Chapter O5.

Nashira felt the familiar burn in her legs as she pushed herself on the treadmill, the rhythmic pounding of her feet syncing with the beats of her playlist.

The gym was her sanctuary, a place where she could escape the complexities of her life, even if just for an hour. But today, that refuge was shattered when her phone buzzed relentlessly in her pocket.

As they moved through their exercises—Nashira on the treadmill, Ari working on the weights—Nashira couldn't help but feel distracted. Her phone buzzed incessantly in her pocket, a distraction she'd been trying to ignore.

She paused, heart racing—not from her workout but from a surge of anxiety. Pulling out her phone, she was bombarded with notifications: messages from friends and family alerting her that Temia was live on Instagram.

Instinctively, Nashira's stomach churned. She had a sinking feeling she knew exactly what this was about.

"What's going on?" Ari asked, noticing her sister's furrowed brow.

Nashira's stomach churned. "Temia's on Instagram Live, and it sounds like she's talking about me," she said, trying to keep her voice steady.

Ari's expression hardened. "What's she saying?"

With a deep breath, she logged onto Instagram, her fingers trembling as she clicked on Temia's livestream. What she saw made her blood run cold. Temia's face filled the screen, animated and bold, her words dripping with disdain.

"She's messing around with a couple, letting them play with her mind," Temia declared, her tone condescending. "I don't care if she joined my Live because I'm only saying what I've been telling her."

Nashira's jaw tightened. This was a betrayal on a level she hadn't anticipated. Temia continued, oblivious to the devastation she was causing. "I'm not wrong, and I'm not going to regret anything because I love my friend. If I have to air out her business to get her to do right, then so be it."

Nashira shook her head, disbelief flooding her senses. How could Temia do this? She felt her heart pound in her chest, a mix of anger and hurt spiraling within her. Without a second thought, she logged off Instagram, her mind racing.

She opened X and tweeted, "A real friend would never! I'm starting to believe what they have been saying is true." She hit send, the words echoing her frustration. It was a moment of clarity amid the chaos.

As if on cue, she saw the notification that Temia had caught wind of her tweet. Temia's voice rang out again, full of venom. "Jon and Trinity are the ones putting shit in her head about me like I'm not the most real person you know in your corner." The words stung, but it was her response to Nashira's sister Ari's defending Nashira in the comments that made Nashira's blood boil.

"Ari, you know you can't beat me up," Temia retorted, her confidence unshaken. But Ari wasn't done. "Don't forget those days when Nashira and I had to beat up people for you because you were scary," she shot back.

Nashira couldn't believe what she was hearing. Her sister, usually the one to keep the peace, was ready to unleash. The comments were flooding in, and soon her phone rang. It was a mix of her parents, Jon, Trinity, and even her publicist, all wanting to know what was happening. She felt the pressure mounting like the walls were closing in.

She took a moment to collect herself, then decided it was time to confront Temia head-on. Nashira hopped back onto Instagram Live, her heart racing as she requested Ari to join. She knew her sister would have her back, and this was going to be a showdown.

When Ari joined the live, she was all smiles, but Nashira could see the excitement in her eyes. "I'm going to address this once, and that's it. If she keeps talking about me, then it's up and it's stuck," Nashira said, her voice steady, laced with resolve.

"Get her, Nashas," Ari encouraged, barely containing her laughter.

Nashira then requested Temia to join. Temia accepted the request and appeared on the screen. Nashira could feel the heat of the moment coursing through her. This was it. She was ready to put Temia on blast.

"Listen up, Temia," she began, looking directly into the camera. "You claim to be my friend, but what you're doing right now is the complete opposite. Friends don't air out each other's dirty laundry for clout."

Temia's smirk faded slightly as Nashira's words cut through the bravado. "You're out here trying to tear me down instead of being supportive. You don't know the full story. You never asked me how I felt about my relationship with Jon and Trinity. You just assumed."

Ari chimed in, "She's just jealous because you're happy, Nash. It's so obvious."

Nashira continued, her voice growing stronger. "You say you love me, but real love means having my back, not turning my life into your entertainment. You think that calling me out will make me see things your way, but it's only pushing me away. This is the very reason I've started to question everything."

She could see the comments flooding in, some in support and others trying to stir the pot further. But she was done with the drama. "I don't need anyone telling me what's right or wrong for my life. I'm navigating this my way. It's my choice to be with Jon and Trinity, and if you can't respect that, then maybe you need to reevaluate what our friendship means to you."

Temia tried to interject, but Nashira cut her off. "No, let me finish. You claim you're doing this out of love, but it feels more like jealousy. If you truly cared about me, you wouldn't be exploiting our issues in front of thousands of people. That's not friendship; that's manipulation."

The tension was noticeable. Nashira's heart raced as she realized the gravity of what she was saying. This was more than just a fight; it was a turning point in her life.

"Let's be real," Nashira said, her voice lowering, becoming more intimate. "You want to make me question my relationships because you feel like you're losing me. But if you want to support me, then step back and allow me to make my own choices. Trust that I know what's best for me."

Ari nodded vigorously, ready to jump in if Temia tried to spin the narrative. "You've always been a strong person, Nash. Don't let anyone undermine that."

Finally, Temia found her voice, a mixture of anger and desperation. "You don't get it! I'm trying to protect you! Do you think they care about you? They're playing you!"

"Playing me?" Nashira repeated, incredulous. "You think my relationship is a game? Jon and Trinity are my partners. They love me, and I love them. If you can't see that, then maybe it's time for you to reevaluate our friendship."

The chat exploded with reactions, some cheering for Nashira, others siding with Temia. It didn't matter; she had said what she needed to say. The weight on her chest felt lighter, the air clearer.

Ari leaned in closer to the camera. "You need to stop hiding behind this facade of being the 'good friend,' Temia. If you were my sister's friend, you would know better than to treat her this way."

Nashira turned back to the camera, her resolve firm. "I'm done with this drama. If you want to keep talking about me in a negative light, then I'm not engaging anymore. I'm moving forward with my life, and I hope you can find it in your heart to be happy for me."

With that, she ended the live stream, her pulse racing from the adrenaline. The comments continued to flood in, but she felt a sense of liberation wash over her. It was time to reclaim her narrative, to step away from the toxicity that had seeped into her life.

Ari wrapped her arms around her in a hug. "You were amazing! I can't believe you stood up to her like that."

Nashira smiled weakly, the tension slowly easing. "Thanks, Ari. I just... I didn't realize how much I needed to say all of that."

"Let's go get ice cream," Ari suggested, her eyes sparkling. "You deserve it after all this."

As they walked out of the gym, Nashira felt lighter and empowered. This wasn't the end of the conflict with Temia, but it was the beginning of reclaiming her voice. She was ready to navigate her relationships on her terms, to embrace her happiness without fear.

Amid the chaos, Nashira had found clarity. With her sister by her side, she knew she could face whatever came next. Life was too short to let others dictate her happiness, and she was determined to make her own choices, unapologetically.