I sat in my bedroom watching TV until my phone started to ring. I was alone in the apartment, and today was a lazy day, so I didn't even want to pick up the phone, but I did. It was my mother.

        "Moshi, moshi, Kaa-san," I answered.

        "Kenji-kun," she replied with joy in her voice. "I just wanted to check up on you."

        I groaned. Ever since Aarav got arrested and gave me a flesh wound, my mother had been calling me more frequently. It was nice, but unnecessary. It's not like I really got shot. Although, in the future, I would tell people I did. If my flesh wound left a scar, I would even have "proof."

        "Ka-san, I'm fine," I reassured.

        "Is everything fine?" she asked.

        "Darian and I are still together," I said. "The group has gotten back together, and we all hang out, even with Gavin and Aaron at times. Aarav is in jail, and Arya is preparing for her trial with her father's help. Also, my mental health is getting much better."

        With Aarav preparing for trial and dealing with the law, he wasn't attending group anymore, so I was going to group therapy again. My antidepressants were working well, and therapy was continuing to help me. So yeah. Things were great.

        "What about Rosalyn?" my mother asked. "Have things improved with her?"

        I had given my mother a brief overview of that situation, making sure to omit what the "cheating" entailed. But we talked about this a while ago.

        "Things are still bad," I said. "Ever since Chiyo attacked me, we haven't talked."

        I was giving her space. I would rather be "somebody she used to know" than "somebody she hates." It still sucked how me and my little Latina ended up like this.

        "Don't give up," my mother said. "If I would have given up on your father, we would only be co-parents, instead of best friends."

        "Wait, what?"

        I never expected this. Tou-san was always crazy about my mom—both romantically and as a friend.

        "Your father took the divorce and the Caroline situation with pride and grace," my mother said, "but even your father was heart-broken. Caroline and I being together was hard for him, and he started to withdraw. I couldn't let him because he was too important to me, so I gave him space while making sure I didn't distance myself for too long. That's when people drift apart. When the distance overshadows the care."

        "What do you mean?"

        "Give her space," my mother said, "but don't allow her to leave completely. Occasionally show up, and show that you care. Keep it simple, so she'll know you're thinking about her and what she wants at the same time. Punctuate the distance with care so you can maintain some type of relationship as she heals."

        "Would she want that?"

        "There's only one way to find out," she said. "What's a simple thing that she likes?"

        "Coffee."

        "What type of coffee?"

        "Dunkin' Donuts coffee," I said. "She also loves the pumpkin bread from Starbucks. It's so simple, but her eyes always light up when she has her coffee and pumpkin loaf."

        "So what can you do with that information?"

        "Rosalyn isn't a morning person," I said. "They've always been hard for her. Maybe I can buy her that coffee and bread and give it to her before school. That'll brighten her morning."

        "Exactly," my mom said in approval. "It's simple, thoughtful things like that. It's personal, takes into account her difficulties during the mornings, and it's a perfect opportunity to check up on her. Let her know that despite your past and everything that's transpired, you'll always be her friend. Even if she can't be your friend, at this moment."

        "Is that what you did for Tou-san?" I asked.

        "Yes," she said. "I wanted him to know that I didn't need to be in a romantic relationship with him to care. I wanted him to know that even though our marriage was over, our relationship wasn't. We would always be best friends. Our relationship was evolving into something just as valid as our marriage. It was just different."

        "There's nothing wrong with different," I said.

        "Right."

        I chuckled. "Who knew you'll be this helpful with my relationship problems?"

        First, she helped me with Darian, and now Rosalyn. My wise mother that I looked up to was back.

        "I've been there," she said. "Sure I didn't cheat on Ichiro with Caroline, but I know what it's like to hurt someone you love, in pursuit of your own happiness."

        "Got that right."

        It was never my intention to hurt Rosalyn. I only wanted the best for her, but unfortunately, Darian was the best for me. I couldn't believe I was ever angry at my mom for her decision. It was a complicated situation.

        "It's easy to love someone," my mother said. "It's harder to care for them. Because care is nurturing and expressing love. You love her, right?"

        "Yes."

        "Show care, even if she thinks she doesn't need it."

        "My worried about her space," I said. "What if I invade it?"

        She was silent for a second. "Your father thought he had to let go of me completely for his and my happiness. But me persisting and maintaining our new relationship helped him heal faster."

        "How?"

        That seemed counter-intuitive. Wouldn't being around the person who hurt you re-open wounds?

        "He thought he had to distance himself from the source of his pain," my mother said, "but sometimes, you have to look pain in the eye and care for it. Learn from it, instead of pretending it doesn't exist. You caused Rosalyn's pain. Now, help her nourish it."

        "Would I really be helpful when my presence could potentially intensify her pain?"

        I didn't want to hurt my little Latina more.

        My mother released a breath. "Think of it as a cut. You can ignore that cut and put up with that ache for days or more. Or, you can put alcohol on it. The latter would cause more pain and discomfort, but once that period ends, it heals faster. That's because you're acknowledging the problem and taking steps to fix it. You're being proactive and confronting the source of the discomfort."

        "I don't want to lose our friendship."

        We had been through too much to say goodbye now.

        "Then fight for it," my mother said. "Help her fix what you started. There won't be instant gratification, but keep at it. Let her know she matters to you, because it may not be so obvious to her."

        My mom was right. If Darian wouldn't have been proactive, we probably wouldn't have been together now. He fought for our relationship. Now, it was time to fight for my friendship with Rosalyn.

        "Ka-san, I have to go." I was already scrambling through my room to grab my things.

        "Good," she said. "Take the first step to salvage your friendship."

        She didn't have to tell me twice because less than an hour later, I pulled into Rosalyn's driveway. No cars were in the driveway, which meant Mr. and Mrs. Alvarez were at work. Good. I didn't want to face either of them. I had to make things right with Rosalyn first before I even attempted making it right with her parents.

        I had the pumpkin bread in one hand and the Dunkin' Donuts coffee in the other. It took some skill, but I rang the doorbell. In less than a minute, Rosalyn opened the door, and she seemed taken aback by my presence. Her hair was neat, and she wore colorful clothes with some make-up on. That was good. She was doing better than last time.

        "What are you doing here, Kenji?" she asked with her arms crossed.

        "I brought this for you." I handed her the pumpkin bread and the Dunkin' Donuts coffee.

        Her eyes widened. "My favorite coffee and favorite bread."

        I almost placed my hands in my pockets, but I stopped. I didn't need to, and I took my hands out. "I know the mornings are tough for you, so I just wanted to make it a little more bearable."

        She arched a brow. "Why're you doing this?"

        "I hurt you," I said. "Now, I know it's not enough to say 'I love you.' I have to care for you, too. I'm not going to let you heal on your own because I'm here for you. I'll always be your friend, even if you can't be mine. You did it for me in high school, when I was in such a dark place. Now, let me do it for you."

        She shook her head with a sad smile. "I can't be around you, right now. It's too much."

        "I know," I said. "Like putting alcohol on a fresh cut." She confused flashed across her face. "I'm like the cut and also the alcohol, so let me help you heal from my mistake. It will hurt, but that's the only way it'll get better."

        She watched me carefully. "That's a really strange analogy."

        "Tell that to my mom," I said.

        She chuckled. "I like it." I smiled. "You're pretty much telling me that you broke my heart, and now, you have to break it even more to fix it?"

        "I know being around me is hard," I said, "but please let me stay in your life to prove myself and to help you through this. Let me show you how valuable our relationship is, even if it's not romantic. I'll always be your friend no matter what, and I'm not giving that up without a fight."

        "I don't know if we can go back to before."

        "I don't want it to," I said. "We're not the same people anymore, which goes for our friendship, too. Change doesn't have to be the end."

        She lifted her chin as she eyed me. "You're not giving up, are you?"

        "Nope," I said with a shake of my head. "I'm owning up to my mistakes, and I'm going to make things right."

        "You really have changed," she noted. "Even though you cheated on me, I like the man you've become."

        "I wouldn't be where I am now without you."

        Rosalyn saved my life, in every way possible, in high school. She wasn't as involved in helping me with my second depressive episode, but knowing I survived—with her help—the first one, made this second one easier.

        She chuckled. "Things really are looking up. My mom is spending more time with me instead of locking herself in Camila's room, and now this."

        "I'm glad your mom is finally seeing how wonderful you are," I said. "Something I've always known."

        "Okay." Rosalyn hid the redness creeping on her cheeks. "We'll see where we go from here."

        Knowing she was open to nurturing our relationship was all that I asked.

        "I'll head out then," I said. "Can't let your coffee get cold."

        "Thanks for the bread and coffee, by the way." She took a sip from her drink. "It's fine. Hopefully we will be, too."

        I smiled. "I'll see you later, Rosalyn." And it was my goal to carry out that statement.

        I turned around and headed back to Honoka's hatchback. "Kenji!" Rosalyn yelled out, and I stopped and turned. "You'll never just be 'somebody that I used to know.'"

        I grinned in happiness. "And you'll always be my high school soulmate."

        Rosalyn took a couple seconds to return my smile. "Good to know."

        I sent a wave her way before entering my car. As I drove back to my apartment, I couldn't help the joy going through me. I wondered if that was how my mother felt when she realized she hadn't lost her best friend, after all.

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* What do you guys think about Kenji trying to make things right with Rosalyn? What do you think would be of their relationship later on? Thoughts overall?

*I know I've been gone for a while but I don't even have the mental power to apologize. So far, 2018 has been fucking over my mental health. I was hospitalized for psychotic mania in February after being manic for a little over a month. I was searching for drugs on the dark web, looking for strangers to hook up with, and I almost bought a plane ticket to go to a different state to start a new life (leaving my family, friends and education behind). I thought I was an incarnation of a god who was connected to another higher power who was supposed to guide me in writing the new bible. I've never been so confused, irritable and frightened because I thought everyone was out to get me and watching me in my room and through spiders.

*It didn't get better after my hospitalization because my anxiety skyrocketed and after that was mitigated, I started having depressive symptoms, and now, I may or may not be getting manic again because all the warning signs are present. All of this has affected my relationships, my work, my school, and even my writing. I had to get disability at my school because this is really affecting my life. Sorry for the long rant, but this year has been so awful so far.

* Two parts left of this story. I'm really hoping I can get those two done before whatever happens next, if I'm not stabilized soon.