break from the relentless echo of my own thoughts. But soon, it was over. Back in my room, I lay in bed, willing sleep to come.
But something still haunted me, a persistent weight in the back of my mind. The bracelet...
*
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The morning exploded with sound. Music, loud and intrusive, ripped me from sleep. "Seriously!" I groaned, dragging myself from bed. A knock at the door stole my attention. Amy again. "Good morning!" she chirped. "Morning," I mumbled, still half-asleep. "Ah, so he's really back," she said, eyes fixed on my window. "Who?" I asked. "Jason, the music menace," she replied. "I wish I could tell him to turn it down. It's beyond irritating." "I know. Granny had to move rooms because of him. You'd think he'd have changed after all this time." "Don't worry, I'll talk to him after breakfast," she said with a smile. "Hurry, before Granny devours all the pancakes!" she added, then disappeared. I glared at my window, then threw open the curtains. His window was visible, curtains still drawn. "Excuse me!" I shouted, knowing he couldn't hear. "Hey!" I scoffed, then slammed the window shut, drew the curtains, and headed for the shower.
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JASON'S POV
After pummeling the sandbag, sweat beading on my forehead, I paused, gulping down water. "That should do it," I muttered, killing the music and heading for the shower. The hot water rinsed away the grime, and I felt a bit more human as I walked downstairs for breakfast.
"For someone who wanted to keep a low profile, you're doing a bang-up job," Dad said as I poured myself a glass of milk, settling at the table."Don't you think you're voluntarily announcing your return with that music?" He added as I scoffed, "They already know I'm back. No point in hiding. Besides, music is my meditation. Used to block out the noise; now, it calms me." Dad just gave me a look.
"Aren't you going to work today?" I asked, watching him take a long pull from his juice. "Leaving right now," he replied, standing up. "What about you? Any exciting plans?" "Nah, just hanging around the house," I said. "Alright then, call me if you need anything," he said, already reaching for his cap and baton. I rolled my eyes, "I'm eighteen, Dad." "Exactly," he said, and with that, he was out the door. "He hasn't changed," I thought, shoveling food into my mouth.
*
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Back at the rehab facility, I had a strict schedule to follow. Everything happened at a specific time, and I have to admit, I felt lost. I had no idea what to do, and just as boredom started to creep in, my phone rang. It was Ed. "Hey!" I said, excitement bubbling in my voice. "Oh, looks like you're happy to hear from me," he said. "Please don't ruin this," I replied, hearing him chuckle on the other end. "So, how's staying home and laying low?" he asked, and my eyes wandered around the house. "I would do anything to get out of here," I admitted, and he chuckled again. "See, I told you it wouldn't be easy. Well, I'll be your savior then. Come have lunch with me." he said. "At your dad's restaurant?" I asked, tempted. "Yes," he replied. I took a moment to think it over. "Okay, I'll be there in a few," I replied. "Yes! Hurry!" he said excitedly before hanging up. It was either bore myself to death or head out, face everyone, and get my stomach filled with delicious food. I chose the latter.
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VANESSA'S POV
"You know you didn't have to come with me, right?" I said to Amy as we headed to the airport. "No, anything to get me away from Granny and her board games. There was a time she had me play for four hours straight, and I kept losing," she said, and I chuckled. She just had a way of always forcing an unintended laugh out of me. "So thank you for allowing me to escort you," she added with a smile. "Why are you going to the airport anyway, if you don't mind me asking?" she said. "I must have dropped something there, and I'm going to check if it was picked up and left off at the lost and found section," I explained, and she nodded. "Hopefully, because if it was something luxurious, then I guarantee you it's gone. I say that out of experience," she replied. "Experience? Have you ever left something at the airport?" I questioned.
"No, but I know that Qingzhen city has plenty of petty thieves," she replied, and I nodded, trying to hold my laughter. "But we shall find what you lost," she added, trying to comfort me. We arrived at the lost and found section. "I worked here the entire day yesterday, and I'm here today, but I didn't see any bracelet being brought in," a lady said. "Are you sure? Maybe it could have been brought in without your knowledge," Amy replied..."Impossible. Every lost item has to go through me, and there's a whole registration process before anything's kept. I haven't seen any bracelet. But, if you don't believe me, I can check the records," she huffed, and I let out a long sigh. "Okay!" Amy said, her tone a bit too blunt, which earned her a glare from the lady. "Please!" Amy added quickly, trying to smooth things over as the woman grudgingly went through the records with us. "See, nothing," she announced when we were done. "Thank you for your time," I said, giving her a small nod as we turned to leave. "Hold on!" the lady called out, stopping us. "Leave your phone number and name. Someone might bring it in, who knows? I'll give you a call if that happens," she said, and Amy and I exchanged a hopeful smile. "Thank you," I said, scribbling down my details. "This is what it looks like," I added, showing her a picture. "Okay, I'll be sure to call if it turns up," she said, and we thanked her again, heading out. "I hope she actually calls," Amy said as we walked. "Me too," I replied, trying to sound optimistic. "It must be important, the way you're so eager to get it back," she observed, and I sighed, lost in thought. "It's not really important, but there's something I need to do with it before I can finally get rid of it," I thought to myself, turning back to Amy and nodding. "I hope you find it," she said with a smile..."Okay, now that's done... I'm suddenly starving. Shall we go grab something to eat?" she asked, a smile lighting up her face. "I know a fantastic place – consider it your first official Qingzhen tour stop!" she added, and I readily agreed. "Yes!" she exclaimed, her excitement bubbling over as she grabbed my hand, pulling me towards the exit and out of the airport.
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JASON'S POV
"Wait, is that the same bracelet...?" Ed asked, and I quickly shoved it back into my pocket. "You don't have to hide it; I already saw it," he said with a knowing look. "Why don't you return it to its owner?" he questioned. "I wish I could, but I don't even know how. I don't know her name, address, or anything. All I know is what she looks like," I admitted, a small smile playing on my lips. "Oh, you smiled," Ed pointed out. "No, I didn't," I replied quickly. "Yes, you did. Why, do you like her?" he asked, a grin spreading across his face. "What do you mean, 'like'? I only saw her once," I said, trying to play it cool. "Love at first sight is a real thing, you know," he countered, and I scoffed. "Love at first sight is just lust for good looks. I admired her bravery that day... when she helped me catch that thief," I explained. "So, you're saying you didn't, for a moment, admire her looks as well?" he pressed, and my heart did a little flutter as I recalled looking up and seeing her face. "She is pretty," I said, almost a whisper. "Look, Dad wants me to go get our food. Let's continue this conversation while we eat," he said, standing up and heading off...
My mouth watered as I surveyed the feast laid out before us. "If there's one thing I missed in those eight months of rehab, it's definitely your dad's cooking," I said cheerfully. "Dig in then. He made all this for you. I guess I've had my time as the favorite son, and now you're back to reclaim your position," he said, a playful grin on his face, and I chuckled. "Wow, so you get exactly how I feel when my dad acts more like your dad than mine," I countered. "Should we just switch fathers?" he questioned, and I laughed, "Should we?" We both erupted in laughter, then dug into the meal. "Okay, back to bracelet girl," he said, and I quickly cut him off, "Nope. Back to nothing...Let's eat." I said, trying to stuff my face with as much food as possible. "Alright, alright. I'll let that topic rest," he conceded. "Thank you," I replied, relief washing over me as we continued eating. Being back on this rooftop, our secret base, brimming with memories, felt good. Even after being away for so long, it felt comforting to know that some parts of my life hadn't changed. Despite my longing for change, the familiarity was unexpectedly healing.
"I can't believe you're working with your dad...now," I commented, still somewhat surprised. "I mean, back then, you said you hated the smell of food that seemed to cling to you every time you stepped out of the kitchen," I added, remembering his complaints. "Well, things happened. I needed some extra cash, and Dad needed an employee, so we chose to help each other out," he replied, and I nodded in understanding. "I think I need to get a job too," I added, testing the waters. "Why? Don't you wish to stay home and remain low-key?" he replied, a hint of amusement in his voice, and I scoffed. "I couldn't even last a day in there today, let alone every day," I replied, picturing my life as a shut-in. "Well, you can always come and have lunch with me, and then hang out every day," he said, and I stared at him, a chuckle threatening to escape. "I don't think Amy will be happy to hear that her boyfriend kind of prefers spending time with his best friend instead of her," I replied, teasingly, as he shot me a playful glare. "That's not it. I'm just trying to make up for lost time," he replied, and I chuckled, finally letting out a laugh. "I know, I'm just teasing you," I said, the laughter bubbling up..."Are you serious about the job?" he asked, his voice laced with a hint of uncertainty. "I don't know... I feel a bit lost since I got back," I confessed, my words hanging in the air. "That's normal," he replied, a reassuring tone in his voice. "But if you actually want that job, I can help you find something." I smiled, a playful glint in my eyes, and teased, "What's this, Ed? Why are you being so nice to me?" "I've always been nice to you," he countered, a touch of disbelief coloring his words. "Stop making this weird," he added, a slight chuckle escaping his lips.
"I should probably get going now," I said, standing to clear the table. "Why? It's still early. Didn't you say you didn't want to be bored at home? Stay and chat a bit longer," he urged, a hint of disappointment in his voice. "You said Amy was coming over. Chat with her; I don't want to be a third wheel," I replied, my words laced with a touch of self-consciousness. "Well, you technically wouldn't be. She's coming with her cousin," he countered. "Cousin!" I exclaimed, a mixture of surprise and amusement in my voice. "So you want me and her cousin to be the third wheels?" I questioned, raising an eyebrow.
"No, let's catch up, just like old times. We can have lots of cola and pretend we're drinking beer, but instead of getting drunk, we'll just have a lot of gas filling up our stomachs," he said with a grin. "Hey!" he added, as I paused, considering his offer. "Okay, I'll stay... if you add some fried chicken to that cola," I said, a playful smile spreading across my face. He smiled and nodded, "Deal," he said, and I continued clearing the table.
*
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VANESSA'S POV
"Wow, things are buzzing here today," Amy observed as we got out of the taxi, looking at the restaurant entrance. "I doubt we'll be eating anytime soon." I commented. "Oh, we will... we're VIPs." She said with a grin, and I raised an eyebrow. "Follow me," she said, leading me away. We went around the back of the restaurant, found a staircase, and climbed up and up until we reached what looked like a balcony. "This is where we'll be dining," Amy announced, and I turned to her, confused. "Okay, let me explain," she said, as if reading my mind. "This balcony is connected to the restaurant, but it's hardly ever used. So, Ed, my boyfriend, whose dad owns the place, and I made it our secret spot. While everyone else waits in line, we come up here and enjoy our meals, specially prepared by Ed's dad, Mr. Lim." I nodded, trying to process everything. "Just relax, have a seat, and I'll go find Ed," she said, and I nodded, taking a look around before sitting down.
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JASON'S POV
"Is this all?" Ed asked, and I nodded. "It's everything your dad gave me," I replied. "Alright, grab some drinks from the fridge, and let's go... my baby must be starving," he said, and I scoffed, glaring at him. "I'm starting to regret staying. Am I going to have to deal with this the whole time?" I thought, picking up the drinks and following him.
As we walked, we heard a voice call out, "Ed!" It was Amy, rushing toward us. "Is that our lunch?" she asked, and Ed nodded. "Thank goodness," she replied, kissing him on the cheek. I stood awkwardly in the back. "I'll let you two catch up," I said, trying to slip away. "Good to see you too, Jason," Amy teased. "Oh, Amy, I didn't recognize you... did you do something to your hair?" I asked playfully, and she glared at me. "Ugh, you're still as annoying as ever," she replied, and I chuckled.
Amy and I have been neighbors for years. We're the kind of people who shouldn't be friends, but somehow are, thanks to our parents. So, our relationship is what you'd call frenemies. We're friends, but not really, but we put up with each other anyway.
"I'm heading out. You two can follow when you're done being... whatever that was," I said. "It's called being in love. It's not like you'd know," Ed retorted, and I scoffed, walking away.
Arriving at the rooftop, something shoved me from behind, almost making me trip. The cans of cola rolled out of my hands. I turned to see Amy snickering. I scoffed in disbelief. I bent to pick up the cans, reaching for the last one, when someone else's hand grabbed it. "Thank you," I said, raising my head, only to be surprised....The rooftop seemed to blur around me. It was her. Bracelet girl. Her wavy hair, the way it caught the sunlight, made my chest tighten. My heart hammered against my ribs, a frantic rhythm against the sudden quiet. Her eyes, the same captivating shade I remembered, met mine, and for a moment, the world narrowed to just us. A rush of warmth spread through me, a feeling I couldn't name, but one I desperately wanted to hold onto..."Am I hallucinating? Has the heat gotten to me? Is it really her?" I questioned myself, my heart still racing. A voice cut through my thoughts, pulling me back to reality..... "Van, come and eat!" Amy called out. "Van... so that's her name. Wait, she and Amy know each other? Is she the cousin Ed mentioned?" "Okay," she replied, handing me the cola and rushing to sit down, leaving me reeling.
My thoughts and emotions swirled. "Jason, what are you waiting for? Bring the drinks," Ed reminded me, and I snapped out of it, my eyes still drawn to Van. "Why? Aren't you joining us?" Amy asked. "We already ate, plus I have some things to show Jason. Let's regroup after lunch," Ed replied. "Okay, see you," Amy said. "Let's go," Ed urged. "Jason!" he called as I drifted off again. "Where's your head? Let's go," he said, and I turned to follow, my body moving, but my mind lingering behind.
*
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VANESSA'S POV
"Try this; it's Uncle Lim's specialty," Amy said, gesturing to the side dishes. "Okay," I replied, picking up a piece and taking a bite, all while she watched me expectantly. "It's good," I said, reaching for more. "Jason?" I questioned. "Jason?" she echoed. "Oh, yes, Jason, the one with the cola," she replied, and I nodded. "Right, we didn't introduce you two. We'll do that after lunch," she said.
"I know him... well, I didn't know his name, but I've met him before," I replied, watching her turn to me, her eyes curious. "You did?" she questioned. "Yes, at the airport the day I arrived. He was chasing a thief, and we crossed paths," I explained. "Oh, right, I saw a TikTok video about him... 'Airport Hero.' So you saw it all live?" she said with a chuckle. "Yes," I replied. "Airport Hero!" I exclaimed. "Cringe, right?" Amy said with a laugh, and I smirked along, the meal continuing with ease.
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JASON'S POV
"Jason!" Ed called out, his voice sharp, "Where's your head? We're losing!" I placed the controller down, sighing, "Sorry... I just..." I paused, then started, "Van..." He raised an eyebrow. "The girl on the rooftop... she's Van, right?" I asked. He nodded, "Yeah, Van, Amy's cousin. Why? What's going on?" I reached into my pocket and pulled out the bracelet. "Don't tell me you're still thinking about bracelet girl? Can't you save that for later? I'm on the verge of a new high score!" he complained, but I just smiled.
"You're smiling?" he said, disbelief coloring his voice. "I need to return this," I said, holding up the bracelet. "Yes, please do. I can't have you spacing out every time I invite you to play Zombie Verse," he replied. "But wait," he paused, "to return it, shouldn't you know who to give it to?" he questioned, and I smiled even wider. "I do," I replied, watching him stare at me with a mixture of curiosity and annoyance. "You do? But... you didn't even know her name or address earlier," he said. "I didn't, but now I do," I replied, and he glared at me, clearly desperate for an explanation. "Who?" he asked..."Van," I replied, and his jaw dropped. "Van!" he exclaimed, eyes wide with disbelief. "Van... Amy's cousin?" he added, and I nodded. "Are you sure?" he questioned, and I nodded again. "Woah, what are the odds," he replied. "I know," I said, a smile creeping onto my face as I remembered her. "So, what's next?" he asked. "What do you mean?" I questioned. "I mean, you met her again. So, what's next?" he replied, and I paused to think. "I'll return her bracelet," I said. "And?" he questioned. "And nothing," I replied, and he scoffed.
"So, you're telling me... you experienced a kind of love at first sight, or maybe admiration at first sight, with this girl. You didn't think you'd ever see her again, and now she's right in front of you, and all you're going to do is return her lost bracelet and wave goodbye?" he questioned, and it hit me. "Yes... that's pretty much it, I guess," I replied, my heart sinking a bit. "I mean, what else can I do? Pursue her? What if she's not single? What if she's leaving tomorrow, or something? And I'm not in the perfect mental state to get into a relationship, at least not now. So, I guess that will be it..." I replied with a sigh. How did this become so complicated when it was so simple just a few minutes ago? I thought to myself, my mind swirling..."Well, then, you should return that to her immediately," he said. "You know, because the more you hold onto it, the more whatever you're feeling for her—whatever that unidentified feeling is—will increase..." he added, making a point. As the weight of my decision settled, I found myself staring at the bracelet. I could almost feel the warmth of her wrist against my fingertips as I held it.
*
*
As we all gathered on the rooftop after the girls finished their meal, my gaze kept drifting to Van. I mean, I'd only seen her once, so why was my heart doing acrobatics just at the sight of her? "Hey, what are you spacing out about? Come on," Ed said, nudging me to join the group.
"You two haven't officially met, right?" he pointed out as I gave him a look. "Right... we were supposed to do that after we ate," Amy chimed in... as I let out a breath. "Jason... Jason Wang," I said, offering my hand. "Vanessa Han," she replied, her fingers meeting mine. Our eyes locked, and... my heart threatened to break free from my chest. "What is happening, Jason?" I thought, quickly pulling my hand back. "Alright, who's in for cola, fried chicken, and a movie later?" Ed asked, and I found myself staring at Vanessa, who seemed like she had something to say. "Could I maybe take a rain check on that?" she asked. "Oh, why?" Amy wondered. "It's just that I've got some stuff to catch up on... and I'm still feeling a bit jetlagged," she replied, and my spirits plummeted. "No worries, we can definitely plan something with you another time," Ed said. "Me too," I blurted out, maybe a little too eagerly. "What?" Ed questioned as they all turned to look at me. "I also need to leave early," I replied, feeling the heat crawl up my neck. "Why?" Amy asked, her voice laced with curiosity. "I... I... I have some work to do," I stammered, the words tasting like ash in my mouth. It was the lamest excuse, considering my current life status. "Work? What work?" Ed pressed, and I shot him a glare, silently pleading for his understanding. For a friend, he wasn't exactly being helpful. "I have something important to return to someone," I finally managed, hoping he'd catch on. "Oh, right, right, you told me about that," he replied, his eyes gleaming with a sudden realization, as if he were reassuring me that he had my back. "Oh, okay then, I guess it's just the two of us tonight, babe," Amy said, and my gaze flickered back to Vanessa, who was watching us with an unreadable expression. "I should get going then," she said, picking up her bag. "Thank you for the meal," she added, her voice soft. "It's nothing... you can always come here and eat... open invitation," Ed said, ever the charmer. "Okay... thank you," she replied, and as she walked away, a strange mix of relief and disappointment washed over me. Lost in thoughts and staring at her with a smile, it hit me... "I have to leave too," I blurted out, the words tumbling out before I could stop them. "Just leave already," Amy said, rolling her eyes. "Bye," I added, quickening my pace, hoping to catch up with Vanessa, who had already disappeared around the corner.
There she was, strolling down the road, and my mind raced. I couldn't just shout, not yet. We were strangers, practically. But that bracelet... I had to give it back. Yet, handing it over meant the end, no more reasons to see her. And for some reason, I needed to. Why? I hadn't a clue. Trailing her felt creepy, so I hung back, keeping her in sight. Then, she turned, like she felt my gaze. Instinctively, I mirrored her, hoping I didn't look like a total weirdo. "Why are you following me?" Her words, a direct hit, and my cheeks burned. I sighed, turned, my heart hammering. Reaching into my pocket, I felt the bracelet safe. "I'm sorry if I startled you," I mumbled, her face a mask. "I wasn't...following. I have something of yours. Something I need to return. I was trying to figure out how to get your attention." I stammered. "Something of mine? Did I leave anything?" she asked, rummaging through her bag...No, not the rooftop—the airport," I clarified, the memory of our meeting yesterday suddenly distant. "We met at the airport... remember?" I asked, a smirk playing on my lips. "I know," she replied, her eyes sparkling. "Airport hero," she quoted, the hashtag that had followed me all day. Mortifying. "Yes," I mumbled, already regretting the whole thing. "So, that thing you got... is it a bracelet?" she asked, and I jumped, realizing she'd been eyeing it. "Yes," I confirmed, reaching into my pocket. As I presented it, a small piece clattered to the floor. My heart hammered as I bent to examine the fallen fragment, palms suddenly slick with sweat.
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VANESSA'S POV
"So, is this thing a bracelet?" I asked Jason, and he confirmed, "Yes." As he reached into his pocket, a mix of disappointment and hope washed over me. I wanted to forget, yet I yearned for its return. He produced the bracelet, and a piece detached, hitting the floor. He knelt to retrieve it, and I saw it was the letter "C," triggering a flashback. "V...C," I murmured, gazing at the bracelets. "V for Vanessa, C for Clary," she'd said, her gesture filling me with warmth. "So we can always have a piece of each other," she added, her wrist shaking, the bracelets jingling with joy. But the sound faded as I returned to the present, to reality...The bracelet, once a symbol of unbreakable bonds, now lay in pieces, a brutal metaphor for the end of my friendship with Clary. Before you live through it, you can't comprehend the depth of the wound a friendship's demise inflicts. It was a tangible, visceral reminder of what was lost, the physical damage mirroring the emotional wreckage. "Oh, I'm so incredibly sorry," Jason blurted out, his panic raw and real. My vision blurred with unshed tears. Why was I hurting so much? What was I even crying for? "It's okay," I whispered, the words barely a breath. "No, it's not," he countered, "I'll have it fixed. I know a jeweler who can work miracles." I shook my head, "Some things are better left broken," the words heavy with unspoken truths. A single tear escaped, carving a lonely path down my cheek. "Vanessa!" he called, his voice thick with worry, the sincerity of his regret undeniable. But this wasn't about the bracelet; it was about a friendship that had shattered beyond repair, a bond now as fragmented as the silver in my palm.
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